Founded in 2014, Olaplex was the first brand to ignite the concept of bond building. Today the market is booming with products of every kind—conditioners, leave-ins, oils— catering to the plights of damaged hair. But when it comes to textured hair, bond builders continue to fly under the radar. “I have clients who are certified product junkies but when I ask if they have a bond building product in their arsenal, the answer is usually a resounding no!” says Avlon ambassador Lathaniel Chambers. “When you straighten, relax, perm, blow-dry, bleach, braid or colour your hair, expose it to environmental conditions, or simply just brush it, millions of these bonds are damaged. A good bond-builder is paramount to returning hair to its healthiest state,” says Chambers.
A bond builder can be integrated at any stage of your hair routine and is not just designated for wash days. “In the early days bond builders came in the form of rinse-out treatment masques. To be honest these are still my favourite go-to for deep restoration,” says celebrity stylist Michelle Sultan. “With today’s innovation, you can strengthen your hair weekly, even daily with penetrating leave-ins and oils.”
We’re also seeing our favourite textured haircare brands formulating collections that work at a deeper, molecular level. “Brands like As I Am are raising the bar by ensuring their formulas for natural hair are science-backed,” says Chambers. So, if you’re not yet on the bond builder bandwagon or looking for an upgrade, check out these Spell-approved contenders tested on chemically treated, natural, dyed and relaxed textures.
Reasons to use bond treatments on textured hair
- Shine equals strength – Curly and coily hair are naturally prone to more dryness and breakage. A bond treatment works deep within the hair shaft to rebuild the broken protein links that cause weakness.
- 10 out of 10 heat and colour protectant – Gone are the days of compromising your curls to achieve desired styles like a silky blow-dry or highlights. Bond formulas are designed to keep the integrity of the curl pattern intact.
- Next level moisture – Some moisturisers and hair oils don’t have the molecular formula to penetrate deep into the hair’s cortex – yes, you, coconut oil! Bond technology works at a deeper level to deliver better hydration.
- Unparalleled curl definition – When bonds are broken, curls can lose their spring. Restoring them will bring back the bounce, shape and elasticity.
- Finally, because science says so – Bond repair treatments marry lab innovation with wash-day rituals. You can use it as a fortnightly conditioning masque or a night-time treatment. Whatever works for your self-care routine.
The all-rounder
Joining the line of excellent conditioning water sprays from As I Am, this new arrival is designed with sub-micron technology. What does that mean? The particles are so small it repairs and revives weakened bonds at a deeper level, even when the hair is tucked away in a protective style i.e. braids. Well worth adding to your daily routine.
Split-end antidote
Goldwell DualSenses Bond Day & Night Bond Booster, £20
The brand’s passion for providing professional colour to salons across the globe makes them the masters of structural hair care. To maximise length retention, this humble looking leave-in (also considered the hero product of the line) is loaded with peptides and amino acids to ward off split ends. Simply apply to the mid-lengths and ends.
Heat saviour
K18 HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant, £48
There are heat protectors and then we have the K18 version. Unlike traditional formulas that only protect the cuticle layer, the impressive heat-shielding technology coined Resilicore penetrates and fortifies whilst reducing heat damage up 85%. That’s our kind of #girlmath.
TikTok approved
Hairification H24 Complex Leave-in Repair Hair Mask, £10.99
So far, the TikTok headlines include Affordable hair repair; Transform your hair in 4 mins and Hair dupe of the year. Add on the stats—hair is strengthened up to 312%—it’s clear to see why this newcomer has such a strong fanbase. If you’re protein sensitive (and not adverse to following the hype), this is a good substitute for fortifying strands.
The cult fave
Olaplex No.10 Bond Shaper Curl Defining Gel, £28
The Olaplex numbers are steadily creeping up, and whether your part of the cult clan or not, it’s time to invest in N.10. Its superior bond technology is now reinforced with flexible polymers and plant collagen to generate long-lasting curl retention that’s soft to the touch.
Turbocharged hydration
HASK Bond Building Rinse-Out Deep Conditioner, £9.99
Hask is doing bits for textured hair—and we love it. Following our firm favourites: Keratin Smooth and Texture Series comes the gold standard Repair Series tailoring premium treatments for damaged, overworked hair. The TripleBond Complex reverses internal and external damage (think dullness and brittleness) with results showing in 24 hours.
Top-notch tech
L’Oréal Absolut Repair Molecular Bi-Phase Oil, from £22
Following the launch of the revolutionary Metal Detox comes this new-age, no nonsense oil. In laymen terms we’d describe it as leaner and meaner. Shake well until you see the bi-phase layers blend together to create a fast-absorbing mix that outperforms traditional viscous oils.
Ed’s choice
Rather than adding another tube to the bathroom shelf, this nifty Bond Boost by Hairstory bolsters the nourishing effects of the New Wash (sold separately). Formulated with liposomes and itaconic acid which target and restore broken bonds, this is savvy way to upgrade your wash day without a complete product overhaul.
