Hair treatments to try if you’re needing to repair serious damage

These effective and innovative treatments will give you your best hair yet.

Lacklustre, dry and brittle hair is an issue many of us face, and it can be incredibly disheartening. If you colour your hair and use heat tools (guilty as charged), you’re even more likely to encounter issues with your hair health. Alongside this, diet, stress and medical conditions can all impact the vitality of our hair. But the products we use to treat these issues can have more of an impact than we realise, and not always for the better. 

While treatments like Olaplex and K18 are widely used to treat hair breakage and restore hair health, some people have decided to part ways with these ranges after finding they aren’t quite right for their hair. So if you’re in search of alternative high-quality hair treatments, what other options do you have?

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Kérastase’s innovative new Première collection was created to offer an alternative to the mainstream hair treatments many of us use, with a specific focus on targeting calcium buildup. For the uninitiated, there are high levels of calcium in our water and it accumulates in our hair when we wash it. Calcium amplifies the effects of any pre-existing hair damage, and leaves deposits outside the hair shaft and in between the cuticles, making our hair rough and dull. 

Even more distressingly, calcium can penetrate down to the keratin layer, over time making hair brittle, rigid and much more prone to breakage, especially if your hair is coloured. So what specific treatments can we use to address the damage calcium buildup is causing and restore our damaged, weakened hair to its strong and shiny glory? The below might help you achieve your best hair yet.

A pre-wash treatment

It may seem counter-intuitive to use a treatment before you start washing your hair, but a quality pre-wash treatment with active ingredients will act as a base or protective barrier. Shampoo can strip your hair of its natural oils, so a pre-wash treatment will help minimise any potential damage washing your hair can cause. 

Kérastase’s Intensive Repairing Concentrate is a pre-wash treatment designed to remove calcium buildup, decalcifying hair from the inside out. You apply it to damp hair, let it sit for five minutes and then without rinsing, apply shampoo directly on top. It’s a must if you want your locks to look as shiny and strong as possible.

A decalcifying shampoo and conditioner

Now that we’re across just how damaging calcium can be to our hair health, it only makes sense to opt for a decalcifying shampoo and conditioner. Together, they work to remove excess calcium and repair dry, damaged hair. Coloured hair is particularly prone to calcium damage, so this is a must if you’re regularly getting your hair dyed. 

Kérastase’s Decalcifying and Repairing Hair Shampoo and Repairing Conditioner for Damaged Hair are suitable for all types of over-processed and damaged hair. Professional grade and sulphate-free, the shampoo gently and effectively cleanses the scalp and hair, removing excess calcium in the process. Meanwhile, the conditioner is repairing and softening, restoring hair to its original elasticity and neutralising the harsh impact of calcium. Together, this duo kicks off the inside-out bond repair process. 

A ‘filler’ mask

While you’re probably familiar with run-of-the-mill hair masks, ‘filler’ hair masks are the step you need to incorporate to take your hair health to the next level. Their rich formulas help rebuild your hair’s inner strength while forming a protective shield against future breakage. Kérastase’s Première Repairing Mask for Damaged Hair is designed for all hair types and has a unique anti-breakage filler that maximises hair recovery, particularly for those with colour-damaged hair. 

A repairing serum

Repairing hair serums are an important line of defence when it comes to hair breakage, acting as a protective barrier, sealing unsightly split ends and improving your hair’s elasticity. When used regularly, they result in shinier, healthier-looking hair. Kérastase’s Première Intensive Repairing Serum does just this, while simultaneously penetrating the hair fibre and reinforcing its strength. It also shields hair from humidity and heat and makes it easier to style. 

An intensive repair oil

It’s likely you already use a hair oil, but finding one that’s genuinely hardworking and effective can be a challenge. A high-quality intensive repair oil will minimise frizz, strengthen hair fibre and prevent breakage. Kérastase’s Première Repairing Hair Oil is a concentrated leave-in oil that revitalises and repairs hair, maximising strength and shine. It contains citric acid, glycine and peptides, which work together to strengthen hair fibres, seal split ends and eradicate dullness, leaving you with shiny, strong locks.

Like what you see? Read more about the Kérastase Première collection here.