I'll be honest, I've been using hair masks for as long as I could remember. Growing up with a very beauty-conscious Dominican mom will do that to you. She'd make sure to apply a deep-conditioning treatment to my hair for at least a half hour every single week. Sometimes they were DIY recipes, other times she'd use fancy spancy products–it made no difference! The point was to keep my strands smooth, soft and shiny all year long and that's exactly how it went down. But as I've gotten older and spoken with experts and stylists, I've learned there's a lot more to hair masks than most of us even know. Like do we really need to be using these things every week?
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I'm always so surprised at the amount of women who don't understand how beneficial using a hair mask really is. These treatments are actually more important and effective than even your regular conditioners. Because they don't just hydrate and condition, but also work to repair damage and restore strength. But how do you know how often to do one or how long to leave it on? Here are six things you need to know about hair masks before you decide to do another one!
YES, you should use a mask once a week: It doesn't matter how healthy your hair looks, every texture can use a deep conditioning treatment. So I suggest you get in the habit of using a mask on a weekly or in some cases even bi-weekly basis.
NO, Not all hair masks need to be expensive: Honestly, some of the best deep conditioning treatments I've used have been the ones I've whipped up in my kitchen. My personal favorite: Avocado and coconut oil–that's it girl! Not a DIY kind of girl? Look for a good but cheap buy, like John Frieda Full Repair Hydrate + Rescue Deep Conditioner ($9).
Yes, hair masks could actually repair damaged hair: Listen, a haircut or trim is the only real way to get rid of split, damaged hair but applying a mask regularly actually helps hydrate hair, disguise and prevent more damage/breakage.
Yes, you need to know your hair type: All hair types and textures have different needs. If you have thick or dry hair I recommend looking for a deeply moisturizing formula, like Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask ($55). Wavy or curly textures should look for something that fights frizz, like SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque ($12). And something light-weight for fine, thin hair, try Kerastase Masque Cristal ($63).
No, you don't need to keep a hair mask on all day: This does not need to be an all day activity. Sure you can leave it on for two to three hours–if that's what you want! But most formulas work after 10 or 15 minutes. So if you want, keep it on while you shower and shave and then rinse it right out.
You should be applying mainly to your ends: You always want to concentrate your mask mainly to the ends of your hair which tend to be the most fragile and prone to splits. I apply a very light layer to my roots, otherwise it leaves my hair greasy.
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