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In case you have broken hair like me, Epres’ hair merchandise—particularly, Epres’ Wholesome Hair Shampoo and Conditioner—could also be a dream come true. The model was based by Eric Pressly, one of many materials scientists behind the cult-favorite model Olaplex. And its merchandise use patented Biodiffusion know-how to strengthen the bonds in your hair. As somebody who has struggled with brittle hair as a result of bleaching, I used to be curious to place Epres’ merchandise to the check. So I spent per week making an attempt the model’s new shampoo and conditioner to see whether or not they might strengthen and restore my broken locks.
Epres is understood for its Bond Restore Therapy, a twig you’re supposed to make use of a couple of times per week to make your hair stronger and softer. That spray prices $50 and provides one other step to your haircare routine—in the meantime, the brand new shampoo and conditioner duo prices $68 and replaces merchandise you’re already utilizing. Since Epres is (unsurprisingly) usually in comparison with Olaplex, I had excessive expectations for the brand new drop. Epres’ shampoo and conditioner duo is $8 dearer than Olaplex’s, and I not often use high-end hair merchandise normally. (My go-to shampoo and conditioner price below $20 mixed.) I used to be to see how completely different my hair would feel and look after utilizing the merchandise persistently.
How does Epres Shampoo and Conditioner work?
Epres is massive on its science-first method to haircare. And since I’m not precisely a STEM girly, I wished to ask founder Eric Pressly about it. “Epres makes use of science in its haircare merchandise by way of its patented Biodiffusion know-how,” he tells StyleCaster. “This method penetrates deep into the hair shaft, reconstructing bonds and strengthening strands from inside.” Whereas some conditioners sit on high of your hair to kind a protecting protect round it, Epres’ merchandise restore the construction of your hair from the within out.
The merchandise promise to work on each hair sort—and to point out outcomes after only one use. They’re additionally purported to proceed working when you’re out of the bathe. “In contrast to conventional haircare merchandise, Epres’ know-how ensures steady restore even after the hair is dry, promising sooner drying occasions and long-lasting outcomes,” Pressly says.
Our Epres Shampoo and Conditioner evaluation
My first expertise with the brand new merchandise was on the salon, the place a hairstylist used the Wholesome Hair Shampoo, the Wholesome Hair Conditioner, and the Bond Restore Therapy on me. In fact my hair regarded and felt nice after going to the salon. However for me, the at-home utility was the true check. I wished to see if I might simply use the merchandise on myself at house and get the identical outcomes. (Whereas I used to be mainly testing the brand new shampoo and conditioner, I additionally used the Bond Restore Therapy spray as a part of my routine.)
Once I went to attempt the shampoo and conditioner at house, one main distinction struck me straight away: The shampoo was a lot thinner than shampoos I’ve used up to now—a lot in order that it was tough to use at first. The feel takes some getting used to, however the method is like that on function. Epres tries to chop out pointless elements that do nothing in your hair, so its shampoo turns into thinner and leaves much less buildup behind.
“We don’t use Quaternary Amines in any merchandise. The most typical thickener in nearly all shampoos—guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride—is a quat that thickens the shampoo and will increase foam by coating the hair but in addition builds up on the hair,” Pressly says. “Epres’ new Wholesome Hair Shampoo was particularly formulated to keep away from this buildup, which additionally results in a thinner consistency within the shampoo. After per week or so of utilizing the Wholesome Hair Shampoo and Conditioner, it is possible for you to to really feel the quats in your hair if you happen to attempt your outdated one.” (I haven’t switched again to my outdated merchandise after utilizing these, however I’m so curious to see if I can really feel the quats after I do.)
Apart from the distinction in texture, Epres’ merchandise had been very easy to make use of. I’ve at all times discovered Olaplex therapies complicated, since there are such a lot of completely different merchandise and steps. However Epres’ advisable haircare routine is easy: Spray the Bond Restore Therapy in your hair 10 minutes earlier than hopping within the bathe (or depart it on in a single day), and use the shampoo and conditioner such as you usually would. There aren’t any particular directions or further steps, though you should use the Wholesome Hair Conditioner as a leave-in therapy if you wish to.
I’m fairly low-maintenance in terms of my hair, and I discovered the entire routine fully doable. It additionally felt like Epres saved ease of use in thoughts when designing its merchandise—which meant lots to me and made the entire product line really feel well-thought-out.
The merchandise additionally made an instantaneous distinction on my hair. Perhaps I wasn’t utilizing the precise merchandise on my hair earlier than, however my broken hair grew to become tender to the contact—and surprisingly, my brittle ends did too—after only one wash with Epres. I had no complaints, other than the merchandise’ delicate scent.
I really like a sweet-smelling shampoo, and I wasn’t precisely in love with the scent of the Wholesome Hair Shampoo and Conditioner. In fact, that’s intentional—Pressly needs to obviously disclose the fragrances Epres makes use of, moderately than hiding them within the model’s formulation. Each merchandise are scented with naturally derived vanillin, so that they have a delicate vanilla scent, and I discovered the perfume a bit underwhelming. But when sacrificing my beloved candy scents means getting such nice outcomes on my hopeless hair, I’m joyful to make the tradeoff.
Epres is simply as intentional about its sustainability efforts as it’s about its scents. All of the model’s merchandise have biodegradable formulation (which is fairly unusual in haircare), and its packaging is designed with sustainability in thoughts. It’s good to know each resolution is made for a particular cause, and it makes the merchandise really feel much more well worth the purchase.
Is Epres Shampoo and Conditioner well worth the purchase?
After testing Epres’ Wholesome Hair Shampoo, Wholesome Hair Conditioner, and Bond Restore Therapy for per week, I believe they’re nicely well worth the cash. They’re price about thrice as a lot as my go-to haircare merchandise, however I’d positively purchase them once more.
My hair is presently struggling the implications of numerous at-home hair dye tasks, and I’d misplaced hope it might return to its pure state any time quickly. But it surely appears extra potential now. Epres’ declare to revolutionize haircare isn’t simply smoke and mirrors—my badly broken hair actually feels wholesome once more.
Epres Wholesome Hair Shampoo
Epres Wholesome Hair Conditioner
Epres Bond Restore Therapy