Few things have revolutionised the hair world like bond repair. Think back 10 years and hair pros were just getting to grips with this sparkly new in-salon service called Olaplex (it launched in the UK in 2015), but fast-forward to 2026 and pretty much everyone you know has heard of the powers of bond repair, and the market is absolutely booming. So what exactly is it and do you actually need it? Here’s EYNTK and the best on the market…
What is bond repair?
‘Bond repair works on the internal structure of the hair and protects the bonds within it,’ says Tim Scott-Wright, owner of Tim Scott-Wright at The Hair Surgery. ‘Bonds are broken; this causes damage and bond repair technology repairs those bonds from within the hair. It focuses on structural rather than cosmetic repair.’
How do hair bonds get broken?
If you like to have a bit of fun with your hair, you might break a few bonds doing so. Bleach, colour, chemical straightening and too much heat can all wreak havoc on your hair’s internal bonds.
Do you need bond repair if you don’t bleach or heat-style your hair?
The simple answer is no, as there’s nothing to repair. Would you try to superglue a mug that wasn’t broken? If you have ‘virgin’ hair but it’s dry, dull or frizzy, you should try a hydrating treatment instead.
Is bond repair a permanent or temporary fix?
‘Bonds can be broken continuously, so while the hair is being repaired, it’s important to remember that this repair isn’t permanent,’ says Scott-Wright. ‘You will need to maintain some form of bond repair within your haircare routine.’ Also, be wary of any product claiming to be bond repair that you can apply to dry hair – your hair bonds are beneath the top layer of each strand, so hair needs to be wet to reach them.
K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask 50ml
Living Proof Triple Bond Complex
Amika The Kure Intense Bond Repair Mask
Keeks Reid is the Beauty Director at Cosmopolitan UK. While she loves all things beauty, Keeks is a hair fanatic through and through. She started her career in beauty journalism in 2013 as editorial assistant at Blackhair and Hair magazines working her way to Acting Editor of Blackhair magazine at 23 years old. She spent much of her career working in trade hairdressing media at Hairdressers Journal, Salon International and the British Hairdressing Awards. Which is why she is a regular contributor to Cosmo's Curl Up franchise. Now, alongside her Cosmo work, she presents, creates content on social media and works with a range of beauty companies; from magazines and websites to beauty brands and salons.
