Olaplex
After trying the Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask.

My natural hair is best described as thick, wavy, and dry—a combination that, more often than not, feels untameable. In pursuit of smooth, shiny hair, I’ve tried and tested nearly every tool and product on the market through the years and have subsequently experienced the good, the bad, and the can’t-live-without. The latter includes the celeb-loved brand, Olaplex. In the past year, I started using the line, cherished for its bond-building treatments that repair damaged hair from the inside out. It’s undeniably made my hair stronger and shinier, but it’s the haircare range’s new No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask that I fell head-over-heels in love with after just one use.

As I write this article, I’m typing as fast as possible because I fear that this highly anticipated hair mask will sell out insanely fast. After all, it’s the most-requested product from customers, born to accompany its tightly curated range of six products, comprised of shampoo, conditioner, styling cream, two treatments, and frizz-banishing hair oil. Like all of the brand’s products, the mask contains Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleat, Olaplex’s patented ingredient that, in non-intimidating terms, rebuilds and rejuvenates the hair. It also contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and botanical ingredients that contribute to the way it instantly adds shine, hydration, and smoothness.

Olaplex
OLAPLEX NO. 8 BOND INTENSE MOISTURE MASK,  SHOP NOW

The Bond Intense Moisture Mask is ideal for frizzy, parched strands like my own. Nevertheless, all hair types can benefit, as the formula is scientifically proven to make hair shinier, more hydrated, and smoother. To put it to the test, I washed my hair with Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo before thoroughly washing it out. Then, I worked three pumps of the mask into the bottom half of my hair—avoiding the top entirely. The third (and hardest step) was leaving the mask on my hair for ten minutes. I took my time shaving and washing up, and, admittedly, I rinsed it out a minute or two early. Even so, my hair still soaked up the hydrating treatment. It took me blowing my hair dry to notice the results. My hair took significantly less time to heat style than usual and felt so soft to the touch. The verdict? I intend to use the mask in place of No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner once a week, per the brand’s recommendations. 

At the time of writing, the mask has already earned nearly a perfect five-star rating at Sephora, even though it just launched today (Tuesday, April 6). Thanks to brand sampling, there are already 99 pages of reviews for all hair types. A nurse with a long, dry mane calls it a “miracle hair mask,” writing, “After just ONE use, […] my hair feels so soft and shiny! I may actually get my old, happy hair back.” Another Sephora shopper with tightly-coiled, Type 4B natural hair loves the way it makes their hair look soft, smooth, and shiny. “So far, I’ve only used this before blow drying and flat ironing my hair, but I look forward to trying it before doing an air-drying style. The product melts into my hair but doesn’t leave it feeling greasy or oily, and it helps to cut down on styling time. I will purchase again.”

Below, I’ve compiled a list of all of the hair products I teamed with the brand’s new hair mask—including those used in the shower and out—to achieve soft, silky, shiny strands in minutes.

Olaplex
OLAPLEX NO. 4 BOND MAINTENANCE SHAMPOO,  SHOP NOW
Olaplex
OLAPLEX NO. 7 BONDING OIL,  SHOP NOW
HARRY JOSH® PRO TOOLS ULTRA LIGHT PRO DRYER, VIA DERMSORE. SHOP NOW
CURIOUS BRUSHES BY NICK STENSON XL ROUND BRUSH, VIA ULTA BEAUTY. SHOP NOW
GHD PLATINUM+ PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE 1″ STYLER, SHOP NOW