Would the Ouai Bond Repair Balm Actually Work Miracles on My Split Ends? Here Are the Before & After Results
PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and some items may be gifted to us. Additionally, PureWow may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here. You can learn more about that process here. Yahoo Inc. may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.
Read the original article on Purewow .
-
Ease of Use:20/20
-
Scent:20/20
-
Texture:20/20
-
Efficacy:19/20
-
Value:18/20
Total:97/100
As someone who often favors function over fashion, I haven't cut my hair in about a year. Unfortunately, I've also dialed up my use of hot styling tools , meaning I've got split ends I can no longer ignore. Daily, it feels like each little new dying end is a Whoville citizen chanting, WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE! WE ARE HERE! until I can no longer ignore them. Around this time, I got my hands on the Ouai Bond Repair Balm (from $28), which promised to repair damaged hair in three minutes. I was less inclined to believe the claim than I was to believe in Whoville, so I did what any good beauty writer would do and gave it a go. After a few months of testing, here are my thoughts.
The formula features three hero ingredients that promise to treat damage caused by coloring, heat, breakage and split ends. Vegan silk protein gives the hair cuticle a strengthening, smoothing boost, while hyaluronic acid pumps in the moisture to deliver shine, elasticity and softness. Peptides derived from hydrolyzed rice protein target damage and reinforce hair strands, according to the brand.
Per Ouai, you can use the Bond Repair Balm in place of your conditioner. Apply it starting from your eyeline down to the ends, then let it sit for three minutes before rinsing out. Ouai recommends a handful of consistent washes; after the results kick in, you can use it only when needed.
The Pros
Left: before/Right: after (original photo by marissa wu)
I'm picky about my scents; the wrong one gives me a massive headache. Melrose Place is heavy on fresh florals and fruits, including my favorites: jasmine, rose, lychee and bergamot. Lychee is the predominant note that comes through, with a little spice thanks to pink peppercorn. I'm obsessed; there's no other way to put it.
When squeezed out of the bottle, the balm has the texture of honey and melts between your hands. I love that a little goes a long way; I only need one pump for my hair to feel nourished. It also isn't heavy, which is a big plus for my super-fine hair.
I like a streamlined beauty routine and am easily deterred by anything that needs more than a minute. That's probably why I have a dozen hair masks sitting on my vanity, unopened. I don't have time to let something sit in my hair for 15 minutes pre-shower. As a drought-conscious Californian, I'm not going to linger in the shower so all my hair care can be absorbed. The Bond Repair Balm is snappy and really does need just three minutes. I'm a five-minute showerer, so by the time I've rinsed off, the formula has done its job.
As a beauty writer, I've seen plenty of products that promise something miraculous and fall short—or are just average. I followed the application directions and, within a week, was impressed. Before my hair splits, I notice that the tips form a little white ball; after just a few uses of the Bond Repair Balm, these little ends disappeared, and my split ends also appeared to have sealed themselves.
The Cons
At $28 for a 1.7-ounce bottle and $50 for the 4.8-ounce size, the Bond Repair Balm comes out to about $10/ounce. This is coming from a girl who happily uses Pantene, a brand selling a 38-ounce bottle of shampoo for $13 at Costco. That being said, I would take Ouai's directive here and pedal off after you've started seeing results, only applying when you really need it.
As far as hair care products go, the Ouai Bond Repair Balm is an investment as opposed to something I'd reach for daily. However, I think it earns its merit. A little product goes a long way, and after you've done the initial repair work, you can then apply it on a maintenance basis, which means you won't run through as much as quickly. I've literally seen my split ends disappear after a couple applications, which sounds fantastical, but I promise, on the life of the Whos, that I tell the truth. And now, I suppose, I really should schedule that haircut.
Is the $400 T3 Aire IQ Hair Dryer Worth It? A Beauty Writer's Review
