After going viral on TikTok, Mirror’s shopping writer Grace put Hair Syrup’s affordable pre-wash oil to the test to see if it lived up to its hype
If you’ve been scrolling on your Instagram or TikTok feed in the past few months, it’s likely you’ve come across the brand Hair Syrup before. Hair Syrup was created by Lucie McLeod, back when she was a 21-year-old university student in 2019.
After playing around with DIY hair oils to restore her brittle hair, Lucy eventually developed the perfect formula, which she later used to create syrups for different hair concerns. During the height of lockdown, a hair syrup video went viral, and the brand has been rapidly growing ever since.
As with many things that gain internet virality, I was sceptical to see if these hair syrups would actually live up to the hype, but after trying one of the brand’s most popular ones, Rapunzel, I was pretty shocked with the results.
Priced at £14.95, this is one of the more affordable hair oils on the market. So what exactly is it? Rapunzel is a pre-wash oil formulated with pink grapefruit, flaxseed, castor seed, and pomegranate, which help nourish and revitalise the scalp. What’s left is fuller, softer and healthier-looking locks.
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Rapunzel Pre-Wash Hair Syrup review
I’ve been suffering from brittle and thinning hair over the two past years, and I’m pretty sure it’s down to London’s hard water (plus a combination of bleach damage from my balayage last summer). So I was looking for an oil, treatment or mask I could use to revive it. I’m very low maintenance, I can’t commit to having to apply something every single day, as I know I just won’t do it, so when I found Hair Syrup, I knew it would suit me, as you only need to use it once or twice a week.
The first time I used the oil I think I used a bit too much and was left with some pretty greasy hair, even after double shampooing. But once I gave it another go with a lighter hand, I couldn’t believe that it had immediate results. My hair felt shinier and softer after the first use.
However, my goal really was thickening, so I knew I had to stick with it a bit longer, and I can say after a month of consistent use (and by consistent, I mean around twice a week), I can see some noticeable difference. My hair definitely looks fuller around the hairline, which was one of my main concerns, and it looks far less dull than it had been.
I don’t really have any cons with this product. As mentioned, if you use too much, your hair will be left feeling a little sticky. However, that’s a user error issue rather than anything to do with the formula.
If you’re looking for some alternative pre-shampoo treatments, I’ve heard great things about Amika’s The Kure Multi-Task Repair Treatment, £29, and Aveda’s Botanical Repair Pre-Shampoo Treatment, £39.