Alberto Balsam VO5 Hot Oil Treatments

RRP: £4.10 for 60ml
versions available: Moisture Soak, Silky Smooth, Deep Nourishing

--What does the promo say?--
"Get dramatic results in just one minute. Your hair looks strong, healthy, and vitally alive. A must-have for hair that's been damaged from coloring, blow-drying, straightening, or other processing."

--Packaging--
The oil comes in individual see-through tiny plastic tubes, with teat-like tops which break off easily when you want to use them - even when you're in the shower and have slippery hands. Each 15ml tube contains one treatment. Professional yet easy to use. For the pressed-for-time among you, there is also a 'Showerworks' version, which you don't need to preheat and which comes in a big tube just like your regular shampoo or conditioner.


--Application--
Preheat the tube in a cup of hand-hot tap water for one minute, then break off the top of the tube and massage the contents into shampooed hair. Shampoo out after leaving in the hair for one minute; no need to condition. Use once a week.

--Scent--
No discernible scent.

--Appearance--
A honey-glaze type colour which leaves no visible residue or colour in the hair.

--Texture/consistency--
Oily, as you would expect, but not sticky. It runs through the hair quite well, but doesn't make your hair feel very conditioned during use - just kind of rough. Washes out easily.

--How does your hair look and feel afterwards?--
Bouncy, soft, moisturised and full of vitality. Generally top-notch results. These effects lasted, too - hair felt much better for days, and presumably continued use over weeks would improve the hair condition generally (oh, the sadness of only having one tube).

--Value for money--
Excellent for such solid results. It's also easy to use and at only just over £1 for a treatment, that's a hell of a lot cheaper than some hair masks or a trip to the salon. Class work from an unjustly underrated brand.

perfect partners
Deep Nourishing Elixir Shampoo + Conditioner
Moisture Soak Elixir Shampoo + Conditioner
Silky Smooth Elixir Shampoo + Conditioner

* all £2.14 each for 300ml