The best hair masks in my wash routine are the ones that revive my strands whenever they look crunchy, dry, or dull. I like to think of them as conditioners on steroids—these deeply hydrating formulas quickly repair split ends, boost shine, and restore softness in just a few washes. Over the course of two months, we put more than a dozen stylist-recommended masks to the test on a variety of hair types.
Our top pick, the Gisou Honey Gloss Ceramide Therapy Hydrating Hair Mask uses honey to deeply hydrate strands for strong, shiny, and frizz-free hair—exactly what you need for the looming dry, winter weather. Below, find standout nourishing formulas for curly hair, budget-friendly drugstore picks, and more. Our top hair masks for dry, damaged hair Best Overall: Gisou Honey Gloss Ceramide Therapy Hydrating Hair Mask, $44 Best Leave-In Treatment: K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, $75 Best for Frizz: Medicube Rosemary PDRN Hair Mask, $24 Best for Curly Hair: Cécred Reconstructing Treatment Mask $44 Best for Color-Treated Hair: Olaplex Weightless Nourishing Mask, $44 Best a Sleek Finish: Kevin Murphy Hydrate Me Hair Mask, $48 Best for Breakage: Lilyeve REPAIRTURN Silky Banana Gelato Hair Mask, $26 $22 What we love: What could improve: Shiny, glossy finish Pricey Sweet honey scent Thick texture might weigh down fine hair types if you use too much Detangles well This thick hair mask is full of hydrating ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and bee garden oil (a proprietary 8-oil blend that includes almond oil, coconut oil and passionflower seed oil) to keep your hair shiny, frizz-free, and soft.
With its sweet (but not overwhelming) honey aroma, it feels like a decadent treat to apply. You can use it two different ways: in the shower for 5-7 minutes before completely washing it out—or as a pre-wash treatment by applying it to dry strands for 20 minutes before hopping into the shower and washing it out. It detangles strands and helps target winter hair woes: from static, to flyaways and dullness, making it a stellar choice to protect and nourish hair during the colder months.This thick hair mask is full of hydrating ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and bee garden oil to keep your hair shiny, frizz-free, and soft.
It smells as sweet as honey and is a real treat to apply. Once you coat your hair fully, you can leave it on for 5–7 minutes in the shower before completely washing it out, or on for 20 minutes as a pre-wash. Our testers loved how well it detangled strands and noticed hair was shiny and silky after using.
Best Leave-In Treatment: K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask What we love: What could improve: Quick treatment time Expensive Helps repair very damaged hair fast No scent Can be used out of the shower The formula is a little bit goopy and dries out on the nozzle over time, which can clog up the pump This best-selling leave-in hair treatment gained popularity on TikTok for delivering results you can see. Mikel Slate, a NYC hairstylist, says it’s a client favorite for those dealing with dryness, dullness, and damage. It’s also not a huge time commitment: “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-dried hair post-wash and let it activate for four minutes before continuing with the rest of your hairstyling.) What we love: What could improve: Softens very dry hair Might feel a little drying if you use too much Ideal for thick curly hair If you have coily or low-porosity hair, we recommend this nourishing hair mask treatment that has a blend of keratin ferment (which works to strengthen strands), hydrolyzed rice (a protein that thickens hair), sea buckthorn oil (to hydrate), and squalane to seal in moisture.
All of this helps repair and balance hair from the inside out. It also smells amazing with notes of sandalwood, warm musk, and jasmine, which makes it a treat to apply every time. The formula is thick (you don’t have to use much to fully saturate your hair),, and improves shine after one to two uses.
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