There has been so much hype surrounding this supposedly miracle hair mask, I just had to try to see for myself how fabulous it really is. I love Australian-brand Aesop‘s naturalistic products (their deodorant is genius), so I went in wanting to like it but I have to be honest: this product didn’t do anything. Described as an “intensive hair treatment” that’s “deeply hydrating,” you would think you would see or at least feel results. Maybe I already have healthy hair – although I have used simple hair treatments with noticeable effects, as in immediate shiny and lustrous texture (like the Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask, which is only $9). Or maybe earthy ingredients like grapefruit and carrot seed extracts and lavender oil just aren’t powerful enough to get the job done.
It’s also quite a process. Just read the instructions and you’ll realize it’s a lot of trouble. You must have freshly shampooed hair, then keep the mask on for 10-30 minutes – too long to hang out in the shower, unless you’re into the prune look – so then you have to take a second shower or rinse your hair in a sink, which obviously isn’t ideal. Sure, the rose smell is nice, but the floral scent only serves to cover up that salon-chemical odor, like when you get a perm (see, I know because I used to get perms in the ’80s!).
I’m calling it: this is a total waste of $33 (and two showers and half-an-hour). If anyone wants mine, e-mail me and I’ll send it to you. At Barneys New York for $33.