There’s several points of interest when it comes to a successful hair wellness journey. And today, you’re being guided to uncover the world of hair masks to help you achieve your hair resolutions.
So whether you’re just beginning your journey and need an introduction, or you need a quick refresher, understanding the importance and types of hair masks can help you cultivate your spiritual beauty and wellness.
*Heads up! This post contains affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission from any products purchased through the links at no additional cost to you.
Treating Your Hair Like a Garden
Tending to your hair and its growth is similar to that of caring for a garden. We begin by prepping the soil (the scalp) through detoxes, clarifying shampoos and even hair oiling.
From there, we planted the seeds for healthy hair, discussing various factors in hair identity.
So naturally, what comes next? Of course, it’s hydration!
Water is an important part of life. It helps to carry nutrients and minerals to other cells so all systems run smoothly. And like water, hair masks are designed to penetrate deeper into your hair and replenish the necessary components to support healthy hair growth.
What Is A Hair Mask & What Does It Do?
The hair industry has seen lots of growth in the last couple of decades, from bio-technologies, meshing nature with science, sustainable products and more.
Unlike regular conditioners that aim to smooth the hair cuticle (the outermost layer of hair), a deep conditioning hair mask penetrates through to the cortex of the hair.
The cortex is the middle layer (sometimes the inner most layer of you have very fine hair). But this is the thickest part of your hair, making up about 90% of the hairs weight. It is home to the melanin pigments responsible for your hair color. Additionally it holds the key to strength and texture.
Hair masks nourish, hydrate, and repair on a deeper level. And this is essential to your hair health- especially if you use heat or are exposed to the sun frequently, or have dry, frizzy or chemically treated hair.
Benefits Of Hair Masking
No matter your hair type or texture, we can all benefit from deep hair treatments. They work from the inside out to provide many of the following:
- Adds and locks in both hydration & moisture
- Prevents breakage and hair fall
- Can improve scalp health
- Strengthens hair
- Can repair and rebuild strands
- Reduces the appearance of split ends
- Reduce frizz
- Adds luster and shine
- Softens hair
How Often Should You Use a Hair Mask?
This is where the uniqueness of your hair identity comes into play. Like plants, different heads of hair require various hydration levels along with nutrients and minerals.
Under watering can leave hair dry and brittle whereas over watering can flood the hair strand making it ‘wilt’ and lose shape.
No two heads of hair are exactly alike. Things like wave patterns, texture, density, and porosity, in addition to styling preferences and your environment contribute to the individuality of your tresses.
A good rule of thumb is to use a hair mask about once per week. But again, it all depends on what your hair needs.
Hair that is coarser and on the drier side may benefit from hair masks up to twice weekly.
And hair on the finer side may only need to be masked every two to three weeks.
Choosing Hair Masks Based On Your Concern
Think of your hair mask as your personal side kick. You should choose based on your top hair concern because that’s where you’ll reap the most benefits. Check out some common hair types and concerns I encounter in the salon along with my product suggestions, too!
For Fine Hair
A common misconception for those with fine hair, is that they can’t enjoy the benefits of a hair mask because it’s too heavy. But nowadays there are several products on the market that are weightless but still get the job done. Try a mask like Bumble and Bumble’s Thickening Plumping Mask.
This lightweight mask will protect your strands against breakage, while removing product buildup and increasing volume.
For Medium to Coarse Hair
Ouai’s Thick Hair Treatment Masque uses almond and olive oils to deeply penetrate the hair shaft, restoring strength, smoothing, and protecting from future damage.
For Frizzy Hair
Did you know frizz is just your hair trying to absorb the moisture from the air around you?
Amika’s Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask adds seven times more moisture, using ingredients like jojoba oil to soften hair. Sea Buckthorn infuses the hair with vitamins and antioxidants to repair and keep the hair healthy. Talk about feeding your soul AND your hair!
For Oily Hair and Scalp
Believe it or not, oily hair can see lots of benefits from a hair mask. You might be asking yourself if that would make your hair look too oily- but it won’t.
Check the ingredients first. Essential oils like tea tree oil can help to slow oil production and reduce time between washes. It has anti-fungal and antibacterial properties which help if you suffer from dandruff. Try Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree Hair and Scalp Treatment for instant scalp soothing, dandruff prevention, and balanced moisture.
For Damaged/ Brittle/ Over-Processed Hair
If you switch up your hair color often, or your hair needs relief from frequent chemical services, your strands will benefit from a deep repairing mask.
This one from Vegamour will lock in hydration while tripling the strength of your strands to reduce further breakage.
For Bright Blondes
Bright blondes, and blondes in general are known to turn yellow-y or brassy in color due to hard water filled with harsh metals and minerals. Purple hair masks help to neutralize yellow tints between scheduled hair glossing appointments.
Try VERB‘s Purple Hair Mask which also nourishes, protects, softens and reduces breakage, too.
For Color-Treated Hair
No one likes for their color to look dull. And if you’re a low maintenance beauty queen, you don’t want to spend every three to four weeks in the salon, either.
Luckily for you, Morroccanoil’s High Shine Gloss Color Depositing Mask not only softens the hair, but adds a luminous, clear sheen to make any hair color appear more vibrant and salon fresh!
For Curls & Coils
Curls and coils are naturally dry and prone to frizz.
Use Briogeo’s Curl Charisma which uses rice amino acids to lock in ultimate nourishment and hydration from ingredients like avocado and other fatty acids.
Thinning Hair
You want volume to make your hair appear more dense and fuller. Try this vegan hair mask from Maria Nila that adds vitamin B5 to the hair to create a fuller appearance.
How To Hair Mask Correctly
To get the best results, of course you want to do this hair ritual the right way! Here’s what you need to do…
1. Shampoo Twice
This is to remove product build up and lift the cuticle slightly so the mask can get through. I recommend using a clarifying shampoo first like Malibu C’s Un-do Goo, followed by a shampoo of your choice.
2. Squeeze Out Excess Water
Water will dilute the product. Make sure to squeeze excess out or towel dry the hair. Your hair should be evenly damp throughout but not dripping.
3. Use Your Hair Mask In Place of Regular Conditioner
Regular conditioner is known to smooth the cuticle layer. And we want to make sure the deep conditioner doesn’t have any obstacles in its way. Skip your normal conditioner during this hair ritual and replace with the mask.
On detangled hair, fully saturate the ends first and then work your way towards the root. If your hair is on the fine or thin side, I suggest staying away from the root. Apply to hair only from the ear down. Hope that helps!
4. Apply Heat & Let It Marinate
Heat helps to open up the hair cuticle so all that goodness can penetrate deeper into the hair strand. most masks process between 10-20 minutes.
You can sit under an at-home hooded dryer like this one. Or wrap your hair in a shower cap or warm towels to trap in heat.
5. Rinse Thoroughly
Avoid the greasy look by rinsing your hair mask out completely. Especially for the finer haired beauties. If your hair is on the drier, frizzier side, it’s doesn’t hurt to leave a little product on the ends.
Finish off with cooler water to keep the cuticle closed.
6. Style As Usual
Use the styling products you like to create a look. Let your hair air dry or use a hot tool (be sure to use your heat protectant). Voila!
A Whole New World
What an adventure, ya’ll! The vast world of hair masks might seem overwhelming to you at first. But by breaking down the components of healthy hair, and what concerns are specific to you, you’ll find the right mask for you in no time.
You can see how important hair masks are to your hair wellness journey. And if you want your hair to flourish beautifully like a garden, hydration is a step that cannot be overlooked. It is an essential part of getting the required nutrients to the core of your strands.
Let me know in the comments below if you’re new to the world of hair masks or are you well seasoned?
Until our next adventure…