If you’re anything like us, your dream hair can probably be described as soft, shiny, and healthy-looking. Words like dull, frizzy, or fragile definitely wouldn’t make the list. But, common hair habits—like coloring and heat styling—can damage your strands and contribute to weak, brittle hair. The good news is that hair-strengthening products can help fortify your weak strands and bring you closer to your hair goals.
Here, we’ll explain what can contribute to dry, brittle hair in the first place and offer some tips on preventing unnecessary damage. Then, we’ll introduce you to 15 of our favorite hair-strengthening products, from shampoos and conditioners to potent overnight treatments that fortify and boost shine. Healthier-looking (and stronger-feeling) hair awaits.
What Can Cause Dry, Brittle Hair?
There are several things that can weaken hair, but in many cases, it boils down to damage. Habits like heat styling, rough brushing, and dyeing your hair can all damage the hair’s outer cuticle, leaving it fragile and more vulnerable to breakage. And the more you engage in these habits, the more damage you’re likely to incur.
It’s worth noting that those aren’t the only factors that can contribute to weak hair. Frequently wearing your hair in tight hairstyles can stress the strands, making them more likely to snap or fall out. So can subjecting your hair to unnecessary friction (which is why pros often recommend swapping out your cotton pillowcases for slippery silk or satin varieties). And, of course, genetics play a role: Some people just biologically have more fragile hair than others—it can be an especially common concern for those with natural hair.
How Do I Fix Extremely Brittle Hair?
There are a couple of things you can do to help restore the look and feel of your strands when they seem fragile. The first is to take a break from any of those habits that can weaken your hair, including heat styling and coloring your mane. Secondly, consider getting a trim, particularly if you have split ends. While a haircut won’t repair damaged hair, removing split ends can help prevent the damage from getting worse. Finally, look into adjusting your haircare routine. We recommend seeking out products specifically designed to help strengthen, fortify, and nourish your hair, and using them consistently.
15 of Our Favorite Hair-Strengthening Products
If you’re wondering what types of products you’ll need, we’re here to help. Below, learn how to make your hair stronger-feeling with the help of these strand-strengthening staples from L’Oréal’s portfolio of professional brands.
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 5-Min Liquid Mask
Not to be dramatic, but we’d argue that acidic haircare is a lifesaver for dry, brittle hair. And while there are tons of truly excellent acidic products on the market, the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate 5-Min Liquid Mask is one of our absolute favorites. The lightweight conditioning mask with citric acid helps repair damage deep inside the hair, delivering intense moisture, shine, and strength for all hair types. We recommend using it weekly, and for best results, pairing it with the rest of the products in the Acidic Bonding Concentrate collection (which you can read all about here).
Biolage Professional Strength Recovery Shampoo
Whether you shampoo daily or weekly, you’ll want to choose a formula that cleanses without stripping your strands of much-needed moisture. Enter: Biolage Professional Strength Recovery Shampoo. The gentle formula with vegan squalane removes impurities while helping to preserve hair’s integrity for softer, smoother-feeling strands. Pair it with the brand’s Strength Recovery Conditioning Cream for Damaged Hair and Strength Recovery Strength Repairing Spray for hair that’s up to three times stronger in a single use (!).*
*system of Strength Recovery Shampoo, Conditioning Cream and Strength Repairing Spray vs. non-conditioning shampoo
Pureology Strength Cure Superfood Treatment
Nourish, soften, and strengthen brittle hair with Pureology Strength Cure Superfood Treatment. This weekly deep conditioning mask is a serious multi-tasker. It smooths split ends and helps repair damage while helping protect the hair from future damage. Plus, it’s made with the brand’s Antifade Complex to help keep your salon color looking vibrant.
Kérastase Blonde Absolu Huile Cicaextreme Hair Oil
If you’re a bleached blonde or have highlights, Kérastase Blonde Absolue Huile Cicaextreme Hair Oil is a must-have. The lightweight hair oil reduces post-bleach sensitivity and hair porosity and helps to repair surface damage in a single use. Apply it to damp hair after shampooing for soft, silky strands and a 98% increase in strength.* You can even work it through dry hair for added softness and shine.
*Instrumental test after application of the tested with Huile Cicaextreme *vs non-conditioned shampoo.
Matrix Unbreak My Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner
Bleaching your hair always causes some damage, which is why investing in a reparative shampoo and conditioner is so important when you go blonde. To help restore your strands and keep your blonde looking its best, we recommend Matrix Unbreak My Blonde Shampoo and Conditioner. The bond-strengthening system with citric acid helps reinforce weakened strands and revives bleached hair, leaving it stronger, shiny, and soft.
Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Anti-Breakage Leave-In Treatment
If your hair is prone to breakage, Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Anti-Break Leave-In Treatment is a must-add to your routine. The 5-in-1 treatment helps protect against chemical damage, heat damage, mechanical damage, surface damage, and breakage—all while leaving your hair looking smooth and shiny. We suggest pairing it with the rest of the Redken Extreme collection for the best results (read one editor’s review of the lineup here).
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Izumi Tonic Strengthening Energizing Water
Stronger hair is within reach with Shu Uemura Art of Hair Izumi Tonic Strengthening Energizing Water. The lightweight leave-in treatment with Japanese rice water hydrates and helps repair fragile hair, leaving it up to 10 times stronger in a single use.* It also adds body and thickness, boosts shine, and leaves your hair feeling smoother—which is why it’s on constant rotation in our haircare routines.
*non-conditioning shampoo + izumi tonic vs non-conditioning shampoo only
Kérastase Nutritive 8Hr Magic Night Hair Serum
We love products that work while we sleep, which is why Kérastase Nutritive 8Hr Magic Night Hair Serum is a must-have in our nightly routines. The leave-in hair serum is designed to help strengthen and nourish your hair while you sleep, so you can wake up to soft, easy-to-style strands. Plus, it helps protect against pillow friction, a major contributor to weak, frizzy hair. Apply the creamy formula to damp or dry strands at bedtime and comb it through your mid-lengths and ends before hitting the sheets.
L’Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Molecular Rinse-Off Serum
Give your brittle, color-treated hair some serious TLC with L’Oréal Professionnel Absolut Repair Molecular Rinse-Off Serum. This peptide-powered formula works from the inside, repairing hair’s internal structure to restore your mane’s strength, elasticity, and movement. For optimal results, you’ll want to pair it with the rest of the Absolut Repair Molecular collection, which you can read about in-depth here.
Mizani Strength Fusion Recover Mask
If you have relaxed natural hair, chances are good you’re no stranger to damage. Mizani Strength Fusion Recover Mask is here to help: The deep conditioning mask is specifically designed for damaged, chemically processed hair. The advanced formula penetrates deep into the hair fiber to help reinforce your hair’s internal structure after chemical treatments, leaving it silky and sleek. (Pro tip: Pair it with the brand’s Strength Fusion Strengthening & Shampoo for even more fortifying benefits).
Redken Extreme Length Triple-Action Treatment
If brittleness is thwarting your long hair goals, consider adding Redken Extreme Length Triple-Action Treatment to your routine. The five-minute mask contains biotin, niacinamide, and castor oil and targets the lengths, scalp, and ends to help reduce breakage. It’s suitable for all hair types and can be used weekly or as needed for stronger, healthier-looking hair.
Kérastase Masque Thérapiste Hair Mask
For those looking to level up their everyday routine, we recommend reaching for Kérastase Masque Thérapiste Hair Mask. The deeply reparative hair mask boasts a blend of strengthening ingredients (including glucopeptide and wheat protein) and helps nourish, repair, and protect fragile, weak hair. Use it daily or as often as needed for stronger-feeling strands.
Biolage Professional Bond Therapy Intensive Treatment
Level up your weekly “everything shower” with Biolage Professional Bond Therapy Intensive Treatment. The pre-shampoo treatment (or pre-poo, as it’s sometimes called) is specifically designed to help restore overprocessed hair. It visibly reduces the appearance of split ends by up to 78% and helps reduce breakage by a third.* And while it’s ideal for medium to coarse hair, it’s suitable for all hair types—if you skew oily, apply it from the mid-lengths to ends and avoid your roots.
*When paired with Bond Therapy Shampoo and Conditioner vs. non conditioning shampoo
L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Inforcer Anti-Breakage Conditioner
When you need results fast, reach for L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Inforcer Anti-Breakage Conditioner. The biotin and vitamin B-infused formula instantly helps reduce breakage—while continued use leaves hair stronger, shinier, and more manageable over time.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ultimate Reset Hair Mask
We can all use a reset sometimes, and your mane is no exception. Give it the royal treatment with Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ultimate Reset Hair Mask. It’s a luxe, deeply conditioning mask that helps fortify fragile, chemically-treated strands from root to tip for the ultimate reset. Pair it with the rest of the products in the Ultimate Reset collection for a truly transformative haircare routine.
Next up: Hair Serums: What Are They, How To Use Them, and 15 To Try Now
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