I am going to be so real with you: I usually find hair masks to be a giant scam. Most of them are just glorified conditioners in a heavier tub that leave my hair looking like I havent showered since the Obama administration. But then I kept seeing the bright, retro-patterned amika soulfood nourishing mask all over my feed, and my curiosity (and my split ends) finally won.
The Vibe Inside the Orange Jar
First of all, opening this is like an instant dopamine hit. The packaging is loud and fun, but the actual product is a thick, pale-yellow cream that feels expensive. And the smell? Swoon. If you have ever used an amika product, you know it is that warm, spicy, slightly citrusy sea buckthorn scent that lingers just long enough to make you feel like a "fancy hair person." The texture is thick enough that it does not slide off your hand in the shower, which is a pet peeve I did not know I had until now.
The Post-Pool Hair Resurrection
I decided to put this to the ultimate test after a weekend trip where I spent way too much time in chlorine and sun. My hair felt like actual straw—the kind of dry where you can almost hear it crunching when you move. I slapped a generous amount of the amika soulfood nourishing mask on from my mid-lengths to my ends and let it sit for about seven minutes while I did the whole "everything shower" routine. When I rinsed it out, the water didnt just run off; my hair felt like actual silk ribbons.
- Detangling Power: 10/10. My brush slid through my wet hair without a single snag.
- Weight: Surprisingly light. It gives that hydration "slip" without the heavy, greasy residue.
- Hydration: My ends actually looked sealed and healthy once they air-dried, rather than looking like a broom.
- Longevity: The softness lasted through my next wash, which is rare for my porous hair.
The Final Verdict
Is it $36? Yes. Is that a lot for hair goop? Also yes. But a little bit of this goes a weirdly long way. I have been using the 8-ounce tub for over a month and I am barely a quarter of the way through. For the amount of shine and manageability it gives my frizzy bits, I would pay it again in a heartbeat. It is the rare viral product that actually lives up to its very aesthetic packaging. My hair hasn't looked this healthy since I was ten.
Who Should Buy This:
- The bleached and the brave who have some chemical damage to repair.
- Curly girls who need extra moisture without the crunch.
- Fragrance junkies who want their hair to smell like a luxury vacation.
Who Should Skip This:
- People who are truly sensitive to scents (it is definitely a "perfume" vibe).
- Those with extremely fine, thin hair who find even "light" masks too heavy.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Lauren