Yahoo Lifestyle Trust: These 17 Shampoos Will Make Damaged Hair Look Healthy as Hell
- 1/21
Trust: These 17 Shampoos Will Make Damaged Hair Look Healthy as Hell
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you highlight your hair at home, get it dyed at the salon, blow-dry it regularly, love to create waves and curls with hot rollers or a curling iron, or even just detangle it too aggressively, your hair is probably damaged as hell. And unless you're planning to chop all your hair off and start fresh, your only hope of getting your hair healthy and strong again is with the right products—starting with a damage-repairing shampoo.
According to hairstylists Bridget Kinney, Kimberly Cannon, and Sierra Kener, a repairing shampoo is one of the most important tools in your arsenal. Says Boston-based stylist Kinney, "It's important to use a shampoo to help add moisture and strengthen damaged hair" by looking for products that add protein. Because you're constantly adding potential damage—"styling, the sun, improper brushing, hairstyles, and ingredients in products," explains LA-based stylist Kener—you may need a damage-repairing shampoo more often than you think.
To help you find the right one for your hair type and texture, I've rounded up the 17 best shampoos for damaged hair that'll take your frayed, straw-like hair and give it epic softness and shine. Here's a sneak peek at all the options:
Our top picks for the best shampoos for damaged hair of 2023:
Keep scrolling for the full list of the best shampoos for damaged hair, plus the most important things to keep in mind when shopping for a new shampoo.
Imaxtree - Imaxtree - 2/21
Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo
Pureology
sephora.com
$36.00
It's no secret that coloring your hair—whether you DIY it with box dye at home or get it done at the salon—can lead to major breakage and dullness. Enter this strengthening and damage-repairing shampoo that's designed specifically for color-treated hair. The gentle, sulfate-free formula protects your color while amping up your hair health with keratin and antioxidants.
THE REVIEW: "I have tried every high-end shampoo and conditioner and I have to say THIS IS IT," writes a tester. "The ingredients are great and it smells really good. As someone that used to have dry, over-processed hair, this shampoo changed everything for me."
Courtesy Image - 3/21
Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Olaplex
sephora.com
$30.00
There's a reason why every colorist and hairstylist loves this shampoo from Olaplex for super-damaged hair: It uses a patented molecule to rebuild broken hair bonds (an inevitable side effect of bleaching and chemical treatments) to give you stronger hair that retains more moisture. It's the closest thing to a second chance for your hair.
THE REVIEW: "This shampoo is worth every penny," notes one tester. "After I use it my hair is literally luminous for days. It's one of the few products that truly improves the quality of your hair."
Courtesy Image - 4/21
K18 Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo
sephora.com
$38.00
NGL, I was hesitant to use this clarifying shampoo on my dry, color-treated hair but I'm so glad I did. Not only does it remove product buildup and excess oil from my scalp, it really made my hair feel stronger too. It's infused with K18's patented peptide molecule to repair broken bonds and protect your hair's outer cuticle. For best results, use it before the K18 Leave-In Mask.
THE REVIEW: "A new staple in my routine!!" reads one review. "This shampoo makes my hair softer, more manageable, bouncier, and overall healthier looking. I also love how it minimizes frizz-free—a must for me as I live in a hot climate."
Courtesy Image - 5/21
Virtue Flourish Shampoo for Thinning Hair
Virtue
ulta.com
$42.00
Need a shampoo for thinning hair or hair loss? Try this one. It delicately cleanses your hair and scalp while wrapping each strand in a "moisture shield" to make it look thicker and feel healthier too. Also great: The formula contains signal peptides to create an optimal environment for hair growth and keratin proteins to increase your hair's elasticity too.
THE REVIEW: "This is my holy grail shampoo," reads one review. "I tried many shampoos for thinning hair due to going through menopause, but none work as well as this one."
Courtesy Image - 6/21
Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hydrating Shampoo
Fable & Mane
sephora.com
$39.00
Damaged hair is synonymous with dry hair, which is why this mild shampoo from Fable & Mane is loaded with a combo of hydrating and repairing ingredients, like aloe vera, coconut oil, and gotu kola (it's known for its ability to support healthy keratin in the hair).
THE REVIEW: "This shampoo is SO good for thick dry hair!!" according to one tester. "I live in the desert so I need all the hydration I can get for my hair. It smells like a tropical getaway and is so luxurious too—I highly recommend!"
Courtesy Image - 7/21
Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Shampoo
amika
amazon.com
$68.00
The combo of hyaluronic acid, coconut water, and squalane in this ultra-hydrating shampoo is basically like a big glass of water for your dry, thirsty hair. In fact, the formula is proven to increase your hair's hydration levels for 72 hours.
THE REVIEW: "This product has helped my hair tremendously! I've colored my hair for years so I have some damage, but this shampoo has provided my hair with much-needed moisture and shine," notes one reviewer.
Courtesy Image - 8/21
Head & Shoulders Supreme Nourish & Smooth Shampoo
Head & Shoulders
ulta.com
$10.99
Annoyingly, most dandruff shampoos leave your hair feeling brittle and straw-like. But this one from Head & Shoulders does the opposite. It has pyrithione zinc to effectively get rid of flakes on your scalp, PLUS nourishing jojoba and argan oils to moisturize and smooth damaged hair.
THE REVIEW: "This is the only dandruff shampoo I've tried that doesn't make my hair feel like straw," writes a tester, adding that "it really helped get my flakes under control and my hair felt healthier too."
Courtesy Image - 9/21
Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo
mielle
$10.99
Wanna make your hair super shiny and strong? This shampoo from Mielle will be your BFF. It's made with gentle cleansers and a bunch of organic, plant-derived ingredients (like coconut oil, chamomile flower, and rosemary oil) to moisturize and soften strands, plus a dose of biotin to strengthen your hair so it can grow longer and healthier too.
THE REVIEW: "I love that this shampoo really makes my hair feel clean but does not leave it feeling dry and tangled like other ones I've tried," one reviewer writes. "My scalp feels nice and clean after I use it and my hair really looks super shiny too."
Courtesy Image - 10/21
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Wash
Gisou
sephora.com
$37.00
Idk about you, but my damaged hair is SUPER prone to frizz and flyaways. To help smooth everything out, I've been washing with this honey-infused shampoo from Gisou. Not only is it great for repairing damage (looking at you, split ends), but it also adds back moisture and nutrients to make my hair feel soft and look shiny.
THE REVIEW: "I'm a fan of all Gisou products, including this shampoo," notes one reviewer, adding that "the scent is absolutely delicious—subtly sweet and fresh."
Courtesy Image - 11/21
Pattern Hydration Shampoo
PATTERN
ulta.com
$20.00
This hydrating shampoo offers the ultimate moisturizing remedy for type 4 curls that are dry and damaged and also in need a little scalp cleanse. The combination of aloe vera, coconut oil, and honey soften and moisturize each coil, while the gentle detergents break down scalp oils without stripping hair.
THE REVIEW: "This shampoo is so hydrating—It left my 4C hair extremely soft and easier to style," writes one tester. "It didn't strip my hair but still made my scalp feel super clean post wash."
Courtesy Image - 12/21
R+Co Atlantis Moisturizing B5 Shampoo
R+Co
dermstore.com
$34.00
Got dry, damaged hair that's also super thick? Wash with this moisturizing shampoo from R+Co and I promise you'll be impressed with the hydrating results. It uses vitamin B5, prickly pear extract, and vegetable proteins to up your hair's moisture levels so it looks smooth and healthy.
THE REVIEW: "I’m a fan for life," reads one tester's review. "My hair was dry, damaged and breaking off and this shampoo really helped moisturize it. I use it with the matching conditioner and my hair has never looked better."
Courtesy Image - 13/21
Oribe Bright Blonde Shampoo
Oribe
$46.00
If you've ever bleached your hair, you know that going blonde comes with some seriously damaging side effects. The best fix: this purple-tinted shampoo that gently cleanses, deeply hydrates with hyaluronic acid, and brightens up your color by neutralizing unwanted brassiness.
THE REVIEW: "This is my favorite product from Oribe," one tester writes. "It really gets the orange tones out of my blonde hair and makes my hair feel super soft and silky. It's pricey bu def worth it IMO."
Courtesy Image - 14/21
Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Shampoo
adwoa beauty
sephora.com
$22.00
The secret to this shampoo's nourishing powers? Oil. Lots, and lots of plant-based, nourishing oils for your hair—like baobab, Jamaican black castor seed, sweet almond, and peppermint oils. Together they moisturize dry hair and repair split ends and breakage while soothing your scalp.
THE REVIEW: "I love that this shampoo is made with clean ingredients," writes a reviewer. "It smells amazing and really makes my curls feel more hydrated and soft."
Courtesy Image - 15/21
Herbal Essences Bio:Renew Honey & Vitamin B Shampoo
Herbal Essences
$9.99
This drugstore shampoo for damaged hair is loaded with moisturizing honey and all-natural botanicals to make your hair feel soft and smooth without having to use a ton of styling products. Plus, it's EWG-verified (basically, confirmed to be safe for you) and made without potentially sketchy ingredients like parabens, silicones, SLS, or mineral oil.
THE REVIEW: "I am impressed with how well this shampoo foams up and cleans my hair without making it look or feel dry," according to one tester. "The smell is fantastic too...very reminiscent of older Herbal Essences shampoos."
Courtesy Image - 16/21
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo
BRIOGEO
nordstrom.com
$28.00
This shampoo for curls and waves is made with rice proteins, moisturizing avocado oil, and shine-enhancing shea butter, which, when mixed together, work to penetrate your hair to deeply hydrate your hair and repair breakage. The result? More definition and shine, less frizz and split ends.
THE REVIEW: "This is an amazing shampoo," writes a tester. "Not only does it make my hair feel nice and fresh, I've noticed a major difference in how bouncy and smooth my curls are too."
Courtesy Image - 17/21
Rahua Hydration Shampoo
Rahua
$36.00
First, this all-natural shampoo is free-from sulfates (aka color-stripping surfactants that fade your dye job). Second, it contains a ton of good-for-your-hair ingredients, like protective antioxidants, strengthening quinoa protein, moisturizing aloe vera, and nourishing rahua oil. So not only will your color stay strong and bright, but your hair health will skyrocket too.
THE REVIEW: "This is one of the best non-toxic shampoos I've tried," notes one reviewer. "My hair is naturally frizzy and prone to breakage but switching to this shampoo has made such a big difference."
Courtesy Image - 18/21
Verb Ghost Shampoo
VERB
amazon.com
$18.00
Typical moisturizing shampoos for dry hair are filled with heavy hydrators that leave fine hair looking greasy and flat (womp womp). But this shampoo for fine hair uses only the lightest of oils, like moringa seed and sunflower seed, to make hair look shinier and feel softer without weighing it down.
THE REVIEW: "I have ultra fine hair and this is one of the only shampoos I've tried that doesn’t weight it down," according to one tester, adding that "it cleans gently and the smell is delicate and fresh."
Courtesy Image - 19/21
What is the best shampoo for damaged hair?
The best shampoos for damaged hair contain ingredients like keratin, biotin, amino acids, and peptides to help repair broken hair bonds and mend breakage (though, sorry, nothing can magically fix split ends except for a trim). And because dry, brittle hair is more susceptible to breakage, a good shampoo for damaged hair should also contain hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin along with moisturizing oils and butters, like jojoba oil, argan oil, and shea butter.
Courtesy Image - 20/21
How to choose a shampoo for damaged hair:
Skip the sulfates.
Sulfates (you'll see them as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate on an ingredient list) are a type of harsh surfactant that can strip your hair of its natural oils, which leads to dryness and breakage. They're also notorious for dulling your hair and causing premature color fading, so avoid them in your shampoo when you can.
Keep your hair type in mind.
Damage can happen to all hair types and textures, from fine and straight to thick and coily, so be sure to choose a shampoo that's labeled as "strengthening" or "repairing" and also suited for your hair type. As a rule, creamy, moisturizing shampoos will be better for thicker hair types or natural hair and clear, lightweight shampoos will be better for finer, thinner hair textures.
Courtesy Image - 21/21
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Lauren Balsamo is deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nine years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from the best best detanglers to the best blue shampoos for brunettes. She’s an authority in all hair categories but is an expert when it comes to shampoos for damaged hair. She regularly tests and analyzes shampoos for damaged hair for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top stylists and trichologists to assess new formulas and brands.
Katherine J Igoe is a former contributing editor at Cosmopolitan, and has twelve years of experience as a freelancer—with six of those years writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle, including leave-in conditioners and hair detanglers. Her shampoo for damaged hair picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and personal testing, along with information from experts.
Hearst Owned
