Our Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Damaged Hair

Real talk: Damaged hair can be difficult to take care of—but finding the right hair care products can help make things a little easier. If you have a high level of hair damage, you should look for a system consisting of a shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair. Skipping out on the conditioner? That’d be a major hair care mistake, especially if your strands are damaged. Want to find the best conditioner for damaged hair, a shampoo to go with it, and a deep conditioner worth pampering your damaged strands with? We’ve got you covered! Below, learn about our best shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair, along with the best hair care products to pair with them. We’re also tackling a few major damaged hair care questions (can conditioner repair damaged hair?) and have plenty of tips to share, so keep reading!

OUR BEST SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER FOR DAMAGED HAIR

Looking for a shampoo and conditioner that’ll give some much needed TLC to your damaged mane? Look no further than our best shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair, the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Repairing Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Repairing Conditioner. Use the shampoo and conditioner in conjunction with a hair mask for damaged hair. More specifically, pair them with the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm. The Total Repair 5 system helps nourish dry hair and address five signs of damage, including split ends, weakness, roughness, dullness, and dehydration.

Editor’s tip: Speaking of split ends, here’s How to Get Rid of Split Ends.

WHAT IS THE BEST DEEP CONDITIONER FOR DAMAGED HAIR?

If your hair is feeling extra damaged, consider using a daily deep conditioner in place of your conditioner. Our best deep conditioner for damaged hair? The L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Rapid Reviver Deep Conditioner, which works to repair damaged hair and promote less breakage in just 60 seconds.

WHAT ABOUT THE BEST CONDITIONER FOR DRY, BRITTLE HAIR?

If you have damaged hair that’s also dry, brittle, and color-treated, you may be wondering if there’s a specific conditioner you should be using to bring your strands back to life. The L’Oréal Paris EverPure Repair and Defend Conditioner is safe for color-treated hair and is formulated to deeply condition and strengthen fragile hair and repair and protect hair from environmental damage and daily color aggression. Use it in conjunction with the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Repair & Defend Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Repair Remedy Balm.

HOW TO CONDITION DAMAGED HAIR

Ready to start conditioning your way to healthier hair? Here’s how to create an easy hair care routine with your new shampoo and conditioner system.

STEP #1: WASH YOUR STRANDS

Start with shampoo and massage it onto wet hair in the shower, then rinse out with lukewarm water.

STEP #2: REACH FOR CONDITIONER

Follow up by applying the conditioner and letting it sit for one to three minutes, then rinse out. Does your hair need even more love? Apply the daily deep conditioner instead, leave it on for one minute, then rinse.

BONUS STEP: GIVE YOUR HAIR A TREAT

Once or twice a week, swap out your conditioner for a hair mask to indulge in some much-deserved self-care. Apply the hair mask after shampooing, and leave it on for three to five minutes before rinsing out.

CAN CONDITIONER REPAIR DAMAGED HAIR?

So, just how much can following those simple steps and conditioning damaged hair do? While taking care of damaged hair is a must, the unfortunate truth is that you can't reverse damage that's already occurred. That being said, you can use the right conditioner to make your hair look healthier and help prevent future damage. Basically, you can’t turn back time and not damage your hair in the first place, but you can start making better hair care choices! Which brings us to our next question…

HOW CAN I STRENGTHEN MY DAMAGED HAIR?

There are a few ways you can strengthen damaged hair. Here are three to take note of.

HAIR STRENGTHENING TIP #1: USE THE RIGHT HAIR CARE PRODUCTS

Of course, the right hair care products can do wonders to help strengthen your locks. Along with the products mentioned above, be on the lookout for hair treatments for damaged hair, as these can help strengthen your strands. More on that later…

HAIR STRENGTHENING TIP #2: CONSIDER YOUR HAIRSTYLE

How you style your mane can take a toll on your locks. As a general rule of thumb, avoid heat styling and opt for heat-free hairstyles instead, as heat styling can lead to hair breakage, split ends, and more hair damage overall. Need some hairstyle inspo? Here are 20 Hairstyles for Damaged Hair.

HAIR STRENGTHENING TIP #3: CONSIDER YOUR DIET

You know what they say, you are what you eat! While that may not literally be true, the foods you eat can influence the health of your strands. To learn more, head over to our article, Does Eating Food for Healthy Hair Work?

WHAT ARE THE BEST PRODUCTS FOR DAMAGED HAIR?

So, besides shampoo and conditioner (and deep conditioner), what products do you need in your damaged hair care routine? We have a few to suggest.

L’Oréal Paris EverPure 10-In-1 Elixir: This skincare-inspired super treatment delivers 10 benefits in one, helping to nourish, hydrate, soothe, repair, strengthen, and more.

L’Oréal Paris EverCreme Renourishing Butter: Rich in gardenia and flower oils, this hair treatment intensely nourishes and smooths in just one use. The treatment revives lifeless locks and restores hair's natural radiance.

L’Oréal Paris EverStrong Break Proof Lotion: With its fortifying formula with goji, this hair treatment strengthens fragile hair, helping to repair and protect it against breakage. The hair breakage treatment forms a protective shield defending against UV rays and heat styling.

L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Protein Recharge Treatment: This leave-in treatment for damaged hair is formulated with almond plus protein elixirs and helps increase strength, flexibility, and protect against everyday damage caused by heat and styling for incredibly soft, yet resilient hair.

L’Oréal Kids Burst of Sweet Pear Tangle Tamer for All Hair Types: Think you don’t need a detangler? Think again! Brushing knots and tangles sans detangler is a major no-no, as this can lead to breakage and split ends. This spray-on conditioning formula detangles any type of hair in a flash. Bonus: It has a burst of sweet pear scent that makes taming hair pure, juicy fun!

4 HAIR CARE TIPS FOR DAMAGED HAIR

In our humble opinion, you can never have too many hair care tips, especially when it comes to damaged hair. In addition to heeding all of our advice on cleansing and conditioning, keep the following four tips in mind.

DAMAGED HAIR TIP #1: TURN DOWN THE TEMPERATURE IN THE SHOWER

Super-hot water can strip your strands of essential oils, which can leave your hair feeling drier. Try washing your hair in lukewarm water the next time you get in the shower and your hair will thank you, especially if it’s already damaged.

Editor’s tip: Think there’s more room to improve your shower routine? Here are 7 Mistakes You Could Be Making in the Shower.

DAMAGED HAIR TIP #2: BLOT YOUR HAIR DRY WITH A COTTON T-SHIRT

Once you’ve stepped out of the shower, don’t just grab the first towel you see. As a towel alternative, pick up a cotton T-shirt and gently (ever so gently!) blot your hair to help remove excess water. When it comes to damaged hair, treating it gently is the name of the game.

DAMAGED HAIR TIP #3: COMB YOUR HAIR BEFORE SHAMPOOING

Hair is more fragile when it’s wet, so don’t wait until after you’re done showering to comb your damaged hair. Do it beforehand, being careful to start at your ends and work your way up, and you won’t have tangled tresses at the end of your shower.

DAMAGED HAIR TIP #4: STYLE YOUR HAIR SMARTLY 

Like we mentioned earlier, you’re better off taking a break from heat styling when you have damaged hair. If you’re considering heat styling your damaged hair, make sure to apply a heat protectant, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle BLOW DRY IT Thermal Smoother Cream, first.

Another option for preventing heat damage (and our favorite) is to cut out heat as much as possible and try air drying your hair instead. When your hair is damp, spray on a texturizing hair spray, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle AIR DRY IT Wave Swept Spray, then create a braid. Undo the braid once your hair is dry to reveal effortless waves. Try weaving one braid for looser waves or multiple braids for tighter waves!

And there you have it! Our best shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair, along with all the products and tips you should use alongside them. Next up: 10 Ways to Stop Hair Breakage.