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These Are The Best Shampoos For Rescuing Damaged Hair

Keep brittle locks at bay.

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best shampoos for damaged hair

If shampoos for dry hair work hard to restore nourishment and those for greasy hair guarantee a fresher, extra-clean feel, those with damaged locks have the more complex task of not only cleansing away grease and oil, but also repairing strands affected by heat, colour, bleach, and everything else in between. Thankfully, there are plenty of excellent options that tick all the boxes.

Shampoos for damaged hair: The ELLE top five

What does damaged hair look like?

'It usually feels dry and brittle to touch, and you would notice a lack of natural shine,' shares Christophe Potin, Aveda's artistic director and educator. Damage can be caused by a myriad of things - from regular use of hairdryers and straighteners without a heat protector to bleach, poor quality hair dyes and UV rays. City pollutants and sea water can wreck havoc on fragile strands, too.

What to look for in a shampoo for damaged hair

Formulas that promise to strengthen and rehydrate your hair from the inside out are best, according to Potin. Plant proteins are excellent at fortifying weakened strands, but he also recommends gratissima oil, which is found in avocados to repair damage, alongside omega 3, omega 6 and quinoa protein.' Your shampoo should also contain lightweight hydrators such as glycerin to maintain softness. 'Low quality shampoos will strip the hair and leave it looking dull and brassy. Also, avoid shampoos that have an artificial colour or an overly strong, artificial scent,' suggests Potin. Ahead, the best shampoos for damaged hair to try now.

The best shampoos for damaged hair

Best for all hair types

Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Shampoo

Botanical Repair Strengthening Shampoo

This vegan formula works hard to remove excess sebum, pollution and impurities without stripping it of essential moisture, so breakage can be kept at bay. It contains avocado-derived gratissima oil which helps to repair damage and provide nourishment to all hair types.

Best for bleached hair

Olaplex No4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

No4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Whether you're a platinum blonde who's no stranger to frequent bleaching or someone who gets her highlights done religiously, Olaplex is a hairdresser's favourite for ensuring your dyed and processed strands stay strong and healthy. It uses a patented bond-building innovation that penetrates deep into the hair shaft to repair damaged hair of all textures.

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Best for processed curls

Redken Acidic Bonding Curls Shampoo

Acidic Bonding Curls Shampoo

Curly hair types who are regulars at the salon for colour or heat treatments need to add this reparative shampoo to their wash-day roster, stat. It uses the amino acid glycine and pH-balancing citric acid to provide lightweight hydration and bounce while maintaining the natural curl pattern.

Best for grease-prone hair

K18 Damage Shield pH Protective Shampoo

Damage Shield pH Protective Shampoo

Environmental aggressors and heated tools don't stand a chance against K18's patented K18peptide, which restores lost protein from the inside out so hair stays strong. Meanwhile, a ceramide blend acts like a Band-Aid for compromised patches, protecting strands from further damage and ensuring smooth, tangle-free results. It's also free from heavy oils, so greasy scalps can rest easy.

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Best for fine hair

Larry King Good Life Shampoo

Good Life Shampoo

A-list hairstylist Larry King counts Gigi Hadid and Karlie Kloss as clients, so he knows exactly what heavily-styled hair needs in order to thrive. His Good Life shampoo is fortified with biotin to strengthen weak locks while vitamin B5 provides weightless hydration.

Best for summer

Ceremonia Guava Protect and Repair Shampoo

Guava Protect and Repair Shampoo

Ceremonia haircare is rooted in founder Babba Rivera's Latinx heritage. This gentle formula uses guava extracts and Guatemalan aloe vera to protect dyed strands from the effects of chlorine, UV rays and salt water. It's great for those prone to split ends, too.

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Best for shine

Tresemmé Lamellar Shine Shampoo

Tresemmé Lamellar Shine Shampoo

If your damaged strands are looking a little lacklustre, it's worth keeping this shampoo in your arsenal. Lamellar technology helps to smooth out the hair cuticles thus ensuring sleeker, glossier results. Fine hair will notice less frizz, too.

Best for shedding

Oribe Hair Alchemy Resilience Shampoo

Hair Alchemy Resilience Shampoo

For style and substance, Oribe's Hair Alchemy truly delivers. It is packed with plant proteins to strengthen brittle hair while maintaining softness and shine. It helps to minimise hair fall and is safe for colour-treated locks.

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Best for growth and dry hair

Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo

Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo

A potent cocktail of rosemary oil, biotin, peppermint oil and moisturising babassu oil helps to not only encourage healthier growth, but also restore lost hydration in very dry hair.

Headshot of Medina Azaldin
Medina Azaldin
Beauty Editor, ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK

Medina Azaldin is the beauty editor of ELLE and Harper's Bazaar UK, working across print and digital features. She has more than seven years journalism experience and has previously written for Red and Good Hoousekeeping. When she's not demystifying the latest skincare ingredient, sniffing out the next big perfume trend or uncovering the science behind wellness practices, you'll most likely find her in Hatchards Piccadilly or watching a crime series with her cats. Oh, and she's a competitive cheerleader, too. 

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