Photo: Redken

What It Is: Created by Redken, the Extreme Strengthening Mega Hair Mask promises to provide deep, intense conditioning that lasts up to three washes. It is described as a dual chamber mask intended for damaged hair. The mask claims to use the L’Oréal patented RCT Protein Complex, which is made of soy protein, arginine and sepicap and is said to strengthen hair.

What We Thought: Since many of us are very busy in our day-to-day lives, having to add a mask to our usual hair routine may not be ideal. However, since this mask can replace conditioner after shampooing, it’s very appealing. Meant to be used every three washes, the mask cuts down the number of times that hair must be washed during the week, which can offer benefits to the hair. After shampooing, we towel dried our hair and applied the mask. We started at the tips working towards the scalp, and worked the product into dry and damaged sections. Next, we let the product sit for approximately four minutes before rinsing, and could start to feel the mask’s effect on our hair immediately after application and rinsing. After combing and then leaving our hair to air dry, we were pleased to see how soft our hair felt. 

Pros: The mask gave us instantly soft hair that lasted approximately three days until we washed our hair again.  The product also offers benefits to those who want a fuss-free, minimalist hair care regimen. 

Cons: Some users might not like the in-between step of having to towel dry your hair before applying the mask, and then showering again to rinse out the product.