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Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
A protein-and-moisture weekly mask that curly and natural-hair users rate for soft, stronger-feeling hair, at a mid-range price.
7.7
Good
Beauty score
#4 of 6 treatments
Community
—/10
- Format
- Hair mask
- Size
- 8 oz
- Price per oz
- $4.89 / oz
- Price tier
- Mid-range
Made for: All hair types · Curly hair · Coily hair · Damaged hair · Color-treated hair
Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score
The verdict
A protein-and-moisture weekly mask that curly and natural-hair users rate for soft, stronger-feeling hair, at a mid-range price.
Briogeo's Don't Despair, Repair! is a weekly rinse-out mask that balances hydrolyzed corn, wheat and soy proteins with avocado, sweet almond, rosehip and argan oils, panthenol and biotin. Briogeo says it reduces breakage in 10 minutes and strengthens hair up to 2x after three uses, and it is 97% naturally derived, vegan and Leaping Bunny certified. Curly and natural-hair users on Reddit and YouTube often recommend it as a go-to protein-moisture mask for soft, stronger-feeling hair, though its protein content will not suit every head of hair. It is silicone-free and moderately priced for a prestige mask.
Best for
- Dry, over-processed or color-treated hair
- Curly and coily hair that needs a weekly protein-moisture balance
What we love
- Combines hydrolyzed proteins and moisturizing oils for dry, damaged hair
- Brand cites reduced breakage in 10 minutes and up to 2x stronger hair after three uses
- Silicone-free, vegan and Leaping Bunny certified
- Sold in travel, full, value and jumbo sizes
Worth knowing
- Contains several hydrolyzed proteins, which protein-sensitive hair may not tolerate
- Requires at least 10 minutes on the hair
- Fragranced with several essential oils
How it scored
The breakdown.
Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.
7.7Good
Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.
- Results30%7.8
Curly and natural-hair users commonly report softer, stronger-feeling and more manageable hair after a session; protein-sensitive hair may respond less well.
- Formula & ingredients20%7.8
A balanced protein-plus-oil blend with panthenol and biotin, 97% naturally derived and silicone-free, though fragranced with several essential oils.
- Texture & experience15%7.8
A rich, creamy texture that spreads easily; the ten-minute minimum and weekly routine suit a dedicated wash day.
- Value20%7.3
$39 for 8 oz is mid-priced for a prestige mask, and it is used once a week rather than daily.
- Community love15%7.9
A multi-award-winning mask with a decade of creator reviews, and a frequent recommendation on natural and curly hair forums as a protein-moisture mask.
Beauty profile
Inside the bottle.
Texture
Decadently creamy rinse-out mask (brand description)
Format
Hair mask
Fragrance
Contains fragrance — Fragranced with essential oils including sandalwood, patchouli, cardamom and galbanum (ingredient list)
Size
8 oz / 236 ml
Key ingredients
Ingredient encyclopedia →- K&Keratin & proteinsHair & scalp — ingredient guide
- PaPanthenolHydrators — ingredient guide
- BiBiotinHair & scalp — ingredient guide
- AoArgan oilHair & scalp — ingredient guide
What’s in it: Hydrolyzed corn, wheat and soy proteins with avocado, sweet almond, rosehip and argan oils, panthenol, biotin and algae (Palmaria palmata) extract; no percentages disclosed.
How to use
Once a week after shampooing, use in place of conditioner: massage a generous scoop evenly through hair, leave on for at least 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
Free from (brand-stated)
- sulfates
- silicones
- phthalates
- parabens
- DEA
- artificial dyes
Claims & certifications
- Vegan
- Cruelty-free (brand-stated)
- Leaping Bunny certified
- Silicone-free
- Paraben-free
Full ingredient list (INCI)42 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand
- Water/Aqua/Eau,
- Cetyl Alcohol*,
- Brassica Alcohol*,
- Propanediol*,
- Stearyl Alcohol*,
- Cetearyl Alcohol*,
- Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil*,
- Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*,
- Rosa Canina Fruit Oil*,
- Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil*,
- Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*,
- Panthenol,
- Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate*,
- Biotin,
- Hydrolyzed Corn Protein*,
- Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein*,
- Hydrolyzed Soy Protein*,
- Panax Ginseng Root Extract*,
- Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract*,
- Laurus Nobilis Leaf Extract*,
- Palmaria Palmata Extract*,
- Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil*,
- Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil*,
- Pogostemon Cablin Oil*,
- Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Oil*,
- Ferula Galbaniflua (Galbanum) Resin Oil*,
- Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride*,
- Cetyl Esters*,
- Isododecane,
- Cetrimonium Chloride*,
- Behentrimonium Methosulfate*,
- Brassicyl Isoleucinate Esylate*,
- Citric Acid*,
- Isopropyl Myristate*,
- Butylene Glycol,
- Glycerin*,
- Fragrance (Parfum),
- Sodium Hydroxide,
- Dehydroacetic Acid,
- Benzyl Alcohol. *Coconut,
- vegetable,
- or plant derived.
Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.
We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.
What people say
Straight from the source.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.
2 verbatim quotes · 2 positive
r/curlyhairPositive
One of the best protein/moisture masks in my opinion is Don’t Despair, Repair! by Briogeo. I love that freaking mask. It’s more expensive
r/NaturalhairPositive
i use briogeo dont despair repair deep conditioner mask. you only need to leave it in for 10 minutes. it keeps your hair strong and soft!
Price & value
Is it worth it?
Typical price
$39.00
for 8 oz / 236 ml
Per ounce
$4.89
DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury
About 63% less per ounce than the typical treatments we review. Our value score: 7.3/10 for a mid-range pick.
Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.
Where to buy
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money
Community
What members noticed.
Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.
No member ratings yet.
Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.
Highlighted: what it’s built to do.
Discussion
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Tried Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
How often should I use Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair?
Briogeo recommends using it once a week in place of your regular conditioner, leaving it on for at least 10 minutes. For a deeper treatment, the brand suggests a plastic cap and 30 minutes under a hair dryer.
Does it contain protein?
Yes. The formula includes hydrolyzed corn, wheat and soy proteins alongside oils, which the brand describes as a balance of protein and moisture. Protein-sensitive hair may respond differently.
Is it silicone-free?
Yes. Briogeo describes it as free of sulfates, silicones, phthalates, parabens, DEA and artificial dyes.
Is it safe for color-treated hair?
Briogeo lists it as safe for color-treated, keratin-treated, chemically treated and relaxed hair.
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