Bond-Building Products Are The Answer To Salon-Perfect Hair

Lab Muffin creator and science educator Michelle Wong, PhD, reveals why bonding treatments really do work.

An expert reveals why bond-building hair treatments are a game-changer in repairing dry, damaged hair haircare with Redken street style celebrity Xenia Adonts

If you’ve coloured your hair or used any heat tools (which let’s be real, is most of us), you’ll be no stranger to split ends and straw-like strands. Unfortunately, when it comes to ensuring our hair looks its best, short term gain often leads to long term pain.

But before you lose all hope, let me introduce you to bond-building products. Bond-building products aren’t exactly a new player on the haircare scene, but the latest formulations are proving to be a game-changer in repairing dry and damaged hair.

We spoke with Lab Muffin creator and science educator Michelle Wong, PhD, to get the scoop on bonding treatments, why they work and exactly how to incorporate them into your hair care regime to restore over-processed tresses.

What exactly are bond-building products?
“Hair is a complex structure held together by different chemical bonds: disulphide bonds, hydrogen bonds and salt bonds. These bonds keep the hair together and give it its strength, shape, and texture. When bonds are broken, such as by chemical treatments, exposure to the elements and general wear and tear from brushing and washing, the hair loses a lot of its strength. This leads to weak hair that breaks more easily and is more prone to split ends. Bond-building products can increase the bonds in hair, making it stronger and more resilient.”

How do they work to improve our hair?
“When hair goes through any form of chemical damage, like colouring and lightening, the bonds that maintain the structure and strength in your hair become weaker causing breakage over time. Bond-building products work to maintain these existing bonds, so it's stronger and more resilient, preventing further breakage of the hair shaft.”

Who should be using bond-building products?
“Anybody that has had a chemical application to their hair should be using bonding products. If your hair is weak or damaged, bond-building products can help make it stronger. The greatest difference can be seen in hair that has been lightened and coloured.”

How often should we be using bond-building products?
“This depends on the product. Redken’s ABC range can be used daily or as desired!”

Most people seeking out bond-building products will likely have colour treated hair, will the products affect hair colour in any way?
“There aren't any special impacts of bond-building products on hair colour. What’s great about Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate, however, is that it is infused with Citric Acid, shifting the pH balance of the hair to a more acidic state. This seals the cuticle of the hair, fortifying the bonds further and sealing the colour to prevent fading.”

Images with thanks to Getty Images

Everyone was wearing bond-building buns on TikTok earlier this year, are there any real benefits of leaving a bond-building treatment in our hair all day?
“Leaving a hair treatment in your hair all day can give it more time to work, but at the same time, it can keep your hair wet for longer, and wet hair is more fragile. The safest thing to do is to follow the instructions on the label of the product you're using, but if you want to try a bun, make sure you're very gentle with your hair during this time. For example, don't use overly grippy elastics, don't sleep in the bun as rubbing the wet bun against your pillowcase could potentially damage your hair.”

We all know that bleaching can cause damage, but what else can compromise healthy hair?
“There are lots of things that can damage hair. As well as chemical hair treatments, like lightening, being rough through tension and heat tools will damage your hair further. This is especially the case when your hair is wet, as wet hair is more fragile. High energy UV in sunlight can also break the bonds in the hair.”

What other hair products should we be including in a hair regime to repair damaged hair?
“It's important to treat your hair gently while wet – I'd recommend a wide-toothed comb without any rough parts to minimise damage while detangling, as well as a microfibre towel, to dry your hair quickly. You should also use a heat protectant before any heat styling to prevent excessive heat damage.”

How do I know which bonding products are right for me?
“You should ask your hairstylist what works best – but I would recommend the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Range. It’s a 3-step system that has visible results after just one use.

When trialled, the Redken Acidic Bonding Range saw a 56% reduction in breakage when used as a system of Shampoo & Conditioner vs. non-conditioning shampoo, a 91% reduction in combing force of Shampoo, Conditioner, and Lotion vs. non-conditioning shampoo, heat protection up to 450°c, 68% of split ends mended, and an 82% reduction of split ends visually when used in a system of Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment.”

What are the benefits of using a three-step regime like the Redken ABC range?
“Using a 3-step treatment like Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate ensures that you get the best results from your haircare as possible. When used in a regime, the Redken ABC trio has the highest concentration of ingredients, having the highest bonding effectiveness on your hair. The treatment can also be used as a leave-in for optimum results.”