The 17 Best Shampoos for Split Ends
No permanent quick fixes, unfortunately.
Split ends are an inevitability for most of us, whether this stems from color and/or chemical processing, years of heat styling, or just daily accrual of wear and tear. (Messy bun? Same.) But finding the best shampoo for dry, damaged hair with split ends can turn once-brittle strands into veritable spun silk. The best shampoo for split ends can prolong the integrity of your strands along the way. This is key for the road to recovery.
Your Must-Read Info on Split Ends
Read on, and always remember that in the world of split ends, prevention is literally the way to go. Specifically, never, ever underestimate what a good shampoo for split ends can really do for your hair’s health and appearance.
The Root Cause of Split Ends
Spotted: Frayed little buggers, daring to go against the grain of your perfectly blown-out hair, or audaciously sticking out from that smooth ponytail. The ends of your hair are the oldest and weakest, having sustained the most damage: They’ve seen you through that mermaid-teal phase, last winter’s slew of curling iron-reinforced party looks, and your daily snug yoga topknot. Those splintered ends are actually your cuticles raising their arms in defeat. “We give up,” they cry in surrender.
Split ends are typically damaged ends of the hair shaft that have separated or splintered into two or more fragments. This is usually caused when the hair’s outer layer is damaged by too much processing, styling, or manipulation. It then causes the internal structure to eventually weaken and separate due to exposure. Apart from regular haircuts or even techniques such as hair dusting—a feather-light trimming technique—the only other solution people have turned is a good shampoo for split ends to actually help strengthen the hair shaft prior.
The Best Shampoos for Dry, Damaged Hair With Split Ends
1. Nexxus Keraphix Damage Healing Shampoo
We absolutely adore the formula of Nexxus Keraphix Damage Healing Shampoo, which is rich in protein—in this particular case, keratin, along with extracts from health food du jour black rice. Not only does this good shampoo for split ends cleanses the hair, but also penetrates the hair fiber itself to repair split ends quite literally from the inside out. When combined with its matching conditioner, Nexxus Keraphix Damage Healing Conditioner, the resulting package is instantly stronger strands that are hydrated and softened, too.
2. TRESemmé Pro Pure Damage Shampoo
We love the TRESemmé Pro Pure Damage Shampoo because it is gentle enough to be used daily—ideal for workout warriors and fans of frequently restyling alike. It’s free of silicones, parabens, sulfates, and mineral oils—making it a super-clean choice—ensuring that it won’t add to your already-existing damage situation. After washing, hair will feel nourished, soft, and gently cleansed. And because it’s free of all those fillers, you won’t have to worry about it stinging your eyes, unlike the sweat you’ve just worked up during that run.
3. TRESemmé Keratin Repair Shampoo
TRESemmé
TRESemmé Keratin Repair Shampoo
TRESemmé Keratin Repair Shampoo is perfect to use if your strands need a refresh—perhaps an appropriately luxurious one. Infused with smart Bond Plex™ technology, this shampoo for split ends helps repair damaged hair by smoothing and shielding hair fibers for strong, healthy hair.
4. Suave Coconut Oil Infusion Damage Repair Shampoo
It’s true! When looking for the best shampoo for split ends, coconut oil can really do wonders for pretty much any damaged strands, precisely why we love Suave Professionals Coconut Oil Damage Repair Shampoo so much. What’s incredible is how the coconut oil helps to instantly repair damage by deeply hydrating strands, but thanks to the light-touch formulation, the shampoo won’t ever weigh down the strands. When paired with its sister product, the Coconut Oil Infusion Conditioner, you can literally see the change in your hair’s health with just three uses.
5. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Shampoo
SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Shampoo and Conditioner is perfect for the curly-haired ladies out there. This set is a great option if you’re transitioning to your natural hair after chemically treating it or processing it for a while. The raw shea butter, sea kelp, and argan oil help lock heavy moisture and shine into your strands.
6. Love Beauty and Planet Turmeric & Tonka Essence Shampoo
Love Beauty and Planet
Love Beauty and Planet Sulfate-Free Turmeric & Tonka Essence Shampoo
Love Beauty and Planet Turmeric & Tonka Essence Shampoo are great to wash if you’re looking for a cleaner shampoo option to help fix your split ends. This 92 percent, naturally derived formula is one of the best shampoos for split ends because of its namesake addition of turmeric, an ancient herb that helps to repair damage while working to also prevent split ends in the future. As an added bonus, the shampoo is coated with the sweet and spicy scent of Tonka essence for a smell that’s straight-up irresistible.
7. Dove Nourishing Rituals Repair Ritual Shampoo
The luxurious actives in Dove Nourishing Rituals Repairing Ritual Shampoo—coconut oil and turmeric—are used thanks to their legacy of nourishment and repair in ancient Indian cultures. With just one wash, strands feel a million times stronger while concealing split ends to boot.
8. Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Milk & White Jasmine Shampoo
Love Beauty and Planet
Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Milk & White Jasmine Shampoo
Curly girls, this one for you! Whether you’ve got tight coils or loose waves, Love Beauty and Planet Coconut Milk & White Jasmine Shampoo is a perfect shampoo to repair split ends while keeping texture 100 percent intact. We’re not complaining about the tropically vibed scent, either.
9. Dove Nourishing Rituals Fortifying Ritual Shampoo
With avocado and calendula extracts, Dove Nourishing Rituals Fortifying Ritual Shampoo is not only formulated in homage to Latin American beauty routines but also helps to seal the cuticle to prevent it from any heat damage or environmental aggressors impressively well, too.
10. Love Beauty and Planet Hope and Repair Coconut Oil & Ylang Ylang Shampoo
Love Beauty and Planet
Love Beauty and Planet Hope and Repair Coconut Oil & Ylang Ylang Sulfate-Free Shampoo
We know coconut oil is the does-it-all hair cureall. But the fact that this Love Beauty and Planet Hope and Repair Coconut Oil & Ylang Ylang Shampoo also has the intoxicating scent of ylang-ylang blooms makes this reparative formula akin to a beach trip or rainforest hike, TBH.
11. Nexxus Therappe Rebalancing Shampoo
Nexxus
Nexxus Therappe Shampoo
If you’re looking for major volume and major hydration, reach for Nexxus Therappe Rebalancing Shampoo. It’s entirely free of weighty silicones typically used to boost shine, but it has a shot of ultra-luxe caviar precisely to counteract that.
12. Nexxus Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Shampoo
Having fine strands doesn’t leave you exempt from split ends. The key is to find a shampoo to repair split ends and provide, well, weightless hydration like Nexxus Hydra-Light Weightless Moisture Shampoo does thanks to its unique composition of sea minerals.
13. SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo
This sulfate-free, clarifying shampoo removes build-up while infusing hair with the nourishing and growth-promoting moisture from the hero ingredient, castor oil. SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo is a great choice for those who regularly color, straighten, perm, or heat style their hair, as well as all different kinds of curls.
14. Suave Repairing Avocado Shampoo
Suave Repairing Avocado Shampoo is perfect if you need help repairing damaged strands while nourishing and eliminating frizz. We love that this shampoo is cruelty-free. Plus, it uses avocado to deeply nourish your strands your strands.
15. BHS Damage Repair Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
Need to tackle two birds with one stone? BHS Damage Repair Anti-Dandruff Shampoo is the perfect product to help with damage and dandruff. This shampoo helps to fight flakes while also deeply nourishing and reinforcing your hair from within. We love how soft and shiny your hair looks after using
16. TRESemmé Keratin Repair Shampoo
TRESemmé
TRESemmé Keratin Repair Shampoo
TRESemmé Keratin Repair Shampoo is a must-have for anyone who wants to repair and soften their strands. This product uses smart Bond Plex™ technology to help repair, smooth, and strengthen strands. Overall, this is a great option if you feel like your hair needs a bit of extra TLC.
17. Dove Hair Therapy Rescue & Protect Shampoo
Looking for a shampoo that’ll repair and strengthen your hair while protecting if from additional damage? Dove Hair Therapy Rescue & Protect Shampoo is the perfect option for this. This product uses a ceramide and peptide blend to strengthen hair from within and seal split ends. We love how many positive benefits this shampoo offers all at once.