There is completely no doubt that in the long run it is your diet and lifestyle which imparts shine to your hair, but with increasing pollution and neglect you need to pamper your hair with hair mask.
Hair masks are as beneficial, as regular conditioners with an added advantage of working their way inside the hair cuticle. While the conditioning products boast repairing hair damage, regular application of a hair mask can impart shine, help with manageability and work to nourish the cuticle.
Another benefit of using a hair mask is that most miracle-working mask ingredients can be found in your kitchen cupboard. To name but a few, yoghurt, honey, olive oil and avocado are all superb hair mask ingredients – and they’re easy on the purse-strings, too! What’s more, by popping these natural, healthy ingredients into your hair mask, you’ll be safe in the knowledge that no harsh chemicals will be worming their way into your precious locks. Regular use will disguise the damage by packing hair strands with moisture to make them feel thicker and stronger. The nourishing ingredients in the mask actually serve to close the hair’s cuticle, leaving even dry, over processed locks looking super shiny and feeling touchably soft – perhaps the most obvious benefits of using a hair mask of all!
For dry or wavy/curly hair that tends to frizz, opt for masks that are intensely moisturizing. For thinner or flatter hair types, look for masks with proteins to add strength. Women who have oily hair usually do not need a conditioning treatment unless their hair is badly damaged. They should use a wash-in/wash-out treatment since a hair mask can cause the hair to become oilier.
Favourite Hair Masks Ingredients
- Almond oil, very hydrating and great for finer hair types
- Jojoba oil, best for fragile, dry ends and highlighted hair
- Panthenol, moisturizer for dehydrated hair
- Argan oil for its nourishing and moisturizing properties
- Wheat protein, to aid penetration and helps prevent breakage; great for any hair type and particularly finer textures.
- Keravis ,increases the strength of the hair and protects from heat; best for damaged hair due to heat styling tools.
- Bamboo/fern extract, gives structure and strength to the hair; those with fine hair will benefit the most.
- Henna, coolent & helps to seal the cuticle and prevent split endss.
- Yoghurt, a mild astringent, and its high quantities of zinc and lactic acid make it a great (and natural) hydration treatment.
- Honey, a natural humectant, it attracts moisture. It’s also full of antioxidants and nutrients to feed hair follicles that house the live part of hair.
Applying Hair Mask
A hair mask should be applied to washed and towel-dried hair.
- Spread the mask evenly throughout your hair, bit by bit.
- Massage the product in from the roots to the tips then comb through your hair with your fingers.
- To optimise the mask’s effects, cover your head with a hot towel for at least 10 minutes. That way, the mask is in direct contact with your scalp so it can be absorbed more easily.
- Leave the mask on for up to 20 minutes, depending on your hair’s condition. Lather with cool water before rinsing gently.
The process takes less than 15 minutes.
Note: Avoid combing your hair once you have applied the mask; let it absorb everything it needs to restore itself.