A Routine for Dry, Damaged and Chemically Treated Hair
Bleaching, coloring, straightening, perms and daily heat styling all wear down the hair. The outer layer (the cuticle) lifts and chips, and the inner proteins and lipids that keep the strand strong and flexible are lost. The result is hair that feels rough, tangles, frizzes and breaks.
Is your hair dry or damaged?
- Dry hair lacks moisture and oil: it looks dull and feels rough but is still strong. It needs hydration and nutrition.
- Damaged hair has lost structure: it stretches and snaps, looks gummy when wet or has many split ends. It needs repair with proteins and amino acids, plus moisture.
Most chemically treated hair is both, so a good routine alternates repair and moisture.
1. Wash with a repairing shampoo
Choose a gentle shampoo from a repair line, such as BioRestore Total Repair (cystine, Ojon oil and macadamia oil) or Elements Keratin + Shea Butter. If your scalp gets oily or you use many styling products, clarify once in a while with a detox product — see oily scalp care.
2. Treat with a mask once or twice a week
Alternate a repair mask (Total Repair, Keratin + Shea Butter, Protein Fusion) with a nourishing one (Marrow + Caviar, BioRestore Argan). Too much protein can make hair stiff, so balance it with moisture.
3. Boost with a concentrated treatment
- Bio Hair S.O.S ampoules — cystine and cysteine for brittle hair; use alone or mixed into your mask.
- Fusion CMC — a 3-step treatment with amino acids and micronized lipids.
- Uniq Pro 12 — 12 benefits in one ultra-conditioning treatment.
- Acidic Bonding — after bleaching or chemical services, this pH 2.5 stabilizer helps close the cuticle (see pH).
4. Protect before heat
Always apply a heat protectant before the blow-dryer or flat iron, and lower the temperature when you can. Amino Extreme Thermal Protector, the Elements Wheat Germ heat protectant and heat-activated oils like Bio Elixir all form a protective film.
5. Seal with a leave-in or oil
Finish with a leave-in from your repair line and a few drops of oil on the ends. Cristalli Repair, with monoi oil, helps seal split ends; Elixir Gold and Bio Elixir add shine. See all hair oils and serums.
Habits that help
- Detangle from the ends up with a wide-tooth comb.
- Pat hair dry with a towel instead of rubbing.
- Give the hair a break between chemical services.
- Trim split ends regularly; no product can fuse them back permanently.
Shop the full routine in our dry & damaged hair collection.