Hair bonding treatments are popping up everywhere these days, and if you’re wondering about these buzz-worthy products, we’re telling you everything you need to know. There are three bonds that make up the hair structure- hydrogen, ionic, and covalent. Bonds can be weakened and broken by damage like bleaching, chemical treatments, and heat styling. Hair bonding treatments repair broken bonds, improving your hair’s strength and manageability. They’re known to enhance your hair from the inside out, leaving you with your most luscious strands. Here are 6 of the best hair bonding treatments and how to use them.
What Is Hair Bonding?
Hair bonding treatments are a type of hair care product designed to repair and strengthen damaged hair by rebuilding broken bonds within the hair strands. They’re essentially a more concentrated form of a deep conditioner that uses chemical bonds to reconstruct damaged hair. The formulas typically include proteins, amino acids, and hydrogen bonds that penetrate deep inside your hair shaft to repair it. The added protein helps reform the hair structure with strength and elasticity, and amino acids and peptides add moisture and hydration to dry, damaged hair.
Is Hair Bonding Safe for All Hair Types?
Hair bonding treatments are considered safe and effective for pretty much everyone. However, overusing products containing protein can dry out your hair and have an adverse effect on your strands that actually causes breakage. When used properly though, they won’t actively hurt your hair.
Can I Do Hair Bonding at Home?
Yes, you can! While once reserved for in-salon use, you can now do it yourself at home with easy-to-use hair bonding products like the ones we talk about below.
How Often Can I Use Hair Bonding Treatments?
It depends on how damaged your hair is as well as the product itself. Always follow the package directions for use to ensure you’re not overusing it as this can cause damage to your hair. Some treatments recommend once a week, while others suggest 2-3 times per week, or as needed.
6 Best Hair Bonding Treatments and How to Use Them
1. Living Proof Triple Bond Complex
This hair strengthener builds all three types of bonds (hydrogen, ionic, and covalent) in the hair. The amazing thing about this formula is that it creates new bonds as well as repairing existing ones. It reduces visible signs of damage, including split ends, while preventing breakage and further damage. It’s scientifically proven to make hair 8 times stronger and can reverse a year’s worth of damage with just one use.
How to use it: After shampooing and conditioning your hair as usual, apply two pumps to clean, damp hair. Add more as needed, based on your length, texture, and level of damage. Comb through, and do not rinse out. Wait 10 minutes before applying other treatments or stylers and blowdry. Use it weekly for best results.
2. OLAPLEX No. 3 Hair Perfector
OLAPLEX’s patented system works to noticeably repair extreme damage and turn dry, brittle hair into soft, shiny, and more resilient hair. The OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology penetrates at a molecular level in all hair types. Bis-Aminoprpyl Diglycol Dimaleate is a single molecule that works in a unique way to quickly and effectively repair broken bonds and restore healthy hair.
How to use it: Apply it to damp hair from roots to ends, leave it on for 10 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. You can use it 2-3 times a week for very damaged hair.
3. L’Oréal Bond Repair Concentrate
This pre-shampoo treatment fortifies the hair and reduces breakage for silky smoothness. It strengthens weak hair from the inside out, whether it’s coloured, bleached, or otherwise damaged. It contains citric acid, which penetrates the hair cortex to rebuild weak hair bonds, and repairs hair in just one use.
How to use it: Before shampooing, apply the treatment to damp hair. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, then rinse and follow with shampoo and conditioner. You can use it 1-3 times a week as needed.
4. K18 Leave-in Molecular Hair Repair Mask
This leave-in treatment tackles daily damage with immediate and lasting results to restore strength, softness, and smoothness to the hair. Their patented K18 biotech treatment works on a molecular level to reverse hair damage and renews chemically damaged hair from the inside out.
How to use it: Use this in place of conditioner. Shampoo your hair, then towel-dry thoroughly. Apply 1-3 pumps of the mask and massage it through your hair, starting at the ends and working your way up to the roots. Let it sit for 4 minutes (don’t rinse out), then comb, add product, and style as usual. Use for 4-6 washes post-salon service, then as needed.
5. Joico Defy Damage KBOND 20 Power Masque
Packed with vitamins A and E as well as 18 amino acids, this bond-building treatment coats hair in lipids, which protects it from pollution and environmental damage. Their K-PAK keratin technology provides strength and resilience, while their smart release technology continuously releases a trifecta of healthy hair ingredients, including rosehip oil, arginine, and keratin. This helps repair and protect the hair from the effects of daily styling.
How to use it: Apply the mask to clean, damp hair, leave it on for 2-5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly avoiding the root area. You can use the mask 1-2 times a week, or whenever your hair needs some extra TLC.
6. Not Your Mother’s Intense Bonding Treatment & Bonding Leave In Protector
This duo consists of a hair treatment and leave-in product that help repair the hair, maintain hair strength, and provide lasting hair protection. They’re formulated with active bonding technology ingredients that penetrate the hair to repair broken bonds and restore damage caused by colour, chemicals, and heat styling. The leave-in protector intensely conditions and protects hair up to 450 degrees F.
How to use them: The bonding treatment is a pre-wash treatment that you use before you shampoo your hair. Apply to damp hair from roots to ends, and comb through with your fingers for even distribution. Wait 10 minutes (or longer) and rinse thoroughly. Shampoo and condition as usual. Spray the leave-in protector onto damp hair, from mid-lengths to ends, avoiding the roots. Comb through, and style as desired. Use the bonding treatment every 3-4 washes, or 2-3 washes if your hair is super damaged.
Hair bonding treatments can make a huge difference in your hair care routine. If you have damaged hair, try out these products to revive your hair!
This post contains affiliate links.
Did you like this round up of the best hair bonding treatments? We’d love it if you shared this post on Pinterest!
Looking for more hair care tips and products? Make sure to follow our Hair Board on Pinterest!
