I’ve been using the Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Mask for the last few months as my go-to deep cond, here are my thoughts! Is this the best deep conditioner for dry hair?

Why I tried it

I’d been looking for a good deep conditioner that would keep my hair moisturized throughout the week until the following wash day. I’ve seen a lot of people on social media talking about the Amika brand, so when I saw this huge jar on sale at TJ Maxx, I didn’t hesitate to purchase it. I last bleached my hair in March of this year and I knew I would need a mask to give my hair as much moisture as possible between washes. So far, I’ve been using this mask almost every time I wash my hair since around April of this year. 

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What I loved

This leaves my hair feeling so incredibly moisturized and soft. I don’t think I’ve had a mask leave me with results like this for as long as I’ve been bleaching my hair. It’s a nice, thick mask that has really good slip. I usually use it after shampooing my hair in place of a regular rinse-out conditioner. With this I’m able to detangle my hair really easily with my fingers, but of course I always follow it with my Tangle Teezer to get better product distribution. Despite how thick this mask is, I don’t find that it weighs down my fine strands. I’ve gotten into the habit of blow drying my hair for better manageability through the week and I don’t find that my hair is stiff; I have so much body and movement all week.

I leave it on my hair for 5-10 minutes as the instructions say, usually while I’m washing the rest of my body, so it gets a little extra time under the warmth and steam of the shower. Since starting to use this mask, I’ve noticed that my hair has been so much softer and well-hydrated. Before I used to have to re-moisturize my hair about 2-3 days after washing, now I find that I’m able to go about 5-7 days or until my next wash day before needing to reach for my leave-in conditioners. I also have gotten more comments from my co-workers and friends that my hair is looking much shinier (not sure if I can totally attribute the change to this mask entirely).

The ingredient list also helps explain why this mask works so well for my hair. It’s packed with fatty alcohols and glycerin among the first few ingredients. Fatty alcohols help condition and soften the hair, while glycerin acts as a humectant that helps attract and retain moisture. Hyaluronic acid is another ingredient packing a big punch for hydration in the formula; it’s commonly used in skincare for its ability to bind large amounts of water – it can bind up to 1000 times its weight in water! These ingredients along with a number of plant-derived oils and butters like shea butter, coconut oil, and sesame seed oil all help contribute to a mask that leaves hair soft and moisturized.

What I didn’t love

I’m not the biggest fan of the fragrance, although it doesn’t bother me enough to keep me from using the mask. It’s lightly floral, but I also pick up a warm, almost cinnamon-like note that makes the scent a little more interesting than your typical floral hair product. And then there’s the price; holy cow is this mask expensive! Fortunately, I got this jar for $44 at TJ Maxx, but at most retailers a jar of this size (500mL) costs $64. Although the price is quite steep, I really do feel like this mask is 100% worth it. Let’s say I use this deep conditioner every week. I’ve gotten about 21 uses out of it so far and still have roughly two-thirds of the jar left. Even at the full $64 retail price, that works out to about $3.05 per use so far. If I ultimately get around 60 uses from the jar, the cost would come down to about $1 per use. Considering the results I get from it, that makes the price a little easier to swallow.

Who I think it’s for

This is for anyone whose hair struggles to stay moisturized between wash days, especially if your hair is dry, color-treated, bleached, or tends to need heavier conditioning products. If you’re looking for a lightweight conditioner, this probably isn’t the product I’d reach for.

The verdict

Rating: 5/5 ★★★★★

Bottom line: This is my favorite deep conditioner; it leaves my hair well-hydrated and moisturized for 5–7 days, about twice as long as other deep conditioners I’ve used in the past. I will be repurchasing it once this jar is empty. Hopefully, I can find it on sale again at TJ Maxx!

If you’ve used this mask before, what did you think of the fragrance? Did you get notes of cinnamon too? What’s your go-to deep conditioner when your hair is in need of more moisture? 

With love,

Ash ♡