Best Shampoo for Damaged Hair
Flaunting your gorgeous, heat-styled hair comes at a price, also known as hair damage. Ranging from sun exposure and heat tools to overbrushing and using the wrong products, it’s easy to damage your hair while trying to style it. But the good part? You can replenish your hair’s health and attractive look with a suitable shampoo. And that’s where I come in!
I’ve compiled a list of the ten best shampoos on the market for hair damage. No matter what your hair type is, you’ll find one that suits your needs. So get ready to find the best shampoo for damaged hair out there, and jump in!
At a Glance:
- Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
– Best Overall - Amika, the Kure Bond Repair Shampoo – Runner Up
- Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Shampoo – Best for Color-Treated Hair
- Kérastase Nutritive Shampoo – Best for Dry Hair
- Nexxus Keraphix Shampoo – Suitable for All Hair Types
- Redken All Soft Shampoo – Best for Split Ends
- Living Proof Restore Shampoo – Most Softening
- Oribe Gold Lust Repair and Restore Shampoo – Most Luxurious
- Briogeo Super Moisture Shampoo – Best for Curly Hair
- Virtue Recovery Shampoo – Best for Frizzy Hair
The 10 Best Shampoos for Damaged Hair in 2022
Here are my reviews of the ten best shampoos for damaged hair.
1. Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo – Best Overall
Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo checks all boxes as the best shampoo for damaged hair with its repairing abilities. Name any effect of hair damage, and Olaplex will swoop in and fix it, be it dryness, frizz, or split ends. It has a moisturizing effect like no other shampoo on my list, and it’s guaranteed to leave your dry hair looking all shiny and healthy.
While it doesn’t include any sulfates or parabens, you won’t miss them because it cleanses your scalp deeply and doesn’t strip your hair of its natural oils. And the cherry on top? It works for all hair types.
The only downside to buying Olaplex No. 4 is its slightly high price. But a few drops of the shampoo are enough to lather your hair, so the bottle will stay with you for a long time.
Pros:
- Moisturizing and reparative shampoo
- Sulfates and paraben-free
- Suitable for all hair types
Cons:
- Pricier than other options
Final Verdict
With its repairing abilities, safe ingredients, and shiny results, Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo proves worthy of your hair care routine.
2. Amika the Kure Bond Repair Shampoo – Runner Up
Amika the Kure Bond Repair Shampoo is manufactured with a unique bond cure technology that’ll give your hair keratin-like benefits. Amika scientists innovated the technology specifically to fight hair damage, and it’ll do wonders to nourish and strengthen your hair strands.
Not only will the Amika shampoo repair your hair, but it’ll also reduce breakage by at least 55%. So if you trim your hair regularly and use it, you probably won’t see split ends again.
The repair shampoo has an attractive amber vanilla scent that’ll compel you to use it. The fragrance is milder than many people would like, but it’s ideal for those with sensitive noses.
Pros:
- Nourishing and strengthening effects
- Reduces breakage
- Attractive vanilla fragrance
Cons:
- Its smell is too mild for some people
Final Verdict
Amika the Kura Bond Repair Shampoo comes a close second on our list because of its keratin-like effect, nourishing ingredients, and ability to reduce hair breakage.
3. Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Shampoo – Best for Color-Treated Hair
Have you recently dyed your hair and are now dealing with the nonideal aftermath? Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Shampoo will save your hair from all the dryness and frizz that follows color treatments. And the best part? It’ll preserve the new color and give it an attractive shine.
The Pureology hydrate shampoo will moisturize your hair and support your follicles with its delicate infusions of jojoba oil, sage, and green tea. And to leave your hair smelling all good, it has an aromatherapy signature blend that consists of lavender, bergamot, and patchouli.
This shampoo is sulfate-free to guarantee long-lasting hydration. While it works for all hair types, it shows the best results when used on dry and thick hair.
Pros:
- Moisturizing ingredients
- Ideal for colored hair
- Relaxing smell
Cons:
- Might be too heavy for thin hair
Final Verdict
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo is here to pamper your color-treated hair and leave it looking all shiny and healthy with its moisturizing ingredients and aromatherapy ingredients.
4. Kérastase Nutritive Bain Magistral Shampoo – Best for Dry Hair
Heat styling and chemical treatments leave hair all dry, but it’s nothing to worry about if you have Kérastase Nutritive Shampoo among your hair care products.
Whether you have severely dry hair by nature or chemically treated hair, the nutritive shampoo will come to your rescue with its nourishing effects. It’s manufactured from an extract of iris root that’ll enhance your natural hair texture and strengthen your fibers.
On top of that, it has an infusion of benzoin resin that forms a layer on your hair scalp to prevent moisture loss. However, it’s fair to warn you that the Kérastase shampoo doesn’t have a long-lasting smell.
Pros:
- Nourishing shampoo
- Enhances natural hair texture
- Prevents moisture loss
Cons:
- No long-lasting smell
Final Verdict
If you want an all-in-one shampoo that nourishes, moisturizes, and enhances texture, opt for Kérastase Nutritive Shampoo.
5. Nexxus Keraphix Shampoo – Suitable for All Hair Types
Are you looking for a shampoo that combines versatility, nourishing abilities, and quick results? Nexxus Keraphix Shampoo will give you these and much more with its powerful keratin protein infusion and healing ingredients.
This hydrating shampoo works for all types with the same compelling results, ranging from straight to extremely curly hair. It’ll leave your hair healthy and soft and improve its resilience. The shampoo also has an infusion of black rice that’ll hydrate your follicles and reduce split ends.
The Nexxus shampoo was manufactured using the science of Proteomics, which guarantees its revitalizing effect on the hair fiber. Its effect is almost instantaneous, and you’ll feel it after just one use. The only problem with it is that it has a black rice smell that may not be desirable for everyone.
Pros:
- Keratin protein and black rice infusions for healing and moisturization
- Quick results
- Reduces breakage
Cons:
- The black rice smell isn’t a favorite for many people
Final Verdict
Add Nexxus Keraphix Shampoo to your hair care routine and enjoy exceptional softness, instant results, and reduced breakage.
6. Redken All Soft Shampoo – Best for Split Ends
Redken All Soft Shampoo combines argan oil and a moisture complex to give you perfect-looking hair. This unique combination softens hair strands and detangles them, leaving you with a healthy and shiny look that you can only achieve through using heat tools. Not only that, but it’s also the ideal solution for broken hair.
The Redken shampoo is suitable for all hair types. So whether you have coarse hair, brittle hair, chemically-treated hair, or else, it’ll work for you.
You can use this shampoo daily because of its gentle formula that doesn’t strip your hair of its natural oils. However, it only shows quick results when paired with Redken All Soft Conditioner.
Pros:
- Argan oil and moisture complex for extra moisturizing
- Suitable for all hair types
- Gentle enough to use daily
Cons:
- Doesn’t work well with different brand conditioners
Final Verdict
For fewer split ends and the right amount of moisturization that softens your hair but doesn’t dry it out, get the Redken All Soft Shampoo.
7. Living Proof Restore Shampoo – Most Softening
The best you can do to heal your damaged hair and soften it is to add Living Proof Restore Shampoo to your hair care routine. This shampoo combines healthy hair molecules and conditioning agents to cleanse your hair and hydrate it.
The combination keeps dirt and oils away for longer, leaving you with healthy and clean hair. It also rejuvenates damaged hair cuticles and locks in moisture, resulting in soft strands with no frizz. As a bonus point, the Living Proof shampoo is safe for color-treated and chemically-treated hair.
That said, the shampoo’s citrus smell isn’t for everybody.
Pros:
- Healthy hair molecules and conditioning agents for cleansing and hydration
- Beneficial for damaged hair cuticles
- Reduces frizz
Cons:
- Its smell is too citrusy for some people
Final Verdict
Dry and damaged hair is a headache to deal with, but you can combat it with a bottle of the ever-softening Living Proof Restore Shampoo.
8. Oribe Gold Lust Repair and Restore Shampoo – Most Luxurious
Oribe Gold Lust Repair and Restore Shampoo brings the luxury of salons to your doorstep, packed in an elegant black bottle. It’s made up of a combination of collagen, caffeine, biotin, and niacinamide, also known as the bio-restorative complex.
This complex, combined with argan oil, will give you a heat-styled look without using any tools. It’ll also energize your scalp and repair cuticle damage, eventually giving you a healthy, replenished look.
While these features come with a high price tag, the quick results will be worth every penny.
Pros:
- Bio-restorative complex for improving hair and scalp health
- Argan oil for softness and moisturization
- Quick and excellent results
Cons:
- Pricier than most damaged hair shampoos
Final Verdict
Give your damaged hair the luxury it deserves with Oribe Gold Lust Repair and Restore Shampoo. It’ll repair your damaged strands, energize your scalp, and give you a salon-worthy look in no time.
9. Briogeo Super Moisture Shampoo – Best for Curly Hair
Do you want to heal your damaged, hard-to-tame curls without opting for a heavy chemical treatment? Briogeo Super Moisture Shampoo will come to your rescue with its strengthening and healing effects.
Although this shampoo is suitable for all hair types, it especially shines when used on curly hair because it doesn’t contain any harsh sulfates, silicones, or parabens.
The Briogeo shampoo includes B vitamins to heal brittle hair and reduce split ends. It also has algae extract to protect the scalp from radical damage and panthenol to improve elasticity.
The catch is that, like many other shampoos, the Briogeo product lacks a wafting, attractive smell.
Pros:
- Strengthening and healing ingredients
- Sulfate, silicone, and paraben-free
- Improves hair elasticity
Cons:
- Smell is bland
Final Verdict
The Briogeo Super Moisture Shampoo is here to give your curls a natural shine, increased elasticity, and excellent moisturization.
10. Virtue Recovery Shampoo – Best for Frizzy Hair
Do you know the annoying frizz halo that shows around your hair after you spend hours styling it? Finally, you can bid it goodbye with Virtue Recovery Shampoo. I’ve chosen this shampoo for frizzy hair because of its moisturizing ingredients.
It includes hydrolyzed quinoa to lock in moisture and restore hair’s natural shine. Also, it has baobab seed oil to soothe your dried strands and soften them around your scalp. And to revitalize your scalp and give you a healthy, vibrant look, the Virtue shampoo has grapefruit extract.
Aside from its healing properties, this shampoo will improve your hair color vibrancy. Its only downside is its rich, creamy formula that might weigh down thin or fine hair.
Pros:
- Improves color vibrancy
- Moisturizing and softening ingredients
- Revitalizes scalp
Cons:
- Not ideal for thin and fine hair
Final Verdict
Virtue Recovery Shampoo is your go-to product if you want to flaunt healthy-looking and vibrant hair without using chemical treatments.
How to Choose a Damaged Hair Shampoo
Before buying a shampoo for your damaged hair, you should learn about some features that’ll help you buy the right product. Here’s a brief roundup of them.
Hair Type
Your hair type is essential to consider when buying shampoo. Unless the shampoo you’re buying is suitable for all hair types, you might end up with a more damaging product.
For starters, if you have fine hair, you should look for a lightly formulated shampoo that won’t weigh down your strands and give you a flattened look. But if you have thick hair that’s challenging to brush, you should look for a hydrating and healing shampoo that’ll untangle your hair and give it a healthy look.
Most shampoos work perfectly for wavy and straight hair, but you might want to buy a smoothing product to ensure your strands stay straight and don’t curl.
As for curly hair, it requires a hydrating shampoo that reduces frizz and keeps curls bouncy. Ideally, it shouldn’t have a heavy formula or contain silicones and sulfates.
Ingredients
Looking at the ingredients of the shampoo you’re buying can save you from many mistakes. For instance, if you have dried and damaged hair, you’ll need a shampoo with argan or coconut oil to replenish it. But if you have damaged curly or wavy hair and want to sport a straight look, you should look for keratin proteins.
This point is also crucial if you don’t want a shampoo with sulfates, silicones, or parabens.
Scent
Although shampoo scents aren’t a priority for most people, you should consider them if you’re extra sensitive to smells or prefer a specific scent. For example, some shampoos smell floral, while some have fresh scents like citrus or mint. You also have the option to buy a mild-smelling shampoo if you dislike all scents.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Often Should You Shampoo Damaged Hair?
To keep your hair soft and shiny without weighing it down too much, wash it with shampoo every five days. But if you have an oily scalp that greases fast, wash it every two or three days.
How Do You Protect Hair From Damage?
To protect your hair from damage, do the following steps:
- Comb it with a wide-toothed comb
- Avoid heat styling tools
- Use moisturizing products
- Sleep on a satin pillowcase
How Do You Know Whether Your Hair Is Oily or Dry?
Oily hair gets greasy much faster than dry hair, and it causes flattened strands that lack volume. Meanwhile, dry hair causes frizz and greases slowly. On a side note, some people have oily hair around the roots that gets drier toward the ends. If this is your case, you should use light-formulated shampoos on your scalp and moisturizing conditioners on your tips.
Can You Use Dry Shampoo on Damaged Hair?
If you have to, then yes, you can. But I don’t recommend it because dry shampoo isn’t as moisturizing and healing as liquid shampoo. Also, overusing it might damage your scalp health and cause dandruff or hair loss.
To Wrap Up
With the right shampoo, you can say goodbye to hair damage and enjoy healthy-looking and soft hair. First, however, you should choose the one best suited for your hair type and damage degree.
If you want a full replenishing effect and don’t mind denting your wallet a bit, go for Olpalex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo. But if you’ve recently colored your hair and want to fix the damage but keep the vibrant color, give the Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Shampoo a try.
Finally, if you have dry hair and split ends that appear even after you trim your hair, go for the Redken All Soft Shampoo.
So what are you waiting for? Choose a shampoo and give your hair the treatment it deserves!