'I've spent hundreds on haircare products. These 4 gave me salon results (for less than you'd think).'

Thanks to our brand partner, OGX

Here's a confession from a longtime beauty lover: I used to completely neglect haircare. I know — shocking!

But a few years ago, when salon visits were off the table, I did a full 180. Suddenly, it was just me and my hair, and we had to figure things out on our own.

And that meant finding at-home products that actually worked.

I've got thin, blonde hair, so I needed formulas that kept the colour fresh, toned down the brassiness and locked in moisture — all without weighing it down. Just a few small requirements.

Since then, I've been all about hardworking haircare. Sprays, serums, masks — I've tried them all. I've long been a fan of OGX, so when my blonde strands and I heard about their bond repair range, I was very interested.

OGX's Bond Repair range is made up of four key products, each at a surely-too-good-to-be-true price point: The Bond Protein Shampoo ($25), Bond Protein Conditioner ($25), Bond Protein Sealing Serum ($25) and Bond Protein Treatment ($25).

Image: Supplied.

This range is basically a superhero for your hair. The bond-strengthening formulas are designed for ongoing bond repair and damage protection. They're made to help improve the appearance of hair that's been through the wringer — bleach, heat, mechanical stress (cough cough guilty).

And as someone who is super conscious of hair health and trying to keep the effects of bleaching at bay, I put the range to the test over a week to see what the hype was all about.

Nailing the basics: Shampoo and conditioner.

In my opinion, a great shampoo and conditioner are the baseline for any winning haircare routine. You've got to nail the basics before levelling up, right?

The Bond Repair shampoo and conditioner are designed to protect the hair's lipid and protein barriers, targeting damaged areas for effective bond repair without weighing the hair down.

I jumped into the shower, fully pretending I was in a haircare ad and honestly, the products delivered. The shampoo had a rich, silky lather that felt like it was properly cleaning my hair without stripping it dry.

The conditioner ticked all my picky boxes too. It felt nourishing but light — a must for fine hair like mine. I need moisture, not flat, weighed-down strands.

I used both four times across the week (I wash every second day thanks to sweaty gym sessions) and each time felt like a little luxe moment.

Before and after. Image: Supplied.

A little pick me up: Hair treatment mask.

Treatment time, and boy was I excited for this! I'm a hair mask enthusiast. The moment of self-care, the silky locks post application — what's not to love?!

My expectations were high. This particular hair treatment mask is designed to make locks shinier and smoother by reducing the appearance of damage and nourishing the hair deeply.

It's also supposed to produce results that last between washes, which we love to hear. Plus, you only need to leave it in for one minute, which is a time-poor gal's dream!

And because it's in a tube, it was super easy to apply — it's much more convenient to simply squeeze instead of rummaging my wet hands through a tub mid-shower. One minute flies by, and each time after rinsing my hair, it felt noticeably smoother.

Given that it's winter and I'm spending most of my days in heating or with wind gushing across my face when I step outside, everything is feeling a little drier and in the case of my hair, frizzier too. This mask felt like the perfect antidote to the elements, locking in moisture and revealing shinier, happier hair.

Extra TLC: Sealing serum.

In the lead up to my wedding last year, one of the things I found most effective in my haircare routine was adding a serum. So, when I got my hands on these goodies, I couldn't help myself and lathered the serum into my hair almost straight away.

It's almost a gel-like consistency, but I found that it massaged into my hair quite easily. My husband remarked that my hair smelt extra nice, so brownie points for that.

Image: Supplied.

When used as part of the Bond Repair routine, this sealing serum is claimed to make hair two times smoother and five times stronger after five washes, improving the appearance of hair that's been exposed to damage and making it feel revitalised.

I applied it to my hair twice during the week (I generally prefer to use a serum before bed) and although I can't crunch the comparative numbers, I certainly liked the effects it had on my hair! It locked everything in and gave my hair a subtle glow, which we love.

The verdict.

First things first — my hair feels so smooth. Like, I genuinely can't stop touching it. Apologies in advance if you catch me casually stroking my hair in public.

It's feeling healthier, looking more revived and even on non-wash days, it held up pretty well — which is a big deal when you've got fine hair.

It's safe to say, these products have earned a permanent spot in my haircare line-up.

Shop the OGX Bond Repair range at Chemist Warehouse.

Dual-action repair technology for non stop bond repair and damage protection: With daily use of at least one OGX Bond Repair Product.

Two times smoother and up to five times stronger hair after five washes: With system use of OGX Bond Protein Repair Shampoo, Conditioner, Sealing Serum followed by washing five times with shampoo and conditioner vs non-conditioning shampoo.

Feature Image: Supplied.

OGX® believes healthy hair gives you the confidence to boldly be yourself, which is why we develop high-performance formulas, designed to support hair health and resilience from root to tip. We blend recognizable, proven ingredients known for delivering healthy–looking hair to equip you with the products you need to help prevent and repair damage every time you wash.