The Best Hair Masks

Everybody yearns for healthy hair that feels soft and silky. Sunlight, hair colorants, heat treatment and environmental pollution can leave your hair looking dull, frizzy, or with split ends. Hair masks deeply moisturize the hair and scalp to repair the damage and leave a healthy-looking shine, but you may find yourself overwhelmed at the choice of available products. Everyone’s hair is different, so we’ve studied these award-winning hair masks to help you make the right choice for your hair type.

Best Choice

Macadamia Oil Deep Repair is the best Hair Mask? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Best Overall Hair Mask

The Macadamia Oil Deep Repair Mask is ideal for dry and damaged hair. It is a revitalizing hair reconstructor that works by deeply nourishing for improved elasticity.
Best Choice

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Pros:
This professionally inspired revitalizing product uses nourishing macadamia and argan oils to transform damaged, dull hair into hair that shines with health. The oils provide essential omega acids for weightless nourishment and deep repair, reconstructing stressed hair of all textures. After treatment, hair feels silky, conditioned, and full of movement. It’s even suitable for color-treated hair. This deep repair mask helps to eliminate frizz, restoring confidence in your hair every day.

Cons:
The scent of this macadamia oil repair mask can seem a little strong both during use and afterwards. While many people enjoy the strong, revitalizing scent, those who prefer a milder smell may be put off.

Best Hydrating Hair Mask

Moroccanoil Intense is the best Hair Mask? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Best Nourishing Hair Mask

Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask is a quick-to-use, deep conditioning mask that improves the texture, elasticity and manageability of medium to thick dry hair. It richly hydrates and conditions.
Best Hydrating Hair Mask

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Pros:
In just five minutes, Moroccanoil hydrates, conditions and reduces static in thick, dry hair. It is infused with antioxidant-rich argan oil and a plethora of other nourishing components. Used once or twice a week in place of conditioner, it maintains healthy-looking hair. Apply to towel-dried hair, comb through, and then rinse off; with Moroccanoil, there’s no heat required to get the softness and shine you desire. This product’s scent is reminiscent of the beach, including sweet florals and spicy amber.

Cons:
Due to this hair mask’s intense hydration effects, hair may be left feeling a little heavy. While this is great for very dry, thick hair, those with finer hair may find that the hydration is too intense and the heaviness after use is off-putting.

Best for Blond Hair

Bold Uniq Purple is the best Hair Mask? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

For Ice-cool Blonds

This quick mask not only leaves blond hair super-hydrated and shiny, but also removes brassy yellow tones, leaving an enhanced blond color. The product protects against UV sun damage.
Best for Blond Hair

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Pros:
B Uniq Purple Hair Mask is made for ice-cool blonds. This conditioning mask revitalizes blond hair with its blend of natural super oils, soy protein, and vitamin B5. Hair feels smoother and softer and looks healthier after using this super-hydrating formula. Dry, damaged hair is restored and strengthened. Additionally, the toner removes brassy yellow tones to enhance, blond, platinum, silver, white, and grey coloring. B Uniq protects against UV color damage for salon fresh hair at home.

Cons:
The product needs to be carefully washed out to avoid purple hues at the scalp. If you set aside time to ensure you have fully rinsed your hair, this will not be a problem, but if you are in a rush, this may not be the product for you.

Best for Damaged Hair

Vitamins Keratin is the best Hair Mask? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

For Shiny, Soft Hair

A moisturizing hair mask that repairs hair tips and also the scalp and cuticles. Its advanced moisturizing proteins offer long-lasting hydration for shiny, soft hair that feels stronger.
Best for Damaged Hair

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Pros:
Vitamins Keratin Hair Mask Deep Conditioner is a moisturizing protein mask that combats heat and environmental damage. It offers long-lasting hydration and scalp and cuticle repair and is suitable for both men and women. It repairs breakage-prone, color treated, or dry hair with an anti-frizz formula to gently smooth and strengthen brittle hair. It promotes split ends repair, and hair is left feeling soft with a healthy shine. This is a rich keratin hair booster that is also cruelty-free.

Cons:
Vitamins Keratin uses a blend of essential oils and plant extracts, the scent of which may not be to your personal taste. If you are not keen on floral scents in your hair masks, the smell of this product may bother you.

Best for Curly Hair

Marc Anthony Strictly Curls is the best Hair Mask? Our review at totalbeauty.com uncovers all pros and cons.

Best Anti-Frizz Hair Mask

This hydrating mask is especially formulated for damaged curls that need intense moisturizing to promote repair and a healthy shine.
Best for Curly Hair

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Pros:
Strictly Curls by Marc Anthony is a deeply hydrating mask for extra dry and damaged curls. The ultra-rich mask infuses moisture for frizz-free curls that feel soft and shine. Split ends are reduced, giving your hair a healthier appearance. This specialist curly hair mask gives beautiful, natural-looking coils or loose curls depending on your hair type. It is made with avocado oil and shea butter for deep moisturizing, while vitamin E is added for both hair and scalp health.

Cons:
Hair can feel a little weighed down if too much of the mask is applied. If your hair is very dry or thick, this may not be a problem, but finer hair may need sparing use of the product.

What Really Matters

Hydration

The main purpose of a hair mask is to moisturize dry or damaged hair to replace dullness with shine, and so that it feels soft and smooth. Hair can become damaged by blow-drying, straightening, or curling. It is also affected by UV light from the sun and environmental factors, and a good hair mask will repair any damage first and foremost. If you have particularly dry, thick or frizzy hair, you will need a hair mask that can deeply moisturize both the hair tips, roots and scalp for the overall health of your hair. A product that works well with regular use will also be of benefit, as you can continue to top up the moisturizing effects of the hair mask over time. If your hair is finer or less damaged, consider a lighter product that will deeply moisturize without leaving your hair feeling weighty. Hair is as individual as you are, and choosing the right hair mask is thereby very personal to your hair type and overall hair health.

Easy to Use

We all lead busy lives, and it is important to choose a product that will suit your hair care time restrictions. If you have, or can make, time to apply the hair mask, allow it to work, and then rinse off, then you will be able to choose from more products on the market. If you are more pushed for time, you will need to consider products that work in around five minutes and are easily rinsed out. Less than thorough rinsing can leave hair feeling heavy and you may notice some residue left on the scalp. If you have less time than you might like, choosing a lighter moisturizing hair mask can still provide more moisturizing properties than regular conditioner, with the benefit of more rapid rinsing. You may also find that your requirements change over time, as regular use of hair masks can aid the long-term health of your hair.

Scent

The smell of a product can be a very personal choice, and a scent that one person loves might not be right for someone else. Many of the hair masks contain nourishing oils including argan oil or nut oils, because they have excellent conditioning properties. Many people also enjoy the fresh, earthy smell associated with them. Some hair masks will have additional botanical or herbal infusions, and it is important to take note of these ingredients to ensure that you will enjoy the scent you apply to your hair. The potency of the smell can also be important. Some hair mask users love a mask with a strong scent that lasts for days or until the next application, while others find a strong smell overpowering or off-putting. Finding a scent that you adore will make you love your hair mask even more.

What’s in Right Now?

Hair masks are gaining popularity with both men and women as an effective treatment for dry, brittle hair that becomes damaged as part of daily life. Some ingredients have remained popular over time, including the use of oils such as argan oil, nut oils including almond and macadamia, and avocado. These natural oils produce a wonderful aroma and offer a deep-conditioning effect without the use of harsh chemicals.
Hair masks have developed to suit individual hair types, too. Hair masks for colored hair, including individual colors such as blond or brunette, are popular for promoting moisturization and color protection. Masks for fine, thick, frizzy, and naturally curly hair mean that you can select exactly the right mask to treat damaged hair while helping your hair recover to its natural form. You may also be pleased to discover hair masks that protect your hair against the effects of heat, including blow drying and straightening irons.
Hair masks tailored to your individual hair type and personal requirements are very much hot products right now.

Prices

Expensive

$20-$35 for an intense, richly moisturizing mask that contains hydrating oils such as argan oil.

Mid-Range

$10-$20 for a deep-conditioning mask that suits a variety of hair types to treat the hair and scalp.

Cheap

Less than $10 for a hydrating hair mask that repairs damaged hair.

FAQs

My hair is damaged from years of heat treatment. What should I look for?

For hair that has been repeatedly straightened, curled or blow-dried, a deeply moisturizing hair mask is required to restore the health and shine of your hair. Hair masks that contain natural oils such as argan, coconut, or almond deeply penetrate the hair, root, and follicle to moisturize and treat split ends. If hair has been damaged over the years, a hair mask that you can use two or three times a week will allow you to gradually restore your hair’s natural health.

My hair is dry and damaged, but very fine. What should I do?

Treating fine hair needn’t cause you problems. All hair types are prone to damage and finding the right hair mask will allow you to restore the moisture and shine of your hair. While some hair masks might leave fine hair looking heavy or overly conditioned, a lighter hair mask will suit finer hair. Alternatively, choose a deeply moisturizing product and apply very sparingly to reduce your hair’s exposure. Be meticulous about washing out the hair mask to ensure your hair is fully rinsed before stepping out of the shower.

I have colored hair and don’t want to make it dull. Is there a product for me?

Hair masks have evolved to include specialist products to suit every hair type and color. A hair mask that is formulated especially for colored hair will enhance the color while treating the dry or damaged hair. By choosing a hair mask that works for your particular color, you can ensure that the toner will work in harmony with the existing dye to avoid dullness and to highlight the tones you’ve chosen.

I spend a lot of time swimming. What can I try to help my dry hair?

For dry hair that has resulted from UV sunlight damage, saltwater or chlorine immersion, a hair mask can provide some much-needed relief. Split ends, dry or frizzy hair can be calmed with a nourishing, conditioning mask. Selecting a mask that contains coconut or olive oil will not only moisturize and condition your hair but will also make it slightly waterproof to prevent saltwater or chlorine from further drying it out. Regular use will build strength within your hair so you can continue doing the activities you love.