I used to think that taking proper care of my dry and damaged hair was just about whacking on a hydrating hair mask once a week and calling it a day.
But after sitting through several stern lectures from hairdressers over the years, I’ve learned every single product I use on my poor hair (think a decade of monthly colour appointments and regular heat styling) needs to be specially formulated for damaged hair.
This means I’ve had to find the best shampoo and conditioner for extremely damaged hair, nourishing add-on products like masks, oils and serums, and ensure I use them every time I wash my hair.
If you want to learn about fixing your crunchy hair, plus the very best restorative shampoos on the market, keep scrolling.
Annoyingly, damaged hair is basically caused by us trying to make our hair look good all the time.
“Dull or dry hair can be caused by many different things, but three main factors are hair colour, heat styling and the environment, such as too much sun,” explains Chad Wijayatilake, who runs A+H salon in Sydney’s Newtown.
For more tips on fixing broken hair, check out our YouTube tutorial below!
While your damaged hair receives the star treatment every time you go to the salon, the products you use at home are just as, even more important.
It’s like how getting a facial or going to a personal trainer every now and then is great for a reset, or to teach you more about what your skin/body needs, but then you need to follow up that professional advice with a regular daily routine on your own at home.
“At home haircare is one of the most important things you can do for your hair after a major colour service,” Chad advises.
And that involves using the best shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair you can find.
“Using a specific shampoo and conditioner recommended by your colourist for your hair texture and colour is essential to you having fabulous hair everyday. Who doesn’t want amazing shiny hair every day of the week?”
So with that in mind, here are my top three best shampoos for damaged hair and split ends.
Chad describes the Pureology Nanoworks Gold Shampoo like “a facelift for dull, dry, brittle and coarse hair."
For that, you can thank the addition of a vegan-friendly, plant-based protein that repairs and strengthens dry and damaged hair while you wash it.
“It works with two main ingredients: Keravis, which strengthens the hair, and marula oil, which leaves your hair feeling soft and shiny. It also contains an “anti-fade complex” that protects the hair against sun damage. “
"Basically, it's sunscreen for your hair, with UVA and UVB protection to help prevent your colour from fading. Also, the aromatherapy blend smells amazing. It’s made up of dewy pear, ylang ylang and golden amber.”
The Shu Uemura Ultimate Reset Shampoo 300mlis a great product to use if you feel like your hair needs a really thorough cleanse, but you don’t want to use a clarifying shampoo that might strip your hair of its colour or moisture.
It’s a non-stripping shampoo that gently cleanses and removes impurities, while co-emulsion technology helps to fortify the hair, leaving it stronger. The formula was created using extremely small droplets, which can penetrate the hair more easily.
Kérastase Résistance Bain Force Architecte is one of the best shampoos for damaged bleached hair.
It reinforces the fibres of the hair using pro-keratin, a protein which mimics the function of keratin and rebuilds the hair, along with ceramides. You know, those famous hydrating ingredients we know also work wonders for our skin.
As Chad explains, a repair shampoo like this “is crucial in building up the strength in hair once it has gone through a major colour service, especially if bleach has been used to go lighter and brighter.”
Opt for a silk scrunchie or hair tie. This will prevent delicate hair from breaking and creating more split ends.
If you do want to use your straightener or hair dryer to create a styled look, ensure it’s turned down to a low-medium heat to prevent high heat from frying your hair.
When styling your hair with hot tools, always use a heat protectant. This will prevent further damage from occurring.
Pop these onto dirty hair just before you’re about to wash your hair.
Leave them on for as long as possible, before washing them out with your favourite repair shampoo, followed by conditioner.
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