Olaplex is a Fan-Favorite, But Is Their First Hair Mask Worth the Buy? Here’s My Honest Review

• Value: 17/20
• Functionality: 18/20
• Ease of Use: 18/20
• Aesthetics: 17/20
• Moisture Boost: 18/20
• TOTAL: 88/100

I’ve always heard so much about Olaplex, yet I never tried the brand myself. Many have written love letters to their shampoo, conditioner and hair oil, so I wasn’t surprised to see their newest product receiving the same praise.

Introducing the No.8 Bond Intensive Moisture Mask: the first hair mask in their collection that promises shine, smoothness and overall moisture (aka three of my favorite things).

Given that I’m always looking for a good hair mask, this was the perfect opportunity to try the popular brand and bring some life back to my curls.

First Impressions

Honestly, my first thought was, “This is very small.” The bottle is 3.3 oz (or 100 ml), which is about a third of the size of my other haircare products. And I have a lot (and I mean a lot) of hair, so I was already skeptical on how much use I could get from the bottle, but like any new product I try, I like to stay optimistic.

On that note, I like that it came with a pump applicator (so I don’t have to dig my fingers into a tub like most hair masks) and the mask itself felt lightweight in my hands and strands (thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, avocado oil and sunflower seed oil).

But it was the scent that was a true winner for me. It smelled like vanilla (and you can never go wrong with vanilla) without being too overpowering. Oh, and did I mention, it’s also vegan and cruelty-free? Yes please.

The First Try

After cleansing my hair, I gathered it into even sections to apply the mask. I used about three pumps for each section, adding two more pumps for my drier areas. Whenever I use a mask, I take the time to do some extra detangling in the shower. This product made it so that I was able to go through my curls with ease and not worry about creating more knots in the process.

As the bottle recommended, I left the mask on for ten minutes before rinsing it out. A slight con is I still had to do some additional detangling once I got out of the shower (whereas some other hair masks I’ve used only require one round of detangling). Otherwise, I was able to see more definition and shine in my curls before I even applied the rest of my styling products.

If you’re looking for shinier hair, you’ve come to the right place. The pictures above are proof that this mask will deliver. As for smoothness and body, I definitely saw a difference.

However, there are still areas that need improvement. Namely, the frizz didn’t completely go away (though the bottle does recommend combining the mask with the brand’s No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment and No. 3 Hair Perfector for maximum results).

Since this was my first try, I’ll consider the combo the next time I wash my hair (especially since the hair treatment got high praises from my fellow PW staffers). I believe that if I continue to use the mask, it’ll bring even more definition and moisture to my curls over time.

So...is It Worth It?

Kind of. The pros are that it truly does improve shine and moisturizes dry, damaged strands. I can honestly see why Olaplex has been on everyone’s haircare list for a while now. Plus, it’s great for all hair types—no matter if you have fine, chemically-treated, thick or curly hair.

Considering the amount of mask you get in each bottle, the biggest downside is the price. Again, I have a lot of hair and after two washes, I’m almost done with the product. The instructions suggest using this weekly, but for the whopping price of $28, it’s just not realistic for me. However, I will definitely reach for this whenever I need an extra boost of hydration (especially in the summer and winter, when the weather is especially harsh on my hair).