From using hot styling tools to color processing, we put our hair through a lot. And while these treatments are all in the name of vanity, they can result in our hair looking dry, fried and dull in the long run. Thankfully, bond repair treatments are no longer salon exclusives and you can get transformative results at home.
What exactly are bond repair treatments and how do they work?
Bond repair treatments are generally available as leave-in or rinse-out products, and even daily shampoos and conditioners. “The rinse-out bond products are best for very damagedhairthat requires more intense restoration because they have more concentrated repair ingredients, such as argan oil, coconut oil or jojoba oil, that will deeply penetrate thehairshaft providing nourishment, hydration and help seal thehaircuticle,” explains Nunzio Saviano, hair stylist and owner ofNunzio Saviano Salon in New York City. On the other hand, the expert says leave-in bond repair products are “suitable for allhairtypes, as they help detangle thehairand protect it from heat styling and overall manageability.”
While bond-building formulas vary, they each target the proteins that hair fibers consist of, and more specifically, the bonds that hold these protein chains together. There are three types of hair bonds — hydrogen, ionic and covalent— and these bonds give hair its characteristics (shape, elasticity and strength). When the bonds are broken, this can result in changes to your hair’s appearance and feel. So when you have split ends, frizz and dryness, you’re dealing with broken bonds.
“When hair is damaged, it starts on the surface level of the cuticle, you will start to notice dry,splitting ends or that your hair is dull and easily tangled,” explains Devin Graciano, hair stylist and head of product developmentatGoldie Locks. At this point, she says you can “opt tostrengthen your cuticle with the Goldie Locks Signature Hair Mask, which focuses on nourishing the hair via hydration, moisture and lipids. However if your hair damage has reached further into the hair strands, you will want to reach for or request your stylist to give you a bond repair treatment.”
Popular bond treatments like Olaplex No. 3 and the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask address broken disulfide bonds (a type of covalent bond), which are responsible for defining one’s specific hair type. These bonds are permanent and are broken by chemical treatments like color processing. However, experts say that any and all hair types can benefit from bond repair products.
“Just about everyone can benefit from bond repair, even those with near-perfect hair,” says celebrity hair stylist Bradley Leake. “Everyday factors like exposure to the sun or pollution, everyday detangling and styling and even the natural aging process can compromise the bonds within your hair shaft,” he explains. “Those with chemical- and color-treated hair can benefit of course, however, anyone else who brushes their hair or uses heat can also keep their hair healthy with bond repair treatments.”
Ahead, check out the best bond repair treatments to take hair from dry and damaged to strong and healthy.
Editor Favorite
This hair treatment provides quick results that you’ll actually see and feel. We tested it on multiple hair types and were impressed with how silky and tamed it made our hair after just one use.
Read our review
K18’s bond repairing mask is beloved by pros, including Graciano, and at-home users alike.Since it is a leave-in treatment, it’s super easy to incorporate into your shower routine.
- Related: The 22 best leave-in conditioners to fight dryness and frizz, according to experts
"From the most coarse, coily hair to those with finer strands, this product has been lifesaver," Leake shares. Created by one of the inventors behind Olaplex, the pre-wash treatment comes in a convenient spray format. "I tailor the length of treatment time based on thickness of the hair, but I love that this spray-on treatment is light enough for thinner hair, yet also saturates thicker hair as well."
"For a consumer or those on a budget, Überliss is a great option that gives you results you may be on the hunt for," Graciano says. The Bond Sustainer is a great product to start with for dry, damaged hair, which is also included in the brand's complete Bond Treatment System using the same technology as its professional hair care line.
A multi-tasking hair treatment and styling product, this top-rated serum infuses the hair with a bond-building complex, hydrating wildflower honey and nourishing botanical oils while protecting it from heat and damage.
This conditioner is packed with natural ingredients that strengthen hair bonds and support the scalp's skin barrier, including pink lotus, hibiscus, ashwagandha and sunflower seed oil.
According to celebrity hair stylist and Kerasilk ambassador Harry Josh, leave-in bond repair treatments "are beneficial for long-lasting protection and added moisture throughout the day and can be particularly useful for damaged hair that needs extra care and hydration." This protein-based leave-in product features biomimetic silk technology that adds strength and shine to the hair.
The Kure is a hydrating mask that targets the hair's bonds and enriches the hair with plant butters and omega fatty acid-rich sea buckthorn oil.
This weekly treatment and heat protectant minimizes thermal and UV damage. It features a patent-pending technology that prevents breakage and repairs split ends, leaving hair visibly healthier.
- Related: The 15 best heat protectant sprays, creams and oils for all hair types
Editor Favorite
Another expert- and editor-vetted product, this lightweight oil tames flyaways and defends against heat damage while repairing disulfide bonds.
A pH-balanced treatment can help minimize the damage of hair coloring and styling tools, since they help maintain the hair's natural oils and are generally gentle on the scalp. This pH-balanced formula also treats the hair with citric acid to fortify its bonds.
For a budget-friendly option, L'Oréal's pre-shampoo treatment also utilizes citric acid to help strengthen compromised hair bonds. Simply apply it to damp hair, leave in for five to 10 minutes and follow with your shampoo and conditioner.
Made specifically for color-treated lightened hair, this citric acid shampoo strengthens the strands and gently cleanses.
Lather up a dose of bond-reinforcing benefits with this shampoo. It features a complex that repairs and maintains bonds in a vegan and cruelty-free formula.
Josh says this leave-in spray "is the perfect bond repair product for the everyday user. The spray works to strengthen each strand of hair, while also providing heat protection and enhancing manageability for styling."
This quick rinse-out treatment repairs chemical damage and smoothes the hair cuticle, resulting in sleeker and more manageable strands.
