Product Spotlight - amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask

I know I just received this in my Birchbox, but I need to tell you all about this great product. I am a very simple girl and don't bother much with hair products other than the usual shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo and hairspray. I don't care much for styling products or even oils, though I've been fortunate to try a handful thanks to my monthly sample subscriptions.

Image Source: loveamika.com

Anyway, today I'm featuring amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask. Okay, so you're probably going, "Wait, are you saying this is a hair mask?" Why yes, yes I am. It's kind of a weird thought right? How does a "hair mask" work anyway? I guess it's a bit misguiding, but it really is just a deep conditioner. We use masks on our faces so why not our hair? It needs some TLC too!

If you aren't already aware, I have these blonde panels underneath on both sides of my head. I wanted to look like Narcissa Malfoy so I asked my hairdresser, who happens to be a fellow Potterhead, to dye my hair like hers to which she enthusiastically obliged. Anyway, it's been nearly a year since I've had my panels. Everytime I go back, I just get them re-done and dyed even "blonder" so you can imagine how dry and gross they feel. It also tends to tangle quite easily.

To add to that nightmare, my once pin straight, smooth, fine hair is now wavy (just a tad) and coarse. Okay it's not that coarse, but it's just not as healthy as it used to be. Don't get me wrong, my hair is still in relatively good condition since I don't do much with the rest of it. But since my hair is no longer a "virgin" it doesn't have that healthy, shiny quality anymore. If I let my hair air dry, this is what it looks like, more or less:

Basically, I transform into Hermione Granger except I don't have to drink polyjuice potion. Granted that picture was taken after I had taken out some braids for an up do I was trying out, but it pretty much looks like this anytime I let it air dry and don't put any product in. If I sleep with damp hair, it's just madness. I guess I shouldn't do that and always blow dry it right after I've washed it, but I get really lazy. So cut to last night, when I decided to wash my hair. I whipped out my amika sample that I received in my May Birchbox and prepared for battle. They suggest washing your hair as you usually do and then applying the mask after like a regular conditioner and leaving it in for 2 to 5 minutes and I did just that. The mask is enriched with obliphica oil, from seabuck thorn berries, as well Moroccan Argan oil and Vitamin C. It is supposed to restore your hair's natural moisture leaving it shiny and new again.

I don't remember the smell being too strong or being unpleasant. I actually don't even really remember what it smells like, haha! If it's not terrible or overbearing, it will never really bother me. Anyway, the texture doesn't feel any different from any other normal conditioner. I've been using Blue Malva conditioner and everytime I've used it, it just makes my hair feel brittle. I mean I guess I shouldn't use it all the time since I think it's only meant to tone down any brassiness in your hair. Oh well. After rinsing out the amika mask, I instantly felt a difference. It just felt smoother and healthier. I again slept with damp hair because it was nearly 10:30 when I got out of the shower. I just couldn't be bothered anymore.

I wasn't expecting any results so quickly, but to my surprise, I woke up to nice, soft, bouncy hair. I was running late this morning, but I managed to take some pictures. Check them out:

That my friends was my hair this morning with just a quick blow dry. No flat iron or anything. I am just beyond amazed at the results. I woke up, looked in the mirror and was in shock. I mean, look at how shiny and straight it is! It is neither frizzy, poofy nor dull. It feels soft, but not weighed down. The ends of my panels weren't tangled and there were no odd kinks left from sleeping with damp hair. I may be jumping the gun, but the amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask just might be my new favorite hair product. I can't wait to continue using it. I really hope it restores my damaged hair and repairs my split ends.