Say you’re looking to improve the look and feel of your hair: Going down the rabbit hole of finding the best hair mask will do you well. While the name might conjure scents of that DIY elixir someone you know whipped up in their kitchen (see avocado and olive oil for damage or coconut oil and yogurt for dryness), there are plenty of effective hair treatments you can pick up at your local Sephora or drugstore, making it easier than ever to achieve your dream mane.
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What is a hair mask?
Think of a hair mask as a supercharged deep conditioner, designed for application post-shampoo and left on the hair for roughly 15 minutes then rinsed out. “A hair mask is an intense hydrating conditioner that is focused on providing moisture and nourishment to ultimately aid in improving and repairing not only the lengths of your hair but your scalp too,” explains hairstylist Bridget Brager.
Hairstylist to the stars Andrew Fitzsimons agrees, noting the truly endless benefits of using them: “They add hydration to your hair, help to prevent breakage and split ends, improve scalp health, and even, in some cases, help stimulate hair growth.” Then there’s bond repair. “While traditional hair masks are great for targeting dry brittle strands, bond repair is the new modern deep-conditioning treatment everyone’s talking about!” notes celebrity hairstylist Bradley Leake. (In our roundup of the best bond-repair treatments, we found that the difference between bond repair and other hair care solutions is that the former focuses on actually rebuilding the broken bonds rather than masking the problem.)
“Another benefit of a mask is that you can maximize your time by applying the mask, getting out of the shower to save water, and getting an errand done before needing to rinse it out,” says hairstylist Christin Brown. “Multitasking is the name of the game.”
How should you select the best hair mask for your hair type?
That being said, the hair mask you choose depends both on your desired results and hair type, or as Fitzsimons puts it, your hair’s natural state. “Look for thicker, hydrating masks with ingredients such as ceramides or coconut water for dry or curlier hair types, and opt for lighter weight volumizing options with ingredients such as caffeine for thinner hair types,” he says. If you’re not sure, Leake recommends asking your trusted hairstylist.
How often should someone use a hair mask?
“Depending on your hair needs and the concerns you want to address, I recommend using a hair mask once or twice a week,” Fitzsimons says. “Using a hair mask too frequently can do more harm than good to the hair, causing excess product buildup, which can make the hair feel oily or brittle.”
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