Macadamia Deep Repair Masque vs. L'Oreal Damage-Erasing Balm

Let's talk hair.

Mine is long, fine, and wavy. Not to mention DRY. I wash it almost everyday, but not by choice. I workout almost every day, and my long hair is like a towel. By the end of my workout, my hair feels like it's 3 pounds heavier because it's just soaked in sweat! Air drying and dry shampoo just doesn't cut it, so I must wash & shampoo every time. I will normally air dry my hair after a shower, but I always use a flat iron or curling iron to style, which means I need a really moisturizing conditioner to save my hair from turning into a dry, crispy broom.

For years, I have been loyal to the Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Masque for deep repair and ultimate moisture. It smells heavenly, it's super thick, and it leaves my hair soft & frizz free! The packaging claims that it "leaves hair deeply nourished, improves elasticity and shine. Provides long lasting conditioning benefits. Repairs dry, damaged hair. Rejuvenates and rebuilds the hair. Infused with macadamia oil, argan oil, tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe and algae extracts". You can leave it in for 3-5 minutes for a quick, daily conditioner, or leave it in for 20 minutes or more as a hair masque. It really is all I've ever dreamed of in a conditioner, but my only gripe is that it is over $30! Each pot is 8.5 oz, which is a pretty generous amount, but I just can't bring myself to to shell out that much money every couple of months.
I've been looking out for a more affordable runner up, and thanks to

LoveMelisaMichelle on YouTube (subscribe to her, she's gorgeous & funny!), I discovered L'Oreal's Total Repair 5 Damage-Erasing Balm! This is the most comparable dupe for Macadamia's Deep Repair Masque for a fraction of the price! I got mine at Target for $5.99.

It smells very nice, and the texture is thick and creamy, almost like a lotion. This conditioner claims that it is "specially formulated for damaged, over processed and chemically treated hair. this intense luxurious reconstructing balm instantly repairs the 5 signs of damage - 1. split ends 2. weak 3. rough 4. dull 5. dehydrated. Repairs up to 1 year of damage in 1 use". I don't know about instantly repairing 1 year of damage in 1 use, but I did notice a difference in softness, moisture, and manageability after my first use. We should all know that no conditioner can "repair" split ends since the only true cure is a haircut! But it treated my hair very similarly to the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque.

The pot also holds 8.5 oz of product, so you just can't beat the value compared to other similar brands. I would definitely recommend it as a more affordable alternative that yields the same results! I've been using the L'Oreal EverCreme Intense Nourishing Shampoo in combination with the balm, and it's been working wonders for my dry hair, making it more supple and sleek! Can't believe it took me so long to try L'Oreal products, but I've really been loving it. Don't get me wrong, Macadamia Oil is still my favorite, but I'll be using it sparingly for deep conditioning alongside my new favorite L'Oreal balm as my daily conditioner.

Do you have any favorite hair products that treat dry hair? I'd love to try them out!