This weird paper sock is my new favorite treatment.
Whether you’re a beauty product addict or
you’ve been using the same face wash since middle school, odds are
you’ve heard SOMETHING about the beauty industry’s recent obsession with
Korean beauty products.
Both the skin and makeup aisles have been flooded with innovative
ingredients and formulations inspired by Eastern beauty routines that
can reach upwards of 10 different steps. Of the vast range of products
the K-beauty world has to offer, sheet masks are among the most popular.
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There
are a variety of sheet masks available on the market right now designed
to cater to a wide range of skin-care issues from wrinkles to acne.
But most commonly, the masks are infused with moisturizing components
like hyaluronic acid to leave skin extra hydrated and dewy. Sheet masks
are so popular because they are easy to use. Just take them out of the
package, apply, wait, and remove.
Personally,
I keep a stash of sheet masks in my skin-care arsenal. Then I heard
that there are sheet mask treatments designed for your hair. I had to
get my hands on one because, while I love all things skin-care, hair is
my true obsession. From hair sprays to deep conditioning masks, I am
always on the hunt for new products to try out that can make my long, color-treated hair more manageable. Plus, I also use hot tools a few times a week, so I’m in constant need of hair products to counteract the damage.
I
was skeptical that a sheet mask would work for my extra-long hair.
Would the results really be that much different than the hair masks
women have used for years under a shower cap? Surely, it couldn’t be as
easy as the K-beauty facial masks, right? Keep reading to find out.
[post_ads_2]Luckily, hair sheet masks come in different lengths, so I found something to fit my long hair.
I tried the Long Hair Pack ($13) by the Korean-based company Kocostar. Kocostar is the same brand that brought us fruit slice sheet masks,
and they have multiple options for hair. The Long Hair Pack is infused
with elastin to strengthen the hair’s elasticity; keratin to help
control dry, frizzy hair; collagen to promote cell renewal and hair
strength; as well as a selection of natural ingredients like kelp
extract, aloe vera, lavender extract, and bean protein.
In addition to the Long Hair Pack, Kocostar also offers the Home Salon Hair Pack for those with short to medium-length hair and the Split End Therapy Mask for when it’s just your ponytail that needs a little TLC.
[post_ads_2]The mask covered every inch of my hair, and it heats up.
After
shampooing, I brushed through my damp hair and let it dry for a few
minutes as per the instructions. Prior to applying the mask, my hair was
on the frizzier side.
I took the wrap out of the packaging and unfolded it. It looks a lot
like a paper sock…but for your head. I gathered my hair at the nape of
the neck and placed the ends of my hair into the wrap first. Then I
pulled it up over my head and around my hairline (sort of like putting
on a shower cap) before I secured the mask behind my ears.
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I
let the wrap sit for 20 minutes. During that time, I massaged the
conditioning treatment into all parts of my hair until my hair was
noticeably wet inside the wrap. As the wrap was processing, I noticed my
scalp becoming warmer. According to Kocostar, the wrap increases
temperature to help the ingredients go deeper into the scalp and hair.
After the 20 minutes were up, I removed the mask and hopped in the
shower. Using only warm water, I rinsed out the conditioner. When
rinsing, I was surprised at just how well the mask covered my hair
without having to comb the product through—every strand was covered in
the conditioner and felt soft to the touch immediately after removing
the mask.
The mask is definitely earning a permanent place in my hair-care routine.
When
I finished rinsing, I rung my hair of the excess water and could feel
the difference. My waist-length hair felt moisturized, especially in
comparison to the other deep treatments I’ve done in the past. I decided
to nix using the leave-in conditioner like I usually would after
washing, so that I could see the true results—and I didn’t need it. The
results became very evident once my hair started to dry. My hair was
noticeably less frizzy and a lot softer. I then blew my hair out and
styled using a flatiron. Surprisingly, my style remained sleek and shiny all day long—even in NYC’s June humidity.
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Will
I continue to incorporate hair sheet masks into my hair care routine?
Definitely. The Kocostar Long Hair Pack has definitely landed itself a
spot on my beauty product shelf. The mask delivers amazing results for
one-third of the price I’d pay in a salon. Plus, it’s a lot less messy
than other at-home treatments I've tried. In the future, I will probably
spend the 20 minutes of processing time in the tub with a glass of wine
so that I don’t have to get in and out of the shower between shampooing
and rinsing.
