The Best Hair Masks

Buying Guide for Hair Masks

Why buy a hair mask?

Hair masks improve the overall health of your hair by giving it the boost of moisture it needs. If your hair is chemically treated, dyed, or is just generally feeling dry or lifeless, a hair mask can infuse your hair with nourishing hydration. Hair masks can help repair the bonds of chemically treated hair, smooth frizz, and add volume and definition to your hair. They’re great for all hair textures. A hair mask should generally be used once a week but could be more or less often, depending on your individual hair care needs. A great detangling brush coupled with reparative hair treatments can also do a lot to strengthen your hair.

What should you look for in a hair mask?

• Ingredients: Choosing a paraben- and sulfate-free mask with all-natural or vegan ingredients is essential for users with scalp sensitivity. Purchase a mask with ingredients that address your individual hair care needs. For instance, someone with chemically-treated, dyed, or over-processed hair may need a mask with more hydrating ingredients than someone without chemically processed hair.
• Hair Type: Picking a mask that is optimized for your hair texture is also essential. Curly hair is often prone to dryness and frizz, so choosing a mask that enhances curl definition while moisturizing the hair is essential if your hair is textured. If you have a straight hair texture, an ultra-thick mask with rich, conditioning ingredients can really weigh down the hair, so choosing a lightweight mask that won’t overwhelm your hair is essential.

How do you apply a hair mask?

A hair mask should generally be applied to clean hair after shampooing. To apply, you should work the mask through the middle and ends of your hair and comb the product through to ensure the mask fully saturates the hair. Put on a shower cap or wrap your hair in a hot, damp towel to trap heat in and ensure that the mask penetrates the hair strands. Leave the mask in for as long as the instructions suggest. While you’re waiting, you can relax with a glass of tea, apply a face mask, or proceed with the rest of your routine. After the mask has sat in your hair for the allotted time, thoroughly rinse the hair with lukewarm water, and apply a rinse-out conditioner if needed.

Our Picks for the Best Hair Masks 

Pros: This sulfate- and paraben-free deep conditioning hair mask is excellent for revitalizing dry hair! This salon-trusted treatment works for thick, curly hair or fine, straight hair. It hydrates the hair with natural ingredients like argan oil and essential vitamins and nutrients. It’s also designed to repair, strengthen, and restore dry, damaged hair while naturally stimulating hair growth, and it’s excellent for detangling and making the hair more manageable.

Cons: This product is heavily scented, so it may not be ideal for those with sensitive skin.

Bottom Line: This nourishing hair mask adds beautiful shine and nutrients to your hair. It’s great for all hair textures, as well as chemically processed, color-treated, or damaged hair. If you’re looking to add an affordable, professional-grade treatment to your daily hair care routine, this is the mask for you!

 

Pros: Rich, revitalizing, and affordable, this protein treatment utilizes Cer-100 Collagen to repair dry, damaged hair. It’s recommended for restoring damaged, over-processed hair and is great for all hair textures. This mask utilizes soy protein extract, allantoin, ceramide 3, and pig collagen to moisturize the hair. It injects the hair with collagen and protein ions and helps repair heat damage with its nourishing ingredients, leaving the hair soft and silky.

Cons: This product is made with animal products, so it isn’t vegan. This is also a protein treatment, so it’s essential to make sure that your hair is actually in need of additional proteins before using it.

Bottom Line: This affordable protein treatment is ideal for repairing dry, brittle hair. This hair mask makes detangling a breeze and is an essential product to add to your hair care routine if your hair requires some repair.

 

Pros: This anti-breakage hair mask promotes natural growth by strengthening your hair strands. It’s made of natural ingredients like avocado and argan oil that infuse dry, damaged strands with much-needed hydration. This deep conditioning treatment is rich in proteins and uses keratin, caffeine, and ginseng to smooth frizz and reduce breakage. This salon-approved hair mask is also free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates.

Cons: This hair mask is heavily scented, so it may not be ideal for sensitive skin.

Bottom Line: If you have trouble reaching your hair growth goals, this affordable, deep conditioning treatment may be just what you need! It’s designed to smooth frizz, add shine, and reduce breakage and split ends so that you can retain length.

 

Pros: This rich, conditioning hair mask uses natural ingredients like coconut, fig, shea butter, and argan oil to hydrate and repair hair. This all-in-one treatment strengthens and softens your strands while infusing them with nourishing ingredients. It helps prevent breakage and leaves the hair soft, glossy, and moisturized without the use of sulfates, parabens, or phthalates. This hair mask is cruelty-free, gluten-free, and 100% vegan.

Cons: This product contains silicones, so it may not be ideal for those who prefer masks with all-natural ingredients. It’s also heavily scented with coconut and vanilla, so it may not be ideal for those with sensitive skin.

Bottom Line: You’re sure to have the best hair days when you use this conditioning hair treatment. This mask utilizes nourishing ingredients like raw coconut, linseed, argan oil, and shea butter to add moisture and shine to your hair without weighing it down.

 

Pros: Salon-approved with bond repairing technology, this premium Olaplex treatment is designed for damaged, over-processed, chemically treated, and dyed hair. It’s great for all hair types and textures, and it adds shine, moisture, and body to your hair. A little goes a long way with this product, so it’s recommended to use one pump for fine short hair, two pumps for medium length hair, and three pumps for thick, long hair. This treatment is also free of DEA, aldehydes, and formaldehyde.

Cons: This treatment is more expensive than other masks on this list.

Bottom Line: This moisturizing treatment has patented bond-building technology that’s designed to add shine, volume, and moisture to damaged or chemically processed hair. It’s recommended by professionals and is clinically tested, so it’s sure to address your hair’s needs.

Final Thoughts

Adding a hair mask to your weekly hair care routine can do wonders for your hair! If you find that your hair is feeling dull, dry, or lifeless, applying a nourishing hair mask can restore shine, moisture, and volume to your hair. Weekly hair masks are also great for self-care and will make you look and feel refreshed.