The 14 Best Hair Masks for Repairing Damaged Hair, According to a Hairstylist
Hair looking dry, brittle, lackluster, or all of the above? Help can come in the form of a reparative hair mask for damaged hair, the best of which can help build back compromised strands and prevent further breakage from occurring. Thanks to a wealth of nutrients found in each formula, they can combat against the damaging effects of sun exposure, pollution, and/or the frequent use of hot tools like blow dryers, curling irons, and hair straighteners.
In a sea of hair masks, it can be difficult to wade through what’s actually worth your coin (and what actually works!). But not to worry, we’ve curated some of the top picks to satisfy just about every hair type and consulted Raven Hurtado, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, for tips on choosing the best hair masks for damaged hair. Buh-bye, breakage!
A hairstylist’s top 6 hair masks for damaged hair, at a glance
- Ouai, Treatment Mask, $38
- Kérastase, Nutritive Ultra-Hydrating Mask for Very Dry Hair, $64
- Gisou, Honey Infused Hydrating Hair Mask, $25
- Function of Beauty Pro, Bond Repair Custom Conditioner Mask, $28
- Kérastase Curl Manifestó Nourishing Mask, $68
- Kérastase, Resistance Strengthening Mask, $68
What to look for in a hair mask for damaged hair
When shopping for reparative hair masks, the most important thing to consider is the ingredients list. “Important ingredients to look for in a hair mask are hydrating ingredients, and if you have curls, a curl enhancement mask,” says Hurtado. Natural butters and oils, like shea, avocado, olive, castor, can help impart moisture, and in turn, reduce the risk of breakage. You may also want to consider an option with ingredients that can repair and protect against damage, such as wheat protein and amino acids. As for which ingredients to avoid? “Sulfates and parabens,” says Hurtado. “Sulfates and parabens can cause dryness and lead to an itchy, irritated scalp.”
As you shop, you’ll also want to consider your hair type. The manufacturer will often indicate whether a specific for one or more hair types, but generally speaking, you may want a formula that’s especially thick and nourishing if you have thick and/or curly hair, whereas people who have fine or thin hair might want a lighter weight option that provides moisturizing nourishment without weighing hair down. Some are also made specifically for chemically treated or colored hair—all of which you will find on the list below.
Shop the best hair masks for damaged hair
Best for: fine to medium hair
“The Ouai Treatment mask is ideal for fine to medium hair, as well as color-treated hair,” says Hurtado. It works to strengthen and repair damaged bonds with the help of hydrolyzed keratin and protein. The mask also provides hydrating nourishment and restores shine from a combination of shea butter and panthenol. According to Hurtado, it’s also made without sulfates and parabens, and as a bonus, the formula is vegan and cruelty-free.
Key ingredients: shea butter, panthenol, hydrolyzed keratin and protein
Size: 8 oz.
Pros:
- Strengthens weakened hair bonds
- Helps restore moisture and shine
- Safe for color- and chemically-treated hair
Cons:
- Strong scent might be overpowering to some
Best for: medium to thick hair
If your hair is extremely dry, Hurtado recommends the Kérastase Nutritive Mask, which can help quench even the most parched hair. “It’s an intense hair mask with plant-based proteins to condition, smooth, and detangle hair,” she says. Another standout ingredient is antioxidant-rich niacinamide (or vitamin B3), which fights the effects of environmental aggravators that can lead to dryness and breakage while replenishing the hair with some much-needed moisture.
Key ingredients: plant-based proteins and niacinamide
Size: 6.8 oz.
Pros:
- Helps to condition, smooth, and detangle hair
- Protects hair against the effects of environmental stressors
- Replenishes moisture to dry hair
Cons:
- Pricey
Best for: straight hair
Gisou’s Honey Infused Hydrating Hair Mask, as the name suggests, boasts honey—a star hydrator—in its formulation. It provides hair with the moisturizing benefits of the sweet ingredient, and, according to Hurtado, “It makes brittle hair soft and shiny in just five minutes.” Honey isn’t the only thing you’ll find in this mask. It also contains hydrolyzed wheat protein, which works to give your hair an overall smoother appearance, as well as provitamin B to moisturize, nourish, and strengthen.
Key ingredients: Mirasheli honey, hydrolyzed wheat protein, and provitamin B
Size: 2.5 and 7.8 oz.
Pros:
- Helps moisture dry hair
- Nourishes and strengthens
- Leaves hair with a smoother and softer appearance
Cons:
- Scent is off-putting to some people
Best for: wavy hair
For a deeply moisturizing mask that helps strength and hydrate wavy hair, reach for this pick from Function of Beauty Pro. According to Hurtado, “it moisturizes waves without weighing the hair down while keeping volume,” which can be owed to the combination of rice amino acids and manketti seed oil. It also works to help prevent breakage. “It has Adaptive f3 Bonding Complex Technology to rebuild bonds to leave hair stronger and more manageable,” says Hurtado.
Key ingredients: Adaptive f3 Bonding Complex Technology, rice amino acids, and manketti seed oil
Size: 2 and 7 oz.
Pros:
- Moisturizes without weighing hair down
- Helps strengthen hair and prevent breakage
- Affordable price point
Cons:
- Scent is bothersome for some people
Best for: curly hair
Those blessed with beautiful curls may want to opt for the Kérastase Curl Manifestó Nourishing Mask, which also comes recommended by Hurtado. “It enhances curls and coily hair for bounce, and it moisturizes, softens, and reduces breakage,” she says. The key ingredients in the mask are manuka honey, which can help soften hair, along with emollient ceramides to further replenish moisture and help reinforce hair fibers to better withstand daily wear and tear.
Key ingredients: manuka honey and ceramides
Size: 6.8 oz.
Pros:
- Helps to enhance curls
- Reduces and repairs breakage
- Moisturizes and strengthens hair fibers
Cons:
- Pricey
Best for: damaged hair
“I recommend the Kérastase Resistance Strengthening Mask for split ends, as it helps repair damage, prevents breakage, and adds moisture while promoting strong, healthy hair,” says Hurtado. It’s made with gluco-peptides and wheat protein derivatives to help recover damaged hair, as well as native plant cells extracted from an apple tree, which, according to the manufacturer, help to increase hair elasticity and promote moisture for overall hair health.
Key ingredients: gluco-peptide, wheat protein derivatives, and native plant cells
Size: 6.8 oz.
Pros:
- Helps repair and prevent breakage
- Imparts moisture and shine to hair
- Supports overall hair health
Cons:
- Pricey
More reparative hair masks worth shopping
Best for: all hair types
This 15-time award-winning hair mask packs a punch when it comes to nourishing your hair. The mask is chock-full of nutrients to strengthen hair from root to end, and protect it from further damage. Among its key ingredients are rosehip oil (for hydration), algae extract (to protect against free-radical damage), and B vitamins (to offset the effects of hot tools and chemical treatments). What’s more, according to clinical studies, the mask can boost hair strength after three uses and reduce breakage after just two.
Key ingredients: rosehip oil, algae extract, B vitamins
Size: 2,8, 12, and 32 oz.
Pros:
- Clinically shown to improve hair strength and reduce breakage after several weeks
- Multi-award-winning product
- Available in four sizes
Cons:
- Strong scent might be overpowering to some
Best for: chemically treated hair
Olaplex’s hair mask is beloved by many, including Well+Good’s senior beauty editor Aimee Simeon, for bringing life and body back to damaged hair. It’s made with its signature bond-building technology to boost shine, add moisture, and reduce breakage by repairing damaged keratin bonds, aka, the proteins responsible for your overall hair health. The star ingredient is Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate (try saying that five times fast), but the formula is rounded out with hyaluronic acid to moisturize hair and ceramides to lock in hydration.
Key ingredients: Bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate
Size: 3.3 oz.
Pros:
- Has bond-building technology to improve hair health and reduce breakage
- Helps to moisture hair with hyaluronic acid and ceramides
- Ideal for most hair types and textures
Cons:
- Expensive
Best for: thick and/or coarse hair
Similar to Olaplex, Amika’s Bond Repair Mask works to mend broken hair bonds that have been damaged by sun exposure, hot tools, bleach, and hair dye, as well as treat split ends and introduce shine back to the hair. It’s formulated with The Kure’s proprietary Bond Cure Technology, and a blend of sea buckthorn and moisturizing plant butters like mango and shea butters, to deliver essential fatty acids and antioxidants to the hair while proactively protecting against environmental stressors.
Key ingredients: Bond Cure Technology, plant butters, and sea buckthorn
Size: 3.4 and 8.4 oz.
Pros:
- Has Bond Cure Technology to repair broken hair bonds
- Helps to moisture and protect hair against environmental stresses
- Made without parabens, phthalates, and formaldehydes
Cons:
- Strong scent might be overpowering to some
Best for: coily or curly hair
SheaMoisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Smoothie Cream isa great option for natural or chemically-treated hair. Jamaican black castor oil helps to lock in moisture to help create the optimal environment for hair growth, while shea butter works to define curls without weighing them down. Anti-inflammatory peppermint also makes an appearance in the formula, which can help to soothe an itchy, dry scalp.
Key ingredients: Jamaican black castor oil, shea butter, peppermint oil
Size: 11.5 and 12 oz.
Pros:
- Affordable price point
- Helps promote hair growth by moisturizing hair and preventing breakage
- Helps soothe dry, itchy scalps
Cons:
- People with fine or thin hair might find it to be too greasy
Best for: color-treated hair
Aveda’s Botanical Repair Intensive Strengthening Masque is powered by a blend of nourishing plant lipids and butters, and the formula penetrates deep into the hair shaft to bring back damaged hair into its former glory. To further prove its effectiveness, the mask has been clinically shown to repair broken bonds when hair is colored or chemically treated and provides further protection, all while making hair look and feel softer and smoother after every use.
Key ingredients: plant lipids and plant butters
Size: 0.85, 6.7, and 15.4 fl. oz.
Pros:
- Targets all three key layers of the hair shaft
- Prevents future breakage
- Uses plant lipids and butters to nourish and repair broken ends
Cons:
- Pricey
Best for: fine or thin hair
If you want a hair mask that is moisturizing but lightweight enough so as not to leave hair greasy, consider Sachajuan’s Hair Repair Treatment. It contains a combination of algae extracts and wheat proteins, a duo that effectively strengthens and smooths. You’ll also find dimethicone, a type of silicone, in the formula, which can help to create a moisturizing barrier for the hair, but can also cause build-up—something to keep in mind as you shop.
Key ingredients: Ocean Silk Technology and wheat proteins
Size: 7.4 and 33.8 fl. oz.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Helps to strengthen and smooth hair
- Provides a moisturizing barrier for hair
Cons:
- Dimethicone may produce build-up
Best for: dry hair
Kiehl’s Deeply Repairative Hair Pak helps to prevent breakage and strengthen hair that’s been worn down by sun exposure, hot tools, and chemical treatments. The mask contains ingredients that you might typically find in a salad, but it can offer the same nourishing benefits for your hair. Formulated with a blend of olive fruit oil, avocado oil, and lemon extract, the mask delivers a burst of nutrients needed to restore shine, re-hydrate parched hair, and ensure that all the moisture goodness is locked in.
Key ingredients: olive fruit oil, avocado oil, and lemon extract
Size: 8.4 oz.
Pros:
- Olive and avocado oils deeply nourish and hydrate hair
- Amino acids repair hair integrity
- Lemon oil adds shine back to dull hair
Cons:
- May leave fine hair feeling greasy
Best for: Bleached blonde or gray hair
Amika’s Bust Your Brass Intense Repair Mask can breathe new life into blonde hair. Made with violet-based pigments and plant butters, it balances brassiness and boosts vibrancy while helping to moisturize and strengthen hair between salon visits. The mask also helps to reinforce weakened bonds due to bleach, thanks to the brand’s Bond Cure technology, while vegan proteins replenish proteins that have been lost, and in turn, help to eliminate split ends and breakage.
Key ingredients: Bond Cure Technology, vegan proteins, ultra-violet pigments
Size: 8 oz.
Pros:
- Violet-based pigments lift brassiness from bleached-blonde hair
- Moistures hair with a blend of plant butters
- Helps to reinforce weakened bonds and prevent breakage
Cons:
- Made with silicone
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