Hair masks
Whether your curls are feeling dry, your ends are fried or your highlights look a little dull, a hair mask can be a quick solution to boost your hair’s health. Hair masks restore moisture, softness and shine to your locks, often in a matter of minutes. Think of them as conditioners on steroids — packed with nourishing oils and deeply hydrating ingredients, they quickly work to repair split ends and nourish your hair.
You can make natural hair masks at home with ingredients like honey, bananas and egg yolk, or you can buy a premade hair mask. When choosing one, consider what your hair needs, whether it’s damage repair, hydration or nutrient replenishment. Keep reading for tips on choosing the right hair mask for your hair type and getting the most out of it.
What does a hair mask do?
Repairs damaged hair
Unlike your daily conditioner, hair masks penetrate deep into the cuticle. They can reach further into your hair strands to heal any damage and strengthen your hair at its core.
Intensely moisturizes
Rich in naturally hydrating oils, hair masks can restore moisture levels and keep your hair looking fuller. Moisturized hair is less prone to frizz and breakage.
Adds shine
If your hair looks shiny, it’s a safe bet it’s healthy too. A hair mask can restore your hair to its healthiest state, leaving it looking shinier and bouncier.
Maintains color
The chemicals in your hair color can damage hair and leave it limp and broken. Hair masks not only help repair this damage but can also keep color-treated hair looking fresh and free from brassiness.
How to choose a hair mask
Choosing the right h??air mask for you depends on your hair type. While length isn’t a factor, your hair’s texture, thickness and color all make a big difference.
Curly or dry: If you have curly or dry hair, your hair may need added nourishment. Look for a highly moisturizing formula, as this will help tame frizz and give your hair a healthy shine.
Oily: If you have oily hair, opt for something lightweight to prevent your scalp from getting greasy. Look for a mask that works on your hair without weighing it down.
Fine or limp: If you have limp or fine hair, avoid heavy masks that are difficult to wash out, since fine hair is easily weighed down. Go with a light hair mask that you only need to leave in for a few minutes at a time.
Color-treated: If you have colored hair, choose a specially formulated product for color-treated hair. Make sure you leave the mask on for up to 20 minutes, depending on your hair’s condition.
How to use a hair mask
1. Wash and section your hair
Most hair masks work better when applied to clean, towel-dried hair. Divide your hair into three to four sections, so your lengths can really benefit from the mask.
2. Apply your mask
When it comes to hair masks, a little product goes a long way. Start by smoothing a coin-sized amount through your mid-lengths and ends, adding more if it doesn’t cover all of your hair. Focus on the ends of your hair, as they’re most likely the part that needs the most moisture.
3. Wrap your hair
Wrap your hair in a T-shirt or a hot towel to help the ingredients penetrate deeper and maximize the results of your mask.
4. Let it soak in
Leave the mask on for at least 15-20 minutes. Based on the ingredients, some masks can be left on for hours or even overnight.
5. Rinse thoroughly
After soaking in, rinse your hair thoroughly with lukewarm or cool water. Cooler water can help seal your cuticles and help your hair retain more moisture.
Ingredients to look for in a hair mask
Whether you’re going with a homemade hair mask or purchasing one that’s clinically proven to fix hair damage, always know your ingredients. Your hair mask should contain a mix of lipids and oils to help moisturize, proteins to strengthen and antioxidants to protect your hair.
Determining the right ingredients for you depends on the condition of your hair and scalp. If your hair needs moisture, look for ingredients like coconut oil, argan oil, almond oil, avocado oil and extra virgin olive oil. If you want to strengthen your hair, ingredients like wheat protein, keratin, shea butter and almond butter work well. Tea tree oil and jojoba oil can help soothe your hair and scalp.
Best hair masks
Best hair mask for damaged hair
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector: available at Sephora
This concentrated treatment works on rebuilding shattered hair bonds and helps keep your hair healthy and strong. Even if you color your hair, get perms or frequently heat style, you may see a difference with Olaplex. It’s suitable for all hair types and textures.
Best hair mask for dry hair
Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask: available at Sephora
Infused with antioxidant-rich argan oil, this hair mask feels like a deep-conditioning spa treatment and is well worth the hype. It hydrates and conditions your hair while improving its texture, shine and elasticity. It works best on medium to thick dry hair.
Best hair mask for boosting growth
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque: available at Amazon and iHerb
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly hair mask, this one’s a little drugstore gem. Formulated with shea butter, Jamaican black castor oil, apple cider vinegar and peppermint, this mask helps promote natural hair growth by boosting hair elasticity. It’s ideal for anyone who regularly colors or heat styles their hair, as well as kinky, curly or wavy hair.
Best hair mask for color-treated hair
??Kérastase Reflection Mask for Color-Treated Hair: available at Sephora
This power-packed hair mask nourishes your hair and protects the intensity of its color. It’s enriched with chelators, UV filters and vitamin E, which help prevent color fading caused by water particles and external aggressors. The rice bran oil present in its formula promotes shine, so your hair looks more glossy and vibrant. It’s an excellent choice for fine, sensitized, color-treated or highlighted hair.
Best hair mask for frizzy hair
??It’s A 10 Miracle Hair Mask: available at Ulta
This power-packed A beloved brand for hair care fanatics, the It’s A 10 Miracle Hair Mask really does work miracles for frizzy, dry and damaged hair while also making hair more vibrant. Sweet almond oil for deep conditions brittle strands, oat kernel extracts smooths down those pesky flyaways, apricot kernel oil addresses all kinds of damage and linseed extract softens hair while also building volume. This nourishing mask is hard to beat.
Esha Saxena is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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