Splurge or save: Hair repair

Splurge: Living Proof Perfect Hair Day 5-in-1 Styling Treatment

$36, from Sephora stores

A multi-purpose leave-in cream that promises to smoothe, volumise, condition, strengthen and polish.

Review: This product left my hair feeling softer, smoother and shinier. It also made it easier for me to untangle my dry hair, while adding volume. This cream is a staple in my haircare routine; it has saved me from many bad hair days.

Save: Dove Hair Therapy Damage Solutions Intense Repair All Day Repair Cream

$7.05, from selected personal care stores and supermarkets

A leave-in cream conditioner that promises to repair hair while preventing split ends and breakage.

Review: My hair is very dry and damaged as I've permed, coloured and bleached it many times. After applying the cream on my hair ends, they did not look and feel as supple as I had hoped.

However, this lightweight cream added volume and some shine to my locks without weighing them down.

An unexpected benefit: it made my hair look more texturised, as though I had styled it to look like I spent an entire day at the beach.

This article was first published on July 25, 2014.
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