The best shampoo for damaged hair depends on the individual; everyone's results are different. In general, though, the solution involves adding moisture and protein to rebuild and repair damaged hair follicles. Avoiding the processes and environments that cause damaged hair in the first place will also help restore your hair to good health.
Causes
Damaged hair has a number of causes. Chemical processes such as perms, relaxers and color all weaken the hair shaft and make it more permeable, leading to varying levels of damage. Overusing heat styling tools, such as flat irons and blow dryers, has the same effect. Weather is another factor; sun exposure, dry hair and salt water can all strip moisture from your hair, leading to damage if not compensated for.
Effects
If your hair is damaged, you may find it breaks easily, has a lot of split ends, and looks dry and dull. If you dye your hair, damaged strands may not turn out the way you want them to; extra-porous hair follicles can soak up too much color and appear greenish, brassy or too dark, while perpetuating the damage cycle. In extreme cases, damaged hair may break off completely during a chemical process, such as a perm.
Shampoo
Most damaged hair is dry rather than oily, so look for a shampoo formulated for dry hair. Clarifying shampoos, which claim to remove excess product buildup from the hair, often contain alcohol and may be too drying. Follow up your mild, moisturizing shampoo with a conditioner. Try a deep conditioner or hot oil treatment once a week, and use a light leave-in conditioner, which comes in spray or cream formulas, daily after showering or bathing.
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Most standard shampoos contain as their main ingredient sodium lauryl sulfate, a surfactant derived from coconut oil that gives shampoo its foaming quality. This detergent can also dry out your hair if used too often. In addition to shampooing less often, you may also want to look for a shampoo that contains sodium laureth sulfate instead of sodium lauryl sulfate; the former is slightly less harsh, according to an article in the journal Household & Personal Products Industry.
Other Fixes
Just changing your shampoo may not be enough to repair damaged hair. You may need to stop using chemical processes, such as perms and dyes, and find alternatives to heat styling. If you do continue to use blow dryers and other heat stylers, apply a product with thermal protection to your hair before styling and use your appliance's lowest heat setting. Get split ends trimmed often so they don't spread, and wear a hat outdoors to protect your hair from sun exposure and dry air.
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