The best hair masks you’ll want to add to your shopping basket

No longer considered an optional step in your salon experience, hair masks have become an essential part of our at-home routines for many years. Saying that, finding the best hair mask depending on our hair needs can often be a case of trial and error. But it’s not all doom and gloom. The good news is that the ATH team have put together the only hair mask guide you’ll ever need right here.

Read on for our top picks and all essential know how – we promise you won’t regret it.

Hair mask 101: The basics

What are hair masks?

Hair masks are nourishing hair treatments for your hair. Good hair masks often contain ingredients that offer hydrating and nourishing properties that supercharge your hair conditioning routine.

Hair masks can greatly improve the condition of your hair by providing strands with an intense shot of moisture and nutrients that may not be within the scope of a regular rinse-off conditioner.

Depending on its formula and benefits, this product is usually left to sit on the hair for a specific amount of time to properly penetrate into your locks – think of them as a high-powered conditioning treatment.

Why you should use a hair mask

Why wouldn’t you use a hair mask? With so many mane benefits, a hair mask should take centre stage in your hair routine.

Most of us put our hair through stress, and even if you don’t colour your hair or use heated tools, that doesn’t mean to say your tresses don’t require an intensive conditioning treatment. Unfortunately overworking your hair or simply exposing it to the elements can cause brittle strands which can lead to breakage! Therefore it’s essential to introduce a good hair mask to your #shelfie immediately.

How to use a hair mask

Sold on the idea of getting a new and shiny hair mask? Then you’ll need to know how and when to use it.

The key to the success of a good hair mask lays within the application. So we suggest following our general guide below to get the most out of your treatment.

1: Get your hair ready for your hair mask by washing it with your chosen shampoo and rinse.

2: Once your hair is nice and clean, divide your damp tresses down the centre, to create 2 equal sections.

3: Take a scoop of your chosen product and apply it to the hair, concentrating just below your ears. This way, you’re sure to get the product on your mid-lengths and ends, which is where it’s needed most.

4: Leave it on for the allotted time (usually 3-5 minutes), rinse thoroughly and you’re done. No need for your usual wash out conditioner.

To keep your hair hydrated and shiny, these treatments should be used regularly – once a week is ideal. But if your hair needs it, or is looking drier than usual after excessive styling from the party season or after a beach holiday, aim to use a these treatments twice a week.

Hair mask top picks from the ATH team

Damaged caused by heat styling

Have you been overdoing it with the heated styling tools lately? Don’t worry we won’t judge. Lucky for you there are a host of hair repair masks available to help reduce the appearance of heat-damaged strands.

The best hair mask for heat-damaged, parched strands has to be the TONI&GUY Damage Repair Intensive Mask. Its conditioning formula penetrates deep into the hair fibre, helping to make your mane more manageable and smooth.

For best results use in conjunction with the TONI&GUY Damage Repair Shampoo and Conditioner.

Hair lacking moisture

If smooth and soft hair is your goal, pick the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Hair Masque Treatment for its 48 hours flyaway control.

This product gives you all the benefits of a visit to the salon for a keratin treatment, transforming unruly, rough hair, leaving it feeling gorgeously soft, sleek and manageable.

For best results, use once or twice a week in conjunction with the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Shampoo.

Colour-treated hair

There is no point spending time and money colouring your hair only for it to fade in a matter of a few washes, which is why we recommend treating your tresses to a good hair mask weekly.

Revive your colour with the Dove Intensive Repair Deep Treatment Mask. Its fortifying formula helps reinforce hair’s natural protective layer and moisturises each strand for hair that’s strong and ready for styling.

Curly hair

It’s no secret that those with curly hair tend to need more moisturising properties within their hair care products than others. This is because the scalps natural moisturising oils struggle to move down your hair’s natural kinks and bends.

Formulated with Weightless Nutri-Oils and vitamins E and F to help smooth unruly hair, the Dove Nourishing Oil Care Treatment Mask instantly adds shine to the surface of the hair, while nourishing each strand from the inside.

Suitable for daily use, this nourishing mask’s non-greasy formula won’t weigh your hair down. Hair is left feeling supremely smooth, soft and shiny with every use.

For an extra moisture boost, you can use a leave-in treatment such as the TONI&GUY Leave-In Conditioner.