Hair care test: 6 new products tried and tested

To curl or not to curl, that is the question: We tried 6 new hair products

Good hair day? Sure, why not. Our tester took off the clips and went to try out masks, serums, and sprays, promising to treat the hair, smooth the frizz, and make the split ends happy.

The Promise: "Nutrient Serum for Split Ends"

Tester's Verdict: Kérastase's Nutritive series already offers several excellent products for treating dry and dull hair like mine, and the new serum from the series, meant to treat ends and seal them, doesn't disappoint. The secret, as always with such serums, lies in the dosage: even if you're tempted to pour half a bottle on the heap of hair resting on your head (and that's even before summer begins), restrain yourself. Not more than 2-3 drops of the serum, smoothed, and of course not close to the scalp - will suffice to envelop both the ends and the lengths, leaving them flexible and soft. Drip more, and you'll get oily hair and a desire for another shower. Kérastase, Nutri-Supplement Split Ends Serum - NIS 190.

The Promise: "Oil for Repair and Restoration"

Tester's Verdict: An enthusiast of products catering to styling and heat-treated hair, she tried the brand's new oil. The oil is supposed to preserve hair undergoing heat styling, treat frizz, and maintain the ends. The usage is simple - a few drops and natural drying, or styling with a flat iron. The results are impressive - the weightless oil, dry, and coating the hair with an invisible but palpable cover - less puffy, less tangled, and more radiant. The products in the series are quite expensive so if you need to choose, go for the mask. But for those who can afford it, it's a significant upgrade to the look. K18, Replenishing Oil - NIS 379.

The Promise: "Preserving Color and Protection Against Breakage"

Tester's Verdict: At the top of every blonde's nightmares lies the fear of acquiring a dull orange hue, a.k.a. the "Donald Trump" shade. L'Oréal Professionnel identified processes and developed a series promising to preserve color vibrancy by eliminating metals found in water that accumulate in hair fibers. A tester, a wheat blonde, used only the shampoo and mask from the series after her last salon session and looked for differences. "Metal detox in hair - the kind of thing you didn't know you needed until they started selling it to you in beauty salons. Overall, these are very indulgent products that give a pleasant sensation of salon treatment at home. The intoxicating fresh scent, the texture, the soft finish the hair received, and the fact that I know how much they cost - they do the job. Regarding the color, two months after the salon visit, the blonde looks more preserved and faithful to the original shade, but not dramatically. The real test of the products will, of course, be in a few more months, when summer hits with chlorine, sun, and sea salt." L'Oréal Professionnel, METAL DETOX - Shampoo ₪85, Mask NIS 209.

The Promise: "Conditioning with a Serum That Repairs Hair in a Minute and Reduces Hair Breakage"

Tester's Verdict: Dove, the accessible grooming empire available in every local supermarket and pharmacy, speaks to us in all the right places. Long and damaged hair? Check. Repair in just a minute? Don't mind if we do. A swap, and then a minute plus-minus on hair lengths, and the result is pleasing - the conditioner is light and leaves no heavy residue, the hair is easy to comb, very soft, and the ends are less brittle and split - at least until the next swap. A successful product at a reasonable price. Dove, 1 Minute Super Conditioner Intensive Repair - NIS 24.

The Promise: "A Miracle Treatment Providing Moisture, Softness, and Shine in 9 Seconds, for Hair that has undergone Straightening or Heat Styling"

Tester's Verdict: Long for a minute? Take 9 seconds with Natural Formula's Keratin Water. Indeed, it's water with keratin, a completely liquid formula that should be applied directly to clean hair after a swap, not passing through the hand's mediation. How much to put? In the first attempts, the tester probably applied too little, as the effect was minimal to nonexistent. In subsequent swaps, she decided to exaggerate, waited a little more than 9 seconds, and rinsed. See and feel the results as the hair dried. Her very damaged and thin hair felt particularly soft, easy to style, and free of frizz - until it soaked up moisture again. Nice for those with unruly hair in need of help in promoting the curls. At an accessible price, it's worth checking if the exaggerated enthusiasm works for you too. Natural Formula, Keratin Water - NIS 30.

The Promise: "5 Benefits in One Miracle Product - Smoothing Frizz, Heat Protection, Untangling Knots, Strengthening Hair, and Increasing Shine"

Tester's Verdict: There's no hair dream this product doesn't promise, and only if one of them comes true, I'll be satisfied. The spray is light and watery, the scent is more than pleasant, nothing to write home about. Like everything in life, here too there's a matter of dosage - a little too much, and you'll get a greasy feeling and hair that feels dirty. At the right amount, it managed to pass the test of stubborn split ends, and the very soft and organized hair for at least half a day - until it craves moisture again. Nice for those with curly hair in need of assistance in taming the frizz. At an affordable price, it's worth checking if the exaggerated enthusiasm works for you too. Hask, Argan Oil Spray - NIS 35, available at pharmacies.