HASK Keratin Protein Smoothing Deep Conditioner review

A 1.75-ounce packet you tear open, use once and toss is the whole pitch, and for a drugstore deep conditioner HASK's Keratin Protein Smoothing packet does a decent job on frizzy, color-dry hair. It softens and smooths fine to medium lengths without asking you to commit to a full jar. We give it 3.8 out of 5.

The score reflects a formula that's sound but simple. There are no butters, the protein won't suit every head of hair, and the word smoothing promises more than any rinse-off conditioner can deliver. As an easy one-off treatment, though, it earns a spot in the shower caddy, and you can find the HASK packets on Amazon as singles and multipacks.

The keratin packet has a new name on the front

Target now lists the product as HASK Smooth + Keratin and Jojoba Oil Deep Conditioner, while the keratin protein smoothing name still turns up on plenty of listings and older stock. The listings don't all show identical ingredients either, so read the back of your packet before relying on the details below.

HASK pitches it at over-processed and color-treated hair and says it repairs and smooths the hair shaft while cutting frizz. Read repair as the cosmetic kind, meaning damaged ends look and feel better until the next wash. HASK also says the formula is free of silicones, sulfates and parabens, and that it skips gluten and drying alcohol.

One packet and up to ten minutes

The directions are to massage it into clean, wet hair, focus on the damaged areas, leave it on for up to 10 minutes and rinse well. HASK suggests using it once or twice a week, depending on what your hair needs.

Expect a creamy conditioner that's thinner than a typical jar mask. With no butters in the formula, it spreads easily and rinses out fast. Some retailer listings describe the fragrance as fruity, and like most HASK products it's clearly scented.

One packet covers short to shoulder-length hair comfortably. Long or thick hair may need two, or you can concentrate a single packet on the bottom half, where damage usually sits. Squeeze out as much water as you can before applying, because a dripping head dilutes a thin cream quickly. The packet format is also handy for travel and gym bags, where a full jar is a nuisance.

Smoother, shinier and less frizzy for a few days

Expect hair that feels smoother and softer after rinsing, with less frizz as it dries and a bit more shine along the lengths. Bleached hair that feels mushy or overly stretchy when wet may feel firmer afterward, thanks to the protein. The effect lasts until the next couple of washes, so it works best as a regular weekly habit.

Keratin amino acids sit fourth on the list, a respectable spot for the ingredient named on the front. They're the smallest building blocks of protein and help hair hold moisture and feel smoother, but they don't rebuild anything inside the strand. Jojoba oil, which behaves like a light liquid wax, adds shine to the outside of the hair. A rice protein modified to cling to the hair leaves a light film that helps weak ends feel stronger.

The word smoothing needs some managing. This packet has nothing to do with salon keratin treatments that use heat and stronger chemistry to relax curl for months. It makes hair feel smoother after you rinse, which is what a conditioner can realistically do.

Good sense in a small format

The packet is a genuinely useful format. You can try a protein deep conditioner without committing to a jar, and it's easy to pick up at Target or the grocery store. The keratin sits high on the list rather than buried at the bottom, and the silicone-free formula suits routines that avoid silicones.

It's also a low-risk way to find out if your hair likes protein. If your ends feel firmer and frizz less after one packet, you've learned something useful before buying anything bigger.

Thin on moisture and heavy on expectations

The formula is simple, and that cuts both ways. Very coarse, very dry hair that needs heavy butters won't get enough from it. Protein-sensitive hair should be careful, since both the keratin and the rice protein sit near the top, and hair that already feels stiff and straw-like may do better with a protein-free mask. Strict silicone-free followers may want to know the rice protein carries a silicon-containing group, though it behaves more like a conditioning protein than a coating silicone. Long hair also burns through packets quickly, which makes it a less practical weekly habit for that crowd.

Best for fine, frizzy hair and the gym bag

Buy it if your hair is fine to medium, frizzes and feels rough from color or heat, or if you want a single deep conditioning session for travel. In that case you can stock up on HASK keratin packets on Amazon.

Skip it if your hair is thick and very dry, if it reacts badly to protein, or if you're hoping for a straightening effect. A richer, butter-based mask will serve you better.

HASK against SheaMoisture and a salon mask

SheaMoisture's Manuka Honey and Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque is the obvious drugstore alternative for hair that wants richer moisture, since it's a butter-heavy jar aimed at thick and curly hair. HASK is the lighter, protein-leaning option of the two.

A salon mask such as amika's The Kure gives more conditioning per use for dry, porous hair. For an occasional smoothing session on fine hair, the HASK packet covers the basics well enough.

HASK's keratin packet is a fair drugstore pick for fine, frizzy hair

As an easy, low-commitment deep conditioner, the HASK packet does what it says on the front, minus the straightening some shoppers may assume. Fine to medium hair with frizz and color dryness gets the most from it, while coarse or protein-sensitive hair should look elsewhere. It earns a fair 3.8 out of 5 from us. To try one, grab a HASK keratin packet on Amazon.