By Astrid Carter

**ASTRID CARTER, HOOD CONTRIBUTINg EDITOR**

With more than 15 years’ experience in women’s lifestyle media, Astrid previously spent five years at *SheerLuxe* and is now a Contributing Editor at *The Handbook*. Based in Glasgow, she brings her insider eye for fashion, beauty and culture to *Hood*.

Having worked in women’s magazines for 15+ years, I’ve been fortunate enough to road-test literally hundreds of beauty products – from the holy grails that now sit in my regular arsenal to the dreadful ones I wouldn’t bother mentioning, plus plenty of mediocre options that do the job without ever really delivering that wow moment.

One that does? No.98 Beauty’s Hydra //Bond Hair Masque. Whether you’ve over-dyed your locks, been overzealous with heat styling, or your hair feels a bit frazzled after a season in the sun (a hair holy trinity I’m personally guilty of on all counts), here’s everything you need to know…

For context, I have extremely thirsty hair. I’ve been known to sleep in a mask, only to wake up with zero evidence that my hair was ever slathered in a magic oil promising glass-like locks. My hair will literally drink anything up. While I feel like I’m on a never-ending side quest to hydrate it, it does make me the ultimate guinea pig to trial products promising deep hydration and damage restoration – and to give an honest verdict on whether they actually work.

So, does it work?

Yes. I can honestly say I saw instant results after just one use. My hair felt silky, was infinitely more manageable to style, and my usual halo of frizz felt noticeably under control.

I now use it once a fortnight to give my hair a deep condition – but could easily ramp it up to once a week. Over time, it’s genuinely restored some of the damage caused by dye and lots of tong usage. The super-rich cream texture also makes for a lovely self-care ritual when I can carve out time to leave it on overnight. Equally, you can leave it on for 20 minutes pre-shampoo and still see brilliant results.

“I have extremely thirsty hair – it will literally drink anything up – making me the ultimate guinea pig to trial products promising deep hydration and damage restoration. This doesn’t disappoint. ”

The sciencey bit…
They haven’t scrimped on the formula, which makes the £35 price tag much easier to swallow – and trust me, it’s worth every penny. It’s packed with a powerhouse of hydrating oils, reparative proteins, and colour-safe technology.

You’ve likely heard the beauty buzz around "bonding" products – this is exactly that, and it actually delivers for over-styled, over-dyed, or coarse hair types. To name a few, there’s Brazil nut oil for softness and strength; elastin & wheat protein to help reduce breakage; castor oil to moisturise, support healthy growth, and lock in hydration; and a unique colour protection complex to keep colour richer and healthier for longer.

Who’s behind it?
After being sent a sample by the PR team (I now buy it on repeat with my own money), I had no idea it was actually developed by fashion and beauty creator Lorna Luxe. Don’t be fooled – this isn’t classic influencer fodder with a name slapped onto a formula with little involvement. What Lorna has created is genuinely fantastic, working alongside scientists boasting over 40 years of haircare expertise.

Who should use it?
Anyone with thirsty hair looking for more shine and a softer texture. It’s ideal if you colour your hair and need to repair broken bonds, or if you want serious moisture without weighing your hair down or losing natural swish.

Let’s talk about the scent…
Bonus points go to the scent, which is truly divine. It smells more like a luxury candle than a hair mask (they coincidentally make a candle in the same scent, too). Think warm and woody with notes of cardamom and rosemary, as well as patchouli, leather, and smoky vetiver – basically everything I look for in a fragrance. I’ve received many a compliment on how good my hair smells, and the scent lingers long after use.

The verdict…
While there are plenty of cheaper masks on the market, I haven’t seen results this good, this quickly, with any of them. It’s a standout haircare hero that has earned a permanent spot on my bathroom shelf.

SHOP THE PRODUCT…