We've Listed All Our Best Shampoos for Damaged Hair in 2025
I've been in the beauty industry for 4+ years now, although my background is originally in fine arts. In between researching and publishing our guides, I’m usually snacking and making spontaneous (and somewhat chaotic) choices about what to do with my hair.
It’s hard figuring out the best shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair. From heat damage to colour damage - we put our precious locks through a lot! So, it's important you pinpoint precisely what shampoo for damaged hair best suits your needs.
Picking out a shampoo suited to your hair type will restore moisture and have you swishing your hair with pride once more.
So if dry, tangled, lacklustre hair is getting you down, we’ve got the 411 on the best shampoo for damaged hair.
Why is my hair damaged?
It’s a good question! There are a number of reasons why hair can get damaged. And it’s not just because you’ve been overdoing it with the hair dye!
A big contributor is a bad diet. Make sure you’re getting enough zinc, folic acid, and iron in your diet, because the nutrients will help your hair stay shiny.
Stress can also be a big factor in the health of your hair. Too much stress causes the follicles to go dormant, which can cause hair to fall out and break mid-growth cycle. Of course, too much heat and over-processing the hair will have a negative effect too.
Also, try not to wash your hair every day (we know, it’s hard). It strips hair of its natural oils, dries it out, and can leave it looking a bit … blah. And if you’ve been hitting the bleached hard, check out our best treatments to help.
How can I get my hair healthy again?
To negate years of damage, invest in some products that will treat your hair with kindness.
It’s time to get smart about your shampoo and be a bit more considered when it comes to conditioner.
We’ve got the at-home damaged hair treatments that will help your hair begin to heal itself.
Restoring and Repairing
Start a healthy hair routine right with Wella SP Repair Shampoo. It’ll prep the hair perfectly for further treatments and help smooth things out. Even though they're delivered in a shampoo, Hydrolysed Keratin Proteins can still deeply penetrate the hair for a conditioning effect, making your mane more manageable.
If you’ve been chemically processing your hair, Aveda Damage Remedy Restructuring Shampoo will help you get things back on track. It’s the best shampoo for dry damaged color treated hair. This gentle formula is part of a 3-step programme and helps repair damage with Coconut, Quinoa Protein, and Babassu. This Aveda shampoo for damaged hair is perfect for daily use if you can’t resist the urge to wash!
Cleanses and Strengthens
When your dry, damaged hair is in need of serious rescuing, there’s no better product than Redken Extreme – Hair Strengthening Shampoo. It’s a great shampoo for extremely damaged hair. Nourishing all layers of the hair strand, the Soy Protein seals in moisture and helps give the hair some serious body. Expect to see up to 75% less breakage after use.
Extra Caring for Extreme Damage
Kérastase Résistance Extentioniste Bain Shampoo is a great remedy for extremely dry, damaged, thirsty hair. Repairing the hair while it cleanses, it’s perfect for fine, thick, and curly hair types. This formula also works to protect from damage and environmental factors and is great for hair that’s been weakened by heat or overprocessing.
Amelia from our Customer Service Team shares her hair breakage journey and how she saved her bleached & damaged hair in the YouTube video below...
How good will this bottle look in your bathroom! With Alpha-Keratin 60ku, VIRTUE Recovery Shampoo treats dry, damaged hair and leaves it so fresh and clean. Sulphate-free, it’s gentle enough to keep hair protected but fierce enough to remove daily grime.
This nifty little Olaplex duo has just what you might need to get your damaged hair headed in the right direction. The complete at-home ritual will help transform dry, rough, damaged hair into something you can be proud of. This bundle contains a full-size bond-maintaining shampoo and conditioner.
Luxurious and Lightweight
Shu Uemura Ultimate Reset Shampoo will help your hair back to a healthy state in no time. Paradoxically, this power formula gently cleanses the hair of impurities and helps restore its natural beauty without weighing it down. It’s a good shampoo for dry damaged hair. Simply apply a small amount, scrub, and then rinse thoroughly. Easy!
Protective and Caring
If your hair is particularly porous, or you’ve been spending way too much time in the sun, Sachajuan Intensive Repair Shampoo could be the shampoo for you. It’s the best shampoo for damaged hair and split ends. Intensive Repair deeply cleanses the hair and scalp while penetrating the follicles for intensive effect. It also includes UV protectants to help ward off future sun damage!
Sachajuan Hair Repair cares for hair by promoting cell regeneration. This vegan formula will reduce frizz and leave your hair looking silky-soft and supermanageable. After shampooing, leave the formula on for up to 10 minutes to see some lush results.
High-Performing and Transformative
Iles Formula Haute Performance Shampoo is just what dry, damaged hair needs to come back to life. Suitable for daily use, this luxe, softening formula will help restore shine and bring back some bounce. Because there are no sulphates, silicones, or parabens, your coloured hair is in safe hand when you use this shampoo. And the Silk Proteins make hair supersoft to the touch.
How do I know if my hair is damaged?
Damaged hair is more than just a few split ends. If you’ve been playing with colour, straightening every day, and sitting out in the sun, your hair is likely damaged.
If you’re not sure just how bad the damage is, take a closer look. You’ll want to know exactly what’s the best shampoo for dry, damaged hair with split ends.
Run your fingers through your hair to see if it feels rough. If it feels like there’s a lack of moisture and you can spot the split ends a mile off, it’s time to put a new haircare routine in place. It’ll be worth seeking out the best shampoo and conditioner for fine thin damaged hair.
How can I repair my damaged hair at home?
Fear not! Help is at hand! Before you give up and chop it all off, there are things you can do to help. Wet hair is vulnerable, so make sure you tread lightly when handling it.
Avoid yanking a brush through wet hair and instead take to a wide-tooth comb. Vigorously towel drying wet hair will damage it. Instead, blot gently to soak up excess water.
Turn down the heat on your styling tools, and wear a hat when you’re out in the sun. Get into the habit of applying a weekly healing hair mask or treatment. Of course, go for regular trims to keep split ends at bay. You’ll see results from a regular Olaplex routine or hair supplement too!
Brand and product inclusions are at the sole discretion of Adore Beauty. We do not seek or accept payment from brands or individuals listed in our guides.
Want to find more of the best products for treating dry or damaged hair? Check out our guides:
