The desire for stronger, healthier hair is pretty universal. While it does require a holistic approach, you can get one step closer to the hair of your dreams with the right hair-care products. And for when you need to give your hair extra T.L.C., you turn to a hair mask.
Featured experts
Ericka Verett is a celebrity hairstylist
Andrew Fitzimons is a celebrity hairstylist and founder of Andrew Fitzimons
Do hair masks really work?
Hair masks, according to celebrity hairstylist Ericka Verrett, are crucial to your overall hair-care regimen as they can offer a more personalized and intensive treatment and target specific hair concerns. Andrew Fitzsimons, celebrity hairstylist and founder of Andrew Fitzsimons haircare, agrees. “A hair mask is essential to any great hair routine since it helps nourish and hydrate the hair, combatting any dryness or frizz,” Fitzsimons says. “Additionally, a quality hair mask can repair damage caused by heat styling or chemical treatments, promoting overall hair health and resilience. It also helps to strengthen the hair, reducing breakage and split ends, ultimately leading to smoother and more manageable strands [and] enhance the shine and vibrancy of color-treated hair, leaving your hair looking glossy and full of life.”
How often should you use a hair mask?
Using a hair mask is fairly easy to do. This will depend on which type of product you opt for, but Fitzsimons says that most hair masks involve the same few key steps. You’ll either use it pre- or post-shampoo and spread the product evenly, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends where hair is the driest. You’ll leave it on for the recommended time and then rinse thoroughly.
How often you use a hair mask will depend on your hair type, he says. Fine or oily hair types can expect to use a hair mask once or twice a week in place of your conditioner, whereas those with dry and damaged hair can use a hair mask two to three times a week. Then you adjust how you please.
With all that in mind, Fitzsimons and Verrett (and we threw in some of our faves, too) break down the best hair masks for every need and hair type. Scroll down to find the right one for you.
This editor and beauty fan-favorite mask from K18 is a viral sensation for good reason: it actually works—and works well. It has a special peptide that treats damage from within the strand to restore hair to its healthiest state and keep your color looking bright. But even if you don’t have color-treated hair, this mask gives you the softest, fullest and shiniest hair after every use. 10/10, no notes.
Aptly named, this deep conditioner is packed with all the hero ingredients you need to really take care of your strands. It is made with aloe vera, apricot and almond oils, sunflower seed extract and keratin to reverse damage done by hot-tool styling and provide nourishment and hydration. Plus, it’s a total steal.
For deep nourishment of dry and brittle hair, turn to this pre-shampoo treatment from Sisley Paris. It’s a sticky balm made of botanical oils such as macadamia, babassu, moringa and meadowfoam seed to revitalize hair and repair any breakage. It can be used as an overnight treatment or 30 minutes prior to shampooing. The results are pretty miraculous and can be worth the hefty investment.
When it comes to dry hair, Fitzsimons says to look for hair masks that are rich in hydrating and restorative properties. We love this mask from Christophe Robin that uses nourishing ingredients like prickly pear oil, ceramides and a vitamin F complex to treat split ends and smooth out frizz.
Fitzsimons adds that you should look for ingredients that act as emollients to provide a protective barrier and prevent further dehydration. This Bread hair mask uses emollients such as kakadu plum seed oil to keep curls soft and hydrated. It also contains starflower oil and wheat protein to treat damage and strengthen strands.
Fitzsimons says you’ll need to look for a mask that balances moisture without adding excess oil. “I recommend focusing on lightweight, clarifying ingredients that effectively cleanse and refresh the scalp without stripping it of its natural oils,” he says.
Look for citrus extracts like lemon and grapefruit, which he says have astringent properties to help regulate oil production. You can also look to essential oils such as tea tree oil to prevent buildup and help clarify the scalp without irritation. We love this treatment from Paul Mitchell that uses tea tree oil to soothe and calm irritation while also providing your strands with needed moisture.
Get rid of buildup with this trusty detox scrub from Fekkai. It uses apple cider vinegar, salicylic acid and rice extract to gently exfoliate and balance the scalp to promote a clean and healthy environment for your hair to grow strong and soft.
This Philip Kingsley scalp mask aims to control excess sebum production to minimize an oily scalp. It’s made with lactic acid, glycerin and olive fruit oil to balance your scalp’s pH levels and provide skin with added moisture.
Because fine hair can be more susceptible to product buildup and oil accumulation, Fitzsimons says it’s important to find a hair mask that provides hydration, nourishment and volume without weighing hair down or leaving it greasy. He recommends something like NatureLab. Tokyo’s Perfect Volume Thickening & Conditioning Hair Masque, which contains ingredients like rice extract and polymers to hydrate strands and give hair body and movement.
Made with ingredients like shea butter, keratin and a blend of almond, olive and macadamia oil, this hair mask works to restore hydration, repair damage, and prevent breakage. You’ll find hair feeling super soft and silky smooth after just one use.
“For naturally curly, coily hair, it is important to find a mask that provides hydration, defines curls, and reduces frizz,” says Fitzsimons. Packed with nourishing ingredients such as moringa seed extract, hibiscus and rice protein, this treatment mask from Pattern adds definition and length to your natural curls and coils. Plus, it works to keep your natural texture looking—and feeling—strong and hydrated.
“To deeply moisturize and hydrate your locks, look for masks enriched with nourishing ingredients like shea butter and jojoba oil,” says Fitzsimons. He recommends his mask, which has shea butter, jojoba oil, and the reparative properties of avocado and castor oil to keep curls looking fresh and full of bounce.
Verrett recommends the SpoiledChild M26 Damage Reverser to help treat the effects of over-processing and heat can have on hair. She says it also has keratin and collagen to mend broken strands.
For when you need personalized care for your hair needs, turn to this Function of Beauty mask. A two-minute quiz will recommend a custom formula with ingredients that will best suit your hair. A win-win all around.
Another hair mask that goes on super lightweight but still packs a punch in the hydration and nourishment department is this one from Verb. It contains moringa oil, which is rich in fatty acids and can smooth out frizz.
Those with super long strands need a deep conditioning treatment that will not only provide moisture but also strengthen strands to prevent future breakage. Enter Color Wow’s Money Mask. It contains blue sea kale, which bonds with damaged keratin to repair strands and boost hair’s elasticity, a special protein complex to smooth the hair cuticle, and a sea kelp and algae blend for deep hydration.
Fitzsimons says that thick hair can often be dry and frizzy, so look for a hair mask that will provide hydration. We love the Vegamour HYDR-8 Deep Moisture Repair Mask, which uses a vegan silk alternative to keratin to help smooth strands and repair any damage and a blend of oils to give dry ends much-needed hydration.
This rich mask is perfect for those reviving their luscious, thick, long hair. It’s made with coconut cream, banana and mango butter to provide needed moisture to dry strands and boost your hair’s volume to make it look more full.
Fitzsimons says to look for formulations with ceramides and keratin to deeply condition the hair while also repairing damage, especially when dealing with color-treated hair. This mask from dpHue uses keratin and apple cider vinegar to protect your new color and condition any stressed strands.
Keep brassiness at bay with a pre-shampoo treatment from John Frieda. This uses a bond-building complex that will restore brittle hair and build new bonds to reveal more vibrant and stronger strands. It also creates a protective barrier to lock in moisture.
When it comes to taking care of your gray hair, you’ll want to focus on keeping strands moisturized. This mask from Briogeo uses ingredients such as rosehip oil, algae extract and B vitamins to infuse hair with essential vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants and keep hair hydrated and protected from heat damage.
Made with certified organic ingredients, such as shea butter and jojoba and tamanu oil, this nourishing hair mask replenishes lost moisture and protects the hair from future breakage. It suits all hair types and targets your most pressing hair concerns. We couldn’t ask for more, really.
We love this mask from Kerastase for its ability to treat breakage, especially at the ends where we get those dreaded split ends. It contains ceramides, plant sap and a pro-keratine complex that helps rebuild your hair’s structure and smooths out damage.
Got no time to wait for a mask to set? No problem. This hair mask is a luxe leave-in treatment that keeps hair strong and healthy. It contains biotin and neem extract to strengthen strands and stimulate hair growth for a fuller appearance.
This hair mask from Davines is made with natural ingredients to promote a healthy environment for your hair to grow. You’ll find tomato extract and jojoba and olive oils to provide moisture and stimulate hair growth.
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