3 Editors Tried the Vegamour HYDRA-8 Collection for a Month. Here's Their Honest Review of the Line

For starters, it took all of us a few tries to realize we had to twist the cap to access the product. Once we figured this out, we all appreciated how this dispensing method ensured that we got the right amount of product without making a mess in the shower or having a shampoo cap slip out of our fingers mid-wash. We also give kudos to the gentle formula, which features karmatin (the brand’s vegan silk alternative to keratin and silicone), magnolia bark extract and aloe vera, which helps cleanse, hydrate and soothe strands. However, the results left us pretty divided. While Dubyak enjoyed the rich lather and how it didn’t weigh down her locks, Scott and Candelario felt it dried out their hair a little too much.

Dubyak: I love how I can use a small amount of product and still get a substantially sudsy lather. However, the scent was overwhelming and not my favorite. It has an overpowering flowery smell that doesn’t work for me. I’m also torn on the design of the bottles because it’s not the most efficient. It has a twist opening, which prevents spills, but it’s not intuitive for the first-time users.

Scott: I laughed at myself because I kept trying to unscrew the top until I realized that all I had to do was turn the cap to squeeze out the shampoo. I loved this feature BTW, especially since I've never had a shampoo cap like it before. The shampoo reminded me of the Olaplex No.4C Bond Maintenance shampoo for the way it instantly dried my hair out. The shampoo instantly dried my hair out, which made it difficult to comb through my curls. And even though it did a fine job of clearing away residue and dirt from my scalp, I was disappointed that it didn’t deliver on hydration, which is supposed to be the line's biggest selling point.

Candelario: I love the shampoo design and thought it was super clever, but I’m not a big fan of the shampoo itself. It left my hair feeling super dry. I also have to agree with Destinee that it was difficult to divide my hair and prep it for conditioner. While it did an OK job at cleansing my scalp, I still felt like I had buildup remaining after I rinsed. Suffice to say, the shampoo was not my favorite product in the collection.

On the flip side, the conditioner gets major props for hydration without weighing things down across all our hair types. All three editors appreciated how the product moisturized and detangled their hair. The formula includes karmatin to strengthen strands, marula oil to nourish them and murumuru seed oil to reduce frizz and add shine. Scott credits it for revamping her parched strands. Meanwhile, Dubyak points out the gentle formula didn’t weigh down her fine locks.

Dubyak: I loved the buttery consistency of the conditioner. I used it from roots to ends and found it didn’t leave my hair feeling greasy or heavy afterward. It also helped detangle and moisturize my hair. Again, the packaging is frustrating, as it's made the same way as the shampoo. It also has a similar scent to the shampoo which doesn’t agree with me. 

Scott: I loved how easy it was to apply the conditioner to my hair. This stuff is so smooth that it practically glided over my strands. I was able to effortlessly comb through my curls, which isn't always easy to do with other products. It was a complete 180 from the shampoo. The conditioner brought it back to life and boosted moisture tremendously. It felt silky smooth as I ran my fingers through it, and that’s usually a good indicator from my experience over the years.

Candelario: The conditioner really brought back my hopes for the collection. It made up for what the shampoo did to my hair, and I was able to coat my strands and detangle my curls without running the brush (or my fingers) through too many times. Once I rinsed, my hair felt softer and smoother. I also had less frizz and more definition.

Dubyak: I love that a little goes a long way with this mask. It has a slippery-yet-thick texture that applies nicely and is easy to rinse out. I can't say much about what I disliked about this mask since I really, really liked it. I would just note, again, that the scent isn't my favorite.

Scott: By the time I went to wash this mask out, I didn't notice a huge difference from what the conditioner did. I'm no hairstylist though, so I can’t confirm whether it tackled my split ends or not, but I will say that I received a lot of compliments on how healthy, strong and soft my hair looked. I usually trim my hair myself, so it's botched half the time, but after using this collection for a month, my hair was giving “I just went to a salon” vibes. 

Candelario: I’m a sucker for hair masks, so I was pumped to use this one. This one had similar qualities to the conditioner. Although the instructions said to leave it on for a few minutes, I found it more beneficial to leave it on longer (up to 30 minutes) with my hair. The product made a huge difference after I rinsed it out. My hair felt softer and more hydrated, but I also saw similar results with the conditioner. Overall, I think it’s a great addition that can be swapped interchangeably with the conditioner.

So, is the collection worth it? If you have dry and/or damaged hair, it doesn’t hurt to give this trio a shot. After a few weeks of trying it out, we can already see some small changes in our hair. Our favorite product is the conditioner, as it provided the most hydration to our strands. On the flip side, the shampoo received mixed reviews. (Upon further testing, it might just be better suited for those with finer locks, rather than on thick or curly hair.)