Damaged & colour-treated hair.
What this actually is
Hair is not alive, and that single fact explains most of what follows. Once the fibre leaves the follicle it cannot heal itself — everything you do afterwards is either protection or cosmetic repair that has to be reapplied.
Damage happens in a predictable order. The cuticle, the overlapping outer scale layer, lifts and chips away first: hair loses shine, tangles, and feels rough from mid-length down. With the cuticle gone the cortex beneath is exposed, protein washes out, and the hair loses elasticity — it stretches when wet and snaps rather than springing back. Bleach and permanent colour do this chemically by lifting the cuticle to work; heat does it thermally; brushing wet hair does it mechanically.
Real repair means two ingredients working together. Protein rebuilds strength, moisture restores flexibility, and using only one causes its own problem — protein alone gives brittle straw, moisture alone gives limp mush. Alternating them is the whole craft of home haircare.
The two habits that matter most are unglamorous. Heat protectant every single time you use heat, and never brush from the roots down on wet hair. Split ends cannot be mended; they can only be cut off before they travel further up.
A routine that suits it
Where we would start. Build it up one step at a time rather than all at once.
- Wash
Lukewarm, shampoo at the scalp only, and let the run-off clean the lengths.
- Condition
Mid-lengths and ends every wash, and a deeper mask weekly. Alternate protein and moisture rather than doubling one.
What we use - Protect from heat
Every time, without exception, and it is the highest-return step here. Lower the iron temperature while you are at it.
What we use - Handle gently
Detangle from the ends upwards with a wide comb, never from the roots down on soaking hair.
What we use
Irish owned & operatedDublin-based salonFast local shipping
Showing 18 of 18 products
Frequently asked
- Can damaged hair actually be repaired?
- Cosmetically, yes — bond builders and protein treatments genuinely improve strength and how the hair behaves. Biologically, no: hair is not living tissue and cannot heal itself, so every repair is temporary and has to be reapplied. That is not a reason to skip treatments; it is a reason to also fix what is causing the damage, or you are patching the same hole forever.
- How often should I use a protein treatment?
- Less often than most people assume — every third or fourth wash is plenty for most hair, alternating with moisture. Protein overload is a real thing and it feels exactly like damage: stiff, brittle, straw-like hair that snaps. If your hair has gone crunchy since starting a bond or protein product, use moisture for a few washes instead.
- Can I fix split ends without cutting them?
- No. A split travels up the shaft and no product rejoins it — the ones that appear to are temporarily gluing it flat, which washes out. Regular small trims are genuinely cheaper than growing out hair that keeps breaking higher up. Everything else on this page is about preventing the next one.