If your hair feels damaged, dry, weak or difficult to manage, two Redken ranges are likely to come up again and again:Â Acidic Bonding Concentrate and Extreme.
Both ranges are designed to help strengthen damaged hair, but they are suited to slightly different concerns. Choosing between them comes down to what your hair is struggling with most.
Acidic Bonding Concentrate is focused on strengthening and caring for damaged hair, particularly hair affected by colour and chemical services. Extreme is designed for weak, brittle hair that is prone to breakage.
So, which one is right for you? Let's take a closer look.
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate
Best for: damaged, weakened, colour treated or chemically treated hair
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate is a great option if your hair has been through colouring, bleaching, chemical services or regular heat styling and is feeling like it needs some extra care.
The range is designed to strengthen weakened hair while helping improve its overall condition, softness and manageability.
This makes it particularly useful when damage isn't your only concern. If your hair feels rough, dry, frizzy and difficult to manage, as well as weaker than it used to be, Acidic Bonding Concentrate offers a more all round approach to caring for damaged hair.
What does Acidic Bonding Concentrate do?
The range uses Redken's Bonding Care Complex and an acidic formula to help strengthen and condition damaged hair.
The Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo gently cleanses while helping strengthen weakened hair.
The Acidic Bonding Concentrate Conditioner provides conditioning care to help improve softness, smoothness and manageability.
For hair needing more intensive care, the Acidic Bonding Concentrate Intensive Treatment can be incorporated into your routine, while the Acidic Bonding Concentrate Leave In Treatment provides additional care between washes.
Who should choose Acidic Bonding Concentrate?
Consider Acidic Bonding Concentrate if your hair:
- Is coloured, highlighted or chemically treated
- Feels dry, rough or damaged
- Has become harder to manage
- Looks dull or lacks smoothness
- Feels frizzy or porous
- Needs strengthening alongside conditioning care
It is particularly suited to hair that has been regularly coloured or lightened and needs help maintaining a healthier, smoother feel between salon appointments.
Redken Extreme
Best for: weak, brittle hair prone to breakage
Redken Extreme takes a more targeted approach to weak and fragile hair.
If your main concern is that your hair seems to snap easily, your ends are breaking or your hair struggles to retain length, Extreme may be the better choice.
The range is designed to help strengthen hair and improve its resilience, making it particularly useful for hair that has become fragile through chemical processing, heat styling, brushing or everyday wear and tear.
What does Redken Extreme do?
The Extreme Shampoo cleanses while helping strengthen damaged hair.
The Extreme Conditioner helps condition and detangle hair while supporting its strength and manageability.
For hair that is particularly prone to breakage, the Extreme Anti Snap Leave In Treatment is designed to help protect against breakage caused by brushing and styling while providing conditioning care.
Who should choose Extreme?
Consider Extreme if your hair:
- Feels weak or fragile
- Snaps or breaks easily
- Has brittle ends
- Struggles to retain length because of breakage
- Needs help improving resilience
- Is frequently exposed to brushing, heat styling or other mechanical stress
If breakage is the thing you're most concerned about, Extreme is the more targeted option of the two.
So, Which Redken Range Is Right for Your Hair?
Choosing between Acidic Bonding Concentrate and Extreme really comes down to what your hair needs most.
If your hair is coloured, bleached, dry, rough or generally damaged, Acidic Bonding Concentrate is a great place to start. It focuses on strengthening damaged hair while also helping improve softness, smoothness and manageability.
If your hair is weak, fragile or prone to breaking, Extreme is likely to be the better choice. Its focus is on strengthening hair and improving resilience, making it particularly suited to hair that snaps easily or struggles to retain length.
Of course, hair can have more than one concern. Coloured hair can also be fragile, while dry hair can also be prone to breakage. In those cases, you don't necessarily need to choose one complete range over the other. You can select individual products based on what your hair needs most.
The simplest way to decide is to ask yourself:
Is my main concern overall damage and dryness? Start with Acidic Bonding Concentrate.
Is my main concern weakness and breakage? Start with Extreme.
Can You Use Acidic Bonding Concentrate and Extreme Together?
You don't necessarily need to use both complete ranges at the same time.
Instead, consider choosing products based on your individual hair concerns. For example, you might prefer Acidic Bonding Concentrate as your main shampoo and conditioner routine because your hair is coloured and generally damaged, then use a targeted Extreme product if breakage is also an issue.
Using products from both ranges doesn't mean your hair needs more and more strengthening products. A simple routine targeted to your hair's needs is often a better approach.
If you're unsure where to start, try choosing the range that best matches your main concern and see how your hair responds before adding additional products.
What Else Can Help Damaged Hair?
The right haircare routine is only part of keeping damaged hair in good condition.
Try to be mindful of how often you're using high heat, and always use a suitable heat protectant before blow drying, straightening or curling your hair. Be gentle when brushing, particularly when hair is wet, and avoid unnecessary tension from tight hairstyles.
Regular trims can also help keep damaged ends looking and feeling their best. Hair that is already split or severely damaged cannot be permanently repaired with haircare, so removing heavily damaged ends is still an important part of maintaining healthy looking hair.
Most importantly, choosing products that are suited to your hair type, concerns and goals can make a big difference to your results.
Not sure which products are right for your hair?
That's where our FREE Online Hair Consultation can help.
Our experienced salon professionals will create a personalised haircare plan with recommended products and expert care advice tailored to your hair type, concerns and goals.
Whether you're dealing with colour treated hair, dryness, damage, breakage or simply want to improve the overall condition of your hair, it's an easy way to get personalised recommendations without having to guess which products are right for you.
The Bottom Line
Both Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate and Redken Extreme are designed with damaged hair in mind, but they aren't exactly the same.
Acidic Bonding Concentrate is a great choice for hair that is generally damaged, dry, rough or chemically treated and needs strengthening alongside conditioning and manageability.
Extreme is better suited to hair that feels weak, fragile and prone to breakage, particularly when keeping hair from snapping is the main concern.
The best range isn't necessarily the one marketed as the strongest or most intensive. It's the one that addresses what your hair actually needs.
Still not sure which one to choose? Take our FREE Online Hair Consultation and let our experienced salon professionals create a personalised haircare plan with recommended products and expert care advice tailored to your hair type, concerns and goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate and Extreme?
Acidic Bonding Concentrate is designed for overall damaged and weakened hair, while Extreme is more focused on weak, brittle hair that is prone to breakage.
Which Redken range is best for damaged hair?
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate is a good choice for generally damaged, dry, rough or chemically treated hair.
Which Redken range is best for hair breakage?
Redken Extreme is the more targeted choice for weak hair that is prone to breakage.
Is Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate good for bleached hair?
Yes. Acidic Bonding Concentrate is designed to care for weakened and damaged hair, making it a good option for bleached or chemically treated hair.
Is Redken Extreme good for coloured hair?
Yes. Redken Extreme can be used on coloured hair, particularly when weakness and breakage are the main concerns.
Can you use Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate and Extreme together?
Yes. Products from both ranges can be used in the same routine if they address different hair concerns. You do not need to use the complete range of both.
Which Redken range is best for dry, damaged hair?
Acidic Bonding Concentrate is generally the better choice for dry, rough and generally damaged hair because it combines strengthening and conditioning care.
Which Redken range is best for weak hair?
Redken Extreme is a good choice for weak, fragile hair, particularly when breakage is a major concern.
Can damaged hair be permanently repaired?
Haircare can improve the strength, condition and appearance of damaged hair, but severely damaged or split hair cannot be permanently repaired. Regular trims can help manage damaged ends.
How can I find the right haircare products for my hair?
Our FREE online hair consultation provides personalised product recommendations and expert haircare advice based on your hair type, concerns and goals. Our experienced salon professionals create a personalised haircare plan to help you find the right products for your hair.
