No matter the length, texture, or style of our hair, we’re always on the hunt for ways to make our tresses as lustrous as possible. But, between monthly appointments with the colorist, an affinity for hot tools, and extreme weather conditions, this is no easy task. So, to help repair the damage caused by chemicals, heat, Mother Nature, and genetics, there’s nothing better than a hair mask to get your mane back into tip-top shape.Not to be confused with your daily conditioner, a hair mask (or masque, if you want to sound fancy) is more intense, usually thicker, and should be left on for anywhere from three to 15 minutes — sometimes even overnight if your strands are in need of some extra TLC.
“Daily conditioners just touch the surface of the hair,” says Renee Pelc, color expert and owner of Gloss Salon in Chicago. “While your regular hydrator lowers the pH of your hair, which makes your hair appear smooth and shiny, it’s not doing anything to actually restructure the hair.”
Of course, one hair mask does not fit all hair types, so we rounded up a splurge and a bargain option for 10 different textures and styles, from curly to oily to fine. So, until we can crack the code on how to have perfect tresses year-round, these secret weapons are the next best things.
Keep clicking to discover the mask that's right for your hair and budget.
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Curly Hair: Splurge
If you've got thick curls that are prone to dryness and frizz, meet your new best friend. Work it through your strands weekly; over time, the plant ceramides and botanical oils strengthen hair, while instantly making curls super-glossy, soft, and tangle-free.
Leonor Greyl Masque à L'Orchidée, $62, available at Net-A-Porter.
Curly Hair: Splurge
Everyone always compliments your naturally Curly Sue locks — that is, until they go limp. Ouidad’s CR-4 Repair Complex works its magic to recharge your ringlets within five to 15 minutes. Bonus: Its “melt-down” technology creates a warming sensation when you massage this mask into your scalp.
Curly Hair: Bargain
This oil- and butter-rich formula is so luscious, we kind of want to slather it all over our bodies. But, we’ve found that it really works wonders for taming unruly manes that are subjected to occasional — or regular — frizz and breakage.
Long Hair: Splurge
Using wood cellulose extract and jojoba oil as its secret weapons, this mask works to enhance the natural protection of the hair. It also contains one of our all-time-favorite beauty ingredients, coconut oil, which is added for its gentle cleansing benefits.
Long Hair: Bargain
A drugstore favorite, this mask claims to repair a year’s worth of damage in one use. Ceramides work to restore split ends, weak and rough cuticles, and thirsty tresses in need of a serious overhaul.
Short Hair: Splurge
Drybar, the brand that brings you killer blowouts on demand, makes a lightweight mask that’s perfect for gals with short locks, too. Moringa seed oil provides hydration without heaviness, while protein and yuzu oil add resiliency and shine that turns heads.
Short Hair: Bargain
The name of this ingredient-packed magic mask says it all, working to transform your hair (you guessed it) 10 different ways. But, even though it's overloaded with benefits, this formula won’t weigh down your 'do.
Color-Treated: Splurge
The container alone tells you this product is a splurge, but it’s what’s inside that really counts. Oribe’s bio-restorative complex, white tea, and baobob and jasmine extracts will bring your color — and hair — back to life.
Color-Treated Hair: Splurge
As much as we love coloring our hair, the dye can be damaging to our strands. Fekkai’s Salon Professional PrX Reparative Mask aims to fix just that with a blend of argan extracts. Bonus: The vanilla scent is so insanely heavenly, you’ll never want to wash it out.
Fekkai Salon Professional PrX Reparative Mask, $22.49, available at Target.
Color-Treated: Bargain
Used at the famed Fekkai salons across the country, this luxe-for-less mask strengthens, repairs, and protects color-treated locks with pure grapeseed oil. Extra points for the dreamy rose fragrance.
Straight Hair: Splurge
This mask (or pak) means serious business, people: Among restructuring ingredients like hydrolyzed keratin, this straight-hair savior also contains grape phytoceuticals, which are loaded with antioxidants — a must for city gals barraged daily by urban pollution.
Straight Hair: Bargain
Straight hair is tricky because all of your breakage is magnified. This creamy formula made up of keratin, cocoa butter, and avocado and coconut oils straightens and restores your mane while reducing frizz and bringing back that gorgeous shine. It’s like a professional salon treatment for a fraction of the price.
Dry Hair: Splurge
We’d buy Aveda anything just for the smell alone, but luckily, this creamy moisturizing masque impresses more than just our olfactory system. Oils like meadowfoam, sunflower seed, and jojoba seed penetrate to hydrate even the thirstiest of tresses.
Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Masque, $36, available at Aveda.
Dry Hair: Splurge
Amika’s Nourishing Hair Mask is packed with super-moisturizing ingredients like sea buckthorn, jojoba-seed oil, and vitamin C to help bring dry and damaged hair back to life. Plus, it’s safe to use on color- or keratin-treated hair — which often needs it the most.
Amika Nourishing Hair Mask, $28, available at Sephora.
Dry Hair: Bargain
If you haven’t picked up Aussie’s products since you were in college, then it’s time to revisit the purple kangaroo. In just three minutes, this deep-conditioning treatment hydrates dry and damaged 'dos with good old-fashioned aloe and jojoba seed oil.
Damaged/Sensitized: Splurge
If the name alone doesn’t make you want to try this mask, the abundance of repairing essential oils it contains should. Add hydrolyzed collagen and silk, and you’ve got yourself one serious weapon against your flat iron.
Damaged/Sensitized: Bargain
This buttery hair mask smells so good, it may as well be a body butter. Yummy scent aside, ingredients like sugar-cane extract, coconut oil, hydrolyzed soy protein, and lemon-peel extract help repair what you destroyed at the salon. There’s no reason to stop booking those appointments as long as there’s a mask like this around.
Thick Hair: Splurge
You get what you pay for with this miracle worker. Alterna’s proprietary Enzymetherapy delivery system literally helps to pump up the formation of keratin in your thick head of hair. Add frankincense and French Champagne-quality grapeseed oil to the mix and this product is pure luxury.
Thick Hair: Bargain
If you have thick hair, you’re going to need a thick mask to go with it. This super-rich formula fits the bill, instantly detangling your mane so that your strands remain on your head, not broken off on your brush.
Fine Hair: Splurge
This super-lightweight mask absorbs quickly and rinses clean to ensure that your fine tresses aren’t weighed down, resulting in a full and voluminous mane.
Fine Hair: Bargain
Your hair is left silky sans the grease and is enriched with diamond dust to give it superior shine. Yes, this is our bargain suggestion.
Oily Hair: Splurge
If you’re familiar with the House of Carita, then you already know its products are worth the splurge — and this mask is no exception. Not only does it help to remove excess dirt and grime from product buildup, but it also works to repair and protect your hair, thus resulting in touch-worthy, silky strands.
Oily Hair: Bargain
A mask with mud from the Dead Sea for our scalp instead of our face? Yes, please! This spa-like gem soothes and cleanses your scalp while reviving your mane without any heavy oils or butters.
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