Do you use olaplex 8 after shampoo and conditioner

If you ask me, the perfect shower shelfie doesn't exist unless there's a sleek white bottle of Olaplex in it. The brand has been a pro favorite for years now, and for good reason. The top-notch selection of products are affordable yet effective, meaning beauty fanatics can treat their hair to some serious care at home. Now, it's introducing its latest product: the Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask ($30).

As someone with dry, brittle hair, treatment masks have always been part of my routine. When I was younger, I tried everything from olive oil to egg masks in hopes of achieving shiny and sleek hair. I've also used overnight and in-shower treatments and looked for different ways to repair the damage to a healthier, fuller state. Since it's also fine, I've found that some masks have weighed down my hair or made it look oily even after I've washed out the product, so finding a treatment that doesn't do that is essential. Being a fan of the Olaplex No. 0 and No. 3 treatment, I thought it was time to put the new mask to the test.

The main difference between the No. 3 Hair Perfector and the No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask is that the mask is made with a handful of new ingredients, many of which can be found in skin-care products (ie hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and rosehip oil — all of which add significant hydration when applied to skin and hair). Both products, as well as all Olaplex products, have bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate as a main ingredient. So what is that? Well, according to the brand, this ingredient is proven to add twice as much shine, four times more hydration, and six times more smoothness to all hair types. And that's a pretty strong claim, as most hair products also promise similar results. Since the new mask is essentially a more concentrated version of the No. 3, these results are supposed to appear faster — which, yes please.

The mask itself has a thick and creamy consistency that's easy to warm up in your hands. I like to apply a couple of drops to the palm of my hand, then rub both hands together to really get the mask ready for my hair. One of the first things I noticed about the No. 8 was the pine-based scent. I was expecting the mask to have an almost chemical-like smell for some reason, but instead it smells bright and zesty, almost like a Christmas-scented candle. (The scent washes out with the mask, so no need to worry about smelling like a Christmas tree all day.)

The one downside of this mask for me is that you have to apply it through clean, towel-dried hair, which means you need to wash your hair, dry it a bit, apply the mask, wait 10 minutes, then jump back in the shower to wash it out. For someone who likes to dry off and throw on sweats after a shower, this has deterred me a bit from using it regularly, especially since there are so many great deep conditioners and in-shower hair masks out there. (I tried the mask on day-two hair that I wet and towel-dried, but it wasn't as effective since my hair wasn't properly prepped.) The No. 8 is supposed to be used once a week (substituting conditioner), but if your hair is really dry, you'll want to still do a quick condition.

After just one use of the mask, I noticed that my ends were not as dry and looked much healthier. It brought out my highlights and gave my color a refreshing shine. Since my hair is pretty damaged, I put on some argan oil and heat spray before blow-drying just to ensure it was protected and extra hydrated. Using this mask regularly has already immensely helped my hair, and I love the results I'm seeing. I also use the No. 0 and No. 3 once a week with the mask, and this is where I've really seen a difference. Not only is my hair softer, but it also looks so much healthier.

I'm excited about how my hair will look and feel in a couple of months after regular use. I do definitely need a haircut to clean up my ends, so I'm hoping that after I chop off the dead hair, this mask will work even better. If you've been looking for something that'll give your hair more shine and repair damaged ends, this is the one for you.

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Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Lauren Harano