Loreal Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm

While at the gym, I always see the commercial for this repair mask and since I’m running low on the Organix Moroccan Oil moisturizing mask, I thought I’d give this a try. I’ve never actually used any Loreal hair products before but there are a few makeup products that I like from them so I was willing to take the chance. The damage-erasing balm claims to repair up to 1 year’s worth of damage in 1 use and specifically targets 5 signs of damage: split ends, weak hair, roughness, dullness, and dehydration. It retails for about $6.99 at Ulta but I’m sure you would be able to find it cheaper at drugstores. It says to simply apply it on wet hair after shampooing and leaving it on for 3-5 minutes but I usually keep hair masks on for a half hour because of how damaged my hair is. 

The first thing I noticed once I opened the container was the strong lemon-citrus smell that I knew would give me a headache after using. It’s not a fresh smell but more a cheap bottle of perfume smell that might make some people nauseous. I wasn’t going to let that stop me though so I applied it to my hair and loved how thick and creamy the mask was, making it easier to spread throughout my hair and not make a mess in the tub. It has a non-greasy formula so it’s perfect for all hair types especially thin, fine hair.

After leaving it on for a half hour with a shower cap on, I rinsed it out and what bothered me was how long it took to get it out of my hair. It’s probably the thicker formula that’s making it harder to get out but it also could be because I applied a bit more than usual to cover my whole head. Once I started combing my hair while wet, it was easily de-tangled (even though my curly hair was in knots!) and I had less hair loss because of it! Once it dried there was less frizz and I found that I didn’t have to use as much styling products since my hair was silky and smooth on it’s own. My hair color even seemed to look more bright and vivid! I was defiantly impressed and throughout the day my hair stayed moisturized and smooth-looking without looking limp or greasy. As for the split ends, I didn’t see a difference but I’m sure after regular use there might be changes. I’m not sure if it really repaired a year’s worth of damage but it certainly made my hair look better than it has in months! I can’t stop touching my hair, it’s THAT good! 

Nice job Loreal! Now if only you changed the smell of it!

Until next time lovelies,

-Ruya