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One of the most important things to look for when browsing overnight hair masks is the ingredients list. While there isn't one specific ingredient that makes a good formula, several are known to condition, fortify, repair, smooth, and nourish. Look out for products containing natural butters and oils, like shea, cupuacu, coconut, avocado, sunflower, argon, or castor, as these will nourish and moisturize your hair. Moisture + Damage Defense Leave-In Treatment, for example, features several nourishing oils. Wheat protein, amino acids, sea kelp, algae extract, and other ocean-derived ingredients help repair and strengthen. Ingredients like iris root extract, collagen, and aloe vera promote elasticity while smoothing the hair follicles.
Bread Beauty Supply Hair–Mask Creamy Deep Conditioner
"Jojoba and coconut oils both have major moisture properties that help with weakened hair," says Matt Rez, celebrity colorist. According to Rez, coconut oil is rich with lauric acid, a medium chain fatty acid that will penetrate the cuticle and strengthen hair from within. It's also great for the scalp as coconut oil removes buildup of sebum from hair follicle, a condition that can cause hair loss. Jojoba oil on the other hand will moisturize, strengthen hair to prevent breakage and also treat dandruff issues. The honey will act as a binding agent and to keep the moisture from being stripped from the hair and scalp. This blend will be a rinse so it will have to be put into a spray bottle and misted onto the hair.
Hair Dance Ultra-Light Conditioning Spray
Finding the culprit behind your dry hair may take some elbow grease — there are plenty of causes to consider. Frizz, flyaways, and staticky baby hairs will all be a thing of the past after using this smoothing mask, which is packed with a blend of lipids and softening agents that tame your mane and make it more manageable. "The fragrance is divine, and your hair will be soft, shiny, and full of volume." While touted for healing minor burns and wounds, aloe vera may also offer benefits for your hair. While some OTC products contain keratin in them, these are intended for occasional use to strengthen hair.
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque
We also appreciate that not only is it just under $12, but it's also housed in a 12-ounce container that really maximizes your spending for the amount of product you get. Jamaican black castor oil and shea butter work to strengthen and restore damaged or treated hair. It's also designed to help increase shine, smoothness and hydration. Unlike other masks on this list, the brand recommends that consumers apply it daily. If using a hair mask is a new part of your weekly routine, this leave-in mask is easy to apply and saves time while still working to repair damage and restore your hair to its smoothest, softest and bounciest state. It's won a GH Beauty Award and has a patented peptide formula to specifically address damaged hair.
Castor Oil Nourishing Shampoo Bar
The 25 Best Hair Masks for the Softest Hair of Your Life - The Cut
The 25 Best Hair Masks for the Softest Hair of Your Life.
Posted: Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:10:00 GMT [source]
"Knowing the state of your hair is key when choosing a hair mask or deep conditioner," she says. So if your hair is in need of major hydration, then the Brazilian butters like cupuaçu, murumuru, and tucumã that are front and center in this treatment might be what you need. Gibson explains that you won't get extra benefits from leaving a mask on for longer than it is intended for. If you need a little extra boost, you can also include a few drops of Moroccanoil Treatment to the mix. Two is better than one, and this nourishing mask is made with cold-pressed mango butter to leave your hair soft and hydrated both right away and over time.
For Damaged Hair:
Though curls are still receiving the intended bond repair and strengthening treatment, they might require a little extra moisture to avoid feeling coarse and dry. Masks can, in fact, help your hair, particularly if your hair is dry and damaged. That said, it’s important to use masks as instructed, as different formulas or brands require different steps.
"I [got] balayage highlights and my color is still intact 8 months [after] having that done," shares one reviewer. Formulated with smoothing ceramides and strengthening keratin, it keeps your hair cuticles intact, so your color doesn’t leach out as quickly. Add to that protective UV filters and it’s exactly what we need to bide time between salon appointments. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t remind you of that signature Oribe scent that makes your strands smell like a million bucks.
According to celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein, a hair mask is a leave-in treatment that provides long-term nourishment to your tresses. It's typically thicker than conditioner, but the difference is that it should be applied to the length of hair once a week for usually up to 20 minutes. "There is an option for every hair type, and all hair should be nourished regardless of texture." Dry, damaged hair is often the result of using too many heat or styling products.
Virtue Restorative Treatment Mask
I’m also a big fan of Not Your Mother’s Purple Toning Mask, which doubles as a neutralizing and deep conditioning mask. I slather on a generous glob of this in-between salon appointments to keep my blonde looking fresh and my curls feeling juicy. Rubenstein uses masks quite often in her hair care routine, and this is one of her favorites. "This can be used with much more frequency than a traditional mask," she says. "You can use it once or twice a week for improved follicle strength and to reduce thinning. The results are pretty amazing." Tsubaki seed oil and yuzu fruit extract are two standout ingredients in this mask that won't weigh your hair down.

Before you head to the salon for a major haircut though, consider the benefits of using a moisture-restoring 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. Pretty much anything and everything we do to or expose our hair to can do damage. Daily washing, heat styling, brushing, and even going outside in the sun or cold can take a major toll on your strands. Using a conditioner after every wash is important, but if you feel like your hair is dry, brittle, dull, or generally lackluster, it’s probably time to call in some more serious reinforcements—namely, a hair mask. With a 4.7-star rating on Ulta across more than 4k online reviews, this nourishing hair mask comes with a "game-changing brush," according to Teich.
With so many hair masks on the market, you'll want to pay attention to the intended use when shopping around. Many options are meant to be rinsed out after a few minutes, but overnight masks are formulated to work for several hours. Amika's Dream Routine Overnight Hydrating Hair Mask is one such formula that doesn't require a rinse-out come morning. Unlike rinse-out treatments and leave-in conditioners, an overnight hair mask won't typically offer a styled look.
Avoid washing your hair every day, which can strip it of natural oils, and make a point of covering your head with a hat or a wrap when you’re out in the sun to protect your hair from UV rays. “Hair masks usually contain a mixture of ingredients like oils to condition and water to help hydrate,” says Meena Singh, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon at KMC Hair Center in Kansas City. Starting the night before you plan to use the mask, whip up your homemade rice water.
Ingredients like jojoba seed oil contain antioxidants, while sea buckthorn is packed with omega-7 to really level up your hair's moisture. Those with thinning, weakened hair in need of a scalp cleanse can benefit from a cinnamon mask. The ingredient is a stimulant that may increase blood flow to the scalp, which can speed up the hair growth process. "Mix a teaspoon of cinnamon with three tablespoons of yogurt for a scalp and hair treatment," says Abramite. "Yogurt will thicken the mixture and help clean the scalp and add protein for strength. Apply with fingers and massage from scalp to ends to fully cover. Leave in for 10 minutes and shampoo out." Because milk has a thin, liquid consistency, Abramite recommends putting one cup of milk along with one tablespoon of honey into a spray bottle and misting it onto the hair.
As with conditioners, there are hair masks that work across a range of hair types and textures, even on fine hair—but if you need a mask that meets specific texture needs, there are options for those, too. Unlike fine hair, thick hair can hold a ton of product without being weighed down. This mask from Fable & Mane doesn’t skimp on hydration—in fact, it’s so rich and creamy that it reminds us of body lotion except for your hair.
Work section by section to massage the scrub into your scalp until it's fully covered. Hair masks run the gamut when it comes to ingredients that can give your hair some TLC. The ingredients that may work best for you will depend on your hair type and the condition of your hair and scalp. Spray options are beyond convenient for quick application and less mess. This spray leave-in treatment from SheaMoisture is easy on the wallet and easy to apply (spray it on damp hair, starting midway down to detangle and address frizz). Maybe dry winter months are to blame, or maybe your dehydrated hair is — thanks to chemicals, dyes and hot tools getting just a little too chummy in your hair routine.

If you've ever been worried about a hair mask weighing down your hair, this pick from OUAI will make sure you get the benefits of a deep treatment without the heavy product. It's also safe to use for chemically processed and keratin-treated hair. Rubenstein cannot stress how important masks are to the overall look of your hair. "Your hair will thank you. Hairstyles and color look so much better on healthy hair," she says. The star ingredient, camellia oil, is packed with omega-9 fatty acids, which help to seal in moisture for super-healthy hair. "All hair textures and types benefit from a mask," celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein says.