At this point, we all know the tell-tale signs of hair damage: dryness, dullness, breakage, split ends, and extreme frizz. And, if your hair has ever touched bleach or been passed through a straightener one too many times, you know from personal experience that dealing with damaged strands can be an absolute pain.
In case you didn’t already know, excessive heat styling and frequent coloring/bleaching can break the bonds that give our hair strength, elasticity, and shine. Thankfully, these bonds can be repaired with the help of a bond-building hair treatment. Bonding treatments work from the outside in to help mend broken bonds, leading to healthier and stronger hair overall.
From masks to conditioners with bond-building technology to traditional bonding treatments, there are currently a variety of bond builders on the market to help you get your hair back on the road to recovery. Below, we’ve shared seven of our favorite bond-building hair treatments that are perfect for giving your strands some TLC.
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector
When it comes to damage-reversing hair products, Olaplex’s No.3 Hair Perfector is pretty much the gold standard for keeping hair healthy and strong. This pre-shampoo hair treatment has the ability to repair all types of hair damage thanks to its star ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate—a patented, active ingredient that helps to rebuild weak and broken bonds in the hair.
Promising review from Sephora: Conan says, “This is magic in a bottle! I have dry, process, curly/wavy hair that tends toward frizz. This product revitalizes my hair and gives my curls definition back. After using it, my hair looks healthy, shiny, and feels soft to the touch. I use this once a week and don’t want to live without it!”
Shop: Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector, $28.00
K18 Molecular Repair Hair Mask
Consider this K18 hair mask as the ultimate fix for dull, damaged hair. Suitable for all hair types, this leave-in treatment repairs even the most extreme damage in just four minutes. Thanks to its patented peptide technology, this hair mask has the ability to reconnect broken bonds in the hair while also restoring smoothness, bounce, and softness to strands.
Promising review from K18: Judy says, “I have been using K18 for a few weeks now and I love it. My hair is softer and shinier. I am also losing less hair. I have recommended it to several friends and took it to my hairdresser and she was impressed, too.”
Shop: K18 Molecular Repair Hair Mask, $75.00
Bumble and bumble Bond-Building Repair Shampoo
Powered by Bumble and bumble’s Honey Bond-Building complex, this restorative shampoo strengthens and repairs hair by building new bonds. It also helps improve elasticity, adds shine, and helps repair heat, color, and chemical damage.
Promising review from Sephora: Jennifer says, “I am LOVING this shampoo so much! Was about to throw in the towel on bleaching my hair due to damage, and every time I shampooed it was so tangly and unmanageable until switching to this. I love how it repaired the bonds and got my hair back to its healthiest place. It is so shiny and soft and I can shampoo daily again without any issue!”
Shop: Bumble and bumble Bond-Building Repair Shampoo, $31.00
pH Plex Protect & Repair Set
If you’re searching for an affordable bond-building treatment that won’t break your budget, look no further than pH Plex. Suitable for both color-treated and non-colored hair, this high-performing vegan hair treatment protects and repairs damaged hair during color and bleach jobs. This two-pack sachet contains step one, a damage prevention lightener mix-in, and step two, a damage-repairing post-bleach treatment.
Promising review from Amazon: Madison says, “I tried it without using conditioner to test how it really worked and I was pleasantly surprised! My hair went from being extremely tangled (to the degree it couldn’t be brushed) to silky and super easy to brush through. I wish I would have taken pics before and after using it. My hair is really course and I have a lot of curl, so most products don’t do the trick alone…however, this is an exception. I’m looking forward to using it again.”
Shop: pH Plex Protect & Repair Set, $4.95
amika The Kure Bond Repair Conditioner for Damaged Hair
Over-stressed strands will be no match for this amika conditioner that repairs, restores, and revitalizes damaged strands that are caused by heat and chemical treatments. Powered by bond cure technology, vegan proteins, and sea buckthorn berry, this keratin-rich conditioner will intensely hydrate locks as it targets the most abundant bonds in your hair.
Promising review from Sephora: Sheri says, “I love this conditioner! It smells great, but not in an overbearing way like some brands do. I am very picky with conditioners because they have the tendency to either make my hair feel greasy or start to fall flat. I have color-treated wavy/frizzy hair, and this made it look presentable even air dried. When I used the blow dryer, my hair was soft and full of volume. I would highly recommend!”
Shop: amika The Kure Bond Repair Conditioner for Damaged Hair, $24.00
IGK Antisocial Overnight Bond Building Dry Hair Mask
If you love dry shampoo, you’ll definitely appreciate this dry hair mask from IGK. Formulated with bond-building technology and vegan silk proteins, this innovative spray repairs and softens damaged hair without having to wash or restyle it.
Promising review from Ulta: Jenny says, “This is such a great hair mask! I’ve never really tried a dry hair mask before and this blew me away! I love the convenience of it being a dry, overnight hair mask so you don’t have to worry about washing it out and all that. It also leaves my hair feeling so smooth and silky the next day and makes my hair more manageable and less tangled.”
Shop: IGK Antisocial Overnight Bond Building Dry Hair Mask, $34.00
ALTERNA Haircare CAVIAR Anti-Aging Restructuring Bond Repair Leave-In Overnight Serum
Wake up to healthier and stronger hair with this overnight treatment from ALTERNA that reconstructs damaged hair while you sleep. This serum’s caviar-rich formula is packed with vitamins, minerals, and omega fatty acids to help restore hydration, strength, vibrancy, and elasticity to your strands.
Promising review from Sephora: Skye Madison says, “I loooove an easy fix, and this is definitely it! It’s simple: put product in hair, go to sleep, rinse in the morning. Not only is the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Serum super easy to use, it smells AMAZING. If I could buy this exact scent in a perfume, I would.”
Shop: ALTERNA Haircare CAVIAR Anti-Aging Restructuring Bong Repair Leave-In Overnight Serum, $40.00
Have you tried any of these bond-building hair products? Let us know in the comments below!
