The 20 best hair masks for softer, shinier lengths
From banishing frizz to increasing shine, 20 best hair masks that truly deliver
We’ve all experienced a bad hair day – as with the occasional breakout or bout of skin sensitivity, they’re pretty much part of life. But when a bad hair day gradually grows into a bad hair week, it may be time to book a haircut, or simply call upon a deep-conditioning hair mask.
Whatever your particular concern – be it bleach-induced fragility, weather-triggering frizz, or simply a lack of that satisfying healthy ‘swish’ – a good hair mask is the fastest way to regain control. Think of it as a booster shot for your regular routine, with instant gratification guaranteed.
How to choose and use a hair mask
Consider what exactly you’re trying to combat. If your hair feels dry and brittle, look for something restorative; if you need to minimise frizz, think moisturising; if your hair looks dull, seek out something positioned as conditioning yet weightless.
In terms of formulas to buy into, avoid ones with heavy silicones, as this can cause build-up which can lead to damage. Instead, look out for brands that use the ingredient hemisqualane in their products – which you’ll not only find in Living Proof’s masks but JVN Hair’s and Dr. Barbara Sturm’s, too. This helps manage frizz, add shine, and reduce damage from wet and dry combing while helping to seal the cuticle and repair hair’s surface.
When choosing a mask for any hair type, the key takeaway is to always use as directed, this way you’ll reap the benefits of what the product has been formulated for. Some hair masks need as little as three minutes to impart moisture and shine, whereas others can (and should) be left to linger as long as possible before washing out: save them for a quiet Friday night or a lazy Sunday. There are also formulas intended to be left in until your next wash day, making them convenient add-ons to your haircare routine.
The 20 best hair masks to invest in now
BEST HAIR MASK
Oribe Signature Moisture Mask
CREDIT: SPACE NK
When it comes to hair treatments that completely transform lacklustre strands, Oribe is rarely beaten. The absolute gold-standard, this keratin-infused moisturising mask does it all: dry strands are softened, dull colour is illuminated, and frizz becomes a thing of the past. Rich and beautifully scented, it’s a wise investment for all hair types, and an indulgent experience to boot.
BEST LEAVE-IN HAIR MASK
K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask
We don’t only love this repair mask because it’s designed to be left in (you simply skip the conditioner and apply this instead post-hair wash), but because its patented peptide technology is proven to restore damaged hair by up to 82 per cent. Damage can be caused by chemical services (bleaching, colouring, relaxing…) and heat treatments (blow-drying and further use of hot tools), and can display as dryness, dullness and fragility. This magic mask works to leave hair looking the opposite: smooth, soft and strong.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR BLONDE HAIR
Kérastase Blond Extreme Blond Absolu Masque Cicaextreme
NOW 20% OFF
CREDIT: SEPHORA
Kérastase is a brand we always recommend for products that keep blonde hair (whether natural or bleached) strong and vibrant.
A classic, this mask works to strengthen stressed hair, restoring elasticity and preventing frazzled ends from snapping. Use it once a week, adding in the corresponding purple-tinted Ultra-Violet Treatment to keep brassiness at bay.
BEST OVERNIGHT HAIR MASK
Percy & Reed I Need a Hero! Wonder Overnight Recovery Mask
NOW 20% OFF
With one million sold globally, this is ultimate time-saving hair treatment, working to transform dehydrated hair overnight. Quick-drying, the formula absorbs immediately and feels weightless despite it being intensely nourishing. Simply shampoo out in the morning and style it as usual (but with added swish).
BEST HAIR MASK FOR SOFTNESS AND SHINE
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Mask
For impossible softness and impeccable shine, reach for this. With sustainably sourced honey at the heart of its formula, it draws moisture into the hair, while vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants help restore the condition of strands. It’s a very worthy use of five minutes.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR COPPER BUILD-UP
L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Metal Detox Anti-Deposit Protector Mask
CREDIT: SEPHORA
Recent research suggests water in the UK contains especially high concentrations of copper, which can accumulate in your hair fibres, making them feel dry and take on a green tinge. As copper molecules are so small, they can be tricky to remove simply with shampoo.
L’Oréal Professionnel’s smart mask is designed to counteract the adverse affects of the copper traces in your shower water, using an active agent called glicoamine that is small enough to penetrate the hair fibre, neutralising any metal traces. The results are hair that feels softer, is less prone to breakage, and colour that looks bright for longer.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR COLOURED HAIR
Sisley Colour Beautifying Haircare Mask
CREDIT: JOHN LEWIS
Sisley’s hair care line is one formulated with indulgence in mind, but that’s not to say the appeal stops at the delicious scents and rich textures.
The brand’s latest launch, the Colour Beautifying Haircare Mask is infused with ceramides for strand repair, oils for blinding shine, and that signature peach-sweetened scent for, well, a little luxury.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR VERY DRY HAIR
Davines OI Hair Butter
B-Corp certified Davines is one of few beauty companies with true sustainability at the heart of everything it does – but that’s not the only reason to invest in the family-owned brand’s haircare.
A real beauty-editor favourite, the perplexingly named Oi Hair Butter is one of the most heavily moisturising products we’ve tried. Ideal for very thick, very dry hair, it’s made with Amazonian roucou oil that imparts major softness and shine.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR CURLY HAIR
L’Oreal Elvive Dream Lengths 3-in-1 Curls Hydration Mask
NOW 50% OFF
CREDIT: BOOTS
As curly hair is more porous, and therefore more prone to moisture loss, it often needs something heavier-hitting.
One recent find that really hits the mark is this brilliantly priced product from L’oreal Elvive, which comes in a thoughtfully scaled-up 680ml tub.
The star ingredients aren’t new, buzzy or especially luxurious, but they do get the job done: glycerin grabs hold of moisture, while lipids fortify strands to reduce frizz.
Those with looser curls should use it as a traditional mask, while anyone with coils or kinks can try it as a co-wash: either way, the result is soft, silky curls with incredible definition.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR DULL HAIR
Living Proof Perfect hair Day Weightless Mask
“If your hair looks dull, I would suggest this Weightless Mask,” says Corby. “It is deeply conditioning but lifts and rehydrates lifeless hair without the weight.” Ideal for those with fine or flat-falling strands that find masks can leave them lank, this imparts moisture and shine – as well as some oomph.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR A CHIC SCENT
Le Labo Hinoki Hair Mask
CREDIT: CULT BEAUTY
The famously good fragrance might bring you to Le Labo’s hair mask, but the way it rehydrates the most seriously parched strands will ensure you keep repurchasing. It’s one of the richest masks we’ve tried, so will best suit coarse or very dry hair (fine types, give it a miss).
As thick as butter, the ultra-creamy formula is enriched with coconut, argan and sunflower oils alongside the brand’s woody, unisex Hinoki scent. Use it alongside the matching body cream, and you’ll have little need for perfume.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR FLYAWAYS
NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Repair Masque
CREDIT: CULT BEAUTY
With biocompatible keratin and argan oil, this hair mask offers heavyweight benefits for hair that’s lacking life. It’s ideal for mid-fine hair types, and can be applied right up to the scalp without leaving behind a sticky residue. The green-tea scent makes a refreshing change, too. 
BEST HAIR MASK FOR SCALP AND STRANDS
Dr. Barbara Sturm Repair Hair Mask
NOW 25% OFF
Dr. Barbara Sturm excels at skincare, but don’t sleep on her haircare, too; this mask gets five-star reviews for its ability to transform dry and damaged strands into soft and manageable ones. Designed to also soothe the scalp, it can help reduce dryness, irritation and itching.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR TEXTURED HAIR
Dizziak Deep Conditioner
CREDIT: SPACE NK
Loretta de Feo created Dizziak after struggling to find a deep conditioner rich enough for her Afro hair. The result is an incredibly rich, deliciously scented treatment that you’ll want to slather on every wash day. It’ll hydrate ends, reduce frizz and coax the spring back into curls. If you’re sceptical, simply look at the rave reviews.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR BLEACHED HAIR
Olaplex No.8 Bond Repair Moisture Mask
CREDIT: LOOKFANTASTIC
Bleaching loyalists will likely have already heard of Olaplex; the brand’s original in-salon treatment has transformed the way colourists work. Simply put, it penetrates the strands to repair the bonds that heat and chemical processes damage, rather than simply smoothing over the surface.
Now, you can double-down on results with the at-home line, which encompasses everything from shampoo to a treatment oil. A highlight of the line, this intensive hair mask works as an all-rounder to detangle, reduce frizz, and increase both strength and shine. Apply it to damp hair after shampooing, leaving it to work for ten minutes before rinsing.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR QUENCHING DEHYDRATION
JVN Hair Nurture Deep Moisture Mask
Jonathan van Ness knows great hair, and this is one of his secret weapons for soft, swishy locks. This isn’t necessarily about repairing damage, rather restoring moisture. So, if dehydration is your main concern, call off the search.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR FINE HAIR
Aveda Nutriplenish Treatment Masque Light Moisture
NOW 20% OFF
CREDIT: SEPHORA
A lot of hair masks can overload fine hair, leaving lengths feeling annoyingly sticky after blow-drying. To address this issue, Aveda’s Nutriplenish mask comes in two textures, the lighter of which offers all of the hydration with none of the residue. Leave it in for just three minutes for hair that feels soft and shiny, yet still full of bounce.
BEST FOR FRIZZY CURLS
Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hair Mask
CREDIT: SEPHORA
Fable & Mane’s hair mask will keep most hair types happy, but anyone with curls in need of a moisture injection will really love it. The tropical scent hints at the ingredients in store: there’s fatty acid-rich coconut, shea and cocoa seed butters, and banana to bring mega shine.
BEST HAIR MASK FOR STRANDS AT BREAKING POINT
Elasticizer Philip Kingsley
CREDIT: CULT BEAUTY
Originally created for Audrey Hepburn in the 1970s to counteract the damage caused by on-set styling, this pre-treatment is still one of the very best on the market for severely damaged hair.
The elastin and castor oil-based formula strengthens weakened bonds in each strand to prevent breakage. Slather it on before shampooing for best results.
BEST PROTEIN HAIR MASK
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! MegaStrength+ Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment
CREDIT: SPACE NK
Protein treatments can be hugely beneficial to hair that’s been damaged by chemical processes (if your strands stretch like chewing gum, you need a protein boost). However, it’s also important not to overdo the proteins: too much can coat the strands and make them brittle.
Briogeo’s clever mask takes all the guesswork out of hair repair: the dual-chamber design contains both a protein-based mask and a moisture-based mask. Combined, they deliver everything damaged hair needs to revive itself.
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