What Is a Hair Mask? 8 Benefits of Hair Masks

A hair mask, also known as a deep conditioning treatment, is a type of hair conditioner to hydrate and improve overall hair health. Hair masks contain natural oils, natural butters, and plant extracts to boost the hair's moisture and add nutrients to the hair follicles. A hair mask can help repair damage from heat styling, the local environment, and color treatment. Applying hair masks as part of your hair care routine can also improve your scalp health and strengthen your hair.

A hair mask is a particular type of hair conditioner. Unlike regular conditioners, the ingredients in a hair mask are more concentrated, and you leave a hair mask in your hair for longer, from twenty minutes to several hours.

A hair mask can help preserve the health of your hair and improve damaged hair. Consider the following benefits:

• Adds hydration and moisture to hair
• Diminishes frizz
• Improves scalp health
• Prevents hair breakage and split ends
• Reduces hair damage
• Softens hair
• Stimulates hair growth
• Strengthens hair

Select a pre-made hair mask or make your own with ingredients that target your hair type. Consider the following types of hair masks for various hair needs:

• Color-treated hair: A hair mask can help put hydration back into bleached hair or color-treated hair. It is essential to use color-safe hair masks to prevent your color from washing out. Hair masks containing argan oil can help protect the hair color and hydrate the hair.
• Dryness: A hair mask can condition dry and brittle hair. Hair masks with natural ingredients such as honey, banana extract, jojoba oil, keratin, and avocado oil can help revitalize and fortify hair damaged by heat styling.
• Dandruff: A dry scalp can lead to dandruff. Use hair masks with aloe vera extract, yogurt, avocado oil, and coconut oil to hydrate the hair.
• Oiliness: If your scalp overproduces oil, use a hair mask containing tea tree oil or clay to balance the hair’s natural oils and absorb excess oil.
• Thinning hair: Hair masks with protein, such as egg yolks, provide vitamins and biotin, helping provide fullness and body to fine hair.

When selecting a hair mask, avoid products with preservatives and harsh chemicals, which can further damage your hair.

When applying hair masks, follow the instructions on the label of the store-bought hair mask. Generally, the application process for hair masks is as follows:

1. 1. Shampoo and condition. Before applying a hair mask, wash and condition your hair, as usual, to remove buildup from hair products.
2. 2. Squeeze your hair. Hair masks work best on damp hair. Squeeze out excess water and use a towel to dry your hair.
3. 3. Apply the mask. You can apply a hair mask using your fingers or a brush. Apply the hair mask to the lower two-thirds of your hair—or all over if the product contains a scalp treatment—and ensure the mask thoroughly soaks every strand of hair.
4. 4. Brush your hair. Run a wide tooth comb through your hair to evenly distribute the product.
5. 5. Cover your hair. Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave the hair mask on for the product’s recommended time. The time can be thirty minutes or overnight, depending on the hair mask.
6. 6. Remove the hair mask. Rinse your hair in lukewarm water to remove the hair mask. Avoid hot water—cooler water helps to seal the hair cuticles to retain the moisture. Moreover, if you apply a homemade hair mask containing egg yolks, the hot water can cook the egg.
7. 7. Dry your hair. Pat your hair dry with a towel. (Blow dryer heat can strip the moisture from your hair.)

Apply your hair mask once a week, or every couple of weeks if your hair is oily.

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