A Guide to Hair Bond-Building

Our hair goes through a lot in a lifetime. Repeated rounds of washing, drying, heat styling and colouring inevitably take their toll, causing the keratin structure of your tresses to break down. Thankfully, there are now science-backed treatments that can help reverse years of damage. 

So, what is hair bond building? And how does hair bond building work? In this article, we cover the principles of hair bond-building and answer some frequently asked questions you have always wanted to ask in the salon. 

What Are Hair Bonds?

The structure of your hair contains multiple bonds; however, the three to be most aware of are hydrogen bonds, ionic/salt bonds and covalent bonds. Hydrogen and ionic bonds are the weakest of the three and commonly break down when your hair is wet or its PH balance is disturbed.  While these bonds easily repair themselves, covalent bonds are more complicated and require specialist products. 

How Does Bond Building for Hair Work?

Put simply, bond repair involves relinking bonds that have been broken, repairing damaged hair and making it stronger. Hair products like serums and leave-in conditioners can market themselves as ‘bond repairing’ without specifying the type of bond they are effective on. 

Likewise, products that protect your hair cuticle (the outer protective layer) can also have a positive impact on your hair’s overall condition. However, covalent bonds, most responsible for hair strength, can only typically be restored with intervention. 

When Should You Get Hair Bond-Building Treatment?

Anyone who regularly bleaches or colours their hair or styles it using heat will likely have some bond damage, so bonding in this instance is highly recommended. Frizz-prone hair will also see an improvement after bonding treatment.  

Hair Bond-Building FAQs

Can You Use Bond-building Haircare in Combination with Other Products?

Absolutely! There is no reason you can’t combine bonding treatment with other products, such as conditioning masks and serums. 

How Long Does Bond-Building Last?

Professional repair should last at least five to ten washes; this can vary depending on whether you are still frequently using heat styling. Covalent bonds are the strongest to break and should remain linked until your next colour treatment. 

Can You Overdo It?

Is there such a thing as too much hair bonding? There is no evidence that frequent hair repair treatment is a problem. However, we can sometimes overdo ingredients found in other products, such as conditioner and hair serum. Therefore, it is best to find a balance that works for you and speak to a hair care professional for further advice. 

Bond-Building for Hair: Final Thoughts

We hope this article has given you some insight into hair bond building and how you might benefit from this increasingly popular treatment. Remember, the team at Hype Coiffure are hair-bonding specialists – why not give us a call to find out more?