The first step to restoring damaged hair is stopping the damage. Then you can start figuring out how to get back healthy lush tresses that don’t come off at the slightest pull.
Restoring damaged hair is neither an overnight feat nor something that takes just a few weeks. Even mildly damaged hair can take months to regain its glory. The process is also not about finding that one magical product that will restore all the shine and thickness. There is no such product.
Instead, it’s about developing a new habit that involves taking better care of your hair in everything you do from what you eat to the hair products you use. As part of your new hair care routine, make sure you include good quality hair restoration shampoo and conditioner.
How good shampoo and conditioner can help restore damaged hair
Shampoos and conditioners for hair restoration are formulated with very specific ingredients. These ingredients consist mostly of moisturizing, restorative and protective components derived from nature. You’ll find oils, vitamins and proteins among other nourishing ingredients.
When you apply the shampoo and conditioner, these ingredients get to work ‘healing’ your hair. They start by re-moisturizing it. This makes your strands stronger and less susceptible to breakage. It also makes your hair appear healthier.
Nutrients such as keratin nourish your hair, making it grow stronger and faster. This enhances your hair’s appearance and makes it thicker and more vibrant.
Other ingredients including vitamins and antioxidants protect your hair from further damage.
Here are the best hair restoration shampoos and hair conditioners that we found online in the UK and that offer all these healing benefits.
1. Kerastase Bain Force Architect and Ciment Anti-Usure Duo
The Resistance Bain Force Architecte shampoo and Ciment Anti-Usure conditioner make a powerful duo against hair damage. They are formulated to work together to restore damaged hair and prevent further damage.
The shampoo contains keratin and other pro-growth ingredients that leave your hair softer, stronger and more vibrant. It’s great for getting rid of dullness and eliminating frizz.
The conditioner also uses Keratin along with other ingredients like glycerine and leaf extracts to increase fibre strength. It repairs split ends and straightens out dry frizz.
With regular use of these two products plus other hair care routines, you should start noticing an improvement within a short time.
What we like about it:
- Ideal for daily use.
- Highly effective for dry, damaged and weak hair.
- Reliable brand
2. Joico K-Pak Reconstruct Shampoo & Conditioner Pack For Damaged Hair 300ml
This shampoo-conditioner pack is perfect for anyone trying to reverse damage caused by over-styling. These two products work by replacing lost amino acids in your hair strands while also providing hydration.
So as lost or weakened parts of your hair are replenished, your hair becomes stronger and starts growing more quickly. The hydration from the oil-based ingredients provides a nice lush gloss.
The shampoo is ideal for everyday use though it’s best to use it just 2-3 times a week to prevent drying out your already-damaged hair. The leave-in conditioner should only be applied after you have washed and towelled your hair.
After each application you hair is left soft and supple. With time, you’ll notice that it has become stronger and fuller.
What we like about it:
- Easy to apply at home.
- Powerful healing ingredients.
3. CATWALK by TIGI Oatmeal & Honey Tween Duo Shampoo and Conditioner for Dry, Damaged Hair 2×750 ml
This supersized pack is great if you don’t want to keep buying new shampoo and conditioner after just a couple of weeks. It’s especially helpful for those with thick and curly hair. Each bottle is 750ml.
They are full of natural ingredients that nourish, protect, moisturize and restore your hair. Some of the ingredients include wheat protein, vitamin E and acacia honey.
If you realize that you hair is always slightly dry and frizzy, this shampoo and conditioner will help. It’s also useful if your hair has split ends or keeps falling out as you comb.
Apply the shampoo on wet hair, making sure to generously spread it from roots to tips. After rinsing and drying, apply the conditioner making sure it spreads the full length of your tresses.
What we like about it:
- Large capacity bottles.
- Easy to apply at home with immediate effects.
4. John Frieda Frizz Ease Miraculous Recovery Shampoo and Conditioner 2X500 ml
This duo pack reverses most of the damage to your hair by replenishing lost amino acids while also hydrating and protecting your hair. It is especially effective on dry and frizzy hair.
Lather the shampoo generously on wet hair then rinse and dry. Leave the conditioner in your hair for five minutes before rinsing it out. After just one application, your hair becomes really soft and smooth. It also becomes easier to style thanks to the conditioner’s untangling effect. Keep using the products regularly for long term results.
The bottles are not as large as those of the CATWALK shampoo and conditioner pack but they’ll still last for quite a while.
What we like about it:
- Great for dry and frizzy hair.
- Gets rid of tangles, making it easier to style hair without resorting to excess heating or aggressive treatments.
- Fairly large bottles.
5. BED HEAD by TIGI Elasticate Tween Duo Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner
This is another good choice for those who want a supersized pack. It’s 750ml per bottle, which is especially good if you need to apply lots of conditioner and shampoo to cover your thick hair.
The shampoo and conditioner are packed with proteins and other nourishing ingredients that get right to work restoring your hair’s strength and shine. They reduce breakage and make your hair softer and more flexible.
If your hair has become hard to manage because it’s weaker or too frizzy, the shampoo and conditioner will help. They eliminate frizz and soften your hair, making it easier to manage.
What we like about it:
- Large bottles.
- Nice fragrance.
- Easy to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What causes damaged hair?
The answer to this is simple – it’s every day life that damages our hair! Excessive washing, too much heating, overuse of dyeing products, air pollution, lifestyle – all these things contribute to those split ends and the lifeless, limp look that signifies your hair is getting damaged.
Obviously, we can’t do much about the air pollution, especially those living in cities, but you can negate the damage to your hair in other ways, and there are a few things you can do to minimise the stress your hair takes on a daily basis:
- Don’t over wash your hair. Once every other day is more than plenty; in fact it’s best to stretch it out to every three days at the most. If you really can’t cope with going this long, then spritz a bit of dry shampoo into your locks.
- Don’t overdo it on the hair drying. Keep your dryer on its lowest possible setting, and even occasionally let your hair air dry.
- Minimise the amount of product you use on your hair. Too many harsh chemicals can build up on your hair and cause damage.
- Dye less often. If you can bear to, leave it at least 10 weeks in between dyeing treatments, to allow your hair a chance to recover. Also, it is recommended that you only go for dye shades which are within three shades of your natural colour to minimise damage.
Q: Why use shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair?
Shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair contain some clever ingredients to help protect your hair against the damage it faces on a daily basis, as well as other agents to help repair the damage that has already been done.
It won’t be fixed overnight, and you may end up a little frustrated that you don’t see instant results – but fixing damaged hair is a marathon rather than a sprint.
Unless you decide to shave it all off and start again, it takes time to mend damaged hair – but it can be done, and you will see some results soon enough to make you realise it is worth your while to use shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair.
Q: Can shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair actually help?
The short answer is yes. The clever ingredients in these specially prepared formulas can really improve the condition of even the most damaged hair.
There are a variety of components in these shampoos and conditioners that improve damaged hair – ingredients like Argon Oil, which is as nourishing and rejuvenating an ingredient as can be found anywhere.
Keratin forms the main structure of hair, so including it in a shampoo that is designed to help damaged hair is a given.
Strong moisturising agents such as Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and Aloe Vera are also fantastic support for damaged hair.
Collagen is another great ingredient for damaged hair, as this is another element that is involved with the renewal of skin and hair cells.
