What Does A Hair Mask Do?
You may already know that hair masks are fantastic for the hair, but do you know why? If you don’t, that’s okay! In this article, you will learn precisely what a hair mask does to your hair. That way, you can be confident about using it as part of your hair care routine. Let's get right into it.
Moisturize Hair Deeply
A healthy head of hair must have adequate moisture levels. When your hair is dry, it becomes brittle and prone to damage. Hair masks combat that with moisturizing ingredients that provide your hair with deep hydration. Some of the most common moisturizers in hair masks include penetrating oils, fatty alcohols, water, and humectants (which draw moisture into the hair).
Protect the Hair
Hair masks provide your hair with a protective barrier against moisture loss, UV rays (in some cases), and damage from styling. Typically, silicones, oils, and butters form the protective barrier. With adequate protection, you’ll experience less hair dryness, thinning, and breakage.
Enhance Manageability
Hair masks help to improve the manageability of your hair. The emollients, oils, silicones, and fatty alcohols all smooth the hair cuticle. The smoother your hair cuticles are, the easier it’ll be to comb through and style your hair.
Repair Hair Damage
Some hair masks contain proteins, and these proteins repair damaged spots in the hair shaft. So, if you have not been nice to your hair and it's showing signs of damage, a hair mask can help.
Split ends, however, are not affected by hair masks. The only way to get rid of split ends is to cut them off.
Improve Your Hair’s Look and Feel
When you use a hair mask regularly, you'll notice your hair changing for the better. With all of the hair-loving ingredients in hair masks, your hair will look shinier, smoother, and softer. And you won’t be the only one who notices it!
Note: Not all hair masks are created equal. So, if you try one hair mask and it doesn’t work for you, try others. You’ll eventually find one that meshes well with your hair chemistry.
Hair Masks Can Do Damage
In some situations, hair masks can damage your hair, and being aware of these instances can save you a lot of hassle. Overusing hair masks, for example, can result in dull, lifeless strands that are difficult to style.
Using the wrong hair mask can also be damaging. Protein-based hair masks should only be used on low porosity hair (strands with flat hair cuticles) on occasion. This is because adding too much protein to low porosity hair can result in protein overload. In addition, hair masks should not be applied for longer periods, or more frequently, than recommended.
As you can see, hair masks work wonders for your hair when used correctly. So, when using a hair mask, you should always follow the instructions on the packaging (and the recommendations in this article) and be careful not to overdo it with protein-based masks. We wish you the best as you take steps to properly care for your hair.
Author: Andrea Reyes
Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.