How to Do Bond-Building Hair Treatment at Home

You can't recreate professional bond-rebuilding chemistry at home, but you can strengthen hair with protein treatments and deep conditioning masks.

The marketing around bond treatments makes people think they need to fix something that might just need moisture and a trim.

1. Start with clean, damp hair. Shampoo with a clarifying formula to remove buildup. Towel-dry until hair is damp but not dripping. Clean hair absorbs treatments better than dirty or soaking wet hair.
2. Apply a protein treatment. Work a keratin or hydrolyzed protein mask through mid-lengths to ends, avoiding roots. These ingredients temporarily fill gaps in damaged hair cuticles. Leave for the recommended time, usually 10-20 minutes.
3. Follow with deep conditioning. Rinse the protein treatment completely, then apply a moisture-rich mask. Protein without moisture makes hair brittle, so this step balances the treatment. Focus on ends and leave for 5-10 minutes.
4. Seal with cool water. Rinse with cool water to close the hair cuticle and lock in the treatment. Apply a leave-in conditioner with heat protection before styling.