These Products Are Basically Active Skin Care for Dry, Damaged Hair

Maybe it's just me, but my thick, curly hair is constantly thirsty.

Combine this with a colour that's a few months overdue and regular swimming sessions in a chlorine pool, and my hair's been in desperate need of some serious TLC.

So really, Redken's bond repair haircare range came at the perfect time. It's almost like... they knew what my hair and I needed before we knew ourselves.

And turns out, we needed active skin care, for your hair.

Over the last few years, we’ve seen hair care increasingly take its cues from the skincare world. Think: Multi-step routines, innovative ingredients and professional-strength formulas available at home.

Enter, the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate range.

Hailed as being active skin care for your hair, this new range promises to be an ‘all-in-one’ system for all hair types and textures, but especially dry and damaged hair. Formulated by scientists in collaboration with hair professionals well-acquainted with our hair needs, the four-step repair range includes:

Excellent question, so I asked Redken Director of Research and Development Liliana Xavier to explain.

"When we developed Acidic Bonding Concentrate, the top three areas [we found people are] looking to improve are hair breakage, split ends and fragile hair," Xavier said.

"The shampoo, conditioner and leave-in routine offers 55 per cent less breakage and 82 per cent less visible split ends after one use. Additionally, the shampoo and conditioner bundle reinforces weakened bonds after six applications."

What exactly in the Bonding Care Complex delivers these promising immediate aesthetic results? Citric Acid. If that ingredient sounds familiar, that's probably because it's an alpha hydroxy acid (yes, just like the ones you have in your skin care).

The Bonding Care Complex contains the highest concentration of ingredients of any Redken at-home product, and works by strengthening the weakened bonds that make up your hair. The result is hair that looks stronger, shinier and healthier.

Side note: While you don’t ‘have’ to use the complete range to get the results (despite what haircare brands say), the routine is good for maximising the benefits of the bonding formula.

First impressions: This is a good-looking range of products. A light grey/cream colour and made from recycled plastic, they ooze professionalism which got me excited for the results.

All four products also have a subtle, warm and slightly complex fragrance with fresh and citrus-y top notes. If I close my eyes, the scent takes me right back to being in a salon chair about to get one of those wondrous hairdresser head massages….

… and back to reality. After double shampooing (one shampoo to wash and the second to nourish) and applying the conditioner to the mid-lengths and ends of my hair, I rinsed and reached for the leave-in treatment.

While leave-in treatments are great at adding that extra level of hydration, I often find they can weigh down my curls. I was nervous about trying this product, but I needn’t have worried. The consistency is lighter than the shampoo and conditioner, and didn't feel heavy on the hair. Pro tip: Avoid applying leave-in treatments to your roots to prevent product build up.

As for the results... my hair felt as silky and smooth as if I'd just been to the salon.

Gone was the straw-like texture and in its place, much more noticeable shine. I noticed a subtle difference to the brassiness and while not getting rid of my frizz completely, there was definitely less of it.

Would I use these products again? Definitely. Rather than having to mix and match multiple products, I love how the range addresses so many concerns like damage, dryness, frizz and colour all at once.

The standout product for me was the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave in Lotion 150ml because you don't have to wash it out AND it doubles as a heat protectant.

If you have lightened or bleached hair, or just want a (relatively) quick and easy at-home fix to target dryness and dullness, you'll want to get these products on your hair ASAP.

If only it came with a salon head massage...