Remember that one episode of Sex and the City when Charlotte was concerned that her hair looked too shiny? I've never had that concern in my life. Given that I've practically bleached and heat-styled my hair to death, damage, breakage, split ends, and an overall not-so-soft texture are my particular hair concerns. And I'm not alone.
Even though my fellow Byrdie editors have different hair types, textures, and lengths, breakage is something we all deal with. According to Nunzio Saviano, owner of Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York City, over-coloring, highlighting, hot tools, and infrequent conditioning can all lead to damage. Of course, laying off the color and hot tools are a good preventative measure to take, but sometimes you need to bring in the big guns.
This is where these products come in: Using the right restorative hair treatments, masks, and oils actually heal and moisturize hair from the inside out. Looking to repair your broken strands?
Here's how Byrdie editors do it—keep scrolling to find the hair-breakage treatments we swear by.
"Why mess with a good thing? This all-natural magic potion has been lauded on beauty websites for years now, and that's because it works. I slather it on my hair as a pre-shampoo treatment and other days as a sleep mask. Then I keep it in and slick back my hair for two full days to let all the hydrating, nourishing, split end-preventing goodness take hold." -Hallie Gould
"This is one of the only protein-packed masks/deep conditioners that mends my fragile ends without leaving them too brittle or overly proteinated (if that's not an actual word, I just made it one). Since I only wash my hair twice a week, I'll use this every two weeks in place of my usual conditioner, comb it through with a wide-tooth comb, let it marinate for 10 to 30 minutes (it's a hard-core formula, so I wouldn't leave it on any longer than that), and rinse! Since integrating it regularly into my routine, I've definitely noticed less fallout and breakage." -Erin Jahns, contributing writer
"I've been using this leave-in spray for years, and it never loses its luster in my mind. You can't overdo it on application (I hate feeling like there is product in my hair) and my wet brush collects significantly fewer strands after I've sprayed the formula thoroughly through my hair." -Erin Jahns
"Yes, I know $145 for a hair mask sounds borderline obscene, but I haven't tried any other mask that makes such a noticeable difference in my hair. I have an oily scalp and dry ends, and this mask is my once-every-two-weeks treat for my split ends. If you regularly heat-style your hair or have hair that veers toward the dry or brittle side, this mask will change your life (or at least your ends). It turns your tresses butter-soft and never disappoints." -Faith Xue, editorial director
"Sometimes, you just don’t have to do a long, luxurious hair treatment, which is why I love Cuvée’s newest product. If there was an award for "doing the most,” this product would win. Drop it into your shampoo or conditioner, use it to smooth flyaways, apply it after your get out of the shampoo—it’s really that versatile, and it never makes your hair feel greasy or weighed down. It’s made with hyaluronic acid and a slew of other vitamins that make your hair stronger and healthier (not to mention smell amazing). I keep it on my desk and love how soft my hair feels after I apply it." -Faith Xue
"I have a complicated relationship with hot tools. For years, I straightened my naturally curly hair, which resulted in major damage. The photo of my hair in my high school graduation cap still makes me sad. My broken-off, brittle ends needed a bunch of TLC, so I began applying this oil made with pure organic Jamaican black castor seeds to my ends and my scalp. My hair seriously sprouted. It can be used as a heat protectant as well, so I massage this onto my hair before I blow-dry and flat-iron my hair. I'm forever indebted to this stuff." -Maya Allen, contributing writer
"When I see a lot of split ends and breakage (which is often), I reach for this Kristen Ess hair mask. You're technically supposed to use it on clean, wet hair, but I choose to run it through my strands hair from roots to ends about an hour before shampooing. I have really fine hair, and traditional conditioning treatments weigh it down; I've found that shampooing afterward brings bounce and movement back to my hair while still allowing me to reap the mask's moisturizing benefits. Once I'm out of the shower and my hair is dried and styled, it feels softer and looks healthier and shinier. Most importantly, the ends of my hair are no longer brittle and straw-like. I'm kind of obsessed." -Kaitlyn McLintock, contributing writer
"The ends of my hair can get incredibly dry and straw-like, especially in the summer when a combination of sun, sand, and chlorine leech away moisture. To stop inches of my hair from breaking off and splitting, I use this delightful rose-scented hair oil. I love how rich and moisturizing it is, thanks to the 15 different organic oils it's formulated with (like rose-hip, avocado, sea buckthorn, and black cumin seed oils, among others). I also like that it's natural, vegan, handcrafted, and cruelty-free." -Kaitlyn McLintock
"The day I stop talking about this mask is the day I perish (or finally shave my head). My colorist, Matt Rez (hey, Matt!), introduced it to me two years ago, and I haven't used another one since. My hair is bleached to high heaven, and whenever it starts to feel crunchy and brittle, I apply this product to clean damp hair, leave it on for 30 minutes, and rinse. Its lotus flower and ceramide-laden formula bind the hair cuticle and cortex, leaving it so much shinier and healthier. It doesn't weigh down my fine strands, but would totally work on thicker hair too. Holy-grail status." -Amanda Montell, contributing writer
"If you have color-treated hair, Olaplex's at-home treatment 100% deserves a place in your shower. Apply this science-backed, colorist-approved restorative treatment to wet hair (before shampooing or conditioning), and leave it for as long as you like before continuing your hair-washing routine. The product strengthens the hair from the inside out to reduce breakage big-time." -Amanda Montell
"Rita Hazan herself once told me you'll never need a trim after using this serum. It's lightweight—almost like a lotion—and can be applied on wet or dry hair. I've noticed such a difference in my split-end situation (read: next to none are visible) after using it regularly." -Lindsey Metrus, senior editor
"Shu Uemura's Essence Absolue Overnight Serum is a more intensive version of the brand's Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil. It's meant to stay in all night (I usually do a full day into the night, to be honest). It repairs damage while you sleep, and really soaks in to strengthen, soften, and prevent breakage." -Hallie Gould, senior editor
"I use this oil-cream formula whenever I really want to let my hair soak for a full day or so. It's thick (but not heavy or gross) and really penetrates even the driest, most damaged ends of my color-treated hair. I apply it wet or dry, depending on my level of laziness, and slick my hair up in a bun. Then, I let it sit for a full 24 hours, breathing in the herbal-scented essential oils. When I wash it out, my hair is both softer to the touch and visibly smoother along the ends." -Hallie Gould
"I've been using this simple oil as my hair cure-all for years and don't plan on stopping anytime soon. It's great for smoothing flyaways, adding a little extra dose of moisture, and, yes—strengthening my ends to prevent breakage. The palo santo scent is heavenly, and it's also formulated with ayahuasca, which is pretty cool." -Victoria Hoff, contributing writer
"I like to slather this mask on the day before I plan on washing my hair—I just slick it all back into a low bun and no one is the wiser. The floral scent is nice and not at all overbearing, and the blend of silk proteins and botanical oils make my waves feel so soft after shampooing." -Victoria Hoff