Vegamour keratin treatment

As someone with thick, wavy Middle Eastern hair that's prone to an undeniable amount of frizz, I've toyed with the idea of a keratin treatment for years now. I'm the perfect candidate, but I've always held back for fear of losing my hair's volume. I like my bouncy waves — just not the frizz that comes with it. So, you can imagine my excitement when I discovered the Vegamour HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner, a hair care product that relies on a proprietary vegan keratin to keep strands frizz-free — all without needing to step foot into a salon or expose myself to harmful chemicals. 

What is the Vegamour HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner?

The Vegamour HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner is a spray-on, leave-in conditioner that's meant to hydrate, detangle, and strengthen the hair, all while providing heat protection and minimizing frizz. As with all things Vegamour, the HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner is formulated with several plant-based ingredients, some of which include coconut fruit juice, avocado oil, and murumuru butter. It also features mushroom extract, which is the ingredient responsible for shielding strands from the frizz-inducing effects of heat and humidity. 

Perhaps the most unique ingredient in the leave-in conditioner (and the one that drew me to this product in the first place) is Karmatin, a vegan alternative to traditional keratin (which is animal-derived). This ingredient is unique to Vegamour, and the company says it offers the same smoothing benefits of keratin, but in an at-home, cruelty-free formula that doesn't contain any animal byproducts. Unlike traditional haircare products containing keratin, Karmatin also has the added benefit of bonding to the hair follicles. This means that it won't rinse out when showering or heat styling.

The HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner is available on Vegamour's website and Sephora. It comes in two sizes: a five-ounce standard size and a 1.7-ounce mini size.

How I use the Vegamour HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner

For some context, I've never colored my hair, but it is prone to damage and frizz given my background and my regular usage of hot tools. Leave-in conditioners and hair oils have a permanent spot in my hair care routine, but I still find myself always having to blow dry my hair straight in order to nix the appearance of frizz. After reading about all of the hair-smoothing benefits of the Vegamour HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner, I was excited at the possibility of being able to leave my hair in its natural state after air drying.

To use this leave-in, I first shampoo and condition my hair — right now I'm using the IGK Good Behavior Ultra Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner ($32). I towel-dry my hair until it's damp, give the bottle a good shake, and go to town with spraying. The brand recommends generously spraying on all areas of the hair, except if you have thin hair — in this case, focus the leave-in on the mid-length to the ends. I spray the product all around my hair, from my roots down to my ends. I then style as usual with a blow dryer and hair straightener.

What I like about the Vegamour HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner

It's easy to apply 

A lot of the leave-ins I'm used to applying have a cream consistency and are housed in a squeeze tube, which means I have to be conscious about how much product comes out. It can be a messy process, one that involves me having to wash my hands. I love that the HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner is in a spray bottle — I don't have to use my hands to apply it, and the nozzle disperses an event amount of product to ensure all strands are coated. I also enjoy that it's available in a smaller size, as this makes it suitable to travel with — especially helpful if you're traveling to a humid climate.

It's multi-use

While the HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner is meant to primarily be used on damp hair, it can also be used on dry hair to revive a days-old hairstyle or as a heat protectant if you're touching up your hair after its initial styling. I also love that it helps streamline my routine, as it does the job of several products I typically use. For instance, with the leave-in, I can skip using a heat protectant (since it offers thermal protection from up to 450ºF) as well as a hair detangler (which I typically spray on post-shower). I also don't feel as compelled to use a hair oil, as this product does an excellent job at keeping my hair hydrated.

It doesn't weigh my hair down

As I mentioned, I enjoy my hair's bounce and volume, and oftentimes using leave-in conditioners that are in cream form can make my hair appear limp and lifeless. The HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner doesn't interfere with my hair's natural movement, nor does it make my hair feel sticky or crunchy when it dries.

What I don't like about the Vegamour HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner

It doesn't get rid of all of my frizz

My hair has a lot of frizz, and while the HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner significantly reduces it, the product alone didn’t fully get rid of of my frizz, at least not to the point where I'd feel comfortable wearing my hair in its natural state (that is, without heat styling). I do, however, notice that I don't need to use any post-styling frizz sprays (my usual go-to's are the Living Proof No Frizz Instant De-Frizzer ($33) and the Drybar Final Call Frizz & Static Control Mist ($29). For someone struggling with a small amount of frizz (or at least less than mine), the frizz-defying powers of this leave-in may suffice enough to not feel the need to heat style.

Is the Vegamour HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner worth it?

If you're considering a keratin treatment to smooth down your hair, I highly recommend trying out the Vegamour HYDR-8 Leave-In Conditioner first. While it won't completely get rid of all frizz, it keeps hair hydrated and tangle-free, all while maintaining your hair's natural volume and texture.