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11 Hair Masks Bringing Our Damaged Hair Back to Life

Great hair days ahead.

Hair Masks

Byrdie / Kevin Liang

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.

Masks can do everything from add moisture and shine to smooth frizz and undo damage, says stylist Krysta N. Rojas, owner of Base Salon in Chicago. “Figure out your most pressing concern you have with your hair,” suggests Rojas. After that, selecting the hair mask to treat that concern is easy. Rojas recommends using a mask instead of your standard conditioner at least once per week. While most are meant to be left on for several minutes, Rojas says not to stress about that. “Even if you don’t let it sit for the full amount of time recommended, you’re still getting more benefits than you would from your conditioner,” she explains.

We handpicked 29 of the most popular options and tested them out at home to take the guesswork out of selecting the right hair mask for you. After using the hair masks for two weeks, we judged each one based on consistency, whether or not the masks delivered on their promises, and the overall look of our hair after use. Then, with guidance from professional hairstylists, we picked the highest-scoring masks for this list.

What We Like
  • Lightweight consistency

  • Restores, repairs, and replenishes

  • Leads to smoother hair

What to Consider
  • Waxy residue

Hair Type: All | Key Ingredients: Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Silk, Silk Sericin | Size: 7 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

"Soft" and "airy" are two words we've used to describe this mega-moisturizing mask from Drunk Elephant. It’s lighter than most conditioners and melts into the hair so well that we’ve applied it before work (in a tight bun) and spent a full eight hours in the office without anyone realizing we had anything on. The mask is so effective that it feels like it’s reversing years of heat damage and skipped haircut appointments. Seriously, we noticed once-dead, straw-like ends come alive again and feel silky smooth. The results are similar to a professional-level deep conditioning treatment: Never greasy, never weighed down, only bouncy, voluminous hair that’s easy to style. We think it's great for those looking to treat their hair in between heat styling, either as an all-day mask or a 30-minute pre-shower pick-me-up. While we haven’t noticed any, some reviewers say it leaves behind a waxy residue if you don’t wash it out completely. 

What We Like
  • Lovely woodsy scent

  • Japanese-sourced rice extract 

  • Protects and hydrates

What to Consider
  • Hair can feel greasy after use 


Hair Type:
Damaged, Dry | Key Ingredients: Japanese rice extract | Size: 6 oz. | Cruelty Free: No

While this pick is pricey, it’s a great option if you want to invest in a mask that can really do it all. During testing, it scored perfect marks for how well it treats dryness, frizz, split ends, and damage all in one fell swoop. We credit the Japanese-sourced rice extract in the formula; it helps hydrate and protect the hair. The mask also smells amazing—the fragrance is a mix of fruity notes with subtle floral elements, sandalwood, and musk. It’s so creamy, which feels nice upon application, but you’ll want to make sure you rinse it out as best you can to avoid a greasy residue. 

Hair before and after using the Shu Uemura Ultimate Reset Hair Mask

Byrdie / Cara Milhaven

What We Like
  • Restores damaged hair bonds

  • A little goes a long way

  • Creamy yet spreadable

What to Consider
  • Curly hair types might require extra hydration

Hair Type: All, Damaged | Key Ingredients: Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate | Size: 3.3 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

Like most other products from Olaplex, the No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask has reached cult-like status—for good reason. It touts a proprietary technology that repairs the disulfide bonds that are broken when hair is colored or chemically treated, helping it stay stronger and healthier for longer. It’s super creamy but it’s easy to spread throughout the hair, regardless of length and texture. The bottle itself is relatively small, but a little bit of product goes a long way. Results do take time—you won’t notice anything much after one use—but the more you use the mask, the faster your hair will spring back to life. The intensive treatment also works wonders on split ends and tangles, reducing the amount of knots and shedding. Those with curlier hair might want to follow up with a hydrating leave-in conditioner after using the mask. 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.  

What We Like
  • Moisturizes and nourishes  with prickly pear see oil

  • Softens brittle ends

  • Easily blendable

What to Consider
  • Not a quick fix

Hair Type: All, Damaged | Key Ingredients: Prickly pear seed oil, inula extract | Size: 8.33 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

This intensive mask from Christophe Robin boasts a creamy formula with prickly pear oil, an ingredient known to add shine, volume, and life to dull, brittle strands. It also includes ceramides which help smooth the hair shaft. It’s really blendable (no elbow grease is required to distribute it throughout an entire head of hair) and smells divine without being overpowering. The mask doesn’t have to be left in for a long time (a few minutes will do), so it’s a great choice if you're short on time or patience. After consistent use, it softened, nourished, and breathed life back into brittle hair. Let us be clear, though: It’s by no means a miracle split-ends treatment. You can tell a difference in the health of your hair when you stick to it, but nothing replaces a visit to your local hair salon for a much-needed trim

What We Like
  • Treats and defines curls

  • Gel-like texture doesn't weigh hair down

  • Pleasant scent

What to Consider
  • Can be drying

Hair Type: Curly | Key Ingredients: Rice Water Ferment & Moringa Seed Extract | Size: 15 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

Curly hair comes with its own unique set of needs, and it’s imperative to choose a hair mask that's specifically made for your texture. Along with strengthening and softening (thank you, rice protein), this mask from Tracee Ellis Ross’s brand Pattern offers tons of benefits, namely elongating and defining curls, kinks, and coils. We love its watery, gel-like consistency that adds softness without weighing hair down. It’s a great detangler, too. And the subtle floral fragrance is just the icing on the cake. After applying the mask, you can expect hair to feel soft, light, and nourished; you might even notice a decrease in frizz and flyaways, too. 

What We Like
  • Adds softness and silkiness

  • Helps mend color- and chemically-treated hair damage

  • Doubles as a regular conditioner

What to Consider
  • May cause build-up

Hair Type: All treated hair | Key Ingredients: Fiaschetto tomato extract, jojoba oil, olive oil | Size: 1.5oz. | Cruelty Free: No

Color and chemicals can really do a number on your hair. But, the healthier your hair is, the longer your color (or style) will last, and the better it will look. So, it's a good idea to use a mask regularly if you’re coloring or chemically treating your hair. This one from Davines is ideal, helping to repair bleached, permed, or relaxed hair. We love how it restores hydration and volume with the help of antioxidant-rich Fiaschetto tomato extract from Italy and vitamin E while invigorating the scalp and keeping it free from irritation. The result is silky smooth hair. Our only bone to pick with this one is that it contains dimethicone, which is a non-soluble form of silicone that can lead to build-up, however, we didn't experience any during testing.

What We Like
  • Super hydrating yet light

  • Color- and karatin-safe

  • Don't need to rinse out

What to Consider
  • Pump distributes minimal product

Hair Type: All, Fine | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, coconut water, blue and green algae, sea buckthorn | Size: 3.3 oz. | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Choosing a mask when you have fine hair can be a bit of a conundrum given that the deep moisturization makes most options likely to weigh hair down. This overnight mask is an exception—it’s actually super lightweight and turned us from skeptics into believers. We could use it nightly and didn't even need to rinse it out in the morning. The mask contains hyaluronic acid and coconut water which help to nourish, intensely moisturize, and reduce damage as you get your beauty sleep. You can apply it all over your hair just before bed. We loved that it never left a greasy film on our tresses or pillowcases.

What We Like
  • Highly moisturizing

  • Great for thick, dry, or curly hair

  • Smoothes frizz and flyaways

What to Consider
  • Tropical scent may be overpowering for some

Hair Type: Dry, Curly, Thick | Key Ingredients: Coconut cream, mango butter, banana | Size: 8 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

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. It has a smoothing effect that eliminates frizz, flyaways, and other pesky signs of dehydration or breakage leaving hair silky and super-soft. Whether your hair type is curly, straight, or somewhere in between, you’ll appreciate how the coconut cream and mango butter-infused formula deeply nourishes dull, dry hair and brings it back to life. We personally didn’t mind it, but some say the fruity fragrance can be a bit overpowering. If you’re sensitive to fragrance, you may want to skip this one.

dae Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment
PHOTO:

Sephora

What We Like
  • Immediate results

  • Plant-derived ingredients 

  • Creamy consistency

What to Consider
  • You have to keep up with it to see results long-term

Hair Type: All | Key Ingredients: Moringa leaf extract, coconut oil, false daisy extract | Size: 10 oz. | Cruelty Free: Yes

We love this hair mask from dae because it foregoes any type of ingredient that leads to buildup on the scalp from sebum or products. Instead, it leans on ingredients like moringa leaf extract, coconut oil, and jojoba seed oil, each of which are rich in vitamins and antioxidants. We’re obsessed with the smell—it’s kind of like a fruity rainforest—and didn't bother even super-sensitive noses. After one use, we noticed immediate results in the form of soft, easy-to-manage hair. However, we also noticed that it doesn’t offer many long-term effects. To see continued progress, you’ll need to use the mask weekly. 

What We Like
  • Works on most hair types

  • Strengthens with vitamin B and fatty acids

  • Boosts Shine

What to Consider
  • Thinner consistency

Hair Type: Dry, damaged, thick | Active Ingredients: Rosehip oil, algae, vitamin B | Size: 8 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Damage from hair treatments, pollution, and styling will keep coming back if you don't take steps to mitigate it. We love this mask by Brigeo as a weekly strengthener to keep your hair fortified against all these factors. When we tested it, we noticed it worked like a time machine, reversing the signs of damage like split ends, breakage, and dullness. The formula contains vitamin B and fatty acids like algae which help boost shine and smoothness. We found it worked well on most hair types, even super thick and coily. We love to use it with the Don't Despair, Repair cleansing system—an all-star from our fave shampoos and conditioners for dry hair.

What We Like
  • Works in just three minutes

  • Sustainable packaging

  • Boosts shine

What to Consider
  • Nothing

Hair Type: Color-treated | Key Ingredients: Amodimethicone, candelilla wax | Size: 3.4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No

If you color your hair on the regular, it's necessary to deep condition it from time to time to keep that color looking vibrant. However, if you're short on time, or want to multitask in the shower, this treatment from Biolage is the way to go. Not only does it boost shine and infuse dry, brittle strands with moisture but it also leaves your hair stronger (we legitimately noticed this during testing). We put the treatment on every few days for just three to five minutes, and after hopping out of the shower, our hair felt much healthier. And it never left it feeling greasy or filmy. Plus, who doesn't love a sustainable pouch that you can throw in your carry-on?

What to Look for in a Hair Mask

  • Strengthening properties: If you’re struggling with dry, lackluster hair, chances are your hair needs some extra protection around breakage. Look out for hair masks that contain protein (like the Pattern Treatment Mask) and oils like coconut, keratin, or argan oil, which can be found in the dae Deep Conditioning Hair Treatment. Studies show that keratin, an important component of the hair structure, has an important role in hair maintenance and overall health. By applying a keratin-enriched mask once or twice weekly, you might see an improvement in the strength, smoothness, and health of your strands.
  • Formula concentration: Concentrated formulas are known to better penetrate the hair shaft, which helps deep conditioner absorb easily. The more concentrated the formula, the better your hair tends to look afterward. The Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask is a great choice, as it works right away and helps repair broken bonds over time.  
  • Lightweight finish: Some hair masks weigh the hair down or leave a sticky residue afterward, so you’ll want to select a formula that provides a lightweight finish, especially if you have fine hair. We’d recommend the Amika The Kure Dream Overnight Repair Mask for those with fine hair (since it’s so lightweight) and the Fable & Mane HoliRoots Repairing Hair Mask for those with thicker hair or hair that can hold more product without being weighed down. 
FAQ
  • What does a hair mask do for hair?

    A good hair mask helps strengthen hair, improve its elasticity, reduce hair breakage, and stimulate growth. Using a hair mask once or twice a week can smooth frizz, make hair more manageable, enhance shine, and add moisture to dry ends.

  • Can you use a hair mask with regular conditioner?

    If you’re someone with very damaged hair, you can totally use both, in fact, it’s often advised by stylists. Simply start with a traditional conditioner and follow up with a hair mask for extra hydration.

  • How long should you leave a hair mask in your hair?

    It really depends on what hair mask you’re using, so be sure to read the instructions carefully. However, there’s (generally) no harm in keeping a hair mask on longer than recommended.

  • What is the difference between a hair mask and a hair conditioner?

    Conditioners serve the hair by providing it with hydration, shine, and smoothness after shampooing during wash days whereas hair masks nourish the hair and scalp and are often followed up with shampoo and conditioner.

Why Trust Byrdie

Caitlyn Martyn is a staff commerce writer at Byrdie, where she covers all things beauty. An avid product tester, Caitlyn likes to try the latest and greatest in makeup, skincare, and hair care to let readers know what’s worth it and what’s not.

Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. Her hair is fine, dry, and highlighted…meaning you better believe she uses a hair mask (including many of these) at least once a week.

Ally Hirschlag is a senior beauty commerce editor at Byrdie who regularly covers hair care products. She has 2c/3a-type curly hair and thus has experimented with lots of conditioning products including several that appear on this list.

We interviewed Krysta N. Rojas, a stylist, colorist, and the owner of Base Salon in Chicago. She specializes in both curly hair and balayage.

Article Sources
Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
  1. Kaushik V, Chogale R, Mhaskar S. Alternative protocol for hair damage assessment and comparison of hair care treatmentsInt J Trichology. 2020;12(1):7-15. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_3_20

  2. Basit A, Asghar F, Sadaf S, Akhtar MW. Health improvement of human hair and their reshaping using recombinant keratin K31. Biotechnol Rep (Amst). 2018 Oct 24;20:e00288. doi: 10.1016/j.btre.2018.e00288. PMID: 30416979; PMCID: PMC6218806.

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