When Should You Not Use a Hair Mask?

 

Everyone talks about how amazing hair masks are, and there’s a good reason for that. They can turn dull, weak, dry, or otherwise problematic hair into the mane of your dreams. But the truth is they’re not always going to be necessary. In addition, there will be times when using them could be detrimental to your hair. If you want to promote hair health, it’s important to learn when you shouldn’t use a hair mask. And that’s what we’ll cover in this article. Let’s get right into it! 

When You Have Moisture Overload

Contrary to what some believe, moisture isn’t always a good thing. Moisture overload is when your hair has too much moisture and not enough protein. Some of the most common signs of moisture overload include: 

  • A mushy feel when you touch your hair. 

  • A limpness that doesn’t go away when your hair dries. 

  • A softness that’s uncharacteristic of your natural hair texture. 

  • Too much elasticity - the hair seems to stretch further than it would normally. 

Hair masks are usually very moisturizing and could only make things worse for your hair if it’s already over-moisturized. The only exception is when your hair mask is protein-rich; in this case, you should be able to use it without a problem.

When You Have Protein Overload 

Just like there can be too much moisture, there can also be too much protein in the hair. Protein overload is when your hair has too much protein and not enough moisture. When you have this hair condition, you’ll notice some of the following signs: 

  • A feeling of dryness and brittleness. 

  • Dullness that seems to persist. 

  • A hard, straw-like hair texture. 

  • Excessive hair shedding (more than 100 hairs per day). 

Applying a protein-based hair mask to hair with too much protein can worsen the problem. Of course, if your hair mask is moisturizing and doesn’t contain protein, you can use it on your hair.

When Your Hair is Already Healthy, Strong, and Moisturized 

Hair masks should only be used as needed. When you use them on hair that doesn’t need it, you could face issues like the ones mentioned above. In addition to that, you could end up wasting time and money on a hair treatment you simply didn’t need. 

When You Already Used One Recently 

Hair masks are designed to be used once a week (or twice a week in rare cases). If you’ve already used a mask in the last week, consider whether your hair needs another treatment so soon. If it doesn’t, the hair mask could do more harm than good. 

When You Have Buildup

Do you have dust or flakes on your roots or down the length of your hair shaft? If you don’t have dandruff or other scalp issues, you may have natural or product buildup. In such cases, you don’t want to add product to the equation via a hair mask. Instead, remove the buildup with a clarifying shampoo to give it a clean slate. 

So, there you have it - when not to use a hair mask. As you can see, hair masks aren’t always the best product for your hair. At the same time, there are situations where you could definitely use a hair mask. In addition to regular hair mask treatments, it’s important to get your hands on a good leave-in conditioner like Daily Dose. It’ll keep your hair looking and feeling amazing between your deep conditioning treatments. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best as you take meaningful steps toward proper hair care.

 

 

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.