This "wearable treatment to restore and restyle" is horrifying: it lives up to all its claims. Shocking, no? Let's review:

revitalizes hair, conditions for 2 to 3 days

Check. It's a bit like anti-perspirant; regular use makes you (less smelly even when you forget it, less dry-haired, ditto). Still, it doesn't have that noxious 'build-up' feeling. The only comparable product I know of is 'Kiehl's Creme With Silk Groom' (or whatever the pretentious name is).

renews dry, damaged hair

Oh yes. The most chlorine-addled, ratty mane will be visibly improved by a wee smear of this stuff.

reactivates shape -- builds body and style

It does, if only insofar as lousy hair that needed something like this will start to 'behave.' Most remarkably for a leave-in deep conditioner, it's not apparent that it's on your hair -- it's just left soft and, as hair product adverts like to put it, 'pliable.' Think: those old ads with Kelly LeBrock.

replaces time-consuming heat treatments

Replaces time-consuming anything. Place a dab in palm, smooth over hair after washing, forget about it. It is possible, even with relatively battered hair, to be lazy and skip conditioner in the tub if you're faithful to #9, and forget any other peripheral conditioning products. It detangles, it smooths, it shines, it leaves it bouncin' and behavin'.

The ingredient list is quite cumbersome, and the first two are entirely unimpressive: water and glycerin! The tell-tale '~one' ingredient is relatively low down on the list, which may explain why it's so good at not weighing hair down. Curious ingredients (sodium chloride...) alternate with poncy ones (evening primrose oil) -- it does come off as something that spent a long time in R-n-D, and it shows. So far as I know, Sebastian's Potion 9 has been one of their best-sellers for some time now, which says a lot in the 'my @#&! favourite hair gunk has been $#&* discontinued again' market. Lightly scented and eminently unisex.

Highly recommended for those looking for a serious leave-in conditioner, though superfluous for anybody with shorter, healthier hair. Long-hairs should look for the 1/2 litre pump bottle in a beauty supply; it won't be cheap, but it will last indefinitely, and be less expensive in the long run.


This has been #2 in a series of 'I am unused to having long hair and am slowly going through every conditioner
available' reviews.

Recommended: Yes