The 10 Best Hair Masks for Growth, Tested & Reviewed
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Healthier, longer, and more luscious locks? Check, check, check.
InStyle / Sierra Estevez
If there’s one beauty dream that’s popping up all over 2024 vision boards, it’s hair: Longer, fuller, healthier, stronger — we want it all. But getting your hair to grow faster and healthier is harder than it sounds, and you'll need specific products with specific ingredients to boost your efforts. “Hair masks can contribute to overall hair health by addressing factors that can influence hair growth,” says Dr. Isfahan Chambers-Harris, a Presidential STEM Fellow at the National Institute of Health, and trichologist. Most notably, these hair masks specifically developed for growth, she says, “can revive and support a healthy scalp, nourish strands, and prevent future damage, and these are all factors that contribute to an environment beneficial to hair growth.”
Is there such a thing as having hair that looks too voluminous or too healthy? We think not, and over six weeks, a team of InStyle editors tested 15 popular hair masks for hair growth in search of the very best. We judged each one on the immediate and long-term benefits and visible results they delivered directly to our strands: Improved hydration and hair strength, healthy hair that feels touchable and soft, and most importantly, if our hair was noticeably thicker, fuller, healthier at the end of the six-week test. These are the 10 hair masks that InStyle editors — and their newfound bouncy ‘90s supermodel hair — loved the most.
Best Overall: Briogeo Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Superfood Mask
What We Love: This vegan, cruelty-free mask doubles as a deep conditioning treatment.
What We Don’t Love: It does very little to help combat frizz.
Made with Briogeo’s proprietary Nova Complex, specifically designed to support healthy hair, this vegan and 96 percent naturally derived mask earned our highest marks and landed the top spot of best overall. Formulated with avocado oil and chia seed oils to supercharge our hair’s hydration levels, along with a who’s who of hair strengtheners, like amino acids and minerals, to promote all-over hair health. Within three weeks, our hair looked significantly fuller, and it only got better. At six weeks, we saw new hair growth, while also noticing we had fewer split ends, and stronger, more hydrated hair overall.
We loved the thick creamy formula and were surprised at how fast such a rich mask just melted right into our hair. And we saw immediate results straight from the jump — after our first treatment, our curls looked shiny, vibrant, and super defined, even without using any styling gels or oils. Although the brand recommends letting the mask soak into your hair for 30 minutes, we tapped out around 20 minutes just because we ran out of time, but the sweet, fruity scent made the entire experience feel so lovely.
Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, kiwi extract, chia seed oil, spinach｜Sulfate-Free: No｜Usage: 1x a week｜Size: 8 oz
Best Drugstore: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque
What We Love: It washes out quickly and easily, adding minimal time to your hair care routine.
What We Don’t Love: You might need a little (or a lot) more product than the instructions suggest.
Protective styles are invaluable for promoting hair growth by shielding hair from physical damage, heat, and humidity, but taking hair down from a protective style can leave it in desperate need of deep conditioning. Enter: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque. This drugstore favorite zhuzhed our formerly dry strands, fresh out of a protective style, feeling full and strong. Our blow-outs appeared softer and smoother with hardly any flyaways, and even better, we noticed a lot less shedding than we usually see right after a protective hairstyle.
This biotin-infused mask is thick, but it spreads easily and melts quickly into our hair. After a few uses, we found that rubbing a bit of product in our hands first before applying gave it a flexible paste-like texture for more slip and easier distribution. It's application was also unique — you sandwich it between the shampoo and conditioning steps as a way to restore some of the hydration from the shampoo. A unique perk of this mask is that it also benefits the scalp, as rosemary helps stimulate and improve circulation and honey acts as a moisturizer.
Key Ingredients: Rosemary, mentha oil, honey, coconut oil｜Sulfate-Free: Yes｜Usage: 1x per week｜Size: 12 oz
Best Hair Mask for Growth and Repair: Amika The Kure Intense Bond Repair Mask
What We Love: This gluten-free formula has a perfume-like scent that sticks around long after you’ve rinsed out the product.
What We Don’t Love: Its thick creamy texture may be too heavy for thin and fine hair.
Trying to hydrate our dry hair or reverse the scraggly damage on our brittle can can be as slow-going as watching paint dry, but after using this Amika mask once a week, we never have to suffer slow results ever again. Our first impression was that it looked like an intense body butter, although it didn’t feel excessively oily, and the texture actually transformed into a much lighter texture as we massaged it into our hair. Then we thought that such an intensely hydrating mask would be a slog to rinse out fully, but again, we were wrong; in fact, it washed off faster than some lighter masks we tried.
At the end of six weeks, our thick and hopelessly dry hair (formerly, that is), felt significantly stronger, softer, and much more hydrated. Not only did our revamped hair feel stronger and healthier, but helped to control our annoyingly stubborn frizz — a battle we thought we lost long ago — leaving us with hair that looked far smoother, softer, and shinier than it had in years. Given its intensity, this mask is likely too rich for thin or fine hair. As a bonus, we also noticed less shedding in both the shower and daily brushing.
Key Ingredients: Sea buckthorn, borage oil, shea butter, mango butter｜Sulfate-Free: Yes｜Usage: 1x per week｜Size: 8.4 oz
Best for Hair Growth and Thickness: Kevin Murphy Young Again Masque
What We Love: The rejuvenating formula is lightweight enough for fine and thin hair.
What We Don’t Love: The pump bottle is difficult to open and get working.
Formulated with a unique blend of lotus flower extract, known for its soothing properties, orchid flower extract, and bamboo extract, Kevin Murphy’s Young Again Masque is jam-packed with moisture nourishment — a must-have for people with flat, dry-looking strands. This mask also struck that perfect Goldilocks balance of not being too heavy or too light, but just right for our fine hair to soak it up without looking or feeling weighed down.
After our very first use, our lifeless hair had transformed into something of a masterpiece: Lifted roots, lots of body and bounce, along with a glossy finish. We had never had much luck finding a conditioning mask that worked for our fine hair, resulting in brittle, dry ends that seemed to break off at every minor inconvenience or gust of wind, preventing us from getting the length we wanted. By hydrating and strengthening our strands, this mask rocked our hair world, and finally, our newly strengthened hair started to grow at the end of the six-week test, and we're still using it to see if it'll continue.
Key Ingredients: Lotus flower extract, orchid flower extract, bamboo extract｜Sulfate-Free: Yes｜Usage: 1x per week｜Size: 200 ml
Best Overnight Hair Mask for Growth: K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
What We Love: It only needs to sit for four minutes before styling and replaces the conditioner step in your hair care routine.
What We Don’t Love: It can take several uses to see dramatic results on exceptionally damaged hair.
Achieving thicker, fuller hair often begins with repairing damage for optimal hair health, and K18’s Leave-In Molecular Repair Mask is as effective as it is time-saving. We found that just a little bit of this lightweight leave-in cream goes a long way, and within just four minutes, we were done — no rinsing, no stickiness, just damp hair that felt exactly the same as our regular wet hair, ready for styling. The brand’s proprietary K18 Peptide is clinically proven to restore hair damage due to chemical treatments, dye, and too much heat styling — and we watched it transform our dull, frizzy strands, riddled with split ends, to fuller, smoother, and healthier looking hair IN six weeks.
We’re always nervous that leave-ins will make the hair feel greasy or leave a film behind, but this mask absorbs quickly and makes hair washing a much easier process. Plus, it’s formulated for all hair types, and it’s vegan, cruelty free, and color-safe.
Key Ingredients: Peptides, citric acid｜Sulfate-Free: Yes｜Usage: 1-2x per week｜Size: 50 ml
Best for Hair Growth and Smoothness: Vegamour HYDR-8 Deep Moisture Repair Mask
What We Love: This vegan and cruelty-free moisturizing mask dramatically reduces frizz.
What We Don’t Love: Applying it near the roots made our hair look greasier faster.
Formulated with Karmatin, Vegamour’s proprietary vegan silk alternative to keratin, we can absolutely say that this mask is essentially a moisturizing, smoothing hair makeover in a jar. With a rich, creamy consistency, this formula is exactly what you’d imagine a deeply hydrating mask would be. We must say, however, that it felt kind of weird to scoop out of the tub — it reminded us of the slime we played with as kids — but the gel formula paid dividends in the form of instantly silky, soft hair the minute we rinsed out. And unlike so many other deep conditioning treatments with shine-boosting properties, it didn’t leave a weird film over our hair, or any hint of residue at all.
We can’t exactly say we noticed our hair growing any faster by the end of six weeks, although according to NYC-based celebrity stylist, Jay Martin, deeply hydrating masks like this one strengthen hair overall, which encourages new growth.
Key Ingredients: Karmatin, marula oil, moringa seed oil, milk thistle｜Sulfate-Free: Yes｜Usage: 1x per week｜Size: 5 oz
Best for Split Ends and Growth: Kérastase Genesis Masque Reconstituant Hair Mask
What We Love: Its natural, fresh, and clean scent.
What We Don’t Love: It has to be applied to towel-dried hair, then rinsed, meaning you either have to get back into the shower or rinse your hair over the sink after your shower.
Thinning hair has many causes, some of which are biological, and some that are the result of breaking and brushing already weakened hair. Kérastase’s Genesis Strengthening Hair Mask is formulated to help with the latter, reducing hair fall by nourishing and hydrating the mid lengths and ends. Its silky, thick texture does require you to really work it into the hair, but it washes out quickly and even acts as a detangler.
We started to see results around week three, as our hair began to look more vibrant and feel touchably soft. At four weeks, we were blown away by how much bounce and body it had post-blow dry. Even while continuing to use heat on it, we saw less breakage and damage, and far fewer split ends.
Key Ingredients: Ginger root, edelweiss native cells, arginine｜Sulfate-Free: No｜Usage: 1x per week or as needed｜Size: 200 ml
Best for Strength and Growth: Davines Nounou Hair Mask
What We Love: This nourishing mask is formulated with natural active ingredients.
What We Don’t Love: It takes a little bit of elbow grease to work the product into the hair.
Curly hair needs a little extra TLC than other hair types, and the Nounou mask delivers all of the hydration that we crave without compromising volume. Its primary active ingredient is Fiaschetto tomato extract, which is chock-full of antioxidants and vitamin C, to protect the hair while stimulating growth. It also made the formula smell delicious. The only downside is the time investment — it needs to sit on hair for 10 to 15 minutes, which felt like forever, and if we didn't wait, we didn't see massive results. There are no shortcuts with this one.
Once we started strategizing our shower time, the results were plentiful, and gave us the momentum to stand around in the shower without complaint. Our thin, curly hair felt nourished from root to tip, and our hair was visibly longer after six weeks, with way less frizz.
Key Ingredients: Fiaschetto tomato extract, jojoba oil, olive fruit oil｜Sulfate-Free: No｜Usage: 1-2x per week｜Size: 250 ml
Best Curly Hair Mask for Growth : Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Mask
What We Love: Extra rich and budget-friendly, a little bit of this hair mask goes a long way.
What We Don’t Love: We wish there was an option for those with straight or fine hair.
Curly hair tends to need a little extra care to bring out its best, and if curly hair is colored or chemically processed? You’ll need to double your investment. As we tested this mask developed specifically for curly hair like ours in mind, we watched as our curls bounced back and our hair became thicker, fuller, and noticeably longer, thanks to the right combination of protein and hydrating ingredients.
Though the mask feels thick, it isn’t oily or greasy, and our dry hair soaked it right up. It washes out just as easily without leaving any residue behind. and after each use, our hair was tangle-free, shiny, soft, and smelled divine. After six weeks, those results were tenfold, as we saw significant hair growth, improved thickness, and restored health to our brittle curls. It's not as fragrance-free as marketed due to the infusion of blueberries, but it is quite subtle.
Key Ingredients: Blueberry extract, aloe leaf juice, chamomile extract｜Sulfate-Free: Yes｜Usage: 1x per week｜Size: 8 oz.
Best for Frizzy Hair and Hair Growth: Shu Uemura Ultimate Reset Hair Mask
See at Shuuemuraartofhair-usa.com
What We Love: It left our hair tangle-free for a pain-free, easy breezy brush out.
What We Don’t Love: Its scent is rather strong, so sensitive notes may want to skip.
Formulated with Japanese-sourced rice extract, this mask upholds the centuries old practice of using a mighty rice grain to repair, protect, and hydrate hair. We must admit that we underestimated the power of rice, but right away, we noticed significantly less frizz, especially around our mid-shaft, and our hair only continued to improve over the next few weeks. At the end of the test, our before and after photos were night and day, leaving us with touchably soft, shiny, and bouncy hair.
Our fine, thin hair tends to get oily pretty fast, especially with heavier styling creams, but we threw caution to the wind and tried it anyway, and we’re so happy we didn’t sleep on this conditioning mask. And because it rinsed out with ease, without leaving any residue or weighty feeling, the oil-slicked hair we dreaded never materialized. Instead, its moisturizing properties helped detangle our perpetually knotty hair, which also prevented future split or scraggly ends. We were impressed by how much healthier our hair looked and felt, but this is a mask for patient people, as it takes its time to show results.
Key Ingredients: Japanese-sourced rice extract, safflower oil, vitamin e｜Sulfate-Free: Yes｜Usage: 3x per week｜Size: 6 oz
What to Keep in Mind
Strengthening Ingredients: “Several ingredients are believed to be beneficial for strengthening hair and promoting hair growth,” says Dr. Chambers-Harris, most commonly, proteins like keratin, biotin, and collagen. Vitamin A, while not a protein. is a mighty strengthener to help prevent split ends and breakage.
“Niacin, or vitamin B3, improves blood flow to the hair follicles, improving nutrient and oxygen delivery to the hair follicles, which promotes faster hair growth,” explains Chambers-Harris, adding that some ingredients are better for specific hair types than others. "For curly or coily hair, hydrating ingredients like argan oil or panthenol can provide moisture, strength and enhance curl definition, and thin or fine hair benefits from zinc, grapeseed extract, and B vitamins."Protein-Packed Formula: A trio of proteins — keratin, biotin, and collagen — are called the building blocks of healthy hair, meaning you can find them in almost every strengthening or hair growth mask. “Keratin is a fibrous protein that is a key structural component of hair, nails, and the outer layer of the skin, and it repairs damage by filling in gaps and cracks within each hair strand,” explains Chambers-Harris, adding that biotin, or vitamin B7, is known to reduce hair thinning while also preventing dryness within hair or scalp.
“Collagen is responsible for hair’s elasticity and bounce, which translates into less breakage, fewer split ends, and staving off future damage, all of which work to preserve hair structure, leading to more growth.Plant, Seed, or Fruit-Based Oils: “Nourishing and hydrating the hair are essential for maintaining overall hair health because they help address various factors that contribute to the strength, appearance, and resilience of the hair,” says Chambers-Harris.
“If hair is over processed, dry and unhealthy, it simply will not grow as well as it normally would,” says Martin, adding that this is especially true of people who overdo it with daily heat styling tools. "Using masks and other hair products that add hydration and nourishment to the hair replaces the protein, keratin, and moisture that we strip out doing all of those things to support growth.”
Plant-based and seed extracts contain vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals to ramp up hair health. Look for Martin's favorites, rosemary and lavender oils, along with Chamber-Harris's go-tos, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and sweet almond oil. “Coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft, providing deep conditioning and has antimicrobial properties that can benefit scalp health," says Dr. Chambers-Harris, adding that jojoba oil helps control excess sebum that weighs down hair and sweet almond oil is the cherry on top for a shiny finish.Scalp Health: “A healthy scalp provides a supportive environment for hair follicles, ensuring optimal conditions for hair to grow,” says Chambers-Harris. Regular cleansing, a healthy, balanced diet, and avoid products with harsh chemicals will help keep your scalp healthy.
“Sometimes products, especially dry shampoo and hairspray, build up on the scalp causing blockages at the follicle,” says Martin, who says the easy fix is simply brushing your hair before hopping in the shower to loosen build-up. “Use a clarifying shampoo once every few weeks to give the scalp a deep clean."
Flakey scalps should kick it up a notch and look for specific ingredients, like anti-inflammatory aloe vera, tingly peppermint oil that brings more blood flow to the scalp, and moisturizing, antibacterial honey, to wipe them out and create a base that is primed and ready for healthy hair growth.
Your Questions, Answered
Can hair masks help hair growth?
“Hair masks can contribute to overall hair health and may indirectly support hair growth by addressing factors that can influence the hair growth,” says Chambers-Harris. “Most hair masks do not directly stimulate new hair follicle formation, but they can promote a healthy scalp, nourish the hair strands, and prevent damage, and these are all factors that contribute to an environment beneficial to hair growth.”
Hair masks work alongside a healthy diet, other quality hair products, and gentle hair care practices to help facilitate hair growth.
What mask makes hair grow faster?
While there is no mask that can single-handedly make your hair grow faster, they do whip unhealthy hair into shape, because no hair will grow quickly on a backed-up scalp with clogged hair follicles or brittle ends. "Masks can help hair growth by strengthening and fortifying the hair and keeping it healthy for longer,” says Martin.
Even with this list of the best hair masks for growth, it's not an instant gratification kind of thing. Be patient and trust the process; if you stay committed, you will see results.
What improves hair thickness?
“Ultimately, hair thickness is largely based on your genetics,” says Martin, but with a healthy protein-packed diet and playing it safe with heat tools, you can do your part to keep hair from thinning.
Why Shop With Us
Nina Derwin is a freelance writer with 10 years of experience. She's a contributor for outlets like Martha Stewart, Reader’s Digest, Apartment Therapy, and The Kitchn. As a curly girlie, Nina learned that hair care is essential, and hair growth masks are the key to long, healthy, and voluminous locks. For this story, she worked with InStyle editors who tested each mask, and interviewed Dr. Isfahan Chambers-Harris, a trichologist, and New York City-based stylist, Jay Martin, for their insight.
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