Amika Nourshing Mask: Retail $28

January 2016 I bought this 500mL hair mask deeply discounted at a salon trade show. However, this is a salon exclusive size since typically they come in the 250mL in retail stores. This HUGE 500mL jar lasted me all year long (even though I have to use a lot of product) so I can confidently review this product. I have thick hair, and since I got balayage, my hair felt much drier and prone to split ends. 

Specs: 

• Size: 500mL/16.9 fl oz (this size not typically sold online/retail)
• Applicator: None
• Free of sulfates, sodium chloride, parabens and artificial colors
• Scent: Noticeable perfume-y scent
• Safe for color-treated, Brazilian-treated and Keratin-treated hair.

Ingredients: 

aqua (water), cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, panthenol, behentrimonium chloride, dimethicone, phenoxyethanol, hippophae rhamnoides (obliphica) oil, propylene glycol, cetrimonium chloride, isopropyl alcohol, parfum (fragrance), ascorbic acid, citric acid, lilial, limonene, hydroxycitronellal, lyral

*Jojoba oil (penetrates the hair follicle and strengthens from the inside out) is high on the list, and Sea buckthorn berry is in the middle-ish. Not bad ingredients wise. 

Claims: 

"Deeply conditions, hydrates and restores hair to its natural vibrancy and health from the inside out. The result is long-lasting softness, shine, elasticity and manageability."

Performance: 

Out of the handful of hair masks I've tried, this one is the most hydrating. I used it 1-2 times a week and has lasted me a good while till now (almost gone!). I wish this hair mask came in a pump so I wouldn't risk shower water going into the product or have to fumble with it. The scent wasn't too off-putting, but I wasn't too big of a fan of the scent since I prefer more natural/subtle scents. 

The texture is thick, and after wash-off it feels instantly detangled, smooth and hydrated like any hair mask should feel. The big difference, though, was after blow drying. Most masks feel silky after wash off, but don't seem like they did anything when your hair is dry. After blow drying, I really did feel like my hair was smoother and softer to the touch. At first I thought I was imagining it or maybe it was the placebo effect, but after multiple uses, the softness was still noticeable each time. I didn't notice an increase of shine though.

Half a year later I got balayage done, and that really stripped my hair, and since I've never colored my hair before, I was surprised just how dry it felt. This mask did help, but it definitely didn't feel the same as my previously non-colored healthy hair. What really solved the issue was a hair trim in combination with a hydration blast of coconut hair mask AND this.  

Verdict: 

Yes, this is worth the $28 price tag for 250mL, but I might not be repurchasing in order to find something better. Considering I have thick, thick hair, I think it would last anyone more than half a year since it's not supposed to be used every single day. If you just want a hair mask that hydrates, this is a good one but it didn't blow me away. But if you're looking for a hair mask that will take care of split ends, the bad news is that there's no hair mask that will ever take care of that. Only a proper haircut will. 

Save Some $:

Walmart sells this product for $18.98 (only online) which saves you $10! This is the cheapest I've seen it so far.