By Alison McGill
We all love that fresh from the salon feel. Gorgeous, glossy locks that not only look amazing, but feel incredible too. In the time between your appointments though, you likely notice your hair starts looking not so premium. Colour fades, frizz kicks up, dryness from heat styling takes a toll making strands look less than stellar.
Bond-building products have been the buzz for a while now and we can confirm they are truly the secret to keeping hair healthy and looking pro-styled every day. If you haven’t used one or have considered a bond-builder but are unsure of exactly what they’re all about, we’re here with facts for you.
Read on to learn about the wonders bond-builders can work on your hair, as well as our reccos of six of the best-in-class products.
Bond-Builder Facts
Though they started life as salon-only, professional products, bond-builders quickly made their way into at-home formulas. These protein-packed products are designed to repair hair damaged from colour chemicals and excessive heat styling. Unlike traditional deep conditioners and hair masks which work on the surface to coat strands with moisture, bond-builders work on a much deeper level. They are designed to fix hair from the inside out, repairing bonds and polypeptide chains which become broken thanks to aggressive chemical and/or thermal activity.
Bond-Builder Benefits
Because bond-builders work to rebuild and strengthen the chemical makeup of your hair, strands are less prone to breakage, look and feel thicker, and boast incredible shine. Bond-builders are made for all hair textures and can be used even if you don’t chemically treat your hair—you will reap all the same benefits! A bonus of using bond-building products is you can choose a formula that works best for you because there are a full range of types to choose from including bond-building shampoos, conditioners, masks, leave-ins, or hair oils. You can also choose to bond-build through every step of your hair care regime too—I personally am a fan of doing just this starting with a pre-shampoo treatment (always yes to Olaplex No. 3!) that is truly a game-changer.
HERE ARE SIX OF THE BEST BOND-BUILDERS FOR YOUR HAIR
The Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Olaplex was the OG brand that made bond-building products famous; this is one of the line’s viral sensations (it currently has over 34 million TikTok posts). Use this as a first step, before cleansing. Apply to damp hair, let sit for 10 minutes, rinse, then cleanse and condition. The hype is real—your hair will shine bright and feel incredible.
BUY: Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector, $41 for 100ml, olaplex.ca
The Shampoo
Amika’s The Kure is a gentle shampoo that treats your hair with care, packed with plant butters, vegan proteins, omega fatty acids and bond cure technology. This is a smart first step in an intensive, bond-building haircare routine.
BUY: Amika The Kure shampoo, $39 for 275ml, loveamika.ca
The Conditioning Concentrate
Repair split ends and strengthen your hair with this leave-in treatment that also promises heat protection up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. This bond-builder is also perfect for summer and air-drying season because imbues hair with a smooth and soft finish.
BUY: Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate, $39 for 150ml, chatters.ca
The Leave-In Treatment
Formulated with an intelligent biometric emollient blend, this treatment is designed to be used once a week, applied to damp hair after cleansing and conditioning. Two pumps are all it takes to regenerate hair and you’ll notice dramatic results after just one application.
BUY: Living Proof Triple Bond Complex, $61 for 45ml, sephora.com
The Flash Treatment
Use this one after shampooing and conditioning for a supercharged, bond-build. Apply from roots to ends, leave on for just 10 seconds, and rinse. Delivers glass hair in an instant!
BUY: Aveda Botanical Repair Bond-Building Flash Treatment, $72 for 150ml, aveda.ca
The Hair Oil
K18 is another groundbreaking brand in the realm of bond-builders. A recent addition to the leave-in treatment line is this reparative hair oil which can be used on damp or dry hair. A little goes a long way— a concentrated drop or two is all you need to make hair shine.
BUY: K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil, $88 for 30ml, sephora.com
