ROADTEST: 3 women tried Coles' "salon worthy" haircare range. Here's the verdict.

Not gonna lie, I definitely never regarded the supermarket as a destination for great in-house beauty brands. So when I heard Coles were stocking a range of salon-worthy products by Australian haircare brand Zena, my curiosity piqued. 

On paper, it ticked all my boxes. Australian made, cruelty-free, and contains plant and other hair nourishing extracts. Amaranth, baobab and hemp seed extracts, rice and quinoa proteins, silk amino acids, keratin and argan oils — all housed in v. pretty, 100 per cent recyclable packaging. 

Actually, it almost sounded a bit too good to be true. So naturally, we had three beauty writers, with very different hair types, to put the whole range to the test. Here's our verdict. 

Carly, Repair Range

I am very, very guilty of committing all manner of hair crimes. Scalp bleaches, bright pink dye, high-heat styling without protection, sleeping on it wet, using crap products and shirking a cut and colour appointment for… ooh… I reckon about 8 months now? My hair really needs a hug, and realistically, a whopping chop.

Before. Image: Supplied.

I would jump at the opportunity to try *anything* that might help right now, so you best believe I welcomed Zena’s Repair Range into my shower with open arms. 

The Repair Shampoo and Conditioner both contain keratin and quinoa, which together work to strengthen and protect neglected hair. I was particularly excited to try the Repair Mask, which is fortified with hydrolysed protein and amino acids to form a protective barrier over the hair shaft, whilst deeply moisturising the strands.

Image: Supplied. 

After using the shampoo and conditioner for four washes, plus the shampoo and mask for a further two, I am really happy with the results I have seen on my hair. 

While they can’t give me the cut and colour I so desperately need, my hair feels much softer and more moisturised, appears smoother and shinier, and overall, looks a hell of a lot healthier than it did. 

After. Image: Supplied.

Alongside these impressive results, I am pleased with the price point at $20 and I can’t deny that being able to pick up efficacious hair care at the supermarket while I do my weekly shop is of huge appeal. 

They also look pretty sexy on the shower shelf, too!

Image: Supplied.

Morgan, Volume Range

Haircare never makes it to the top of my priority list, but it is something I’m trying to get better with. I have very fine, naturally curly hair and mostly struggle with getting volume in the roots without creating frizz. Naturally, this made me want to try the Volume Shampoo and Conditioner from Zena haircare.

Before. Image: Supplied.

I wash my hair pretty frequently, every two days at least, because I really can’t stand the feeling of a sweaty or oily scalp. So over a few weeks, that’s quite a number of washes to properly try out the Volume Range. 

What had me particularly interested is the amaranth seed extract and rice protein ingredients, included in both the shampoo and conditioner formulas. Both have been shown to help strengthen hair, as well as increase the elasticity and density, naturally leading to more volume without frizz.

Image: Supplied.

I’ve found that it can be pretty hard to get volume without loading up too much product in the roots and leaving the ends dry. That’s definitely not the case with this duo, which left my hair feeling clean without being too dry. 

As far as hair washing experiences go, I really love the scent and feel of both the shampoo and conditioner. Between that and the super cute packaging, it’s kind of like a salon experience for your every day.

After. Image: Supplied.

What I particularly noticed was the immediate difference in how nice my hair felt and the volume I’ve been getting back in my curls. The best part is that I can definitely feel my hair getting healthier and stronger, so I can’t wait to see how it continues to improve my hair over time!

Maggie, Smooth Range

My hair is best described as frizzy. How frizzy, I hear you ask? Imagine rubbing approximately 17 rubber balloons on your head at the same exact time. That’s how frizzy my hair is on a good day. My best friend frequently mistakes my hair for being unkempt despite my efforts to brush and straighten my mane and look presentable *facepalm*.

Image: Supplied.

Luckily for me I got to trial out Zena’s smooth haircare range — including the Smooth Shampoo, Conditioner and Oil — and I can say it has been a GAME CHANGER. 

First off, let’s talk about how beautiful the packaging is. I love how modern and sleek it is compared to other hair care products you would find on the supermarket shelves. The packaging makes your bathroom shelf very Instagramable but Zena’s haircare range isn’t just aesthetically pleasing, the products smell amazing and do a great job of making your locks nice and luscious.

After. Image: Supplied.

I couldn’t believe how soft and smooth my hair felt as I washed it with the Zena products for the first time. It says a lot about a product if I can feel the difference as I’m using it. 

Zena also has a Moroccan argan oil as part of their smooth range which I applied after towel drying my hair which made my hair incredibly soft and smooth once dried *cue excessive hair flicking*.

Image: Supplied.

So if you’re like me, and have frizzy hair that desperately needs to be tamed, get the Zena Smooth haircare range into your shower ASAP. 

Feature Image: Supplied/Mamamia.