I’ve put my hair through the ringer over the years, all because I was desperate for smooth hair. Instead of treating the cause of any dryness or added damage, I instead subjected my long strands to an excessive amount of Japanese hair strengthening, keratin, Brazilian blowouts, and flat irons with extreme high heat (it’s too embarrassing to ever admit what temp I used, but use your imagination). Since, I’ve course-corrected, and have become quite meticulous when it comes to hair products I use. So when amino acid hair treatments started flooding the market, I took special interest.

Vogue’s Favorite Amino Acid Hair Treatments:

• TK: Dyson Amino Leave-In Scalp Bubble Treatment, $55
• TK: Verb Bonding Mask, $22
• TK: Redken All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner Set, $58
• TK: L'Oréal Professionnel Paris Absolut Repair Molecular Hair Mask, $52
• TK: Cécred Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Ritual, $53

As Charlene Valledor, cosmetic chemist and co-founder of SOS Beauty explains, amino acid hair treatments are typically designed to strengthen and smooth hair by filling in the gaps in the cuticle and provide protection from moisture loss. It’s much gentler than known formaldehyde-based straightening treatments like the keratin treatment, and she says it’s a great option for anyone looking to minimize damage while keeping their natural texture.

So if you’re looking for restorative options that will keep your hair integrity intact, amino acid hair treatments might be exactly what you need. Below, everything you need to know; plus, the five best ones you can try.

In This Story:

• Are amino acid treatments good for your hair?
• What are the ingredients in amino acid hair treatments?
• How do amino acid hair treatments differ from keratin treatments?
• How long does amino acid hair treatment last?
• How We Tested
• Meet the Experts

Best Weekly Mask: Verb Bonding Mask

• Why We Love It: Perfect for anyone who is prone to damage (fellow hot hair tool addicts understand this plight), Verb’s Bonding Mask works to restore hair and make it stronger; it has manketti seed oil, which is a vitamin E powerhouse and provides moisture and protection from environmental aggressors, Mafura butter, which treats damaged ends and prevents future breakage, and a special amino bond complex that repairs bonds that give our hair texture and shape. Use it once a week from mid-length to the ends and you’ll notice your hair look shinier, and feel softer and stronger after a couple of uses. And reviewers say that it has a lovely fruit-like scent, which is always a nice added bonus.
• Key Ingredients: Amino Bond Complex, Manketti seed oil, Mafura butter, marine botanicals
• Best For: Damage, breakage, heat damage
• Size: 6.3 fl oz.

Best Shampoo & Conditioner: Redken All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner

• Why We Love It: This shampoo and conditioner lays the foundation for reviving your hair back to life. It’s made with a special moisture complex that is heavily argan oil-based, and mixes with soy protein and amino acids to hydrate those dry ends and smooth away any frizziness. The formula is also lightweight and won’t sit on top of your strands after a good cleanse. Use it together daily and the result is super soft, shiny, and healthy hair.
• Editor’s Experience: “I’ve gotten so many compliments on my hair since introducing this shampoo and conditioner combo into my hair routine. The consensus is that my hair looks so full and shiny. The shampoo lathers really nicely (there’s a lot of foam that feels nice and bouncy—never stripping) and the conditioner works in easily to nourish dry ends. After one wash and a quick blow-dry, I immediately notice the difference. I could not recommend these two more.” — Audrey Noble, contributor
• Key Ingredients: Argan Oil, sodium cocoyl amino acid, soy protein
• Best For: Dry hair, cleansing, conditioning
• Size: Shampoo (10.1 fl oz.), Conditioner (10.1 fl oz.)

Best for Damaged Hair: L’Oréal Professionnel Paris Absolut Repair Molecular Hair Mask

• Why We Love It: If you do a lot to your hair, you need something strong to repair all the damage. That’s where this mask comes in. It contains a peptides bonder that actually rebuilds any damage to your hair’s molecular structure and amino acids to further strengthen and nourish strands so it can withstand future breakage. But be warned: it is quite fragrant. Reviewers are split on the scent, but if you happen to like the mix of smoky vanilla, bergamot, and florals, then you’ll probably won’t mind.
• Key Ingredients: Peptides Bonder, amino acids
• Best For: Colored or overprocessed hair, damaged hair, breakage
• Size: 8.5 fl. oz.

Best for Breakage: Cécred Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Ritual

• Why We Love It: Yes, a multi-step regimen can be time consumptive; but this treatment is worth the extra steps, we promise. When you mix Cécred’s Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Powder with warm water and work it into freshly shampooed hair, you’re giving your hair a protein and rice-infused rinse that will help strengthen and lengthen strands. The next step, the Silk Rinse, is a five-minute leave-on mask to hydrate hair and give you that shiny and soft hair of your dreams.
• Key Ingredients: Fermented rice, rose powder, biotin, amino acid
• Best For: Excess shedding, breakage
• Size: Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Powder (0.35 oz.), Silk Rinse (1 fl. oz.)

Best for Daily Use: Dyson Amino Leave-In Scalp Bubble Treatment

• Why We Love It: After a few months of consistent use, celebrity hairstylist and Dyson’s global styling brand ambassador Matthew Collins says this amino acid treatment has helped soothe his dry, irritated scalp, and keep hair feeling hydrated. The foam-to-serum contains niacinamide, yeast extract, and a natural amino acid called ectoin that protects and strengthens the skin barrier. Plus, there’s a foaming pump he loves that he says makes for easy, quick, and—most importantly—mess-free use. Just apply 4-6 pumps directly to the scalp, and style as usual for best results.
• Key Ingredients: Niacinamide, ectoin, caffeine, yeast extract
• Best For: Dry hair, sensitive scalp, daily hair styling
• Size: 75 ml.