I Tried Pantene Pro-Vitamin Repair Essence On My Damaged Hair
Whenever a new mainstream hair repair product launches, it always catches my attention since I struggle with hair damage from the usual culprits: heat damage, age, coloring, etc. So when I saw that Pantene launched its Pro-Vitamin Repair Essence, I was intrigued.
According to Pantene, the Pro-Vitamin Repair Essence can help rebuild up to 95% of hair strength in just 10 days, thanks to its Pro-Vitamin B5 formula. The essence is supposed to provide deep nourishment, repair hair from the inside out, and improve overall hair strength.
Pro-vitamin B5 is also known as panthenol. This ingredient is known for its ability to moisturize, strengthen, and repair damaged hair. This caught my eye, as hair strength (or lack thereof) is one of my biggest concerns.
The essence is also supposed to reduce breakage, repair split ends, and relink the hair’s protein structure by building new bonds deep inside your hair. In essence, it’s designed to tackle damage from the inside out, offering both immediate smoothness and long-term repair.
We all know bond repair products are wildly popular right now, so it’s nice to see this technology used by more affordable drugstore brands like Pantene. (I’ll discuss its “affordability” later.)
Pantene also emphasizes that this essence is meant for daily use, which makes it easy to incorporate into your regular hair routine. Whether applied to wet, towel-dried, or dry hair, it’s supposed to build strength with each use. (I like the fact that it can be used on dry hair. I don’t wash my hair every day, so I can still use it daily.)
Pantene Pro-Vitamin Repair Essence Ingredients
Water, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Histidine, Fragrance, Polyquaternium-16, VP/Methacrylamide/Vinyl Imidazole Copolymer, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Citric Acid, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol
In addition to panthenol, there are a few other ingredients of note in the formula:
- Histidine is an amino acid that helps protect hair from damage caused by environmental pollutants while improving hair’s moisture retention and strength.
- Citric acid balances the hair’s pH, seals the cuticle, boosts shine, and helps remove buildup.
My Experience with Pantene Pro-Vitamin Repair Essence
From the very first application, I could tell that the texture of the essence was lightweight and non-greasy, which I like since I tend to use multiple hair products. I sprayed the essence on my clean, damp hair before other products like serums or oils.
The essence didn’t weigh my hair down at all, even when I gave my hair several sprays. I sprayed it all over but focused it mainly on my ends where the damage was most noticeable.
The scent was the first thing I noticed. The scent is more elegant and a step up from other Pantene hair products. It contains a blend of tropical notes, florals, and sandalwood — it’s a soft, pretty fragrance that lingers without being overpowering.
After blow-drying my hair, it immediately felt smoother and silkier. Over the next couple of weeks, the improvements became more noticeable. While it didn’t perform miracles, the Pro-Vitamin Repair Essence definitely made my hair more manageable and resistant to the usual wear and tear from styling.
By using the essence daily, I found that my hair started to look shinier and felt softer to the touch. I’m hoping it will help with fewer split ends and less breakage.
Packaging and Price
The essence comes in a beautiful egg-shaped glass bottle with a gold plastic lid. It’s very pretty and would look lovely on your vanity. But for the price? I’m not so sure. If it were $15, I wouldn’t hesitate, but at twice that price, I think it’s a little steep for the amount of product you are getting.
Since it comes in a small 2.5 oz. bottle, it won’t last very long if you are using it daily. And if you have long hair, you’ll need to focus on your areas of concern if you don’t want to be repurchasing too frequently.
Pros and Cons
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Lightweight and non-greasy texture | Relatively expensive for the amount (2.5 oz bottle) |
| Can be used on wet, towel-dried, or dry hair | Small bottle size may not last long with daily use |
| Pleasant fragrance and packaging | |
| Potentially reduces split ends and breakage | |
| Improves hair smoothness, silkiness, shine, and softness |
So, will I repurchase? Probably not. While I’ve enjoyed using the essence and like how my hair feels after using it, I think it’s too expensive for the small bottle. If they repackage it into an 8 oz plastic bottle at a lower price, I’d definitely repurchase, but at its current size and price point, it’s hard to justify.
For now, I’ll finish the bottle and appreciate its benefits, but in the future, I’ll be looking for something that offers more value for the price.
