Believe me when I say I know how annoying it can be to see your hair looking damaged, dry, or thinning without knowing what to do about it. Instead of spending your hard-earned money on salon treatments, you can easily repair your hair and bring it to its old glory by using one great thing: a hair mask! Today, I will tell you all you should know about hair masks and how often you should do hair masks!
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What is a Hair Mask?
A hair mask is a type of hair treatment that is made up of a number of ingredients — usually including oils, or different kinds of butter. The difference between conditioners and hair masks is that conditioners affect only the outer layer of hair strands, while hair masks get into the hair strand and actually help the hair heal and become healthy, shiny, and overall stunning.
Just like shampoos and conditioners, hair masks are also formulated differently for different types of hair. Depending on your hair type and the issue you’re having with it, you can choose a hair mask that will help you achieve the results you are looking for. Whether you have fine or 4C hair, straight or curly, damaged hair or greasy, there is a great hair mask that will make it better.
Today, I will tell you about hair masks, how to properly apply them, and some of the best DIY masks for each type of hair that you can make with ingredients lying around at home. So let’s get right into it.
How Often Should You Do a Hair Mask?
Hair masks are a great way to repair your hair from just about anything. Not only that, but hair masks are also recommended for maintaining healthy hair if you want to keep it healthy for longer.
We’ve established that they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. There are different types of masks for use on damaged hair, dry hair, greasy hair, curly hair, or fine hair. You should also know the ideal frequency that works best for your hair.
Let’s talk about how often you should do use hair masks based on your type of hair. I will also provide you with my favorite DIY natural hair masks for each type of hair. I hope the recipes will sound tempting enough for you to be willing to try them out!
Fine Hair
Fine hair is usually thinner by nature which makes it less voluminous than other types of hair. What you want to achieve with the hair mask is additional volume and more texture. You can easily do that by using a special hair mask for fine hair that you will apply once a week!
DIY Hair Mask for Fine Hair: Egg + Banana + Olive Oil
For this mask, you will need one ripe banana, two eggs, and one tablespoon of olive oil. If you want, you can also add one tablespoon of honey. Mix the ingredients, and add the mixture to the hair. Make sure you leave it on for at least 15 minutes and be careful not to smear it all over your clothes or furniture!
The banana will help add moisture to the hair, while the egg will add protein. These two ingredients plus the honey will repair damage, add shine to the hair, and help with hair growth. On top of that, the olive oil will strengthen the hair and make it lustrous!
Thick Hair
Thicker hair is more textured, and it usually looks naturally frizzy and full of volume. With this type of hair, what you want to do is make it look voluminous without it being all over the place. You can easily achieve that with a proper hair mask that will also prevent your hair from thinning.
For thicker hair, I would recommend using a mask once or twice every week. That will keep the hair moist and looking good!
DIY Hair Mask for Thick Hair: Aloe Vera + Coconut Oil
For this mask, you will need two teaspoons of Aloe vera gel (preferably fresh) and three teaspoons of coconut oil. If your hair is on the damaged side, you can also add one teaspoon of honey for extra repair.
Mix the ingredients well, apply them to wet hair, and then leave them to work their magic for about half an hour before you rinse the hair. Not only will this mask make your thick hair look gorgeous, but it will also make it look smoother and bouncier.
Curly Hair
Curlier hair is one of the most difficult types of hair to deal with. Some curls can be really stubborn and each can go in its own direction, but you can make them easier to style by using a good hair mask. On top of that, you can also use the mask to make your curls more defined. You’ll see the difference it makes next time you try out your curling iron or your hair sponge.
If you have curly hair, you should use your hair mask once a week. Anything more can lead to damage to the hair or the curl pattern.
DIY Hair Mask for Curly Hair: Coconut Oil
Frizzy, curly hair is usually drier than other types of hair, so the main purpose of the hair mask you use has to be to add moisture to the hair. Because of that, I recommend using pure coconut oil only – it will help with defining the curls and keeping them hydrated.
All you need is to warm up a small cup of coconut oil. Make sure that it is not too hot before applying it to your hair. I recommend using your fingers to go over the curls and make sure they are all soaked in coconut oil.
Leave the mask for about half an hour before you wash the coconut oil off the hair. Make sure to use good clarifying shampoo after because coconut oil can leave the hair looking greasy if you do not remove it entirely.
Greasy Hair
The problem with greasy hair is not only that it can look limp and lifeless, but it also requires washing several times a week. Even using the best shampoos and conditioners can sometimes not be enough to make the hair look nice, but once you start using a proper hair mask, that will all change.
With greasy hair, I would recommend using the hair mask only once a week. That will help you bring life to the hair without making it look oilier.
DIY Hair Mask for Greasy Hair: Egg White + Lemon Juice
If you have hair that gets greasy fast, you will benefit from an egg white mask. Egg whites have a lot of protein, and that can help you get rid of excess oil in the hair. The lemon will also help reduce oil and help the hair get shinier and naturally lighter.
For this mask, you will only need the whites from one egg and juice from half a lemon. Mix the ingredients, then apply them to the hair. Leave the mask on for about an hour before you rinse it out. You should see the effect it has on the hair even after one use!
Dry Hair
Hair masks are supposed to make the hair vibrant and full of life. We use them for adding moisture to the hair as well. So if you find your hair looking a bit dry, it would be best if you turn to a good hair mask to fix that.
Since the hair is dry and lacking moisture, you can go in with the mask once or twice a week. However, if you see that your hair is getting healthier, you should turn it down a notch and use the mask only once a week or once every other week.
DIY Hair Mask for Dry Hair: Egg + Honey + Apple Cider Vinegar
I personally love this mask because it gives my hair a lot of shine while keeping it nourished and hydrated. The best thing about it is that you probably have these ingredients in your home! You can make it right now and see how amazing your hair will feel afterward.
You will need one tablespoon of each ingredient. If your hair is longer or thicker, you can use two or more tablespoons of each ingredient. Once you apply the mixture of ingredients to the hair, you should leave it to do its thing for 40 minutes before washing it out.
Damaged Hair
I know that you must be wondering how to bring life back to damaged hair. Since we all love using our hair tools and styling our hair often, we damage it and leave it looking worse than before. Instead of always relying on deep conditioners to restore your hair, you can also use hair masks to do the same and give you even better results!
For damaged hair, it is best if you use hair masks two or even three times per week. Once you see that your hair is going back to its healthy state, you can start using the mask less often.
DIY Hair Mask for Damaged Hair: Egg + Avocado + Olive Oil
Most hair types are very delicate and can get damaged easily. If you have damaged hair and you are dreading going for a trim, you can try to bring the hair back to life with this mask. All you will need is half an avocado, one tablespoon of olive oil, and one whole egg.
When you mix the ingredients, you should apply the mask to your hair with your fingers. Make sure to really get into the hair and cover it with the mask from the roots to the ends. Leave the mask on for about 30 minutes before you rinse it off.
This mask is perfect for damaged hair. Thanks to the avocado, you will get your strength and shine back. The egg will promote new hair growth, and the olive oil is perfect to make the hair moist and full of life. So when you combine all of this, you will see that the mask will rejuvenate your hair instantly!
How to Use a Hair Mask Properly
I know what you might be thinking: What is there to explain about applying hair masks to hair? You have all done it at home at some point, but do you actually know what steps you need to follow to give your hair the full treatment it deserves? If the answer is no, I am here to guide you through the process and tell you exactly which steps you should follow when applying hair masks!
- First of all, you need to wash your hair thoroughly. The hair will only be ready to soak up the mask when it is clean. So make sure that you wash the hair with good shampoo and conditioner before applying the mask.
- Brush your wet hair and make sure there are no tangles in it whatsoever.
- If you have thicker hair, you will want to section it so that you can apply the mask to each part more easily. However, if your hair is thinner or shorter, you can just skip this step and move right to the next one.
- Apply the mask to the hair from the roots to the ends. Using your fingers, gently massage the mixture in the hair for at least 20 seconds. Once you apply the mask, you should not brush it anymore – just use your finger to get rid of any tangles.
- To get the most out of the mask, you can wrap your head in a hot towel or maybe even add a shower cap to it to keep it warm. The compression will also help the mixture really get into the hair.
- Leave the mask on the hair for the instructed time, no more and no less. Usually, masks take anywhere from 10 to 60 minutes to do their magic, depending on the ingredients.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly, making sure there is no residue from the mask left in it. I would recommend doing the rinse with lukewarm water only. Once you finish the wash, you will be good to go on with your day and enjoy your new and improved hair!
FAQs on Hair Masks
There are a ton of hair masks that you can choose from, both store-bought and homemade. If you are not sure what kind of mask you need for your hair, you can consult a professional hairstylist or maybe look it up online to see what other hair lovers have recommended.
Before I wrap up this guide, I would like to mention some questions that others have asked online in regards to this topic. Let’s see what else you should know about hair masks!
Is a hair mask better than a conditioner?
Hair masks are better than conditioners for addressing specific hair issues, as it actually gets into the hair strands and repairs them. On top of that, it helps rejuvenate the hair and moisturize the scalp.
With that being said, I do recommend using hair masks a few times a month and conditioners more regularly. A good combination of both used as often as needed can actually benefit the hair more than using only one of them!
What happens if you leave your hair mask overnight?
When it comes to DIY masks, there is no reason why you should not be able to leave them in your hair overnight. However, store-bought masks or masks that are rich in protein can lead to some damage if left in the hair for longer than necessary.
I would recommend checking the instructions to see how long you should keep the hair mask on your hair. That would be your safest bet if you want to avoid any unnecessary damage!
You Are Ready to Pamper Your Hair?
You know what they say: Give, and you will receive. This is true for your hair as well. As long as you treat it nicely and pamper it with good masks, shampoos, and conditioners, it will give you back by making you look stunning.
Your hair is a really big part of how people perceive you and how you present yourself. Why not go the extra mile to make sure your hair looks as good as possible? I hope that after reading this guide, you have realized the benefits of using hair masks and you will start using them on a regular basis!
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