i have always suffered from split ends. I often colour my hair and as it is very fine and dry even without the extra damage colouring causes i suffer a lot from looking rather like worzel gummidge. My hair is without question my very own blonde haystack.

My hairdresser grumbled at me every visit about how dry my hair is and when am i going to look after it properly. She doesn't believe my excuse of 12 hour shift work as justifiable for not caring for my hair like i should.

I use herbal essences shampoo and conditioner regularly as i like the smell and it always washes well out of my hair. I went into boots to buy some and noticed a fairly large round tub labelled beautiful ends - split end protection intensive mask. This sounded too good to be true.

Firstly the cost. It cost £4.07 from boots for 200ml and occasionally is on offer with other hebal essences products. The tub is round and fairly large and bright red with the hebal essences logo on it and the information on the side although the writing is a little on the small side. Definitely need my glasses for this one.

The information describes it as for dry/damaged hair, to be rinsed out, and will leave your hair strong and voluptuously velvety. Directions instruct you to pamper your hair with the "beautiful ends" shampoo, then "lavish from root to tip" with this intensive mask then leave for 5 minutes and rinse away. For use once a week. I wasn't sure if this meant to use this once a week instead of the conditioner or as well as so i use it instead of.

It says red raspberry and silk extracts. When you open the pot which is very simple just unscrew the lid the smell hits you instantly. It is not unpleasant but rather sweet. I'm not sure i would say raspberry smell but it could be described as a berry sort of smell. It is a deep pink colour and if i tilt the pot to one side the liquid is quite thick but does run slowly to that side. It feels quite moist to the touch and slightly oily which I assume is a good thing for dry hair to replace the lost oils.

It doesn't say how much to use but as it said lavish i used a good handful and generously applied it as directed after shampooing and rinsing. It feels very pleasant. I start at the roots and massage into my hair until i reach the ends. I have hair halfway down my back so I need to use a second handful to concentrate on the tips of my hair. This has taken about an eighth of the potful but as it is recommended for once a week I am not too concerned.

I sit back and leave it in for the 5 minutes as recommended. My hair feels quite slimy with the mask on and very flat - not like it normally does as I am washing it when it seems to still stick up. The 5 minutes are up and I use the shower to rinse it out. It washes out very easily and my hair is still flat which is not usual for me. Next I comb it. To my surprise it is all but tangle free. This is a first. My hair has normally tied itself up into a million knots by this point and takes ages to untangle.

It feels wonderful as the comb easily glides through my hair from root to tip and I get out of the shower feeling happy and content without the normal tangle removal fight I have which undoes any relaxation in the bath or shower.

Sometimes I use the hair dryer to dry my hair and sometimes I air dry it. I have done both after using the mask and my hair is no longer frizzy or scarecrow looking like it used to be. In fact it looks silky and tamed. I still need to use straightners to take the curls out for a completely sleek look but either way my hair doesn't look dry and my split ends although some are still there are nothing like they used to be.

You can still smell the mask in your hair even once it is dry. It's lovely to smell the gorgeous scent as your hair moves. The smell does lessen over time but defintiely lasts throughout the day.

Even my hairdresser has noticed the improvement. She doesn't totally approve because she keeps trying get me to buy expensive professional hair care products but she can't argue about the change.

For me this is just what I'bve been looking for. My only down side is I make sure I use it when I know I am going somewehere special and I can't use it every day. I love the effect it has on my hair. I notice that after washing my hair without it by 4 or 5 days later my hair is definitely trying to do its own thing again so I use it every 5 days rather than a week but this doesn't seem to have a bad effect on my hair.

The tub lasts for just over a month for me which works out about £1 per week. I can cope with this cost for the effects it has. Overall I love this product. If only it were usable everytime I wash my hair instead of using conditioner it would be absolutely perfect. Even once a week this is still a must have product in my bathroom collection.