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Hair

The 15 Best Shampoos for Damaged Hair of 2023

 

To give life to your locks

Breakage from heat styling, bleach, and other harsh processes are some of the more common causes of damaged hair.1 Enter reparative hair care, so you can reverse the damage and rescue your tresses.

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 evaluating high-rated options based on how well they repaired damage and improved strength, elasticity, and hydration. We then coupled Aguirre's expert recommendations with our own extensive research to compile this list.

Best Overall
Kérastase Resistance Bain Force Architecte Strengthening Shampoo

What We Like

• Contains keratin
• Strengthens
• Smooths split ends

What We Don't Like

• Can be drying

Infused with pro-keratin2 and ceramides,3 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: $38

Hair Type: Damaged | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 8.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Budget
Aussie Total Miracle Shampoo

What We Like

• Budget-friendly
• Moisturizing
• Smooths split ends

What We Don't Like

• 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: $4

Hair Type: Damaged, dry | Sulfate-Free: No | Size: 12 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Drugstore
Nexxus Keraphix Damage Healing Shampoo

What We Like

• Budget-friendly
• Contains keratin
• Noticeable results

What We Don't Like

• 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: $19

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

What We Like

• Contains biotin
• Repairing
• Nice scent

What We Don't Like

• Reviewers note it could be more hydrating

Aguirre appreciates that Oribe's blend of argan oil,4 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: $53

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

What We Like

• Patented bond-building technology
• Repairing
• Nice scent

What We Don't Like

• Could be more hydrating

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

What We Like

• Moisturizing
• Contains biotin
• Smooths split ends

What We Don't Like

• 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

What We Like

• Contains keratin
• Strengthens
• Nice scent

What We Don't Like

• Not very moisturizing

In addition to keratin2, 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: $28

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

What We Like

• Contains amino acids
• Bond-repair technology
• Nice scent

What We Don't Like

• May be too heavy for fine hair

Split ends got you down? With a blend of amino acids5 and omega-rich sea buckthorn berry,6 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

What We Like

• Moisturizing
• Promotes elasticity
• Formulated for natural hair

What We Don't Like

• 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,7 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

What We Like

• Budget-friendly
• Moisturizing
• Contains organic ingredients

What We Don't Like

• 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: $13

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

What We Like

• Moisturizing
• Contains amino acids
• Prevents color fading

What We Don't Like

• Reviewers note it has a strong smell

Color-treated hair? Your best bet is Pureology Hydrate Shampoo. The moisturizing formula calls on jojoba oil,8 plant proteins, and amino acids5 to strengthen damaged hair and protect color vibrancy.

Price at time of publish: $36

Hair Type: Color-treated, dry | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Size: 9 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Sulfate-Free
Davines NaturalTech Nourishing Shampoo

What We Like

• Moisturizing
• Nourishing
• Smooths split ends

What We Don't Like

• Strong scent

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: $36

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

What We Like

• Generous size
• Contains amino acids
• Nice scent

What We Don't Like

• Not very moisturizing

This hefty pump bottle from Luseta contains nearly 34 ounces of bond-restoring shampoo. Thanks to quinoa seed extract,9 it supplies nine essential amino acids to strengthen the stressed hair shaft while encouraging healthy hair growth.

Price at time of publish: $19

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

What We Like

• Brightens blondes
• Makes hair feel silky
• Contains hydrating ingredients

What We Don't Like

• 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: $49

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

What We Like

• Moisturizing
• Hydrating
• Coconut scent

What We Don't Like

• 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: $10

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.

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. Our best moisturizing pick, the Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo, includes ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and algae extract for healthy, hydrated hair.

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. Some of our favorite picks that are formulated with keratin are the Kérastase Resistance Bain Force Architecte Strengthening Shampoo, the Nexxus Keraphix Damage Healing Shampoo, and the Fekkai Super Strength Shampoo.

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, like the Davines NaturalTech Nourishing Shampoo or the Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo for Beautiful Color, is a good bet for damaged, color-treated hair since it will be gentle on your hair and won’t strip your hue.

FAQ

How often should you shampoo damaged hair?

According to John Pulitano, salon co-owner and Sydney, Australia-based stylist, those with dry, damaged, and processed hair should shampoo up to twice a week, at most. “More than this can irritate the scalp and unbalance its natural oils,” he says. He also adds that the product you use is equally as important as how often you use it and recommends looking for nourishing products that contain reparative ingredients like keratin protein. 

Is dry shampoo safe for damaged hair?

Pulitano says it's safe for those with damaged hair to use dry shampoo. “The key is to use a good quality one,” he says. “You’ll also need to shampoo your hair properly to remove product buildup.”