When's The Last Time You Treated Your Hair To A Mask?

Olaplex’s repairing treatment is used by professionals in many hair salons to help restore damaged or broken hair, but pick up a bottle and you can enjoy a treatment in your own home. Hair Perfector is not a conditioner, but a bond builder to strengthen your hair (however, Olaplex also makes a conditioner). After using it, you rinse it off and shampoo and conditioner as usual. You can use it 1-3 times a week depending on your needs to moisturize and repair your locks. The treatment is suitable for all hair types and is vegan, pH balanced, and paraben-, sulfate-, and phthalate-free. One happy reviewer said, “MAGIC!!!! I swear this stuff is made from Unicorns. I was doubtful, given that I have tried the gamut of hair conditioning treatments (yes, yes, I know this is NOT a conditioner, but a bonder) and all I have to say is WOWZA! After some really harsh processing (got my hair from dark dark brown to very very blonde so I could add funky colors (currently pink), my hair more closely resembled hay than it did actual hair and as the weeks went on, the breakage started getting worse. I tried this at my last feeble attempt to salvage my locks after a friend recommended it and I am BLOWN AWAY by the results! It really does work. I won’t lie and tell you my hair is back to it’s normal state, but it is SIGNIFICANTLY improved. It is smoother, softer, and even has some of the weight back! This was just after 1 application (I left it in for an hour as the website suggested for my level of damage). I can’t wait to see if it gets better with the next application. I am definitely sold.”

If you’re an in-and-out-of-the-shower kind of gal who doesn’t have time to don a hair cap for minutes in the morning or evening, there is still hope for your hair—in the form of this overnight mask that puts in work while you sleep. It helps build back the bonds in each strand of hair in a time-release process that’s designed to work while you’re sound asleep on your pillow. It’s easy to use: you simply spray it on dry hair and comb it through. Next to its addicting smell, one of its best perks is that you don’t have to wash it out in the a.m.—just brush your strands and go (or add some curl to it if you have an extra 10 minutes to string together). It’s great for pretty much every hair type from straight and wavy to curly and coily.

If your hair is blond, chances are you get that golden hue from more than Mother Nature herself. So if you are heavily highlighting or have gone totally platinum, your hair’s going to need some serious help. This mask was designed for all hair types and colors, but it’s been shown to be particularly beneficial for very damaged and over-processed strands, according to Brown. The key repairing ingredients are a pro-keratin, which mimics the function of actual keratin found in hair to help rebuild it from the inside out, and ceramide which helps with moisture retention and elasticity as well as adding smoothness and shine. For best results, apply this mask to towel-dried hair and leave on for at least 5 minutes (even longer if you can). 

Of course, you want to feel comfortable knowing that a product you’re putting on your hair (which can then get into your scalp) is free of harmful chemicals like sulfates, silicones and parabens, but you also want to know that it works. Sometimes masks without these crappy chemicals simply suck. Not this one! It’s 98 percent naturally derived and delivers a blend of transformative nutrients to your tresses including hair-, nail-and skin-enhancing biotin, rosehip oil which is an essential fatty acid that helps maintain hair hydration and keep frizz to a minimum, and both almond and argan oil which helps cut down on split ends and keeps hair shiny and soft. Oh, and it’s both cruelty- and gluten-free (seriously). 

The It’s A 10 brand is probably best known for their leave-in conditioner that doesn’t leave hair greasy and weighted down. But their miracle mask is one of their best kept secrets and part of the brand’s Conditioning Collection. It’s a true reviver for hair that’s been color-treated, heat-styled, over-processed or gone through pregnancy, labor and delivery. Like its leave-in conditioner, the formula is relatively light, so you can use this daily in place of your conditioner without overdoing it. Key ingredients include oat and apricot kernels which, little did we know, contain a plethora of antioxidants that nourish and moisturize hair, as well as almond oil and linseed extract, which you already know add that lustrous shine thanks to the infusion of vitamins A, E and B.  

First thing first: This mask smells amazing. That’s literally one of its greatest perks next to its impressive ability to hydrate and condition hair. This mask is a bit on the heavier side, so it’s best used on medium-to-thick hair that’s parched, be it from regular environmental factors (sun damage, free radicals what have you) or in-salon chemical processing. In as little as five minutes (but optimally 7) it revives dead strands thanks to an infusion of nourishing ingredients including argan oil, glycerin (a natural humectant) and linseed extract. It is also free of harmful chemicals including both SLS and SLES sulfates, parabens, formaldehydes (yes, that nasty ingredient is found in certain hair care products), phthalates and more.

Only have 3 minutes to spare and $3 to spend? Meet the hair mask of your dreams. It costs a fraction of most of its competitors and delivers consistently impressive results. That’s why it’s been a top beauty product winner for over a decade. Australian jojoba oil infused with avocado are its main ingredients coupled with sea kelp which work synergistically to help hydrate dry hair after just one use. It’s formulated for all hair types, but it is on the heavier side, so it’s best to use once or twice a week unless you have super dry hair. It’s also free of parabens, so it’s not like you’re sacrificing your health while you save $10-$20 by purchasing this hair mask. 

From YouTube sensation and mom of 6, Mindy McKnight, comes this clean, wallet-friendly hair-care mask that’s formulated for every hair texture and type (yes, seriously). It’s free of harsh and harmful ingredients (free of sulfates, phthalates, parabens, silicone, and mineral oil) at a fraction of the cost of its competitors. One of its best perks is that you don’t have to leave it on longer than 5 minutes to start seeing results—more shine and hydration and less frizz and split ends. She’s a busy mama, she knows what we need, and created a product line that works for our families as well as hers.

Weekly hair rescue with Honey & Hibiscus sound too luxurious for you, mama? No way! These organic ingredients work together to restore shine and moisturize over-processed hair. This rich and decadent silicone-free hair mask puts hair into rehab. Let’s dig deeper— organic honey coats hair in essential nutrients and draws in needed moisture, organic hibiscus flower extract contains amino acids to repair and strengthen strands and Bacuri butter intensely softens and nourishes hair. Sign us up.

If you want a deep conditioner that will quite literally transform your strands without stripping your wallet, this is an excellent option. It leaves hair 3x stronger with up to 70 percent less breakage and comes in an easy-to-travel with pack.