Kerastase Masquintense vs The Body Shop Banana Mask
I’ve always been a lover of a hair mask, there’s something quite indulgent in taking the time to
primp and prime ourselves, taking a moment away from the stress of our everyday lives,
revelling in self care and for me that includes a good hair mask.
Now an older, much younger and more energetic me used to really fulfil my hair care duties to the highest standards.
Spending most of my life with long hair (hair that I adored may I add) I chose to take good care of
it (apart from the straightening part that is!) and would ensure that once a week I would apply a mask to
freshly washed hair, wrap clingfilm (yes, you read that correctly!) around my head and allow said mask to do it’s job before rinsing.
These days, I’m older and a lot more knackered so I tend to spitz my hair with water on a
evening, apply a mask, sleep with it on and wash my hair in the morning. With age come sense, it
seems.
Regardless of the application it is still a process I enjoy. There is an element of enjoyment that
comes with this kind of beauty self care ritual for me and if going to bed with my hair smelling
divine is part of that alone, then that’s fantastic, if my hair benefits in the meantime, well then
we’re winning.
There is an element of enjoyment that comes with this kind of beauty self care ritual for me
Today I wanted to compare a long time favourite hair mask of mine with a brand new find. Such a
long time favourite in fact, that it is the mask I used to use back in my student days with my head
wrapped in clingfilm. Picture that. This mask being the Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense
Up alongside it today it The Body Shop’s Banana Truly Nourishing Hair Mask.
Both a mouthful.
So let’s crack on shall we?
Let’s start with the one I know very well:
Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense
Nourishing masque for thick hair.
What it is?
A Nourishing masque for thick hair (Kerastase also offer the Nutritive Masquintense for fine hair).
Kerastase say the Masque is:
‘Deeply nourishing hair mask with our highest concentration of Irisome
Nourishes the fibre with ingredients essential to its radiance
Keeps hair bright and soft with a supple and light touch
Protects the fibres against oxidisation Makes hair easier to detangle’
What Kerestase claim it does?
-Nourishes hair fiber
-Brightness and softness
-Supple and light touch
-Protect fibers against oxidization
-Eases detangling
-Thick hair is softer
It’s texture?
A silky balm.
How does it leave your hair feeling?
The reasons why I love this hair mask and why I have continually repurchased it over the years are
that it really hydrates my dry, coarse hair and leaves it with a silky shine without it feeling heavy or
weighted down. My hair isn’t left feeling greasy at all. There is always a shine to my hair after
use and the smell of mask is lovely. A pot will last ages, it really will, so while pricey, a
little goes a long way and your hair truly does reap benefits.
Is it silicone/paraben free?
No.
Price:
It is £31.70 for 200ml but currently available for £22.15 at look fantastic (*not an affiliate link)
Kerastase recommend leaving the product on hair for 5-10 minutes, I’m a rebel, please follow
manufactures instructions.
Ingredients:
Key Ingredients
Irisome Complex:
Lipids: To improve natural oil production.
Glucids: To provide a genuine energy boost for the nutrition of the hair fiber from the root up.
Proteins: To nourish the fiber and steep it in softness.
Iris Rhizome Extract: To protect the hair from oxydation and prolonge the nutrition result.
Full Ingredients List
Aqua / Water – Cetearyl Alcohol – Behentrimonium Chloride – Glycerin – Amodimethicone – Cetyl
Esters – Isopropyl Alcohol – Methylparaben – Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein
– Trideceth-6 – Glyceryl Linoleate – Chlorhexidine Digluconate – Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil /
Sunflower Seed Oil – Glyceryl Oleate – Cetrimonium Chloride – Linalool – Benzyl Alcohol –
Hydroxycitronellal – Hexyl Cinnamal – Citronellol – Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone – Geraniol – Coumarin
– Phenoxyethanol – Safflower Glucoside – Iris Florentina / Iris Florentina Root Extract – Glyceryl
Linolenate – Parfum / Fragrance
The body shop Banana Truly Nourishing Hair Mask
What it is?
A creamy mask that is akin to a body butter but for the hair.
What The Body Shop say:
‘Featuring a delicious blend of Community Trade natural-origin ingredients, including organic
banana puree from Ecuador and Brazil nut oil from Peru. Enriched with Brazilian cupuaçu, this
100% vegan, once-a-week treatment leaves hair feeling intensely nourished from root-to-tip.
Locks look less frizzy and instantly shinier, all without weighing them down.’
What The Body Shop claim it does?
‘Weekly ritual for normal to dry hair
Leaves hair intensely nourished and instantly shinier
Enriched with Community Trade organic banana puree from Ecuador
100% vegan
Formulated without silicones and mineral oil’
It’s texture?
Think of a body butter for the hair.
How does it leave your hair feeling?
Similar to the Kerastase, this mask is about adding hydration to drier hair. Hair certaining does
not feel greasy or weighed down and does feel nourished. However sadly it lacks in as an intense
moisture boost factor comparison with the Kerastae Masque.
The smell is what you expect from The Body Shop, especially that of a product named ‘Banana’, it’s delicious, if you like the smell of banana’s!
It is fresh, fruity and smells good enough to eat, although quite strong on application this does
wear away to almost nothing after rinsing. It feel luxurious upon application. The Body Shop instruct to apply for 5-10mins then rinse.
Is it silicone/paraben free?
Yes, a vegan formula too.
Price:
It is £12.00 for 100ml and The Body Shop often run 30% off offers which you can be informed of by signing up to their emails.
Ingredients:
Aqua/Water/Eau, Musa Sapientum Fruit Extract/Banana Fruit Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Bertholletia Excelsa Seed Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter/Cocoa Seed Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter/Shea Butter, Behentrimonium Chloride, Distearoylethyl Hydroxyethylmonium Methosulfate, Theobroma Grandiflorum Seed Butter, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetrimonium Chloride, Capryloyl Glycerin/Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Parfum/Fragrance, Tocopheryl Acetate, Diheptyl Succinate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Isopropyl Alcohol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ascorbic Acid, Linalool, Panthenol, Tocopherol, CI 19140/Yellow 5, CI 15985/Yellow 6.
So who wins?
Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense is a beautifully rich balm which offers a solid hit of hydration and
shine to your locks and really does last a long time, so if you’ve got the pennies to splurge it’s a
definite thumbs up for me. However that does not mean that The Body shop’s fruity offering
doesn’t come recommended; especially at such a reasonable price point. So long as you are a fan
of the typical Body Shop frangance, then I don’t doubt that this product may be a hit. It has so
many positive reviews on their website and that itself speaks volumes.
So there you go, one mid to high-range mask and one high street mask, both a joy to use. My hair
thanks me for it.
Have you tried either of these hair masks? Let me know in the comments below!
*This post is not sponsored and does not contain any affiliate links
