Run, Don't Walk—I Found a $20 Bond-Building Shampoo That Truly Works

Finding the right shampoo and conditioner for you can be just as tough as finding the right skincare. Although some products might be labeled as appropriate for your hair type, that doesn't automatically mean it's right for your specific hair, especially if you're dealing with any kind of hair damage—that's a whole other ball game.

At this point, my dry, damaged, 3C curls have been through a lot, and sometimes regular shampoos and conditioners just don't cut it. I knew I needed a set that would help repair the damage but wouldn't strip my already dry strands. Luckily, I might have found the ticket. I was pleasantly surprised by how well Verb's new bond-repairing collection worked for my hair. My hair health has definitely increased since I started using it, and you can't beat the $20 price tag! I'd even go as far as to say it rivals other more expensive options. If you're curious about what Verb's new collection is like, keep scrolling. I'm sharing my honest thoughts below.

I'll start by telling you a bit about my hair and what drew me to this collection. It's a tale as old as time. I flat-ironed my hair all through high school and well into college—you can imagine this resulted in some serious damage. While I do still heat-style occasionally now, I try to work with my natural texture as much as possible. I have thick, coarse, 3C curls that can definitely get frizzy if I don't use the right products. I've used Olaplex's bonding shampoo and conditioner, which is great, but I found that shampoo to be a bit too drying for my hair type. With this collection, however, I didn't have that problem!

This Bonding Shampoo and Mask duo is formulated to treat damaged hair that's the result of heat styling, coloring, and relaxing. Similar to Olaplex, it helps to relink broken bonds in the hair shaft, temporarily sealing split ends, strengthening strands, and helping to prevent future damage. As a bonus, it also helps detangle strands which really came in handy for my thick hair. The key ingredients include an amino-bond complex, Verb's bonding technology that helps relink broken protein bonds in the hair along with mafura butter and a marine botanical blend that keeps hair healthy.

I only got to use this set for a little over a week before writing this, so I haven't seen any insane results just yet, but I did notice a difference in the overall softness and manageability of my hair. My curls had more definition, it didn't tangle as easily, and it stayed hydrated a lot longer than usual. Most of the time, if I don't use the right products, my hair can become really dry and frizzy and lose its natural curl pattern at the drop of a hat. I was pleasantly surprised that this duo offered more than enough moisture for my hair. Usually shampoos made "for all hair types" don't exactly do it for me. My curls are already pretty dry by nature, so I need something that will cleanse thoroughly but won't strip my hair. Sounds easy enough, but it has been a real journey trying to find the right one for me. This Bonding Shampoo didn't strip my hair at all, and I liked using the Bonding Mask as a deep conditioner by leaving it on for an hour or so after washing. Whether you have fine, thick, or color-damaged strands, I think this duo is definitely worth giving a shot. It's cheaper than a few other bond-repairing options out there, and it's gentle enough to be used on tighter curls and natural hair. Overall, I'm definitely happy with this set and will continue to use it to see what kind of results I see in a month or two. The countless five-star reviews on Sephora also speak for themselves. The people have spoken, and this duo's a winner!