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Byrdie / Marcus Millan
Coloring, heat styling, and environmental damage can put our hair through a lot of stress which makes split ends, breakage, and overall dullness almost inevitable. So, what can you do if you love highlights, heated tongs, and the sun but want to keep your hair in great condition? One of the most effective–not to mention affordable–ways is an at-home bond builder.
“A bond-builder is a protein formula designed to repair over-processed hair from bleach or too much heat,” says celebrity hairstylist Mario Solis. “Professionals started using it around 2014 when Olaplex was launched”.
“They’re also beneficial for hair that has been depleted by certain climates or heat,” says Yvey Valcin, a master stylist based in Seattle. “Typically, I start using bond builders on my clients when I notice there is breakage and/or dryness in their hair.”
Once you introduce a bond builder to your routine, the quality of your hair should start to be noticeably improved–think softer, shinier, and less frizzy locks. “When the bonds are being repaired, the hair can have a better porosity and a healthier look,” continues Mario. “Just don’t overuse it because if your hair doesn’t need it, it may also have its consequences.”
If a bond builder sounds like something your hair could benefit from, you’ll need to decide which one is for you. From leave-in treatments to wash-out conditioners, we’ve been hard at work finding the best of the best.
Best Overall
Living Proof Triple Bond Complex Leave-in Hair Treatment
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Sephora
Ideal if you blow dry your hair every day
Works well with heat activation
Bottle is quite small for the price tag
If you’re a bit of a beauty geek, you’re sure to love the science behind this clever bond builder. It’s developed by some of the world’s best scientists and utilizes patent-pending technology to repair and replenish the hair’s ionic, hydrogen, and covalent bonds. This science fortifies every strand of hair, reconstructing damaged ends and keeping it in optimum condition at the same time. Just apply it to damp hair after washing it and leave it in. Use it once a week to reduce damage and improve hair strength by eight times.
Price at time of publish: $45
Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Hair Type: Chemically treated, colored or heat damaged hair | Size: 1.5 FL oz
Best Budget
L'Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment
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L'Oréal Paris
Doesn’t leave a coated feel on the hair
Helps prevent future damage
Reviewers note it can feel a little heavy in fine hair
If you regularly color treat your hair, a bond-building treatment like this one from L'Oréal Paris is a must. It’s designed to be applied before shampooing, so it’s a good product to use when you’re in the bath and have time to let it work its magic. How does it work? Citric acid repairs damage to the hair by penetrating the inner hair cortex and rebuilding weak hair bonds. This also helps to prevent future damage, too. It’s ideal for improving everything from split ends and weak strands to heat and bleach-damaged hair.
Price at time of publish: $13
Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Hair Type: Chemically treated, colored, or heat-damaged hair | Size: 5.1 FL oz
Best Moisturizing
K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
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Sephora
Comes in three different sizes
It's become a go-to formula to salvage damaged strands at home
Vegan formula
Some reviewers say that you need to use a few times to see full results
A cult favorite for very good reason, K18’s Leave in Molecular Repair Hair Mask is one of our favorite ways to transform damaged lengths without stepping into a salon. It’s formulated with a potent mix of patented ingredients, including the brand’s K18Peptide™, that utilizes a unique sequence of amino acids to repair broken chains in damaged strands of hair. This is why it makes such light work of repairing even the most damaged hair and restores bounce and elasticity so brilliantly.
Price at time of publish: $75
Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Hair Type: Chemically treated, colored or heat damaged hair | Size: 5ml, 15ml, 50ml
Best for Frequent Use
Bumble and Bumble Bond Building Repair Conditioner
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Look Fantastic
Can be used every time you shampoo
Cruelty-free and sustainable packaging
Helps protect against future damage
It’s an expensive investment
This jumbo-sized bond-building conditioner is ideal if you have very chemically processed hair and need a treatment you can use several times a week. Bumble and Bumble claims its exclusive Bond-Building Complex is suitable for all hair types and textures, especially if you change your style and color quite often. If that’s you, this will help your hair stay strong and protected no matter what you throw at it.
Price at time of publish: $107
Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Hair Type: All hair types and textures | 33.8 FL oz
Best Leave In
Redken Acidic Perfecting Concentrate Leave-In Conditioner
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Ulta
Easy to apply when you’re short on time
Budget-friendly
Speedy results
Some reviewers note it can leave air-dried hair feeling a bit crunchy
If you find pre-shampoo treatments a bit too much effort, then you may favor a leave-in conditioner like this one from Redken. Simply apply it after shampooing and conditioning your hair to protect it up to 450 degrees. It also intensely conditions each strand while reducing hair breakage and smoothing and taming frizz. We love the idea of it working its magic while we go about our day. It also costs below $20!
Price at time of publish: $32
Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No | Hair Type: All hair types and textures | 5.1 FL oz
Best Overnight Treatment
Matrix Total Results Unbreak My Blonde Reviving Leave-in Conditioner
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Amazon
Vegan & sulfate-free formula
Works well for a variety of hair textures
A little goes a long way
Doesn’t feel as hydrating as a conditioner
Bleached and highlighted hair looks beautiful, but it needs a good conditioning treatment to keep it in healthy condition. This one from Matrix is a leave-in treatment that helps to strengthen broken and damaged bonds three times thanks to its key ingredient, citric acid. It also improves overall hydration and shine, so it’s a great treatment to use in between visits to the salon.
Price at time of publish: $24
Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Hair Type: All hair types and textures | 5.1 FL oz
Best for Blondes
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector
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Dermstore
Vegan and cruelty free
Works well with several hair types and textures
Great for color-treated hair
Can be tricky to fit into a busy routine
A bond builder roundup could never be complete without the original: Olaplex No.3. This pre-shampoo treatment is loved for its ability to improve all hair types and textures–from straight to wavy and super curly. It’s especially great at maintaining the health of color-treated hair and styles prone to frizz and breakage thanks to the brand’s patented OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology™. Best of all, it has a clean formula that’s vegan and cruelty-free.
Price at time of publish: $30
Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Hair Type: Frizzy, color-treated or damaged | 3.3 FL oz
Best for Dry Hair
Color Wow Dream Cocktail Kale-Infused Strengthening Leave In Treatment
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Sephora
Helps hair become more resilient
Targets dry strands
Vegan & paraben free formula
Some reviewers note it can leave the hair feeling a bit waxy
There's never been a time when we weren't impressed by a Color Wow product, and this leave-in treatment does not disappoint. Tackling damage and dryness while helping to maintain color and protect the hair from heat styling, it takes on a number of concerns with Blue Sea Kale, Kelp Extract, and a clinically tested Proprietary Blend (proven to reduce breakage by 50%). It’s also made without parabens and is vegan and cruelty-free.
Price at time of publish: $26
Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Hair Type: Color treated or damaged | 6.7 FL oz
Best Multitasker
Amika Kure Multi-Task Repair Treatment
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Sephora
Can be used as a wash-off or leave-in treatment
Helps prevent future breakage
Clean & vegan formula
Has a light, watery consistency which may not suit everyone
Amika is a Brooklyn-based haircare brand that really understands what it takes to maintain great hair. This multi-tasking repair treatment is a case in point, ideal for strengthening all hair types and for those that want to repair breakage while also preventing future damage. It does such wonders with a bond cure technology comprising plant butters and vegan proteins. In short, it gives that feeling of freshly cut ends in just 60 seconds.
Price at time of publish: $30
Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Hair Type: Heat, chemical or environmentally damaged hair | 6.7 FL oz
Final Verdict
Living Proof’s Triple Bond Complex was our overall winner, as it’s easy to use and leaves the hair feeling really healthy and soft. We’re also pretty impressed by its patent-pending technology that helps to repair damaged ends. For colored and heat-damaged hair, you can’t go wrong with L'Oréal Paris’s EverPure Bond Strengthening Pre-Shampoo Treatment which costs just under $15 but delivers great results.
Meet the Expert
- Yvey Valcin is a celebrated master stylist and salon founder based in Seattle. He is best known for his ability to reveal and enhance the beauty of his client's natural texture.
- Mario Solis is an entrepreneur, celebrity stylist, and Bellami educator, providing precise hair-cutting techniques, one-of-a-kind color applications, and all forms of hair extensions.
How We Researched
We spent many hours conducting extensive research into the best bond builders available on the market. We also sought the advice of our haircare experts to learn what we should look for when choosing the best products and how to use them effectively.
What to Look For in a Bond Builder
Leave in or wash out?
There are a few different types of products that help to repair broken bonds in the hair, and the one you choose depends on what works best in your routine. Pre-shampoo treatments are designed to be combed through the hair before you wash it, so they’re best applied when you’re in the bath or have time to sit around and let the product work its magic. Others are designed to be left in the hair or washed out after conditioning–this makes them easier to fit in when you’re shorter on time.
Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
This ingredient was one of the patented key ingredients in Olaplex’s original product range. It is considered safe for general use, but some recent studies showed that it is reprotoxic, meaning it could have adverse effects on fertility and the development of a fetus. As such, Olaplex has reformulated its products, ensuring Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate has been completely removed. But if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, don’t panic. Just check your bottle and make sure you’re not using an old formulation.
Why Trust Byrdie
Catherine Hufton is an experienced lifestyle journalist and has been a contributing writer for Byrdie since 2022. She digs deep into all things fashion and beauty to find the very best shopping must-haves—from the most effective collagen serums to the best drugstore makeup essentials.
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