Repairing damaged curls feels like a forever journey, especially when heat and color have had their moment on your strands.

I've been testing different treatments to see what actually brings life back into my curls, and these two have been the biggest contenders so far.

1. Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector

Olaplex has been hyped for years as the holy grail for damaged hair, and for a while, it really did revive my curls. The initial results were impressive—more bounce, less frizz, and a bit of that elasticity returning. Over time though, it started feeling less impactful on my hair, almost like my strands got used to it. It’s still a solid treatment, just not the miracle it once was for me.

2. Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate

This is my newest experiment, and it’s marketed as a powerhouse for anyone with curly hair facing heat or color damage. The formula is rich, strengthening, and feels like it coats the hair in the best way. I haven’t used it long enough to judge fully, but the early impressions are promising.

Both treatments aim to rebuild and strengthen, but they behave differently on damaged curls. Olaplex gave me a great start but eventually plateaued, and Redken is the fresh contender that might just take the lead. I’ll keep testing and report back on which one truly makes the biggest difference.