I have fine, dry hair that is color-treated, so finding a mask that is nourishing enough without weighing it down can be a bit of a struggle. Either the mask ends up being too heavy, or I’ve paid “hair mask price” for what is essentially a thicker conditioner.

When I saw rave reviews for the Amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask, I knew I had to try it for myself. Specifically formulated to be intensely hydrating yet lightweight enough for fine hair, the Soulfood Nourishing Mask is vitamin-packed and promises to make hair softer, moisturized, and shinier.

Keep reading for my full review with pros, cons, tips for using it, if I think it’s worth the money, and how it actually performs on fine, dry hair.

PS: curious to see exactly how this mask compares to Amika’s Hydro Rush mask? Check out my other post, Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask vs Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Mask Review and Comparison.

amika soulfood nourishing hair mask review

The Amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask delivers on its promises. It is specifically designed for dryness and works for all hair types (1-4) and all porosity, though I think it is best for fine to medium hair types. If you hate the feel of a heavy hair mask, you’ll love Soulfood.

What I most like about Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask is that you can use it as a conditioner replacement; if you want the hydrated, healthy hair but don’t want to spend money on a bunch of different products, it’s cool that this can serve as both your conditioner and your mask. It is color-safe and does not make my hair brassy, and I love using it after toning with purple shampoo to re-hydrate my hair, as toning products can be quite drying.

While the mask does contain dimethicone, it isn’t much and I have used this mask a ton without feeling any product build-up or greasy feeling. The other downside to this mask is that it does not repair damage. If your main concern is breakage, split ends, or brittle hair, you will likely want something that addresses damage instead of just dryness.

As far as price goes, Soulfood is reasonably priced at $36 for an 8oz jar. A little goes a long way, and I love that I can buy one product for under $40 versus spending anywhere from $50-100 on a hair mask and conditioner.

mask texture and how it made my hair feel

You can tell right off the bat that Amika’s Soulfood mask is lightweight and specifically formulated for fine hair types.

The mask is somewhat translucent in color and while it’s thicker than a conditioner, I’d say that it is creamy as opposed to buttery. It's easy to work through the hair and helps detangle knots, absorbs quickly, and is easy to rinse out.

My hair immediately felt softer, and as it air dried, I noticed more shine, smoother strands, and less frizz.

pros

Lightweight enough for fine hair
Easy to work through the hair
Easy to rinse out
Has Amika’s signature amber-vanilla scent
Fairly priced and cheaper than Amika’s other masks
Adds shine
Slightly tames frizz
Makes hair softer

cons

Not the most nourishing mask
Kind of the hybrid middle man between a conditioner and a mask
Does not repair damage
Too lightweight for thick or curly hair

key ingredients

A truly nourishing mask not just in name, Amika’s Soulfood Mask has two key ingredients that help to hydrate the hair:

Jojoba Seed Oil - moisturizes and softens.
Sea Buckthorn - helps to nourish and restore lipids in hair.

The mask is formulated without parabens; it’s also vegan and cruelty-free.

is it good for damaged hair?

Kind of. The Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask is specifically meant to address dryness. If you have split ends or weak, brittle hair, you won’t notice much of a difference (get The Kure mask instead). That said, if your ends feel rough or dry, you will see (and feel) an improvement after using Soulfood.

is the amika soulfood nourishing hair mask worth it?

If you have fine hair and have struggled to find a hair mask that makes your hair soft and hydrated without weighing it down, the Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask is absolutely worth it.

The best way I can describe Soulfood is that it’s the middle ground between hydrating conditioner and a thick hair mask; you get the nourishment and softness that you want from a hair mask, yet the consistence is closer to a conditioner than a thick, buttery mask.

Those with medium to thick hair will likely prefer something heavier; I suggest trying Amika’s Hydro Rush Mask instead (see my Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Hair Mask Review for more information).

Lastly, if your main hair concern is breakage, split ends, and damage, you will prefer a hair mask that contains bond repair, which will strengthen your hair and repair damage over time. Amika’s The Kure mask is great; it’s effective yet not too heavy for fine hair. For more, visit Amika The Kure Intense Strength Repair Hair Mask Review.

who it's best for

Fine to medium hair
Dry hair
Those who want a lightweight, nourishing hair mask
Those who want softer, more manageable hair
Those who want to use a hair mask regularly instead of conditioner

who should skip it

Medium to thick hair, especially if it is wavy or curly
Damaged hair (split ends, breakage)
Those who want a heavy-duty mask
Those who want bond repair in their hair mask

soulfood vs other amika masks

I’ve created more detailed posts that compare Soulfood directly to the two other Amika masks, Hydro Rush and The Kure, but for a quick recap here: I’d say that Soulfood is best for fine hair that is dry. If you have medium to thick hair, Hydro Rush is the sister mask that will also hydrate hair, but is thicker in consistency to better work with your hair type. The Kure is best if you want to target breakage, split ends, and brittle hair.

For more detailed descriptions and comparison notes, check out: