I’m always on the lookout for a good hair mask. My hair is very fine and gets dry easily, so deep conditioning is part of my weekly routine, especially in the winter. So, when I saw the Kerastase Curl Manifesto line while browsing Sephora, I was intrigued, but skeptical.
Kerastase is a luxury hair care brand and is often used in salons. A lot of of their products seem catered to straight and color treated hair and hardly any of their marketing (beyond for the Curl Manifesto line) features people with Afro-textured, kinky, coily, or Type 4 hair. Because of the increase in women wearing their natural hair in recent years, many brands are looking to cash in, while not actually investing time, money, and research into developing products that truly work for kinky hair.
With all that in mind, I picked up the Nourishing Hair Mask for Curly Hair ($68) and the Curl Refreshing & Restyling Spray ($46) to try on my next wash day. These products are not cheap and this is not sponsored, so I couldn’t try the entire line at once.
The mask makes some bold claims, like promising to give 52% stronger, 81% smoother, more conditioned, and two times shinier curls after one use. I’m not totally sure how one would even measure all that, but I was determined to give it a college try. The mask boasts Manuka honey as one of the ingredients, though it’s pretty far down on the ingredient list.
After shampooing and detangling my hair as usual, I worked the mask into my hair in sections. The mask has a thick and creamy consistency and a very nice, but not overpowering, smell. I put a plastic bag over my hair and sat under my hooded dryer for 30 minutes. When I rinsed the mask out, I immediately noticed how soft and shiny my hair was, even before applying my usual leave-in conditioner, which is the Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave In Detangler. I styled by hair as usual, and was pleasantly surprised that my hair stayed soft and hydrated for the next couple of days, even though it was freezing in New York City.
When it was time to re-moisturize, I spritzed the Curl Refreshing and Restyling Spray on and smoothed it through my hair. The spray promises to rehydrate and redefine curls, while adding shine. While the spray smelled good and added some shine to my hair, it definitely did not redefine my day two hair. The consistency of the spray was just too watery and it seemed to just sit on top of my hair before quickly evaporating. This product may work for those with a silkier texture or looser curls but I don’t think it’s worth it for Type 4 hair.
Overall, I think the Kerastase Curl Manifesto Hair Mask is worth it — even though it’s pricey — especially in the winter when my hair needs extra hydration. I’ll be making it part of my regular routine. This product has the right consistency for those with thick, tighter curls.
As for the Curl Refreshing Spray — it was promptly returned to the store. I haven’t tried the other styling products in the line but given the consistency of the spray, and the price, it’s probably not worth it for someone with my hair texture.
This blog post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. Please note that I only recommend products that I personally use and believe in.
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