15 Products and Tools I Used to Fix My Dry, Damaged Hair

GuruNanda Rosemary Essential Oil ($6)

My hair always feels significantly smoother after a morning wash when I've slept with rosemary oil on my scalp. While you can also use it on your skin, I love the hair growth benefits that come with dripping it onto my scalp and allowing it to work its magic overnight. I'll often apply this quickly before a morning run, too.

Dr.PAWPAW It Does It All: 7 in 1 Hair Treatment Styler ($15)

I'm constantly amazed by the fast-acting effects of this styler. I use it for everything from taming frizz to detangling my hair when I'm fresh out of the shower (with my damaged hair, knots begin to form almost instantly). I also find this to be a smart travel product since it accomplishes so many goals with just one spray. Rather than packing your leave-in conditioner, heat protectant, and serum, this all-in-one option makes your baggage much lighter. What's more, it boasts a delicious mango-coconut scent and is vegan-friendly.

Ethique Mintasy Refreshing Solid Shampoo Bar For Balanced to Dry & Damaged Hair ($15)

Not only is Ethique a vegan, eco-friendly brand with its plastic- and cruelty-free production methods, but it's also complementary to an on-the-go lifestyle. Most of my replenishing hair kits come with larger shampoo and conditioner bottles that aren't travel-size, so I like to pop this bar into a plastic container and pack it in my duffle for weekend getaways. There are over 10 different varieties of this shampoo bar to fit all of your needs, whether you have a sensitive scalp or need a purple shampoo for neutralizing brassy tones.

Drybar Hold Me Hair Clips ($16, originally $19)

Before I added these smoothing hair clips to my styling routine, I found separating my hair into sections while styling to be quite challenging. Oversize claw clips led to tangling and my damaged, frizzy pieces almost instantly fell out of a hair tie. These clips are ultra-strong and don't slip, and they hold everything in place whether my hair is wet or dry.

K18 Leave-In Repair Hair Mask Treatment ($29)

I hate to choose favorites, but K18 should truly be everyone's go-to brand for repairing damaged hair. The biotech treatment restores strength, softness, smoothness, and bounce with every application, so I use it every time I wash my hair after towel-drying. The vegan and cruelty-free formula is highly concentrated, so you really don't need a lot and it works in just four minutes. As our PS senior beauty editor writes in her K18 Hair Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask review, "It gives me bounce and movement and miraculously doesn't weigh down my fine hair."

Interested in more beneficial K18 products? Check out our editor review of the K18 Damage Shield Protective Conditioner to round out your treatment.

Amika Water Sign Hydrating Hyaluronic Hair Oil ($32)

I like to run this hydrating hair oil through my ends before going to sleep. My hair tends to get more coarse and dry overnight, and I find this product, which contains an eight-oil blend, to be a good preventative measure. A little goes a long way, so you really get bang for your buck. After all, you don't want to add too much oil to your hair so that you wake up with greasy-looking roots.

Squigs Beauty Gooseberry Delight Hair Oil ($34)

No product tames my frizz like the Squigs Gooseberry Delight. No matter what hairstyle I'm going for, this is the final step of my process. I barely have to use more than a few drops. The oil is lightweight, so as long as you don't use too much, your scalp won't feel greasy, and your hair won't look weighed-down. I personally like to rub it in my palms and then pat down any areas where I notice flyaways. Free from synthetic fragrances and dyes, it can also be used as an overnight treatment.

Garnier Fructis Hair Filler Bonding Pre-Shampoo + Strength Repair Shampoo, Conditioner and Serum Set ($36, originally $40)

I find this hair filler and bonding set to be one of the most affordable, high-quality systems on the market. I simply apply the Inner Fiber Repair Treatment to wet hair as soon as I get in the shower and let it sit while I'm shaving, then I rinse it out and proceed with the shampoo and conditioner. Finally, the leave-in serum seals the deal. It's formulated without sulfates, parabens, phthalates, DMDM Hydantoin, and mineral oil.

BosleyMD MendXtend Strengthening Kit ($45)

If, like me, you've suffered from severe breakage and your hair is extremely fragile, this strengthening kit can help restore density. The brand claims that 79 percent of customers noted their hair was growing faster than usual after making it a part of their routine. The Tri Bond phyto-molecular technology works to strengthen, while DHT inhibitors stimulate growth. Ingredients like tara tree and hyaluronic acid also add moisture and boost hydration.

Calista Embellish Texturizing Lightweight Volumizer ($48)

Calista has a Jousse line that's worth perusing for its fortifying ingredients. It's made with a vitamin, botanical, and herbal-enriched blend meant to promote growth. However, I'm also a big fan of using its products to style hair without heat. Once my hair dries naturally, I simply rub this product in the palm of my hands and run it from roots to ends. The added shine and texture-enhancing effects that come with it are undeniable, with no further styling or hot tools necessary.

The Rootist BioBrew Fermented Strengthening Serum ($48)

I love that this serum comes in spray form, and the small, one-ounce bottle makes it great for traveling. With just a few spritzes, the leave-in product controls frizz for up to 72 hours, adds shine, and detangles. You don't need to use it more than three times a week to see an improvement in the visible texture of your hair. I usually reserve this travel-size BioBrew for vacations and substitute with my larger It's a 10 Haircare Miracle Leave-In Plus Keratin ($30, originally $41) when I'm at home.

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo and Conditioner ($57)

If you're looking for a shampoo and conditioner set that assists in salvaging your damaged hair, look no further than Redken. Since my hair has been damaged from bleach and color, I use the set that's meant to treat overly-processed hair, but the All Soft Set ($46, originally $52) is an alternative option and also a bestseller.

Olaplex Bond Treatment Kit ($60)

This two-step kit is formulated to repair broken bonds, with the Hair Perfector being a quick, wash-out product and the Bond Intense Moisture Mask completing the job as a leave-in treatment. For a full coverage system, finish with the Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo ($30) and Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner ($30).

Interested in more beneficial Olaplex products? Check out our editor review of the Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Oil to round out your treatment.

Kérastase Resistance Therapiste Hair Mask ($68)

This hair mask is without a doubt the most luxurious, smoothing mask I've tried. It's from the Resistance Therapiste collection, which packs restoration technology. It's made with wheat protein and native plant cells to repair with flexibility and extra hydration. I usually leave it in for up to an hour, though you can reap the benefits in just 10 minutes. Finishing with the Kérastase Resistance Sérum ($46) is also ideal before you style since it's equipped with heat-protectant properties.

Dyson Airwrap ($600)

I hate to be that person, but I'm going to try to convince you to purchase the Dyson Airwrap. The fact is, it's the only multi-use styling tool that does not apply direct heat to your hair and still allows you to achieve a polished look. For someone with damaged hair, this is a no-brainer. The Coanda airflow technique self-wraps the hair around the barrels, achieving smooth waves and body. Yes, it's a pricey item, but as PS's staff writer and social producer writes in her Dyson Airwrap review, "I've had every haircut imaginable — from long with tons of layers to midlength with blunt ends and even curtain bangs. Although my hair is endlessly changing, the one tool I've been able to use, no matter the hairstyle, has been my Dyson Airwrap." In other words, this can be your single styling solution for life.

Sarah Wasilak is the associate director of commerce at POPSUGAR. With plenty of experience in the shopping market, a keen interest in SEO, and 10 years as an editor at the brand, she enjoys writing across the lifestyle and health-and-fitness categories. She has bylines at POPSUGAR, InStyle, Elle, Refinery29, Who What Wear, Elite Daily, Byrdie, and The Quality Edit and aims to amplify minority voices in all her work.