Epres review: could this bond repair treatment really be better than Olaplex?

If you're on the hunt for a powerful at-home hair treatment, you'll want to read this Epres review. Calling itself the "next generation in high-performance hair care", I was expecting big things from this one-step product that is said to be even more effective than Olaplex. With claims like these, I knew I had to get my hands on it as soon as possible.

Bond builders for hair have completely taken off, with the popularity of brands like Olaplex and K18 becoming some of the most talked about in the haircare world. It seems as though our every need is pretty much covered, with pre-wash treatments, the best vegan shampoo and conditioner, and intensive moisturising masks all available with bond-building benefits. So is there really room for another bond repair product? 

I have been using bond builder products for several years now in the hopes of making my dry, frizzy, and bleach-damaged hair slightly more manageable. After hearing about Epres and learning more about its benefits, I was desperate to give it a go and see if it could really change the game for me. After testing it out on my hard-to-manage hair without the use of any other hair maintenance products, these are my honest thoughts.

Epres review: our beauty writer's honest thoughts

What is Epres?

Epres is a spray-on bond repair treatment that works to repair the hair's structure and improve softness and shine too. Bond repair products perform by 'bonding' damaged hair and adding protein to your strands, which helps to add strength and elasticity that may have been ruined by bleaching or heat styling.

The brand was actually founded by the creator of Olaplex, Eric Pressley, and is an even more advanced version of the bond-building haircare that he first created with Olaplex. If you've been weighing up K18 vs Olaplex, there's a new contender in the mix that could blow the other two out of the water. 

How to use Epres

One of my favourite things about using Epres is how quick and simple the whole process was. If the best hair masks are your current weapon of choice for the simple application and removal process, you'll want to listen up. The kit you buy comes with one mister bottle and two concentrate solutions, and you can then purchase just the solutions as a follow-up once your first two run out. Here's how it works:

• 1. Empty a bottle of concentrate into the large mister bottle
• 2. Fill the mister bottle with water up to the marked line and shake well
• 3. Spray on dry hair until it is fully saturated
• 4. Leave on for a minimum of 10 minutes

Packaged in a neat mister bottle that avoids any mess, Epres couldn't have been easier to apply. As I have pretty thick hair it did take some time to ensure that every last inch was covered, but this wasn't at all strenuous or challenging. From first mixing the solution to the time I'd finished applying, it was no more than five minutes. It is then recommended that you leave it on for a minimum of ten minutes to get to work on your hair, and it can be used 1-2 times a week.

Unlike many other treatments for damaged hair, especially bond builder ones, Epres can be left on for as long as you want. It continues to work for as long as it is left on your hair, so it's really up to you when you wash it out. Although some people do use Olaplex overnight, it isn't recommended that you do so as it can damage your hair. If you prefer treatments you can keep in all day long or as you sleep, Epres can do just that.

I left Epres on for about 25 minutes before washing my hair as normal with the best shampoo for coloured hair and applying a standard conditioner. I then left it to air dry to see how my hair would look naturally and if it made any difference to my frizziness and lack of shine.

• Shop Epres Bond Repair Treatment for £46 / $82

Epres ingredients

The ingredients that make up Epres are diethylhexyl maleate, oleyl alcohol, alcohol denat., stearamidopropyl dimethylamine, and the water that you add to create the solution. This jargon probably doesn't mean much, but it is useful to know that Epres is vegan and cruelty free, as well as free from acids, parabens, and gluten, amongst other allergens.

Does Epres work?

With products like Epres, determining whether or not it has worked is sometimes tricky when you're just looking at your hair. Working to repair chemical bonds, there is a lot going on under the surface that we can't spot. However, I could certainly see and feel several differences in my hair after using Epres.

I don't typically let my hair air dry without using one (or several) of the best hair products for humidity due to my natural frizziness, but I was shocked by how smooth my natural waves looked without any interference or need for the best hair straighteners to tame flyaways.

I also noticed that my hair boasted a lot more shine and brightness than I'm used to seeing. Where it is typically dull and crying out for some hair oil, it looked much healthier than it has in recent memory - the key to achieving that expensive looking hair look without going to the salon. 

Finally, and probably the most important factor for me, is how soft my hair felt. Unless I have used a leave-in conditioner or at-home keratin treatment, my ends hardly ever feel soft after air drying. But now, even two days after using Epres, my hair is still remarkably smooth and free from straw-like split ends.

Considering I saw all of this after just 25 minutes of leaving the product in, I can only expect even better results if left on all day or overnight. Based on my results and the difference in my natural hair from before I had tried Epres, I can say it absolutely works at repairing and strengthening damaged hair.

• Shop Epres Bond Repair Treatment for £46 / $82

Epres review: our verdict

I am seriously impressed by Epres. I am a long-time and devoted fan of Olaplex products, but I can definitely say that I have found the most instant and noticeable results from Epres. It is probably most comparable to Olaplex No.3 in terms of how it works, but I found Epres much simpler to use as it doesn't require you to wet your hair before applying the treatment, which is a huge bonus for me.

It is more expensive than Olaplex but cheaper than K18, so it sits somewhere in the middle of the bond builder price spectrum. A very fair price for a powerful product, it is worth every penny in my opinion. I only used about half of my concentrate-water mixture for one application, so I think those with thick hair could easily get four separate treatments out of the initial kit, whilst those with fine hair will get even more for their money.

Until now, Olaplex No.8 had been my treatment of choice for maximum hydration and shine. Whilst it will still have a place in my haircare routine when I want something extra moisturising or would prefer to use an in-shower treatment, Epres will almost certainly become my new weekly go-to. The entire process from start to finish couldn't have been easier, and it was amazing to let my hair dry naturally without it turning into a matted frizz ball. 

If you're looking to invest in a truly powerful bond builder that will easily slot into your haircare routine without too much fuss, you'll love Epres. 

Epres Bond Repair Treatment, RRP: £46 / $82

This starter kit comes with the mister bottle and two concentrate bottles - enough for several treatments. Once you've used these up, you can shop for concentrate refills to avoid plastic waste.

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