Is the It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product Really That Miraculous?

Beauty trends may come and go, but cult-favorite products are forever. That’s how the saying goes, right? In my considerable number of years perusing fashion magazines and blogs, there have been a number of products that have cropped up time and time again: MAC‘s Ruby Woo, Dior‘s Diorshow mascara, YSL‘s Touche Eclat Concealer—the list goes on. One product in particular, though, always caught my eye, perhaps because it could be found in just about any drugstore, though more likely because my hair woes are basically infinite. That product, my friends is the It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product.

I take it you’ve heard of it? You seem like a classy, well-read human, dear reader, so I’m sure you have. It comes in this adorable bright blue bottle that practically screams, “LOOK AT ME, I CAN SOLVE ALL OF YOUR PROBLEMS EXCEPT FOR MAYBE YOUR GOLDFISH ADDICTION BUT HEY WE CAN’T WIN ‘EM ALL!”

“It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in product repairs dry damaged hair, adds shine, smoothes & controls frizz, seals & protects hair color, detangles, prevents split ends, stops hair breakage, creates silkiness, enhances natural body, flat iron & thermal protector. An excellent nourishing treatment that can be used alone and/or as a restorative styling product that leaves hair soft and bouncy. Works on all hair types to bring out natural luster and manageability while also making hair stronger and healthier with every use.”

TL;DR version: if you have any problems with your hair whatsoever, this little bottle can cure them. I suffer from frizz, dullness, split ends, occasional hot tool-related dryness, and frequent tangles given my naturally curly texture, so basically, this product is my dream come true.

If it really does all it claims to do, it certainly seems like something you’d want to add to your everyday hair care routine, right? Well, sadly, that’d mean you’d go through a bottle pretty quickly, and since it goes for a whopping $36, that’s not exactly an ideal set-up. But maybe if it truly works, then the price tag’ll be worth it? I put the so-called Miracle Leave-in Product to the test to find out.

Per the instructions, I sprayed the product all over my towel-dried hair and combed it through from root to tip. It has a very pleasant, hair salon-esque smell that left me feeling particularly fancy. Word to the wise, though: you might want to spray it onto your hair while standing on a towel or bathmat because it left my bathroom floor pretty slick. Since the directions stopped there, and the product claims to be a heat protectant as well, I went ahead and carried out my usual blow-dry routine. Ten minutes later, it was the moment of truth.

My hair looked as it always does right after I blow dry it (hence the lack of photographic evidence, but if you’re really curious, here’s lil’ ol’ me after one of my standard DIY blowout sessions), but it felt at least 20 times as silky. Plus, the shine was off the charts. I had to physically stop myself from petting my own head while I re-watched Jessica Jones that night. For the few hours that I was awake, post-It’s a 10, I felt like I could take on the world with just my hair, Rapunzel-style.

The real heartbreak happened the next day. My hair still felt delightfully soft, but it looked flat, flimsy, and almost crinkly like I’d wrapped it up in a multi-elastic ponytail and rolled around on a pile of static-y balloons all night. When I brought my concern up to other people, they said it looked fine, but I really didn’t feel good about it.

So, what’s the verdict? Is the It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product worth it? I say yes and no. Now that I know that it doesn’t really hold up overnight but works wonders in the short term, I plan on using it before I dry my hair on a more regular basis. But, considering my experience, I really wouldn’t recommend buying the full-size bottle. I was working with a sample size, and you can pick up a smaller version for $18. In this case, it’s better used sparingly rather than all the time. Sorry, It’s a 10. This was more of a 6.8 for me.