This budget hair mask for under £5 saved my hair

As ridiculous as it may sound, using soft water for around 20 years was a luxury I didn’t know I had.

Since moving to hard water areas across the country, my skin and hair have suffered greatly, and with the weather getting colder this year, neither are happy with my current routine.

So to get ahead before the temperatures drop this winter and my hair screams for moisture, I decided to compare five hair masks that I thought would suit different budgets.

I compared five hair masks, each priced £10 and under, to find out which is the most hydrating (Image: Newsquest)

Although I had never used a Garnier Ultimate Blends hair mask before, the increasing popularity of Garnier Ultimate Blends hair masks on social media enticed me to give it a try.

Which budget hair mask saved my hair?

The hair The masks I tried were from well-known brands like Ultimate Blends, OGX Beauty, Herbal Essences, Beauty Pie, and TRESemmé—but one really saved my hair.

Beauty Pie Super Healthy Hair (242g)

Price for Beauty Pie: £10 for members, £42 for non-members.

Beauty Pie Super healthy hair (Image: Newsquest)

I love everything from Beauty Pie, having tried everything from cleansers to serums to foot masks to candles in the past.

But I was really disappointed with this hair mask as not only was it the most expensive but I also didn’t notice any difference in my hair (which was strange since the mask is quite thick).

Although the clean and subtle scent might be a good alternative to some, I prefer hair products that have a stronger scent.

Use: Beauty Pie says: “After shampooing and conditioning, squeeze excess water out of your hair and then massage from mid-length to ends. Leave on for 3-5 minutes, then rinse and style as usual.”

You can sign up for Beauty Pie to get a 30-day free trial.

Herbal Essences Repair Intensive Mask – Argon Oil (450 ml)

Price on Amazon: £7.50

Herbal Essences Repair intensive mask with argon oil (Image: Newsquest)

As a lover of herbal essences, I hate to say it, but the smell of this hair mask wasn’t really my thing as it had more of an earthy scent.

I also wasn’t overly overwhelmed by the after effects of using it, considering it was one of the most expensive – it was good, but there are better alternatives.

Use: Use either as a conditioner or as a rinse-out mask on wet hair.

TRESemmé Nourish Coconut Moisturizing Mask (440 ml)

Price on Amazon: £3.50

This TRESemmé hair mask comes in a giant tub (Image: Newsquest)

I can’t resist coconut when it comes to hair or body care products. Not only do they always smell great, they’re also full of moisture, and this hair mask did just that.

I couldn’t believe how hydrating it was, given the size of the tub and the attractive price.

Use: After shampoo Apply conditioner, leave on for 3-5 minutes and rinse.

OGX Beauty Hair Mask with Argan Oil from Morocco (300 ml)

Price on Amazon: £5.35

The OGX hair mask may be small but mighty (Image: Newsquest)

I’ve used a few other products from OGX, including the shampoo with this exact scent, so I had high hopes.

Because of its moisturizing properties and impressive argon oil scent, it had to compete with one of the best hair masks I’ve tried – it has a smell that reminds you of a vacation.

It also made my hair feel thicker (I suspect this is because it was well moisturized), which was a relief after losing so much hair due to the changing seasons.

Although it is the smallest of the five tubs I tested, I think the price is very fair considering how it works.

Use: After washing your hair, leave it on for 3-5 minutes and then rinse.

Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food – Banana (390 ml)

Price on Amazon: £3.99

@imogencribb Watch me straighten my hair in just three steps 🫧🛁 @Garnier ♬ Original sound – Imogen 💗

For me, this hair mask beats all the others and I can understand why it gets so much love from people I follow on Instagram, beauty bloggers and experts.

Firstly, I can’t beat the price considering how much it nourished me hair. Additionally, it had the best smell of all the products I tried (if something isn’t fruity, I’m not interested).

Another big selling point for me is the fact that it’s 3-in-1 – meaning you can either use it straight as a conditioner, leave it on your hair for 3-5 minutes before rinsing it out after washing , or you can apply it as a leave-in. Apply the product through the middle to the ends of your hair (ideal if you’re feeling lazy).

Similar to the OGX hair mask, my hair also felt much thicker – something I was hoping for.

Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food saved my hair and therefore has become my new favorite product to replace my current conditioner and hair oil treatments (I’m a fan of the Ultimate Blends coconut oil).

All prices are correct at the time of writing.