I Tried Countless Treatments for Damaged Hair—Here’s What Actually Worked
There are three main causes of damaged hair—here’s how to minimize hair harm and treat existing damage. Plus, an edit of products that actually worked for me.
When selecting the perfect of-the-moment style for you (Jane Birkin bangs? An angled bob? A mermaid-worthy mane?), a universal truth guides us all: compromised lengths does no one any favors. Even the coolest cut and color lack the impact of healthy, well-tended lengths. “Damaged hair has overall weakened strength, making it more porous, dry, and prone to split ends,” celebrity hairstylist and K18 Ambassador Cassondra Kaeding tells Vogue. “Each type of damage affects the hair’s integrity in different ways, requiring reparative products that go deeper and work from the inside out.”
Shab Caspara, a New York City–based trichologist and founder of hair-care platform Leona, says the most common causes of hair damage include “mechanical damage (brushing, hair ties, extensions, and overall friction), chemical damage (overly bleached or processed hair), and thermal damage (flat and curling irons).”
According to Neera Nathan, MD, board-certified dermatologist and chief dermatological advisor at Vegamour, hair damage typically shows up in three main ways: breakage, hair loss, and dryness. Breakage occurs when damage to the hair shaft weakens it, causing strands to snap off. Hair loss is self-explanatory, while dryness results from damage to the outer layer of the cuticle, leading to moisture loss and hair that feels coarse and appears dull.
Take it from me: Nearly two years after my big chop, I’ve found that having a bob is relatively easy to maintain overall, but it requires far more frequent upkeep. Daily use of a multi-styler, even with a gentle touch, has also left its mark—more flyaways, a slightly more brittle feel, and a bit less movement. Mechanical damage has left my mane in a less than desirable state. So I took to TikTok, as one does, in search of solutions. Many Abbey Yung, trichologist and hairstylist, videos later, I became more methodical about my hair-care regimen—a change that, as the experts explain, can help prevent strands from becoming weaker and frizzier over time.
While there’s no way to completely undo heat damage, an overhaul of your daily product lineup can help (along with, as you may have guessed, regular trims). Regardless of which type of hair damage you’re dealing with, there’s a path forward for gradually improving the appearance of lackluster lengths—editor-tested and expert-approved. Ahead, take a deeper dive into the common causes of damaged hair, how to identify it, and the best ways to mitigate its effects—along with a curated edit of products that work well fo rme.
If there’s a tried-and-true method for achieving longer, stronger, shinier lengths, it’s hair oiling—so tried and true, in fact, that it’s an ancient Indian practice dating back more than 5,000 years. The concept is simple: applying nutrient-rich natural oils from scalp to ends to replenish moisture and nourish the hair. “It reduces dryness and gives your hair strength, shininess, thickness, and softness,” Ananta Ripa Ajmera, a certified Ayurvedic health practitioner, previously told Vogue. Another benefit of hair oiling—especially before shampooing? Your oil of choice acts as a protective barrier, helping prevent shampoos from stripping away natural moisture while also minimizing protein loss.
Adding a pre-shampoo oil treatment to my routine has made the single biggest difference in my overall hair health. After just one month, my hair already feels noticeably softer. I let the oil sit for about 10 to 20 minutes before hopping in the shower. My current go-to is RŌZ Hair’s Willow Glen Pre-Wash Treatment Oil, which is naturally rich in fatty acids thanks to its macadamia oil base. Meanwhile, JVN’s pre-wash oil is an excellent option for irritated scalps or thinning hair, thanks to its antioxidant- and anti-inflammatory-rich formula. For those who prefer a richer treatment, OGX’s Coconut Miracle Oil is a drugstore favorite—and one that appears frequently in Yung’s videos. And for curls and coils, Carol’s Daughter has earned more than 12,000 glowing reviews—often in rotation in Vogue’s Kiana Murden’s regimen.
The pros stress the importance of taking ensuring your shampoo and conditioner are free of harsh sulfates. “Never skimp on shampoo and conditioner, because it’s the thing you use the most,” celebrity hairstylist Bridget Brager explains. According to her, sulfate-free formulas are the way to go, as harsh detergents can strip hair of its natural oils, leading to increased frizz and dryness. What’s worked for me is rather than washing my hair less frequently and relying on clarifying shampoos twice a week, I’ve actually increased my wash schedule to every other day, focusing on hydrating formulas at each cleanse. These days, I reserve scalp-clarifying treatments for once a week to help remove buildup without over-drying my strands.
One fan-favorite drugstore option is L’Oréal Paris’s EverPure Moisture Shampoo. My personal favorite, however, is Davines’s OI Shampoo—no other formula has left my hair feeling quite as silky. RŌZ Hair and Pureology also offer standout options, with formulas rich in ceramides, antioxidants, and botanical oils that help support softer, healthier-looking hair.
Bond-building hair products—which work by repairing the amino acid bonds that give hair its strength and structure—have surged in popularity in recent years. “You can improve the quality of hair with bond-building products after slight chemical damage, however, you cannot restore split ends or breakage in severely damaged hair,” says Caspara. In other words, while these formulas can help strengthen and improve the appearance of compromised strands, they aren’t a cure-all for severe damage. When in doubt, Kaeding reaches for K18’s Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask. “It works on all hair types to reverse damage on a molecular level, by penetrating the innermost layer of the hair follicle to create stronger and smoother results.”
One of the biggest advantages of bond repair products is their versatility: They can be incorporated at multiple points throughout your routine, though finding the right fit may require a bit of trial and error. Personally, K18’s leave-in treatment is my go-to monthly—or as-needed—reset when my hair needs extra TLC. For daily post-shower styling before blow-drying, I reach for Living Proof’s leave-in treatment in place of a traditional styling cream. Epres offers a lightweight pre-wash bonding treatment that mists evenly through the hair without weighing it down, while Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment is an rinse-out option that can be used in place of a hair mask—and remains a editor-favorite K-beauty staple.
Even if you regularly use conditioner a weekly hair mask will do your lengths some good—and yes, the two products serve entirely different purposes. “The biggest difference between a hair mask and conditioner is the recommended frequency of use,” pro hairstylist Justin Toves-Vincilione previously said. “Think of conditioners like a body lotion and hair masks like a body butter. Conditioners can be used multiple times a week, as they are expertly formulated with a dilution that won’t oversaturate your hair. Hair masks are intentionally formulated to deliver maximum saturation and aren’t needed or recommended to use more than once a week at the very most.”
My go-to hair mask for years has been Color Wow’s Money Masque—the jelly-like, whipped texture never weighs my hair down, and the blend of sea algae and vegetable proteins leaves hair impossibly shiny. A newer favorite of mine comes from Misé En Scene—boasting a similarly whipped texture powered by encapsulated argan oil. Another must-have? Shu Umera’s mask, which is the most deeply conditioning of all, is the one I rely on when my hair has gone majorly dry—so good, I wrote a full review. Meanwhile, Dove’s hair mask is a drugstore favorite for bond repair cheaper than your lunch bowl.
In an effort to cut down on my heat damage, I’ve been setting down my multi-stylers and thermal brushes as often as possible and instead rough-drying my hair—either way, a heat protectant is still a necessity. “Thermal protectants work wonders protecting hair from thermal damage as they provide a coating that won’t allow hair to burn so easily from excessive heat,” Caspara explains, though the first rule of thumb is to air dry or power dry with your fingers to get most of the moisture out before reaching for hot tools. That said, the type of heat protectant you use needs to align with the style you’re doing.
For heat styling (like straighteners, curling irons, or thermal brushes), a dry spray is best—otherwise, you’re just frying your hair. Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day Heat Styling Spray does the trick. When you’re hope is to achieve a sleeker, frizz-free style, use sprays like Color Wow’s Dream Coat or Kenra’s Blow-Dry Spray. Even when using heat protectants, Brager recommends lowering the temperature of your hot tools altogether. “Style hair when it’s necessary, and let your natural texture flow whenever you can,” she says.
Mastering the art of hair brushing is key to minimizing additional stress on already-compromised strands, and choosing the right brush is far from a one-size-fits-all decision. “Wet hair is very fragile; handle with care,” says Brager, who recommends using a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush. She also advises working from the ends upward when detangling and allowing hair to air-dry as much as possible before heat styling.
