Shopping Writer Meghan has been on a haircare journey this year, searching for the best products to repair and restore her bleached hair, and she can’t believe the results of this hair mask
I’ve been trying a whole host of hair products this year to try and find the ones that work best on my fine, relatively short, bleached hair. Prone to breakage thanks to the bleach, and so thin that most products weigh it down, my hair has always been slow to grow and unwilling to cooperate with thick or heavy haircare treatments. So when I got my hands on this leave-in hair mask, I was apprehensive to hope it would work on my hair. But I’ve been pleasantly surprised.
This Hairification H24 Complex Leave-in Repair Mask has been touted as “better than K18 and Olaplex for half the price” – a bold statement, but one that this leave-in mask lives up to. I’ve had Olaplex treatments used on my hair at the salon, as well as some K18 treatments, but I can’t tell the difference between the results of this leave-in mask and those higher-end hair products.
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This Hairification Leave-in Repair Mask, retailing for the wallet-friendly price of £10.99 at Boots, promises to be the ultimate undercover agent for reversing damage and returning stressed strands to former glory in just four minutes. Clinically proven to strengthen hair by up to 312%, my new Leave-In Repair Mask has been formulated with proprietary ingredients for maximum impact.
Its formula boasts Fibrehance, which works to build new bonds within the hair, combined with Procutigen Bond, which helps prevent damage, breakage, and moisture loss. Elsewhere in the leave-in mask is Col-Frag, which actively hydrates and smooths the hair, while Elaya Renova protects the hair from high heat and UV damage, ensuring its benefits last long after it has been applied.
With its array of peptides and bond-rebuilding tech, the leave-in mask promises to become a holy grail for damaged, overprocessed hair, producing visibly stronger strands in minutes, no salon visit needed. And in the weeks since I’ve been using it, all of the promises are true.
It’s designed to be applied to towel-dry hair right after a shower, which is how I’ve been using it. I’ve been pairing it with the Hairification H24 Complex Hair Repair Peptide Shampoo and Conditioner in conjunction with the hair mask, which is ideal for optimal results, though this isn’t mandatory. I’ve also been trialling the Hairification Pure Grow Shampoo, which prioritises encouraging new hair growth.
The consistency of the mask is unlike the ones I’m used to, such as the Hask Repair Leave-In Treatment. It comes out as a cream that needs to be worked through the hands until it emulsifies and then turns into an almost paste-like consistency. This concerned me at first since my thin hair tends to struggle with soaking up thicker, heavier formulas. But I run it through my hair as instructed and leave it to air-dry with the rest of my hair.
In the weeks since I’ve been using this mask, my hair feels healthier, smoother and truly nourished, eradicating any dry or brittle strands and replacing them with soft and silky hair. My hair looks healthy too, with fewer flyaways and an overall shinier, sleeker appearance than I’ve had in some time.
The biggest plus of this mask is that you only need to use it for the first 4 to 6 washes, and then thereafter only as required. I started off using it after every wash and then reduced it to once a week. It’s been ideal having a salon-like treatment in my own bathroom that I can pick up and use whenever I need, without having to spend a fortune.
Retailing for £10.99 at Boots, you can also find my new Hairification H24 Complex Leave-in Repair Mask on sale at Pharmacy 2 U for £8.24.
My go-to leave-in treatment from Hask is available for £9.90 at the Perfume Club. If you’d rather shop the real deal, Lookfantastic is selling this Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector Repairing Hair Treatment for £30. You can also find this K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask for £45 (down from its full price of £70) at Debenhams.