Hair treatments are a necessity for everyone trying to get healthy hair that will shine from within. Today, we are going to recommend the best hair treatments available on the beauty market, as well as give you a thorough explanation of the types of hair treatments, and tips for picking the right one for your hair type. You’ll get to know how to apply scalp and hair treatments, as well as a couple of DIY recipes that really work.
In this article:
- Our Picks for the Best Hair Treatments
- What to Look for in the Best Hair Treatment for You?
- Hair Treatment FAQ
Our Picks for the Best Hair Treatments
These days there are various hair treatment products on the market, and for that reason, we’ve taken our time to carry out proper research. The products listed below have truly proven their worth.
1. Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3
Straight, curly, coiled, or wavy, just name your hair type – this is the best hair treatment you need. Aside from the fact that it reverses just any kind of damage on the hair, hence the name perfector, it also contains glycerin, cetrimonium chloride, and sodium benzoate, which work hand in hand to give your hair that needed shine. You can try this premium hair treatment at Sephora.
2. Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment
Most of the ingredients in this hair treatment are natural products you see around you, such as tea tree oil, charcoal powder, and aloe vera juice. The charcoal powder detoxifies the scalp. The tea tree oil together with peppermint gives the scalp a cool feeling that leaves your hair refreshed. All this with some other natural ingredients reduces scalp irritation, itchiness, and oily scalp and fosters hair growth. One of the best hair treatments for most hair types, you can get this product at Sephora.
3. It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-in Product
As the name implies, it’s a leave-in hair treatment that works wonders when it comes to repairing damaged hair. It is an excellent nourishing treatment that can either be used alone or combined with other hair care products. If you ever need a product that will totally stop hair breakage, protect your hair color, and smoothen your hair, then this is what you need. It can be used on wet hair to bring out its natural shine and give it that silkiness you would like to wake up to every morning. Pick up a bottle at Ulta Beauty!
4. Christophe Robin Cleansing Volumizing Paste With Pure Rassoul Clay and Rose Extracts
This clay-to-foam shampoo contains 100% natural rassoul clay, rose water, and different extracts that make it an 85% natural hair treatment. This unique product helps absorb oil from the scalp, enhance hair color and at the same time, it’s all you need to make your hair appear fuller and lightweight. Aside from giving volume to hair, it also restores balance to the scalp. You can get this cult-favorite hair treatment from Sephora.
5. Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair
Packed beautifully in a 3.4-oz container, you would most likely need this daily hair treatment when you want an instant hair repair. Most of its ingredients are derived naturally from plants and non-petroleum minerals. This treatment contains a high percentage of quinoa proteins that strengthen your hair, so it can quickly grow in the shortest period of time. When applied on a regular basis, it prevents hair breakage. Find this product at Nordstrom!
6. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Night Cap Overnight Perfector
This formula was designed to manage hair overnight and maintain its shine. Packed with oryza sativa extract and cetearamidoethyl diethonium hydrolyzed rice protein, you can see that it’s basically hair food. The amino acids it contains help improve hair manageability, making it easier to style and stay protected during the day. Get this hair perfector at Sephora!
7. dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
This is that particular hair treatment you should use any time and any day to maintain your hair color and keep it glowing. It stays in the hair for about one to three minutes, but trust me when I say it takes less than a minute for the results to be visible. It cleans the hair and scalp, and leaves it beautiful and fresh. More still, it leaves your hair soft. This is one of the best hair treatments for all hair types, so get one at Sephora!
8. Julien Farel Hydrate Restore Hair & Scalp Product
The name of the product alone already tells you what it does. Suitable for all hair types, it is enriched with A2B, an anti-aging balance. Did you also know it is a 3-in-1 product that treats, conditions and also acts as a shampoo for a healthy hair growth? Just one single application of this hair treatment restores your hair back to how it was before it got damaged by chemicals and heat styling. You can find a bottle at Net-a-Porter.
9. Alterna Haircare Caviar Anti-Aging Clinical Densifying Leave-In Root Treatment
From the name, it’s obvious that it is applied to hair roots to boost hair thickening. This particular formula is a fine blend of vitamins and nutrients required for hair growth. It soothes the scalp and protects against hair thinning, thereby leaving you with hair that appears thicker, fuller, and healthier. Containing the brand’s popular Red Clover Growth Complex, it fights against DHT build-ups and clogged follicles that lead to hair loss. Get one for yourself at Sephora!
10. Rossano Ferretti Parma Prodigio Regenerating Treatment
Containing some of the best hair treatment ingredients like amaranthus, olive extract, saccharide isomerate, and panthenol, this hair product works really well when it comes to nourishing hair. While the olive extract works to maintain hair moisture, the amaranthus boosts the natural luster of the hair. This much-talked-about hair treatment also works effectively when it comes to reversing the damage caused by long-term heat styling. Get a jar of this miracle at Net-a-Porter!
11. DevaCurl Buildup Buster Micellar Water Cleansing Serum
This hair treatment works on all hair types including curly hair. It is a rejuvenating treatment that maintains hair shine and appearance without any effect on its natural moisture. A silicone-free product that uses a micellar technology, it does wonders to a dry scalp and has a beautiful scent, which leaves you feeling clean and relaxed after use. You can get your hands on this product at Sephora.
12. Bumble and Bumble Thickening Go Big Volumizing Treatment
Whenever you hear the words “go big”, what comes to your mind? No need to beat about the bush. This product has been tested and termed fantastic. It doesn’t create an illusion of having fuller hair – it actually gives volume to your hair. In addition to thickening, it makes hair softer and easier to comb through without difficulty. What’s more, it is cruelty-free, as it does not have adverse effects on any kind of hair; instead, it helps to correct damages. Find this volumizing hair treatment at Sephora!
13. Matrix Total Results Miracle Creator Multi-Tasking Treatment
Hair multi-tasking – if you have ever heard of this name, then we are talking about the same product. It’s popularly known by that name because it performs a whole lot of functions. This hair treatment is a go-to for correcting hair roughness and evening out porosity. This leave-in conditioner adds moisture and softens hair. Whenever you start having the ‘my hair is too dry’ kind of feeling, you might also place an order for this product at Ulta Beauty or visit your local store because it’s the perfect solution.
14. Hush Gunk Remover Kit
A deep detoxifying agent that can be applied to all hair types, this hair treatment helps boost blood circulation, i.e. increases hair growth and removes build-up from the scalp. The kit contains fragrance that works to remove bad hair odor, leaving your already clean hair with a nice scent. Get this scalp exfoliating kit at Sephora!
15. Sachajuan Hair Repair
This hair repair treatment by Sachajuan not only pampers your already healthy hair but also repairs damaged or stressed, thinning hair. It gives your hair the needed strength and vitality it requires to grow healthier, stronger, and dirt-free. If you have always found yourself admiring that silky and healthy-looking hair on TV, no need to look down on your hair any more. With this hair treatment from Sephora, you can instantly achieve that look.
16. Oribe Serene Scalp Soothing Leave-on Treatment
Color and keratin-safe, this formula nourishes the scalp, reduces scalp irritation, and energizes it. This is probably the only hair treatment that instantly treats and removes any trace of dandruff from your hair. What’s more it’s vegan and lightweight, perfect for all hair types. Get one for yourself at Dermstore!
17. IGK Trust Issues Instant Scalp Rebalancing Treatment
Trust issues? Well, that has to be the only product I know that has a funny name but it’s not one you mess with when it comes to scalp treatment. Whatever treatment you need for your scalp, you need to get this product. It works for all hair types for improving and rejuvenating dry, itchy and dirty scalps.
Apple cider vinegar and the yuzu lemon extract are featured in this formula, and they are perfect for nourishing and rebalancing the scalp. Great to let you know it doesn’t tamper with your hairstyle while performing its many functions. The UV protection it contains gives it an edge over other hair treatment formulas. Pick it up online at Sephora!
18. Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Anti-Breakage Leave-In Treatment
This leave-in hair treatment has been proven to be one of the best in the field of reducing scalp irritation. It contains aloe vera and caffeine, which nourish and energize the scalp. It’s also a good treatment for dandruff when applied directly to the scalp. Basically, what this product does is fortify damaged hair and smoothen hair cuticles to limit the amount of hair that breaks during combing. You can find it online at Ulta Beauty.
19. Reverie Cake Restorative Scalp Tonic
Ideal for any kind of hair, this scalp treatment is enriched with a thorough blend of rosemary, rose hydrosols, and eight other essential oils. Apart from protecting your hair against damage and unsuitable environmental conditions, this is a product you must get, as it delays the aging of hair follicles. It soothes, protects, and makes hair grow using its great restructuring and regenerating formulas. Pick this product up at Sephora!
20. Pravana Nevo Intense Therapy Leave-In Treatment
Pravana has made a name for itself already. This particular hair treatment is a multi-purpose product. It detangles and hydrates the hair, as well as is fortified with the best ingredients for defrizzing. Even at that, it contains fragrance that gives your hair that nice smell that you would never want to miss for anything. Find it for purchase at Ulta Beauty!
21. Moroccanoil Dry Scalp Treatment
This scalp and hair treatment is made exclusively for dry scalps and any kind of hair ranging from straight, wavy to curly. Reduction of scalp dryness can be achieved instantly with this powerful product. It enhances the healthy appearance of your hair, leaving it lustrous and beautiful. Find it online at Nordstrom!
What to Look for in the Best Hair Treatment for You?
There are different kinds of hair treatment products on the market, so it can be really confusing to choose a particular one. Moreover, more products keep flooding into the market on a daily basis, and most times we end up damaging our hair the more in the name of trying to find out which is the best.
Before you use any type of hair treatments, you have to take your time to properly examine what value they can add to your hair. After doing this and feeling satisfied with your findings, then you can go ahead and make use of it. Here is what to look for in the right haircare products for you!
The Type of the Treatment
Hair treatments work in two ways; it’s either they coat the hair or they penetrate the cuticle to provide hydration and moisturization. They are of these common types:
Hair Serum
The most popular of them all, hair serum is used on all hair types because it performs both functions – coating and penetrating. You can choose either a smoothing serum or a repairing one.
The smoothing serum works wonders on frizzy hair and ensures your hair stays smooth, glowy, and healthy. If you notice your hair has started to crinkle or curl unnecessarily, you need this hair treatment.
The repairing serum helps to prevent further damage to already damaged or thinning hair. It improves the general appearance of the hair and as a scalp treatment, gets rid of dirty scalp.
Deep Conditioners & Masks
This hair treatment is also suitable for any hair type. Its many benefits include improving hair texture, moisturizing hair, and reducing split ends. It’s recommended that you apply them on your hair at least once a week to keep it healthy. In addition, hair masks are way better than rinse-out conditioners.
So if you are losing hair while combing, you suffer from split ends, your scalp feels greasy and uncomfortable, then just go out and grab a bottle of a deep conditioner for your hair type. One more takeaway – deep conditioners shouldn’t stay more than 30 minutes on your hair.
Hot Oil Treatments
Using any type of oil you like more and that is best suited for your own unique hair concerns, you can apply a hot oil treatment to your hair to deeply hydrate it and strengthen with nutrients and vitamins. This hair treatment is especially amazing for combatting dry scalp and hair loss.
Protein Treatment
The protein treatment for hair is not as popular as deep conditioners or hair serums, but it’s another hair treatment worth mentioning.
Did you know that hair can be protein sensitive and non-protein sensitive? Another shocker is, it is so easy to know if your hair is protein sensitive. Whenever you apply any product that contains protein and it reacts with your scalp in a negative way (the allergic reactions can come in the form of bumps or rashes), then your hair is protein sensitive. If this is relatable, this is not the best hair treatment for you.
But if your hair is non-protein sensitive, then your guess is as good as mine – you need this hair treatment. Protein treatment does not only repair damaged hair but also prevents breakage and maintains your hair color.
Hair Gloss & Hair Glaze Treatments
To give that ultimate shine to your hair and recover its color, you should consider the hair gloss or hair glaze treatments, both of which sound the same but are actually quite different. While the former is a stronger hair treatment that goes into the cuticle and works from within, the latter provides your hair with a temporary shine and boost of color. Both are great hair treatments for making your hair shine.
Keratin Treatment
While this treatment is actually a chemical hair treatment carried out at the salons for straightening hair, keeping it frizz-free and shiny, there are also keratin hair treatments you can try at home, which simply improve your hair’s health by nourishing and conditioning it deeply.
Bond Builders
They are not called bond builders for no reason. The Olaplex Hair Perfector No.3 is one of such hair treatments. Bond builders repair the broken bond caused by chemicals, heat, or the environment. Just so you know, for your hair to be damaged, the bond holding the hair strands together must have been broken.
If you start to lose your hair or have any other hair problem, just visit your local store. There is no problem without a solution, and for these problems, the solution is a bottle of bond builder. It strengthens hair, maintains its shine, and improves the general appearance of hair.
Hair Reconstructors
Don’t confuse these hair treatments with bond builders. Hair reconstructors work side by side with protein-based products and are mostly used during chemical processes in salons to prevent chemical damage.
If your hair has already been damaged, it will still repair it. All you need is to apply the correct amount to your hair as instructed. You still need a deep conditioner to smoothen your hair, as reconstructors only repair chemical damage.
Hair Moisturizers
These hair treatments are great for balancing the moisture level of your hair, giving those curls a beautiful bounce once again and repairing damaged hair. If you find yourself in any of these conditions, you need a moisturizer – not more damaging chemicals.
The Right Formula for Your Hair Type
In choosing the right hair treatment, your hair type plays a major role. Here is a quick rundown of the different kinds of hair treatments according to different hair types.
Best Hair Treatments for Normal Hair
Normal in this context simply means that smooth, nice looking hair in its virgin state, meaning it has never been subjected to any heat or chemical treatment. Despite this virgin state, however, you still need to pamper that hair with a deep conditioning treatment so it doesn’t start to break. Deep conditioning is the most suitable hair treatment for normal hair.
Best Hair Treatments for Damaged and Breakage-Prone Hair
This kind of hair has already been subjected to quite a lot of chemical substances, heat styling, and coloring, which leave the strands and the scalp in a weak, tired state, prone to damage. All you need to repair that hair and get that natural color back is a moisturizer. Apply it two to three times a week for a month and watch it perform wonders on your damaged hair.
Best Hair Treatments for Curly Hair
Yeah, we already know that curly hair demands more attention than every other hair type, as it is prone to tangling. A deep conditioner is the best hair treatment for curly hair. Aside from leaving it tangle-free and moisturized, it is best when it comes to keeping those curls healthy and more beautiful. Deep conditioning gives your hair volume and more shine.
Best Hair Treatments for Colored Hair
No need to say much about this hair type. Any type of hair you have altered its natural color automatically becomes colored hair.
Coloring is the highest level of damage that can be done to your hair. To color your hair, heat is applied, the structure gets changed, and damage is done. Deep conditioning works like the jack of all trades in hair treatment, but don’t be surprised to hear that it’s not the go-to for this hair type.
While it can be used alongside the main treatment (reconstructors) to strengthen the hair, you can still totally ignore it and focus on reconstructing the altered hair structure.
Best Hair Treatments for Straight Hair
This hair is without any form of curls. It is smooth, silky and has an oily texture because the natural oil goes directly from the scalp to the tips without restriction. While it may look easy to take care of, straight hair is tricky to manage. It is always oily, and this can make the hair appear like there’s no life in it.
For your straight hair, you need to use less of the regular conditioner and instead go for deep conditioning. Keeping the application to once a month would keep the hair nourished and healthy at all times.
Best Hair Treatments for Wavy Hair
This type of hair is somewhere in-between straight and curly. It looks more like an ‘S’ shape than an actual curl. This kind of hair tangles easily.
If you are blessed with this hair type, avoid using shampoos on a daily basis. Opt for a deep conditioner and hot oil treatment, as this would really help moisturize your hair without stripping it of its natural oil.
Best Hair Treatments for Kinky Hair
Naturally kinky hair is dry, so dry that it doesn’t even allow oils to distribute all through the scalp and hair shaft. Because of this dryness, it requires a hair treatment that moisturizes the hair together with keeping it healthy.
What other hair treatment could be better than a protein treatment? None. It’s the best in this business. It would even leave your hair begging for more because of its deep-repairing, nourishing, and moisturizing properties.
Hair Treatment FAQ
Aside from knowing the most suitable hair treatment for your hair, you also need to know how to correctly apply it to your hair. Most times the way you apply it determines the result you would get. You don’t expect to apply a hair treatment that’s meant for dry hair on damp hair and get a good result. The steps below are applicable to 99% of hair treatments:
• Wash your hair. You need to have thoroughly clean scalp and hair so the hair treatment can penetrate properly into every area.
• After washing, the next step is to apply the treatment on the whole length of your hair -from the root to the tip, after which you use a comb or hair brush to distribute evenly.
• Wrap your hair in a towel. You can as well use a shower cap or a heating cap. This helps to keep the hair treatment only on your hair so it doesn’t spread on your clothes and body.
• Wait for a while. Depending on the instructions, you can wait from 15 to 50 minutes. For some products, though, the longer you wait, the better.
• Rinse, style, and enjoy your healthy hair and scalp.
Photos via @hairbymandielynn, Sephora, Ulta, Instagram