What is a Pre-Shampoo Treatment and Do I Need One?

Updated: 20/07/2026

Upgrade your haircare routine with our selection of the best pre-shampoo treatments, specially designed to prep, protect, and rebuild your strands from the inside out. For those struggling with frizzy hair, these innovative formulas offer a powerful first line of defence before you even apply cleanser.

By sealing the hair cuticle and delivering a concentrated dose of moisture, these pre-shampoo treatments lock out humidity and prevent unwanted swelling of the hair shaft. From advanced bond-builders that restore broken keratin links to detoxifying mineral removers, these treatments ensure your locks remain sleek, soft, and beautifully manageable.

Otherwise known as "pre-pooing", a pre-shampoo treatment is a protective remedy designed to add extra nourishment to moisture-starved locks.

What is a Pre-Shampoo Treatment?

Typically found in the format of oils, balms or butters, pre-shampoo treatments are applied to dry hair before shampooing with your regular cleanser.

They help to lock in moisture and hydration to keep hair healthy, soft, strong and shiny.

How Long Do I Leave a Pre-Shampoo Treatment In for?

A pre-shampoo treatment can be left on as little or as long as your hair needs. Normal hair will benefit from a 30 minute treatment, while very dehydrated or afro-textured locks could need a full day before your regular cleanse.

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Which are Our Favourite Pre-Shampoo Treatments

There are lots of pre-shampoo treatments to choose from depending on how much moisture and care your hair needs, but these are some of our favourites.

1. Olaplex No.3 Plus Complete Repair Treatment 100ml

Olaplex No.3 Plus Complete Repair Treatment 100ml

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Recommended Retail Price: £32.00Current price: £30.24

250ml

100ml

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Best for: Strengthening Weakened Strands This updated at-home treatment works to reconstruct broken disulphide bonds within the hair structure. It visibly improves resilience in as little as three minutes, restoring touchable softness and boosting manageability with continued use. Why our customers love it:

• Customers describe hair as incredibly soft, silky, smooth, and noticeably shinier after single application
• Most report marked reduction in breakage, frizz, and shedding, with stronger, more resilient strands

2. Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Pre-Treatment Bond Repair for Damaged Hair 190ml

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Pre-Treatment Bond Repair for Damaged Hair 190ml

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Recommended Retail Price: £27.00Current price: £21.60

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Best for: Acidic pH Balancing Powered by a high concentration of citric acid and bonding care complex, this rinse-off formula targets weakened hair bonds. It works to smooth the cuticle, seal in colour, and dramatically reduce the appearance of split ends. Why our customers love it:

• The product is effective in repairing and strengthening damaged, dry, and frizzy hair, leaving it feeling soft, smooth, shiny, and healthy.
• Customers report noticeable improvements, especially for color-treated, bleached, or chemically-processed hair, with the product helping to restore hair's natural bounce, manageability, and vibrancy.

3. Color Wow Dream Filter Treatment 200ml

Color Wow Dream Filter Treatment 200ml

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Recommended Retail Price: £26.00Current price: £23.96

200ml

50ml

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Best for: Hard Water Detoxifying This gentle spray removes dulling mineral and metal build-up deposited by hard water, such as copper, iron, and calcium. It instantly brightens blondes and highlights, restoring optimal colour vibrancy and softness. Why our customers love it:

• The product is effective at removing mineral buildup and brassiness, leaving hair feeling softer, smoother, and more vibrant.
• It is particularly useful for those with hard water or mineral-heavy water sources that can dull and discolor hair.

4. L'Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment 200ml

L'Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment 200ml

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Recommended Retail Price: £16.99Current price: £11.04

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Best for: Budget-Friendly Repair Formulated with citric acid, this pre-wash treatment coats each strand from root to tip to reinforce damaged hair fibres. It significantly minimises breakage and split ends, preparing your lengths for a smooth, shiny cleanse. Why our customers love it:

• The pre-shampoo treatment effectively repairs and strengthens damaged hair, leaving it feeling softer, healthier, and more manageable.
• It is particularly beneficial for hair that has been subjected to color, heat styling, or other damaging treatments.

5. L'Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Pre-Shampoo Treatment 250ml

L'Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Pre-Shampoo Treatment 250ml

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£31.50

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Best for: Neutralising Copper Build-Up Featuring advanced anti-porosity technology and glicofiller, this lightweight gel neutralises copper particles found in shower water. It helps to prevent excess water absorption, detangling your lengths and reducing breakage.  

6. Aveda Botanical Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment 150ml

Aveda Botanical Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment 150ml

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Recommended Retail Price: £39.00Current price: £29.25

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Best for: Plant-Powered Fortification This nourishing pre-wash treatment uses plant-derived technologies to strengthen and build bonds within the hair. It deeply replenishes lost moisture and smooths the outer cuticle for silkier, healthier-looking locks. Why our customers love it:

• The product is praised for its ability to repair, strengthen, and nourish damaged hair.
• Reviewers report that it leaves hair feeling soft, silky, and smooth, with improved manageability and reduced breakage.

7. Kérastase Première Bonding Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment for Damaged Hair with Pure Citric Acid 250ml [STEP 1- ACTIVATE REPAIR]

Kérastase Première Bonding Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment for Damaged Hair with Pure Citric Acid 250ml [STEP 1- ACTIVATE REPAIR]

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£59.00

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Best for: Decalcifying Dull Lengths Designed to remove calcium overdose caused by hard water, this professional-grade gel repairs persistent damage. Infused with pure citric acid and glycine, it restores natural strength and adds up to 75% more shine. Why our customers love it:

• The pre-shampoo treatment leaves hair feeling softer, smoother, and more manageable, with improved shine and reduced frizz and damage.
• It is particularly beneficial for damaged, dry, or color-treated hair, helping to repair and nourish it.

8. Coco & Eve Bond Building Pre-Shampoo Treatment 125ml

Coco & Eve Bond Building Pre-Shampoo Treatment 125ml

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Recommended Retail Price: £23.00Current price: £18.40

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Best for: Chemically Treated Hair Utilising micro 3D bond-building technology, this intensive treatment targets split ends and flyaways. A rich botanical blend of coconut, pomegranate, and avocado oils deeply hydrates and softens chemically compromised strands. Why our customers love it:

• The product appears to be an effective pre-shampoo treatment for repairing and nourishing damaged, color-treated, and dry hair
• Many customers reported their hair felt significantly softer, smoother, and more manageable after use

9. NUXE Hair Prodigieux Pre-Shampoo Nourishing Mask 125ml

NUXE Hair Prodigieux Pre-Shampoo Nourishing Mask 125ml

£29.00

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Best for: Lightweight Oil Nutrition Enriched with pink camellia oil and jojoba oil, this luxurious pre-wash mask delivers intense nutrition without weighing down fine hair. It leaves lengths with a beautiful, silk-like shine and a delicate, spa-like scent. Why our customers love it:

• The hair treatment provides nourishment, leaving hair feeling soft, smooth, and shiny.
• The lightweight, non-greasy formula is easy to use and rinses out cleanly, with a luxurious, spa-like scent.

10. Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve 237ml

Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve 237ml

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Recommended Retail Price: £25.00Current price: £20.00

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Best for: Defining Natural Curls This protein-rich pre-shampoo salve targets fragile bonds to help repair brittle, damaged curls and coils. Chia seed extract and prickly pear work to boost elasticity, smooth coarse textures, and minimise the look of frizz. Why our customers love it:

• The hair treatment provides enhanced curl definition and manageability, reduces frizz, and helps repair damage, strengthening the hair and improving its overall condition and shine.
• Customers with a variety of curl patterns have found the product to be transformative, describing it as a "game-changer" for the health and appearance of their curls.