Epres Bond Repair Treatment: Is It Worth the Hype?

Today, I‘m sharing my honest thoughts about a product that’s popular for its bond repair properties: Epres Bond Repair Treatment. If you’ve been wondering whether this bond repair spray works, you’re in the right place. I purchased the starter kit and have been putting it to the test for the past few months.

Bond Repair For Hair

If you’re a beauty enthusiast, you probably know how bond repair treatments have become so prevalent in recent years. Why? Because hair damage is real! Haha!

Our hair is made up of proteins held together by different types of bonds, including hydrogen bonds, salt bonds, and disulfide bonds. These bonds give our hair its strength and structure. When we color, bleach, perm, or frequently heat style our hair, these bonds break down, leading to that unfortunate damage we all try to avoid.

Bond repair treatments emerged as a solution to this specific problem, helping to reconnect those broken bonds rather than just coating the hair with temporary smoothing agents that feel nice. Epres is one of the newer players in this category, and I was curious to see how it would compare to some of the more established brands (like one of my favorites, Olaplex).

Note: This Epres review is based on my personal experience with the Epres Bond Repair Starter Kit that I purchased. Keep in mind that your results may vary depending on your hair type and condition.

Epres Bond Repair Treatment Benefits For Your Hair

According to the brand, Epres Bond Repair Treatment works by reconnecting broken hair disulfide bonds that have been damaged by chemical processing, heat styling, and environmental stressors. It claims to:

• 1-Step bond repair
• Repairs chemical, mechanical, and environmental damage
• Patented treatment softens and strengthens hair
• Biodiffusion™ bond repair technology continues to repair hair for hours, even after hair is dry
• Suitable for all hair types and textures

That’s a pretty impressive list. But as we all know, claims are one thing – real results are another. So let’s get into my actual experience with Epres.

My Hair Background

My hair has been through a lot. Years of highlighting, occasional straightening, and living through humid summers have left my hair prone to frizz and breakage. The ends of my hair tend to feel like straw if I don’t keep up with treatments, and I struggle with tangles regardless of how much conditioner I use.

Packaging, Price, and First Impressions

The Epres Bond Repair Treatment comes in a sleek, minimalist bottle – nothing too flashy, which I actually appreciate in a world of over-the-top packaging. The pump dispenser is a nice touch, making it easy to control how much product you’re using.

I bought the Standard Bond Repair Treatment Kit, which is a 4-6 week supply. It contains the spray bottle and 2 x (0.5 oz) Bond Repair Concentrate refills. The kit creates a 10.1 oz (300 ml) treatment when mixed with water. Depending on how much hair you have,
you should get between 3 and 4 treatments per bottle.

• The cost is $50 for the Standard starter kit, or $75 for the Deluxe Starter Kit, which contains the spray bottle and 4 x (0.5 oz) Bond Repair Concentrate refills, an 8-12 week supply.
• Refill packs are $34 for 2 x (0.5 oz) Bond Repair Concentrate refills or $62 for 4 x (0.5 oz) Bond Repair Concentrate refills.

It’s not the most expensive bond treatment on the market (it’s less than K18), but it’s certainly not budget-friendly either. However, considering specialty salon treatments can run upwards of $50 for a single application, the price seemed relatively reasonable if the product delivered on its promises.

The product itself has a lightweight consistency that surprised me, as I expected something thicker for a bond repair treatment. It is fragrance-free – even though sometimes I like fragrance, this is a treatment product, so I’m happy that there is no added scent.

Application Process

Add one concentrate vial and 4 oz. of water to the spray bottle and shake to mix.

The directions recommend using Epres Bond Repair Treatment directly on dry hair. It suggests leaving it on for at least 10 minutes before cleansing, though you can leave it longer for more intensive repair (you can actually sleep with it in your hair).

The application is straightforward: before shampooing, spray the treatment from mid-lengths to ends to fully saturate your hair. The product is light and watery, making it easy to distribute even through tangled hair.

The product doesn’t harden or become sticky as it sits, which is nice because you can go about your business without it feeling weird. Then shampoo, condition, and style your hair as usual.

My Results

After using Epres Bond Repair Treatment consistently for a few months, I can confidently say the transformation in my hair has been noticeable. The first application gave me smoother hair with less frizz, but the longer-term results are what impressed me.

By week two, my hair was retaining moisture between washes, looking shinier, and feeling significantly stronger. After a full month of treatment, my previously damaged ends are looking healthier and my hair color has stayed vibrant.

The most telling result? I used to avoid wearing my hair down on humid days because it would immediately frizz and expand. Now, I can confidently wear it loose even in less-than-ideal weather conditions. For someone who has battled damaged hair for years, these results have been genuinely impressive.

Product Details

Here’s the essential information about the Epres Bond Repair Treatment:

• Size and Price: 10.1 oz bottle (when mixed with water) for $50 (2 concentrate refills)
• Consistency: Lightweight liquid when mixed with water
• Fragrance: Fragrance-free
• Application: Apply to dry hair and leave for 10+ minutes before washing your hair
• Recommended Use: 1-2 times per week for maintenance, more often for very damaged hair
• Key Ingredients: Epres Bond Repair Treatment’s is a waterless formula that contains just four 100% vegan, biodegradable ingredients: Diethylhexyl Maleate, Oleyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat., Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine
• Formula: Acid-free, quat-free, cruelty-free, vegan, phosphate-free, gluten-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, preservative-free, nut-free, PEG-free, formaldehyde-free, sulfate-free, thiol-free
• Hair Types: Suitable for all hair types and textures
• Shelf Life: 2 months after mixing the concentrate with water

The packaging is a sleek white bottle with a spray dispenser, which helps target the product toward damaged sections of hair. The instructions are straightforward, though I would have appreciated more specific guidance for different hair types and damage levels.

What I Liked

Here’s what I appreciated most about the Epres Bond Repair Treatment:

• Reduced Breakage: The most noticeable benefit was significantly less hair in my brush and on the shower floor. My hair felt stronger from root to tip, with much less breakage even when heat styling.
• Improved Elasticity: My hair regained some bounce that damaged hair often lacks. I could run my fingers through without hitting those dreaded snags and tangles.
• Progressive Results: Each week brought more improvement. By week two, I was using less styling product to achieve smooth results, and by month’s end.
• Color Protection: An unexpected bonus was how much more vibrant my color remained. Healthier hair holds color better, and I’ve noticed less fading.
• Lightweight Formula: Unlike some bond treatments that leave hair feeling coated or heavy, Epres maintained my hair’s fullness.
• Longer-Lasting Results: The effects carried over between washes, with my hair maintaining moisture and manageability on day two, and I can often stretch washes to day three.

What I Didn’t Like

While Epres impressed me overall, there were a few drawbacks worth mentioning:

• Price Point: At $50 for the starter kit, it’s a significant investment for a hair treatment. While not the most expensive on the market, it’s still pricey for regular maintenance.
• No Travel Size Option: I wish they offered a smaller size for testing before committing to the full bottle, or for travel purposes.
• Results Timeline: While I saw some benefits quickly, the most significant improvements took over 4 weeks of consistent use. This requires patience and commitment before seeing dramatic results.
• Not Quite Professional Strength: For severely damaged hair, salon professional treatments might still provide more intensive repair, though at a much higher cost per session.
• Limited Availability: Epres isn’t as widely available as some other hair care brands, making it less convenient to purchase in a pinch.

How It Compares to Other Bond Treatments

I’ve tried several other bond repair systems in the past, ranging from the high-end salon brands to more affordable drugstore options. In my experience, Epres falls somewhere in the -upper-middle in terms of price, but closer to the top in terms of performance.

Epres vs. Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector

Let’s address the elephant in the room – Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector is often considered the gold standard in bond repair treatments. Having used both products extensively, I can offer a detailed comparison.

Application: Epres is applied to dry hair (you shampoo after 10+ minutes), and Olaplex is applied to wet hair before shampooing (3-10 minutes).

There is a clear winner for me when it comes to application: Epres. I know that I would use Olaplex more often if I didn’t have to stand in the shower waiting to rinse it off. (Olaplex instructions used to say wait 10 minutes, now they say wait 3-10+ minutes, so that’s a plus.)

So that’s that. Now, onto other points of comparison:

• Price Point: Olaplex No.3 is typically priced around $30 for a 3.3 oz bottle compared to Epres at $50 for a 10.1 oz starter kit. Epres should last around 4-6 weeks, while Olaplex may last several months, depending on how often it is used.
• Consistency: Olaplex has a thicker, cream-like consistency, while Epres is a liquid spray (mostly water).
• Application Process: I discussed this above. You apply Epres to dry hair 10+ minutes before shampooing and Olaplex to wet hair before shampooing (3-10+ minutes).
• Speed of Results: In my experience, Olaplex showed faster initial results, especially on severely damaged areas. However, after 4-6 weeks of consistent use, Epres caught up, and the results were comparable.

If you’re deciding between the two, I’d recommend Epres if you aren’t concerned about cost, don’t have extensive hair damage, and prefer an easier application process. Olaplex might edge ahead for severely damaged hair if you want a more affordable option or you specifically want the concentrated formula for targeted treatment.

Compared to drugstore alternatives, Epres is definitely more effective and feels like a higher-quality product. The lightweight formula and lack of silicone buildup give it an edge over many budget options that rely on coating agents rather than true bond repair.

What makes Epres stand out in the crowded bond repair market is the balance it strikes between effectiveness, price, and formula quality. It doesn’t feel like a compromise product, which many mid-priced options often do.

Is It Worth Your Money?

Here’s my take: if your hair is significantly damaged from chemical treatments or heat styling, Epres Bond Repair Treatment is absolutely worth trying. The results I’ve experienced go beyond surface-level improvements – my hair genuinely feels stronger and healthier.

That said, if your hair is only mildly damaged or you’re on a tight budget, there are less expensive treatments that might meet your needs. The value really depends on your hair’s condition and your priorities.

Consider it an investment – preventing further damage is always easier than trying to repair severely compromised hair. In that sense, the price becomes more reasonable when you factor in the potential savings from fewer haircuts to remove damaged ends and less need for other styling products.

About The Brand

Epres is a relatively new player in the hair care industry, founded in 2020 by Dr Eric Pressly, a hair scientist who was involved with brining Olaplex to the market. (Interesting, right?) The brand prides itself on using scientifically-backed ingredients while avoiding unnecessary fillers and harmful chemicals.

Their philosophy centers around hair health as the foundation of beautiful hair, rather than just covering up damage with temporary fixes. Epres currently offers a small but focused line of products, with their Bond Repair Treatment being their flagship offering. I look forward to trying their new shampoo and conditioner next.

The Bottom Line

I rarely find damage-repairing products that impress me, but Epres Bond Repair Treatment has earned its place as a staple in my hair care routine. While no product can magically restore severely damaged hair (despite what the ads might claim), this treatment has made a significant difference in the health and appearance of my stressed-out locks. (And, for me, it’s MUCH easier to use than Olaplex.)

For best results, I’d recommend using it consistently for at least 4-6 weeks before making a final judgment. The progressive nature of the product means you’ll see better results with continued use rather than an overnight miracle.