I Literally Don't Wash My Hair Without Using This Hair Mask Now

Hands up if you’ve got dry, damaged, chemically-treated hair in need of a giant dose of TLC? 

For the record, my hand is raised poker straight in the air. And if yours is too, you really ought to get a hair mask in your life. 

Hair masks might seem like a once-in-a-while beauty treat we only use occasionally, but over the past few years, they’ve become a staple in my hair care routine. So much so, I literally don’t wash my hair without using a hair mask now.

I’ve tried pretty much every hair mask out there, so when a tube of the new natural hair care Aveda botanical repair intensive strengthening masque: light 150ml landed on my doorstep, I hopped straight into my shower to give it a road test. 

Here's everything you need to know about this new natural hair mask, as well the other products in Aveda's fancy new hair care range.

What Is the New Aveda Botanical Repair Range?

The new Aveda Botanical Repair range took chemists SIX years to perfect. Why? Because it's the first 'plant-powered' bond repair hair care range.

There’s a shampoo, conditioner, two hair masks (one “light” and one “rich” version), and a leave-in treatment. Here's a recap of the products in the Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening range:

• Aveda botanical repair strengthening shampoo 200ml

• Aveda botanical repair strengthening conditioner 200ml

• Aveda botanical repair intensive strengthening masque: light 150ml

• Aveda botanical repair intensive strengthening masque: rich 200ml

• Aveda botanical repair strengthening leave-in treatment

If you’re looking to replace your current routine with some natural hair care products, this is a good place to start.

The entire range is vegan and cruelty-free, silicone, paraben and sulfate-free, and 93 per cent of the ingredients come from naturally-derived sources.

If sustainable packaging is important to you, the tubes are made from 65 per cent recycled plastic, while the jars and bottles have been created using 100 per cent recycled materials. 

How Do Vegan Hair Care Products Work?

But... do natural and/or vegan hair care products really get the job done? Short answer: YES.

Each product in the Botanical Repair range has been designed to protect damaged hair by healing the three key structural layers in hair that affect our hair health.

And, it does this using 'plant power' aka a new plant-based complex. Here's how it works on each level of the hair.

1. The Cuticle.

The cuticle is the outer layer of the hair, which can easily become jagged and uneven in damaged hair.

Avocado oil, green tea oil and sacha inchi oil are included to help smooth the cuticle, in order to detangle the hair and prevent breakage. 

2. The Bonds Inside the Hair.

Our hair is made up of protein and our hair’s protein structures are held together by things called bonds. In damaged hair, those bonds don’t hold together very well and are in desperate need of repair.

So, Aveda has created a plant-derived bond multiplying molecule that goes below the surface of the hair to multiply our bonds, reinforcing the strength of the hair at its core. 

3. The F-Layer.

The F-layer is the outermost layer of the hair.

This hair mask has a protective plant-based complex made from a fatty acid that creates an invisible water-resistant lipid layer, sealing in the surface of the hair cuticle, helping protect and shield the hair from future damage. 

My Aveda Botanical Repair Intensive Strengthening Masque Review.

As I mentioned, I'm a hair mask aficionado so that's the product I was most intrigued to try.

There's a lot to unpack here, so I've broken my review of the light hair mask down into a few categories.

The Packaging:

First of all, I like that this mask comes in a tube.

While hair mask pots look pretty on your bathroom shelf, having to screw open the lid in the shower with slippery fingers gets tedious after a while. It’s nice to just have a tube you can pop open easily. Plus, I think it makes it easier not to overuse product and prevent wastage. 

The Texture:

Guys, this mask is thick in the best way possible.

Silky and creamy, the texture of this hair mask isn't too heavy but feels more nourishing than your regular conditioner.

I have below shoulder-length hair and I used a dollop the size of a 20 cent piece to coat my strands.

The Ingredients:

I love a hair mask that’s got a few nourishing oils included and this one has heaps - avocado oil, sunflower seed oil, sancha inchi seed oil, green tea seed oil and meadowfoam seed oil. To me, these are what really hydrate the hair and help give it that silky smooth feeling we’re all after. 

In traditional hair care products, a synthetic silicone would give you that silkiness. But if you colour your hair regularly, it’s best to avoid products with silicone because they create a protective layer around the hair, meaning it can be tricky for colour and intense treatment products to properly penetrate the hair shaft. 

I love that these natural oils are hydrating my hair, rather than lab-made silicone. 

The Scent:

Everyone's talking about the scent of Aveda's Botanical Repair range. Some are loving the floral, herbal fragrance created by the inclusion of ylang-ylang flower, rose and marjoram essential oils. Others might find it a bit earthy.

It’s quite a distinct scent, but to be honest, you can only really smell it if you stick your nose right up into the tube... which, of course, I did.

It’s certainly not overpowering and I didn’t notice it actually made my hair smell any different. 

The Results:

If I don’t use an intense hair mask or hydrating product in the shower after shampooing, my hair feels dry, like straw. It’s not cute.

This mask left my hair feeling soft, silky and strong. My colour also looked vibrant, which is always a plus. Oh, and I didn't need to use any heat tools for a frizz-free finish.

Pop it through your mid-lengths and ends for a few minutes after shampooing, and your hair should instantly feel softer and more nourished. 

The Final Verdict...

I dig this hair mask, a lot.

But even more importantly, this Botanical Repair range is great for someone who has been hunting around for good quality vegan or natural hair care that A) doesn’t contain any animal or human proteins and B) puts the environment and sustainability practices first. 

It's also pretty cool to see how far hair bond technology has come. In 2020, we can have nourished, strong hair while caring about the planet, too.

Love that for us.

Want more vegan hair care product recommendations? Check out these stories from our Adore Beauty staff below!

• This Vegan Blonde Haircare Routine Legit Saved My Brassy Platinum Blonde Hair

• The Hair-Thickening Spray Taking Over The Internet

• We've Rounded Up the Best Vegan Hair Care

• This Haircare Brand Is Underrated & I Need To Talk About It