
The Best Ingredients and Vitamins for Damaged Hair
Like skincare, hair care routine is most effective when it is built around individual hair concerns. Your hair is unique, and – from your hair type to the stressors you encounter each day – taking care of hair requires a personalised approach. Kérastase formulations combine specific vitamins for hair to treat a range of concerns and goals. Damaged hair, in particular, benefits from nourishing, fortifying ingredients and vitamins.
The best ingredients for damaged hair protect and strengthen strands at their core. From hair care vitamins for scalp health to shampoo ingredients that improve shine and softness, curate your bespoke regime of ingredients for damaged hair below, with Kérastase.
Why use targeted ingredients vitamins for damaged hair?
Between heat styling, chemical processes and environmental pollutants, there are many external factors that can damage your strands or trigger scalp imbalances.
Common signs that your hair might be damaged include:
- Dry, porous strands
- Dullness and frizz
- Hair breakage or split ends
- Increased hair fall
- Scalp concerns
Hair health and scalp care are now at the forefront of hair care, which has prompted the use of advanced formulations and powerful vitamins for damaged hair. This tailored, ingredients-focused approach allows you to mitigate damage from your scalp to your ends.
Best ingredients for damaged hair
Your hair and scalp require a thorough routine consisting of exfoliation, cleansing and conditioning, which can be achieved with vitamins for dry, damaged hair. Start by identifying some of your major hair damage concerns, then build your hair routine around these underlying issues. To help you reclaim your hair and scalp health, we have consolidated some of the best vitamins for hair breakage, damage and scalp imbalances below.

Vitamin C
A potent and protective vitamin for hair, known for its ability to support scalp health and boost hair shine.

Vitamin E
One of the best vitamins for hair growth, its antioxidant properties can also promote a healthy scalp.

Argan Oil
A cult favourite shampoo and conditioner ingredient, used to moisturise and fortify the scalp and strands.

Latic Acid
An exfoliator for the scalp, which works by breaking down dead skin cells and removing product build-up.

Ceramides
One of the best ingredients for hair damage repair, used to help improve the structure of strands.

Manuka Honey
A humectant which draws moisture to hair and helps retain it. A good conditioner ingredient for dry or damaged locks.

Camellia Oil
Made up of a blend of moisturising and nourishing components used to protect hair against environmental stress.

Marula Oil
A conditioner ingredient used to address frizzy and dry hair by hydrating and fortifying strands.

Hyaluronic Acid
Deeply moisturising, this humectant can assist in the improved appearance of volume.

Edelweiss
A plant extract proven to be one of the best hair care ingredients for strand protection and strengthening.

Charcoal
A detoxifying and exfoliative ingredient, used to remove oil and ease itchy scalp sensations.

B Vitamins
A hair care vitamin complex which supports hair growth – even for those with naturally weak strands.

Tamanu Oil
Sourced from the Tamanu nut tree, this extract promotes hair shine and can help to target hair loss.

Abyssine
An ocean-derived molecule that targets pollution particles and refreshes hair fibres.

Iris Root Extract
A plant extract and conditioner ingredient used to soften and improve the feel of hair.

Resurrection Plant Sap
Helps smooth and hydrate even the most damaged hair.

Aminexil
Helps to stop hair-fall by fortifying bulb anchorage and protecting against daily external aggressors.

Salicylic Acid
Dissolves dead cells and regulates cell renewal to improve scalp and hair prone to dandruff.
The Best Hair Care Ingredients by Hair Concern
Our skincare-inspired haircare is tailored to hair type and concern. Discover which shampoo ingredients and conditioning formulas to use for strengthened and enhanced hair.
For Dryness
Dryness is a common by-product of damaged strands. When the hair is damaged, the cuticle loses its ability to retain moisture, which can give it a straw-like texture. You’ll want to pepper your hair care regime with ingredients and vitamins for dry, damaged hair, including:
• Niacinamide – there are a ton of niacinamide benefits for hair, including strengthening the hair fibre barrier and locking in nutrition at the scalp.
• Hyaluronic acid – deeply moisturising with the ability to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, this humectant can assist boosting the appearance of volume.
• Glycerin – another powerful humectant, glycerin has a deeply conditioning effect, smoothing the hair cuticle.
• Ceramides – one of the best ingredients for hair damage repair to help improve the structure of strands.
How to use these ingredients: Harnessing the harmonious blend of niacinamide, glycerin and plant-based proteins, Nutritive Magic 8H Night Serum is an overnight serum designed for use on all types of dry hair.
Nutritive Magic 8H Night Serum
Nourishing night hair serum suitable for all types of dry hair.
For Dullness And Frizz
Dullness and frizz go hand in hand with dry, damaged hair. This is because when strands are damaged, it causes the cuticles to ‘lift’ from their typical scale-like pattern. When this happens, it can make it harder to preserve moisture in the cuticle. Hair lacking in moisture often loses its radiance, leading to an overall lacklustre appearance. However, you can manage dullness and frizz with these ingredients for damaged hair:
• Argan oil – a cult favourite shampoo and conditioner ingredient used to moisturise and fortify the scalp and strands.
• Manuka honey – as a natural humectant, manuka honey binds moisture to hair and helps retain it. A good conditioning agent for dry or damaged locks.
• Marula oil – Another star conditioner ingredient used to address frizzy and dry hair by hydrating and fortifying strands.
How to use these ingredients: This nourishing trio is formulated in our beloved Elixir Ultime Original Hair Oil to help smooth and soften dry, frizzy strands. Use as a leave-in treatment or pre-styler on wet or dry hair to enjoy a glistening finish.
Elixir Ultime Refillable Hair Oil
Refill your Elixir Ultime bottle again and again. Beautifying, versatle leave-in oil with a lightweight formula and advanced anti-frizz performance on all hair types.
For Hair Breakage
Breakage and split ends can happen as a result of improper hair care, bleaching, perming, chemically relaxing, or colour-treating. Hard water exposure on already damaged hair can lead to a buildup of calcium deposits that exacerbates brittleness. The key to managing breakage is to incorporate fortifying products that help strengthen chemically damaged hair.
Consider these ingredients and vitamins for hair breakage:
• Citric acid – this alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) is particularly effective at removing calcium buildup on bleach-damaged hair, as well as improving strand elasticity.
• Glycine – this amino acid works in tandem with calcium-removing ingredients. Once calcium deposits are removed, it penetrates the hair’s inner layer to re-establish the connection between keratin bonds.
• Peptide – this chain of amino acids refills the hair surface with matter to minimise breakage from chemical processing and other stressors.
How to use these ingredients: Citric acid, glycine and peptide all form the basis of our Première collection, which has been specifically designed for damaged hair. Two target treatments include our anti-breakage Première Intensive Repairing Serum and the deeply nourishing Première Repairing Mask for Damaged Hair.
For Hair Fall
Damaged hair can make you more prone to hair fall from breakage.
Strained or weakened hair follicles (through heat styling, chemical processing or overly tight hairstyles) can cause unnecessary hair shedding. Thankfully, there are a number of ingredients for damaged hair that can help stop hair shedding unnecessarily and foster a healthier environment for hair growth:
• Aminexil – this key ingredient can help mitigate hair fall by anchoring the hair to the scalp and preserving hair density.
• Vitamin E – one of the best vitamins for damaged hair to encourage new growth, and a natural antioxidant that protects against external aggressors to promote a balanced scalp.
How to use these ingredients: You can enjoy the benefits of vitamin E in our Chronologiste collection, which works to recapture your hair’s vitality. For specific anti-hair fall concerns, we recommend the aminexil-infused Genesis Anti-Hair Fall Fortifying Hair Serum to re-anchor hair fibre at the root and minimise hair fall from breakage.
Genesis Anti-Hair Fall Fortifying Hair Serum
Daily fortifying serum for weakened hair that is prone to falling due to breakage from brushing.
For Scalp Health
You’ll probably recognise a lot of skincare ingredients in your hair care formulations – this is because the scalp has the same biological composition as the rest of our skin. Strong, shiny hair starts with a balanced scalp, so it’s important to keep your scalp nourished and support its delicate ecosystem of bacteria – also known as the scalp microbiome.
When the scalp is disrupted, it can trigger a host of concerns, such as dandruff and excess sebum. We recommend a targeted approach, using these scalp-loving ingredients and vitamins for damaged hair:
• Salicylic acid – this beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) dissolves dead cells and regulates skin cell renewal to improve scalps and hair prone to dandruff.
• Charcoal – a detoxifying and exfoliative ingredient that’s used to remove oil and ease itchy scalp sensations.
• Lactic acid – an exfoliator for the scalp that works by breaking down dead skin cells and removing product build-up.
• Vitamin C – this hero antioxidant is a potent and protective vitamin for damaged hair, known for its ability to support scalp health and boost hair shine.
How to use these ingredients: Our universal hair defence serum for sensitive scalps is the Spécifique Serum Potentialiste Vitamin C Hair and Scalp Serum, which draws on the power of vitamin C to reduce oxidative stress. For dandruff sufferers, we suggest the Symbiose Cellulaire Nuit Anti-Dandruff Scalp Serum Intensif to help dissolve flakes using salicylic acid.
Spécifique Serum Potentialiste Vitamin C Hair and Scalp Serum
Universal defense hair serum for sensitive scalps. The Kerastase Potentialiste Hair & Scalp serum fights scalp imbalances and protects scalp from external damages. The result: this Vitamin c serum for hair will leave your scalp feeling fresh, healthier and stronger.
Symbiose Cellulaire Nuit Anti-Dandruff Scalp Serum Intensif
Nighttime scalp serum for dandruff-prone scalps and hair.
The Symbiose Cellulaire Nuit Anti-Pelliculaire Intensif is an intensive hair and scalp serum for dandruff-prone scalps. This potent dandruff scalp serum works overnight to help target dandruff at the source with its 8 hours of continuous action. The anti-dandruff hair serum helps the scalp look healthier and stronger, while soothing & comforting sensitive scalps.
Now that you’re armed with some of the best ingredients for damaged hair, it’s time to debunk a few common hair fall myths and misconceptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers To Your Frequently Asked Ingredients Questions