The Best Hair Masks to Repair, Hydrate, and Smooth Damaged Hair

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Even when you think you might be taking care of your hair on a regular basis, anything we expose our tresses to can still cause damage (take this from someone who has dyed her hair since she was in seventh grade). Daily washing, bleaching, using heat tools, brushing frequently, and extended time in the sun can all put stress on your stands. If your locks are in need of some serious TLC, you might need more than just your regular shampoo and conditioner regimen.

Celebrity stylist and The Beachwaver cofounder Sarah Potempa tells us that using a hair mask can help give your hair the moisturizing refresh it needs. “Masks help to make the hair softer and smoother while also reducing frizz, adding shine, and even strengthening the hair,” she says.

Whether you have split ends from using a straightener frequently or need an overhaul after multiple treatments at the salon, you can reach for these hair masks instead of the scissors.

Best Hair Masks

What to Consider

Potempa says that when you're shopping for hair masks, it's important to consider the ingredients, their benefits, and what your hair specifically needs. Since there are so many hair masks out there that tackle different issues, not every mask will be the right fit for you.

Ingredients

“Avocado oil protein is a great ingredient to help against breakage,” says Potempa. “Avocados have antioxidants and vitamins like A, B-5, and E, as well as fatty acids that can help strengthen hair strands.” Other ingredients like shea butter and honey (which act as emollients and trap moisture) can rehydrate locks and reduce dryness and irritation of the scalp. Keep an eye out for plant-based ingredients so you can make the most of their naturally occurring benefits.

Purpose

The hair mask that is right for you will depend on the issue you're targeting. If you frequently get chemical treatments, use a mask that is specifically designed to repairs the bonds of your hair or restores proteins to weak strands. Have you been swimming in a chlorine-filled pool all day? Look for a mask that is deep-conditioning and hydrating to lock in necessary moisture for soft, healthy hair.

Potempa warns that hair masks are meant to provide extra nourishment when needed, and aren’t necessarily beneficial to use after every single wash. “Using a hair mask too frequently can cause the hair to become extra greasy and flat. I’d recommend reaching for a hair mask no more than once or twice a week,” she says.

How We Selected

After consulting our expert, we went on an internet deep dive to find hair masks that span a range of uses, ingredients, and price points. We looked for masks that addressed specific concerns like dryness, frizz, and breakage. We kept in mind the key ingredients Potempa mentioned, and considered other plant-based and natural ingredients with additional benefits. We combed through several customer reviews to get an IRL feel of how these masks worked on a variety of hair types, and whether or not people saw a noticeable difference. We've settled on the following list of the best hair masks to bring your stands back to their former glory.

No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Hair Mask

Bond rebuilders target damage repair, which can help bring life back into strands that are dry and brittle. This mask from Olaplex uses ingredients like avocado oil, meadowfoam seed oil, and rice oil to add shine, smoothness, and body to your hair.

You can use this mask weekly in place of conditioner for added moisture, and it can be used with all hair types (especially for those with visible damage).

Over 7,000 reviewers give this hair mask 5 stars, with many noting how soft their hair felt after use.

Intensive Hydration Hair Masque

You can still get the salon effect at home with the help of a hair mask that comes in under $12 at the time of this writing. If your tresses are desperate for hydration, ingredients like shea butter, honey, and African rock fig will provide restoration and lock in moisture to your ends.

Several customers felt the mask left their hair “soft,” “shiny,” and “hydrated.”

It’s recommended to apply this mask onto wet hair and brush through with a wide-toothed comb to evenly distribute, from roots to ends. Leave on for 5 minutes then rinse.

Inner Strength Avocado Oil Protein Hair Mask

Headed to the beach this summer? While that salty ocean water may feel like a bit of paradise, it can also cause your hair to be dull, dry, and frizzy. This deep conditioning mask uses ingredients like avocado oil and gingko biloba leaf to add strength back into your stands, and helps to detangle unmanageable hair.

Potempa recommends applying the mask after a wash to the mids and ends of the hair, brush to evenly distribute, and let the mask sit for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing. “You should be left with a soft and silky feeling,” she says.

Muroto Volume Pure Lightness Hair Mask

Do you have thinner hair? While you could be getting enough hydration from your regular conditioner, this mask is specifically designed to help give fine hair the lift it might need.

The ingredient list contains deep-sea water, which is rich in nutrients and minerals to keep your hair feeling weightless. Plus, the formula is meant to restore balance to your hairs natural oils, which can keep thin hair from just falling flat.

One reviewer says, “I absolutely love this hair conditioner. I have fine, thin, long hair and this product conditions as well as provides volume.”

BoldPlex 3 Hair Mask

As the internet moves through different hair trends like split dye and the copper color fad, chemical treatments could be the culprit for wearing down your locks. They break down your hair's hydrogen bonds which can cause split ends, frizz, and brittle strands.

This mask is full of keratin proteins, and they absorb into your hair to repair breakage and mend bonds on a molecular level. The mask also doubles as a deep conditioner for moisture, which will leave your hair feeling bouncier and healthier with each use.

One of the main complaints from customers was that with extended use, they felt some grease buildup. While the brand recommends using it once a week, find a regimen that best suits your hair type.

Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask

This hair mask from K18 is designed to get to the root of the problem (pun intended). No matter how damaged your locks are, the formula delivers a chain of amino acids to the inner structure of your hair and regenerates the bond. It works on hair types that are suffering damage from bleaching, chemical treatments, and heat.

The mask starts working in just 4 minutes. Once it's applied and activated, you can style as usual — no rinsing needed.

Depending on the level of damage and your hair length, customers recommend using a couple extra pumps of product to ensure all your strands are fully saturated.

Hask Tea Tree Oil & Rosemary Hair Mask

Don’t forget to pamper your hair during your self-care night. This mask is infused with tea tree oil to help unblock the hair follicles on your scalp, and rosemary to soothe and restore your strands. It also gently detangles while providing moisture, and the combination of oils will leave you feeling refreshed and good as new.

Many customers felt like their scalp could breathe after using it, also noting that their strands felt shinier and smoother in texture. Just massage the mask into your scalp, leave it on for 2 to 3 minutes, and rinse.

Bust Your Brass Intense Repair Hair Mask

If you do all-over blonde color or get a balayage every so often, a hair mask that's designed to counteract brassy tones while restoring your ends can help you achieve your optimal hair color.

This mask from Amika uses ultraviolet pigments to kick those yellowish tones to the curb, paired with plant butters like mango extract, borage oil, and shea butter to condition and repair your locks after chemical treatments.

Application instructions vary depending on if you have non-treated, color-treated, or textured blonde hair.

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