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Byrdie / Peter Ardito
Breakage from heat styling, bleach, and other harsh processes are some of the more common causes of damaged hair. Enter reparative hair care, so you can reverse the damage and rescue your tresses.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
Our best overall pick is Kérastase’s Resistance Bain Force Architecte Strengthening Shampoo, a stylist-approved formula that calls on keratin proteins, amino acids, and ceramides to restore damaged hair. For a more affordable pick, consider Aussie Total Miracle Shampoo, which blends apricot and macadamia oils to help smooth split ends.
According to Chicago-based hairstylist Shelly Aguirre of Maxine Salon, a good restorative formula contains proteins and humectants. "If the hair is damaged from too much color or heat, you will want to add protein to build up the strength of the shaft," she tells Byrdie. "Amino acids are key ingredients that will lend to repair." If you're noticing dry and split ends, she recommends reaching for a moisturizing shampoo.
With this in mind, we conducted hours of research on the very best damage-repairing shampoos, and we first took one of the highest-rated options for a spin, our tester rating how well it repaired damage and improved strength, elasticity, and hydration. We then coupled Aguirre's expert recommendations with our own extensive research to compile this list.
Ahead, find the best shampoos for damaged hair.
Best Overall: Kérastase Resistance Bain Force Architecte Strengthening Shampoo
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Courtesy of Sephora
Contains keratin
Strengthens
Smooths split ends
Expensive
What do buyers say? 90% of 1,700+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
Infused with pro-keratin and ceramides, our top choice gives broken hair a little pick-me-up while working to repair frayed fibers and even potentially encouraging new growth. With daily use, you can expect your brittle hair to look and feel stronger with fewer split ends and an overall more lustrous appearance.
"Kérastase Bain Force Architecte is a great shampoo to help repair hair that is damaged," Aguirre tells Byrdie, noting that the brand's Resistance formula transformed her hair from overprocessed to healthy. "It has a balance of protein and amino acids that restores the hair instantly."
Also, Aguirre says, "You will notice how concentrated the products are, which means you will need to use less." Considering this shampoo is on the pricier end of the spectrum, this means you'll get way more bang for your buck. Consider it worth the splurge.
Price at time of publish: $35
Hair Type: Damaged | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 8.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Budget: Aussie Total Miracle Shampoo
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Courtesy of Walmart
Budget-friendly
Moisturizing
Smooths split ends
May be too heavy for fine hair
On a budget? You can count on Aussie Total Miracle to deliver the TLC your hair craves. Boasting a blend of apricot and macadamia oils, the formula provides ample moisture and protection while smoothing split ends.
Price at time of publish: $3.49
Hair Type: Damaged, dry | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 12 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Drugstore: Nexxus Keraphix Damage Healing Shampoo
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Courtesy of Amazon
Budget-friendly
Contains keratin
Noticeable results
May be too heavy for fine hair
While there are lots of standout drugstore formulas, we're particularly fond of Nexxus Keraphix. According to the brand, this protein-rich shampoo provides healthier-looking hair after just one wash and works to repair damaged hair with continued use.
Price at time of publish: $18.02
Hair Type: Damaged, dry | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 33.8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Splurge: Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo
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Courtesy of Nordstrom
Contains biotin
Repairing
Nice scent
Expensive
Aguirre appreciates that Oribe's blend of argan oil, biotin, and other state-of-the-art ingredients not only helps to heal the hair but also leaves it smelling amazing. "After using Gold Lust, the shine alone will turn you into a fan," she says. "The price tag is higher, but you will find it is definitely worth it."
Price at time of publish: $49
Hair Type: Dry, damaged | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Bond-Building: Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
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Patented bond-building technology
Repairing
Nice scent
Expensive
If you're not on the bond-building bandwagon yet, allow us to introduce you to the brand that started it all. Olaplex's patented technology works to repair broken hair on a molecular level while protecting your hair from further damage.
Price at time of publish: $30
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
What Our Editors Say
"Olaplex saved my hair. Full stop. In my mid-20s, my hair texture went from healthy to extremely dry and brittle. I had been on a journey to grow it out past shoulder length, and it just wasn't happening. So, after a fellow beauty editor recommended it, I decided to try out this miracle product. After the first use, I could feel an immediate difference in my hair. It felt softer, moisturized, and even healthier. And, after a few months of diligent application, I finally reached my hair length goals." — Madeline Hirsch, Senior News Editor
Best Moisturizing: Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo
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Courtesy of Briogeo
Moisturizing
Contains biotin
Smooths split ends
May be too heavy for fine hair
Thirsty hair? Reach for Briogio's Super Moisture Shampoo. Containing earth-sourced oils and biotin, the formula combines the deep conditioning of a mask with the foaming lather of a traditional 'poo to provide a much-needed surge of hydration and damage control to boot.
Price at time of publish: $39
Hair Type: Damaged, dry | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 16 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best Strenghtening: Fekkai Super Strength Shampoo
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Courtesy of Ulta
Contains keratin
Strengthens
Nice scent
Not very moisturizing
In addition to keratin, this strengthening shampoo is infused with rice protein and vitamin B5 and helps to protect from heat styling and environmental damage. The all-star formula fortifies brittle hair and revives weak, overprocessed, color-treated hair from root to end.
Price at time of publish: $24
Hair Type: Damaged, color-treated, chemically treated | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Split Ends: Amika The Kure Bond Repair Shampoo
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Amazon
Contains amino acids
Bond-repair technology
Nice scent
May be too heavy for fine hair
Split ends got you down? With a blend of amino acids and omega-rich sea buckthorn berry, Amika's The Kure boasts its own bond-repairing complex to mend broken hair from root to tip.
Price at time of publish: $18
Hair Type: Damaged, color-treated, chemically treated | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Natural Hair: Pattern Hydration Shampoo
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Ulta
Moisturizing
Promotes elasticity
Formulated for natural hair
May be too heavy for fine hair
Formulated with coily, curly, and tight textures in mind, Pattern Hydration Shampoo provides a heaping dose of moisture. Natural ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil, and honey hydrate stressed hair while leaving you with stronger, more elastic hair.
Price at time of publish: $20
Hair Type: Textured, curly, dry, damaged | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 9.8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Curly Hair: Curls Dynasty Cocoa Mint Moisture Rich Shampoo
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Courtesy of Target
Budget-friendly
Moisturizing
Contains organic ingredients
May be too heavy for fine hair
For curly-headed beauties, we recommend Curls Dynasty. The ultra-moisturizing, organic-based formula contains ingredients parched hair craves like aloe juice, botanical extracts, coconut oil, olive oil, vitamin E, and cocoa butter.
Price at time of publish: $12.95
Hair Type: Curly, textured, dry | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: Yes
Best for Color-Treated Hair: Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
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Courtesy of Sephora
Moisturizing
Contains amino acids
Prevents color fading
Expensive
Color-treated hair? Your best bet is Pureology Hydrate Shampoo. The moisturizing formula calls on jojoba oil, plant proteins, and amino acids to strengthen damaged hair and protect color vibrancy.
Price at time of publish: $35
Hair Type: Color-treated, dry | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 9 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Sulfate-Free: Davines NaturalTech Nourishing Shampoo
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Courtesy of Davines
Moisturizing
Nourishing
Smooths split ends
Strong scent
Expensive
Davines NaturalTech flaunts an earth-sourced formula that's free of sulfates and chock full of antioxidants and polyphenols, which are micronutrients derived from plants. This shampoo does wonders on dry scalps and split ends while mending and protecting brittle hair.
Price at time of publish: $34
Hair Type: Damaged, dry | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 8.45 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best Pump Bottle: Luseta Perfect Bonding Restoring Shampoo
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Courtesy of Amazon
Generous size
Contains amino acids
Nice scent
Not very moisturizing
This hefty pump bottle from Luseta contains nearly 34 ounces of bond-restoring shampoo. Thanks to quinoa seed extract, it supplies nine essential amino acids to strengthen the stressed hair shaft while encouraging healthy hair growth.
Price at time of publish: $31
Hair Type: Damaged, color-treated, flaky | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 33.8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No
Best for Bleached Hair: Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo for Beautiful Color
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Courtesy of Nordstrom
Brightens blondes
Makes hair feel silky
Contains hydrating ingredients
Strong scent
Whenever you use bleach, there's a potential for damage resulting in parched hair. The hydrating formula, which includes keratin and a blend of botanical extracts like lemon, chamomile, and lavender, help hair feel silky again. The addition of violet and pearl pigments brighten warm, brassy, dull strands, which gives an instant lift.
Price at time of publish: $17 for 2.5 fl. oz bottle / $46 for 8.5 fl. oz bottle
Hair Type: Color-treated | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Original | Size: 2.5 / 8.5 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes
What Our Testers Say
"When I over-bleached my hair, I tried this and within a couple applications I saw an immediate improvement in the texture and brightness." — Jill Di Donato, Product Tester
Best Vegan: Pacifica Coconut Power Strong and Long Moisturizing Shampoo
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Courtesy of Amazon
Moisturizing
Hydrating
Coconut scent
Can be greasy for thinner hair
Made with coconut water and coconut oil, this clean and affordable formula uses botanical humectants to nourish damaged hair and smooth the cuticle. A blend of rice, aloe, passionfruit, açaí, and raspberry extract help to soften hair and restore its health. We love that it's free of parabens, plasticizing phthalates, or petroleum-derived mineral oils.
Price at time of publish: $9.99
Hair Type: All | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Scent: Coconut | Size: 12 fl. oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
Our best overall pick is Kérastase’s Resistance Bain Force Architecte Strengthening Shampoo, a stylist-approved formula that calls on keratin proteins, amino acids, and ceramides to restore damaged hair. For a more affordable pick, consider Aussie Total Miracle Shampoo, which blends apricot and macadamia oils to help smooth split ends.
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Meet the Expert
- Shelly Aguirre is a professional stylist at Maxine Salon, a premier hair destination in Chicago, Illinois. With 12 years of experience teaching haircare classes at salons and tradeshows, she is one of the most sought-after stylists and educators in the industry.
- Tina Deeke is a senior colorist at Maxine Salon with 18 years of experience. She is responsible for initiating balayage into the salon and worked 12 years as a stylist before switching over to hair color.
- John Pulitano is a stylist and the co-owner and creative director of Headcase Hair, a salon in Sydney, Australia.
What to Look For in Shampoos for Damaged Hair
Moisturizing Ingredients
Damaged hair often feels very dry, so it’s important to look for a shampoo that has moisturizing and smoothing properties, says Chicago-based hairstylist Tina Deeke of Maxine Salon. Some of the best moisturizing ingredients to look for in a shampoo for damaged hair include hydrating oils such as coconut, jojoba, and olive. They’ll help keep hair feeling soft and looking shiny.
Strengthening Ingredients
Because damaged hair also tends to be brittle, keep your eye out for a strengthening formula when shopping for shampoo, says Deeke. Look for reparative ingredients like keratin and biotin on the label. These ingredients will help minimize breakage so you can transform your damaged hair into healthy hair.
Color-Safe Formula
Deeke also suggests looking for a shampoo that’s safe for color-treated hair. This will help keep your damaged hair looking vibrant. Choosing a sulfate-free formula is a good bet for damaged, color-treated hair since it will be gentle on your hair and won’t strip your hue.
How We Researched & Tested
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
Why Trust Byrdie
Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer specializing in cosmetics. She considered dozens of formulas for this article. Before landing on her final selections, she combined our testing insights, stylist recommendations, and pored over ingredients lists. For this roundup, she also referenced several peer-reviewed journals, and combed through reviews.
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