Glamour

Hair

16 Best Hair Masks to Repair Dry & Frizzy Hair, Tested & Reviewed

 

The benefits are undeniable.

Limp curls, dull color, split ends, hair that just doesn’t seem to grow—there’s a hair mask for every concern. Think of these hair-care products as conditioners on steroids, thanks to ingredient lists with an extra dose of nourishing oils and deeply hydrating formulas, which work to quickly repair damaged hair, revive color, and restore softness—no matter your hair type, length, or texture.

Sign. Us. Up. Over the course of two months, Glamour editors and contributors—all with varying hair types and concerns—put more than a dozen stylist-recommended hair masks to the test to see if we could really get shampoo-commercial hair. We evaluated each hair product on all of the most important attributes: ingredients, consistency, scent, and—of course—whether it delivered on promises like shinier hair or less frizz. Our top pick, the K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, received rave reviews all around for its ability to restore dry, dull, and damaged hair.

Best Overall: K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask

This best-selling, easy-to-use leave-in hair treatment—which launched in 2020 but gained popularity on TikTok in 2022 after landing at Sephora—is a client favorite for those dealing with dryness, dullness, and damage, says Mikel Slate, a NYC hair stylist. Not only does it deliver serious results, but it’s also not a huge time commitment. “It’s a mask that gives immediate results, and the application time calls for four minutes, so you’re not spending 10 minutes in the shower patiently waiting,” he says. (Simply apply it to towel-dry hair and let it activate for four minutes before continuing with the rest of your styling.)

Glamour contributor Bella Cacciatore tested it out for a few weeks hoping to reverse “years of bleach damage” that had left her hair looking “scraggly and frail.” In her K18 mask review, she says, “Though it feels somewhat unnatural to skip conditioner and apply a mask fresh out of the shower, after doing it a few times I can’t imagine going back to traditional masks. There’s no killing time in the shower while it does its thing or getting out to let the mask sit and then back in to rinse. The mask quickly absorbs into your hair with minimal residue and is very lightweight—moreso than a traditional conditioner or leave-in—making it a great option for finer hair like mine.” Of the hair perfector, she said, “It’s shampoo-commercial hair in a bottle.”

What we love: Quick treatment time; actually helps repair damaged hair strands
What could improve: Not much of a scent; expensive
Key ingredients: K18Peptide
Sulfate-free: No
Size: 1.7 oz.

Best Softening: Pantene Miracle Rescue Deep Repair Conditioner with Melting Pro-V Pearls

Glamour senior beauty editor Ariana Yaptangco is a big fan of Pantene’s affordable deep conditioner, which promises to visibly repair six months of hair damage. The Pro-V Pearls contain bond-building lipids and concentrated nutrients to strengthen hair over time.

“After an enlightening trip to the hair salon where my stylist referred to my ends as ‘crunchy,’ I started using hair masks in earnest,” says Yaptangco. “I saw immediate results after just one use—my hair felt noticeably softer and was easier to untangle. Treatment time is quick, and the signature Pantene fragrance always smells great.”

What we love: Affordable; suitable for all hair types; color-safe
What could improve: May be too heavy for thin hair
Key ingredients: Concentrated nutrients, bond-building lipids
Sulfate-free: No
Size: 8 oz.

Best Budget: SheaMoisture Bond Repair Masque

We’ve tried other SheaMoisture hair masks over the years—all to rave reviews—but this new launch may be our favorite yet. It’s part of a four-step system that includes bond repair shampoo, conditioner, leave-in conditioner, and this mask. They all work together to infuse the hair with emollients like amla oil and, of course, shea butter, plus a proprietary amino blend that works to repair broken bonds and improve overall hair health.

Our testers said they noticed less shedding when brushing and experienced its smoothing properties. “It has great slip, which makes it easier to brush out tangles,” says Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley, who saw measurable results even when she used the hair mask alone. “I wish it had more of a scent, but I was definitely impressed by how tangle-free, smooth, and shiny my hair was after using this one.”

What we love: Works well on tangles; shine-boosting; budget-friendly
What could improve: Have to use all four products for best results
Key ingredients: Amla oil, shea butter, amino blend
Sulfate-free: No
Size: 11 oz.

Best for Damaged Hair: Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask

Olapex makes a lot of great hair masks, but if you’re up against dry, damaged hair, the brand’s No. 8 is the way to go. It’s suitable for all hair types and, in addition to moisturizing, it uses a patented technology to rebuild the broken bonds, improving the actual health of the hair.

This product is so good that even self-proclaimed “hair mask skeptics” on our team backed it. “I like that it’s actually repairing my hair, instead of just adding oils to make it feel softer and shinier—which it does as well, by the way,” said Cacciatore. “I also love the lightweight texture, which is perfect for my bleach-damaged yet fine hair. I’ve been using it weekly instead of conditioner to prep for taking my hair the lightest it’s ever been.”

What we love: Suitable for all hair types; actually repairs hair damage
What could improve: Very small container
Key ingredients: Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate
Sulfate-free: No
Size: 3.3 oz.

Best Overnight: Sachajuan Over Night Hair Repair Mask

If you hate to to wait around in the shower or, worse, hop out only to have to hop back in again 20 minutes later, this Sachajuan hair mask is a great overnight treatment. It works its magic while you get your (quite literal) beauty rest. You don’t even have to rinse it out in the morning (though you can if you wish). The product’s star ingredients—carrageenan, rhodophycea extract, and dimethicone—work hard to improve texture and tame frizz, leaving hair softer and silkier.

Earley uses it as a leave-in conditioner of sorts every time she washes her hair, which is typically twice per week. “Unlike other hair masks I’ve tried, it’s lightweight and milky,” she says. “Still, it leaves my wavy, frizz-prone hair nice and soft.”

What we love: Lightweight; no waiting time since it works overnight
What could improve: May not be moisturizing enough for very thick hair
Key ingredients: Dimethicone, carrageenan, rhodophycea extract
Sulfate-free: No
Size: 3.4 oz.

Best Fortifying: Goldie Locks Ultra Hydrating Signature Hair Mask

If your hair is starting to look a little lackluster—dull with some split ends, for example—reach for this jar. The rich and creamy hair mask is not only one of the best-smelling products we evaluated, but it’s also packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and hair-healthy oils to restore your mane’s natural beauty. A combination of marula oil and white truffle help lock in moisture, while vanilla bean and biotin strengthen the hairs and ginseng and rose water smooth.

“I was really impressed by this hair mask,” says Earley. “The scent is so delicious, you almost want to eat it. But what really hooked me was just how soft it made my hair, which has become increasingly coarse and brittle from all the sun and chlorine this summer.”

What we love: Great scent; rich and creamy formula is very hydrating without weighing hair down
What could improve: For best results, you have to rinse with cold water.
Key ingredients: Marula oil, vanilla bean, biotin, ginseng, rose water
Sulfate-free: No
Size: 6.8 oz.

Best for Curly Hair: TXTUR Overnight Bond Building Mask

For a fraction of the price of luxe salon brands, try TXTUR, which is readily available on Amazon and has earned a 2023 Glamour Beauty Award. The creamy product, specifically created with textured hair in mind (coils, kinks, curls, and waves) contains ingredients like moringa oil to add hydration while boosting shine, aloe vera to smooth improve scalp health, and quinoa peptides to improve elasticity so less breakage occurs over time.

Glamour special projects editor Ruhama Wolle is a huge fan of TXTUR’s Overnight Bond Building Mask. “This mask works wonders, leaving my hair noticeably healthier, frizz-free, and manageable,” she says in her review. “I was initially worried about greasiness, as I prefer masks that add moisture without the unwanted oily residue. However, this product pleasantly surprised me by leaving my hair soft and smooth. To prevent any mess, I wrap my hair in a T-shirt while using it. I don’t usually apply product overnight, but this has become a mainstay in my routine.”

What we love: Not overly oily; great for frizzy hair; users like the scent
What could improve: Some users wish it targeted tangles more effectively.
Key ingredients: Moringa oil, aloe vera, quinoa peptides
Sulfate-free: Yes
Size: 10 oz.

Best for Fine Hair: Ouai Treatment Hair Mask

Fine strands can fall flat under the weight of heavy hair masks, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need the extra hydration hair masks can provide. Enter: Ouai Treatment Mask. Specifically formulated for medium-to-fine hair types, this lightweight formula repairs damage (using shea butter and hydrolyzed keratin) and maximizes shine without leaving hair greasy or stringy (thanks to panthenol).

“I have very fine but curly hair (and lots of it!), so I need something thick enough to hydrate it all without weighing it down,” said one user. “This mask fits the bill and makes my hair feel so soft and bouncy—the slip is great."

What we love: Suitable for fine hair; great for curly hair
What could improve: Jar is hard to open, especially with wet hands
Key ingredients: Panthenol, shea butter, hydrolyzed keratin and protein
Sulfate-free: Yes
Size: 8 oz.

Best Luxury Hair Mask: Guerlain Paris Abeille Royale Double R Radiance & Repair Mask

Guerlain’s Abeille Royale mask might be a splurge, but it’s a 2023 Glamour Beauty Award winner for a reason. The liquid gold (quite literally, as you’ll see when you squeeze the product out) is suitable for all hair types and is meant to restructure and fortify the hair fibers, reviving color and boosting shine. It’s powered by phytokeratin to target any keratin loss, floral oleo-extract to enhance color and shine, and phytoceramides to strengthen each individual piece of hair.

Glamour senior West Coast editor Jessica Radloff reviewed the product and was a fan—even though she typically thinks hair masks are a waste of time. “A hair mask has to be stellar for me to use it, because frankly, I don’t have the patience for them. But Guerlain’s Abeille Royale is truly in a league of its own, and one that I will gladly take the time for,” she says. “It includes a double formulation (which, to be honest, is really fun to use when you squeeze the bottle) to replenish the fiber structure from the root while also reviving my color—and adding shine—thanks to a floral oleo-extrait. I leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing out (just make sure to also massage it into your scalp and all over your strands) and my hair is softer, shinier, stronger, and way more manageable.”

What we love: Leaves hair exceptionally shiny; great scent
What could improve: Very expensive
Key ingredients: Phytokeratin, floral oleo-extract, phytoceramides
Sulfate-free: No
Size: 6.7 oz.

Best for Blonde Hair: Shu Uemura YÅ«bi Blonde Anti-Brass Purple Balm

Is your blonde hair starting to fade or turn brassy? Devin Toth, a stylist at Salon SCK in New York City, suggests Shu Uemura’s YÅ«bi Blonde Anti-Brass Purple Balm to bring the color back to life. “This mask is excellent for blondes who are trying to prevent and rebalance brassy yellow and orange tones,” he says. (The brand’s purple shampoo also comes highly recommended by our editors.) All hair types can use it, and in addition to the color neutralization from the purple, you’ll reap the benefits of more moisturized hair—a.k.a. less frizz and more shine, plus hair that’s less likely to break.

It’s pricey, yes, but our testers had only good things to report back. One user with platinum tones said it completely eradicated the brassiness she was noticing thanks to the summer sun. And even though her hair’s texture is a bit rough from color and environmental damage, she said this product left her hair “silky soft.”

What we love: Color corrects; moisturizes; great scent
What could improve: Expensive
Key ingredients: Japanese cool pigment, Japanese white peony
Sulfate-free: No
Size: 6 oz.

Best Hair Mask for Brassy Hair: Amika Bust Your Brass Intense Repair Hair Mask

“Amika’s Bust Your Brass Intense Repair Hair Mask is such a rich and luxurious mask packed with vegan proteins and plant-based butters,” says Dan Williams, stylist and salon owner at Studio Dan Williams. “It helps strengthen while providing rich moisture, and the purple pigment is amazing for blonde refinement and even on natural gray hair.”

Users say it does effectively color-correct brassy tones, but they also tell Glamour that they experience equally impressive smoothing properties. “I use this on my balayage to keep the tones from getting muddied in between salon visits,” said one tester. “I love that it’s quick and it doesn’t stain my hands the same way some of the really deep purple conditioners do. Plus, the treatment time is nice and quick!”

What we love: Doesn’t stain hands; quick treatment time; color-corrects and hydrates
What could improve: Some users don't like the smell
Key ingredients: Bond cure technology, plant butters, ultraviolet pigments
Sulfate-free: Yes
Size: 8 oz.

Best for Split Ends: Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Mask

Not quite ready for a chop but starting to notice an unusual amount of breakage or split ends? Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair hair mask to the rescue. This editor favorite contains a whole host of oils, vitamins, and antioxidants that treat hair with TLC. Think rosehip oil for hydration, algae extract for fortification and scalp health, and B vitamins for volume and shine.

Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour’s senior beauty editor, counts it as one of her hair secret weapons. “When my hair has had one too many DIY blowouts, I’ll smooth on this super-creamy hair mask,” she says. “I usually take a glob in the shower and leave it on while I lather my body wash. My dry ends are instantly replenished, and I’m always amazed at how smooth and silky my hair is the next day.”

What we love: Very hydrating; shine-boosting; great scent
What could improve: Very thick, so it requires extra care to wash it all out
Key ingredients: Rosehip oil, algae extract, B vitamins
Sulfate-free: No
Size: 8 oz.

Best Hair Mask for Breakage: Oribe Hair Alchemy Strengthening Masque

Celebrity hairstylist Marc Mena points to Oribe’s Glamour Beauty Award–winning Hair Alchemy Strengthening Masque as a great hair mask for addressing breakage, due to its robust blend of chia seed, bio-fermented bamboo leaf, plant-based protein, shea butter, and castor seed oil. This powerful treatment prevents breakage while deeply conditioning, detangling, and softening brittle hair; castor seed oil protects and seals the cuticle, he explains.

 

Users with fine hair like the lightweight texture of this formula. It’s not as thick as some others we evaluated and doesn’t leave any oily residue behind. We also liked the citrus scent, though some users who are more sensitive to fragrance thought it was actually a bit too strong.

What we love: Suitable for fine hair; lightweight
What could improve: Scent is polarizing; may not be conditioning enough for thick hair
Key ingredients: Chia seed, bio-fermented bamboo leaf, plant-based protein
Sulfate-free: Yes
Size: 5 oz.

Best Bond Repair Hair Mask: Verb Bonding Mask

Glamour associate beauty editor Danielle Sinay is a big fan of Verb’s Bonding Mask. Formulated with amino-bond complex, matura butter, and manketti seed oil, it moisturizes and protects the hair while relinking broken protein bonds. “Having dyed and heat-styled my hair for most of my adult life, I’m no stranger to hair damage, split ends, or breakage. Fortunately, they have nothing on Verb’s Bonding Mask,” says Sinay. “Now that I’ve been using it weekly, my hair is soft, silky, and smooth, and shedding significantly less every time I brush it. Plus, it smells amazing!”

What we love: Works well on damaged hair; great scent
What could improve: Some users (particularly curly-haired) say it doesn’t address tangles the way they’d hoped.
Key ingredients: Amino-bond complex, mafura butter, manketti seed oil
Sulfate-free: Yes
Size: 6.3 oz.

Best for Strengthening: Kérastase Paris Genesis Strengthening Mask

Toth and Raven Hurtado, hairstylists at Maxine Salon in Chicago, both recommend this five-minute treatment, which uses edelweiss native cells and gingerroot for detangling and strengthening. “This mask will help nourish any breakage and split ends, and also conditions to provide smooth hair,” says Hurtado. Apply a quarter-size amount from ends to midlengths and let it do its thing.

Users say that despite the quick treatment time, they reaped similar results to masks that require 15 to 20 minutes. “My hair was not only shinier but also stopped shedding as much,” said one tester who called the product “incredible.”

What we love: Suitable for all hair types; quick treatment time; great scent
What could improve: May be too thick for very fine hair
Key ingredients: Edelweiss native cells, gingerroot
Sulfate-free: No
Size: 6.8 oz.

Best Drugstore: It’s a 10 Miracle Hair Mask

It’s a 10 is proof that you can get a great hair mask in the aisles of your local drugstore. This hair mask, which contains ingredients like dimethicone to smooth and keratin to strengthen, is a versatile pick too. You can use it as a daily conditioner—or add it to your hair care routine as a weekly deep-conditioning mask to help repair any damage and prevent frizz and split ends.

“My friend swears by this stuff—and has for years,” says Earley. “I tried it on my coarse, wavy hair and was pleasantly surprised. It didn’t moisturize enough to make brushing out tangles much easier, but my hair was definitely smoother and shinier once I dried it.”

What we love: Widely available and budget-friendly, can be used as a daily conditioner or a deep conditioning mask
What could improve: Not as moisturizing as other options
Key ingredients: Keratin amino acids, hydrolyzed collagen, apricot kernel oil, sweet almond oil
Sulfate-free: Dimethicone, keratin
Size: 8 oz.

What is the best hair mask to use?

Of course, certain hair masks work better than others, depending on your specific concerns. “Look for a mask that targets what your hair is in need of most,” says Raven Hurtado, hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago. “For instance, if your hair feels damaged or has split ends, opt for a mask with bond rebuilders. A mask that has conditioning oils would also help dry or frizzy hair.” Similarly, a bond-repair mask like K18’s does wonders to bring heat-damaged or color-treated hair back to life, while a deep-conditioning treatment is key if it’s strong, bouncy curls you’re after. And if your color is looking dull? Consider a toning mask, like one of the purple ones above; it’ll be your new best friend.

As far as ingredients are concerned, “look for oils, butters, and other emollients that add moisture to the hair,” says Bumble and Bumble hair stylist and educator Joey Gallagher. For those with fine, straight hair, go for a lightweight mask that delivers the nutrients your hair needs without weighing it down. Those with thick hair types, like curly, coily, or natural hair, can opt for more nourishing masks—and can even rinse them only partially out so they work like a leave-in conditioner.

How do you apply a hair mask?

It’s important to read the package instructions, as the exact process varies from product to product, but as a general rule of thumb, use a hair mask once or twice a week to avoid drying out your hair. NYC hair stylist Mikel Slate also recommends applying most hair masks after you’ve rinsed out your shampoo: Lightly towel-dry hair, then comb the mask through the ends to ensure an even application. Leave the mask on for at least 10 to 15 minutes (keeping a claw clip and a comb stashed in your shower will help if you have long or natural hair), and rinse with cold water, which will help boost shine. “Rinse your hair two times if you need to,” says Slate.