Hair masks have rescued my hair from many dry patches and chemical treatment shenanigans. Hence, curating the best hair masks for dry hair has been a relatively easy task for me, as many of the products I recommend stem out of my own, past haircare regimes. For others, I’ve sought out opinions from a plethora of product users with different hair types and textures, have researched a lot about their ingredients, and have dived deep into customer testimonials of people across the globe, through the internet. After all, this topic in haircare is one that’s close to my heart! 

Hair masks are intensely nourishing products that multiply the benefits of basic rinse-off conditioners, serums, and leave-in hair moisturizers. They deliver oodles of hydration, replenish the building blocks of the hair, and supply essential nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, and fatty acids. With this, hair masks help reduce frizz, strengthen, rehydrate, and alleviate damage in dry, limp, coarse, and dehydrated strands prone to breakage. 

People who don’t do much for haircare daily due to time constraints or their busy schedules can at least compensate for that over the weekend, rejuvenating with a soothing hair mask and a magazine in their hands. Besides, hair masks are an excellent way to spruce the hair routine, when your precious tresses ask for some more TLC.

Now, without much ado, let’s scroll away to see my product recommendations!

• 1
  Best Natural Formula

  Briogeo Don't Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask

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Not just for dry hair, this deep conditioning hair mask from Briogeo is also a treat for brittle and damaged hair as its prowess goes a step beyond hydration. Its antioxidant-rich ingredients boost nourishment in limp tresses, thereby protecting them from oxidative stressors. The formulation is a powerhouse of hydrolyzed proteins, which prevent dehydration and breakage of hair even in extremely humid climates (study by International Journal of Cosmetic Science). Moreover, the goodness of algae extracts and other infused humectants in the mask helps re-hydrate dry hair and prevent it from aging (research by Marine Drugs).

Key Ingredients: Algae extracts, b-vitamin, and rosehip oil

Free of: Parabens, phthalates, silicones, mineral oil, animal-derived ingredients, and harsh alcohols

Size: 2 fl. oz., 8 fl. oz., 12 fl. oz., and 32 fl. oz.

Cruelty-free: Yes

2

Best Budget-friendly Option

Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Hair Mask

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I was surprised to discover that being a drugstore product, this hair mask by Arvazallia offers benefits that even some luxury products fail to, while also being devoid of filler ingredients such as isopropyl alcohol. It harnesses the nourishing power of argan oil to replenish fatty acids and rich antioxidants in your hair, thereby preventing damage caused by environmental aggressors (study by the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology). Most customers have reviewed that this product reduces brittleness, breakage, and damage in the hair while imparting a softness in its texture that one cannot resist touching! 

Key Ingredients: Argan oil

Free of: Parabens, isopropyl alcohol, sulfates, mineral oil, and phthalates

Size: 8.45 fl oz.

Cruelty-free: No information

3

Best Antioxidant-rich Formula

It's A 10 Haircare Miracle Hair Mask

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Due to the immense recent popularity of this product, I’ve used it several times on my hair too, and boy were the results impressive! Fortified with natural ingredients, this hair mask for dry and frizzy hair caters to numerous hair problems with a single formulation — a haircare holy grail that breathes life into dull, limp tresses. The formula not only moisturizes intensely, it also restores elasticity, resulting in fuller and healthier hair. I highly recommend this mask to those who use heat styling tools on their hair often.

Key Ingredients: Extracts of the oat kernel, apricot kernel, linseed, and sweet almond oil

Free of: Silicones, mineral oil, and phthalates

Size: 8 fl. oz.

Cruelty-free: Yes

Quick Tip:

Use this product on damp, slightly towel-dried hair, right after shampooing. Leave this product on for 5-10 minutes at a stretch to reap its real hydration benefits. Rinse off thoroughly with warm water, followed by cold water to seal in the nourishment.

4

Best Antioxidant Booster

amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask

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The rich, creamy formula of this mask for very dry hair is not only a deeply hydrating hair product but also an indulgent one. I’ve always trusted and recommended amika for its natural and clean formulations, and like the others, the untampered moisturizing complex of this deep conditioning mask invigorates the hair and restores its health.

Having dived into its ingredient list and its properties, I’ve found that this deep conditioner is brimming with antioxidants, essential fatty acids, and a wholesome vitamin complex to provide multi-faceted nourishment to the hair. My personal experience with this product confirmed this hypothesis.

Key Ingredients: Jojoba seed oil and sea buckthorn oil

Free of: Parabens, sulfates, phthalates, isopropyl alcohol, animal-derived ingredients, and mineral oil

Size: 8 fl. oz. and 16 fl. oz. 

Cruelty-free: Yes

5

Best for Tight Curly Hair

PATTERN Beauty Intensive Conditioner for Tight Textures

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The most moisture-surging product among all of PATTERN’s hair masks is this intensive conditioner, and it is catered to improve the texture of tight curls and thick hair types. This award-winning product comprises rich moisturizing botanicals that replenish the hair with nutritive fatty acids, thereby safeguarding individual strands against breakage and dehydration. Plus, the fragrance of this conditioner is a treat to the nose — a sweet-smelling botanical blend of neroli, rose, and patchouli — perfect to elevate your hair care experience! 

Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, shea butter, safflower oil, and acacia decurrens flower extracts

Free of: Parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and silicones

Size: 3 fl. oz., 13 fl. oz., and 29  fl. oz.

Cruelty-free: Yes

6

Masque - Richest Moisture Boost

SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque

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SheaMoisture’s haircare ingredients have always been jaw-droppingly impressive, and comprising of the same, this hydrating hair mask is an excellent choice to quench severely dry hair. With humectants such as manuka honey and fig extracts, the product supplies oodles of moisture to your hair, whereas beeswax and botanical oils help lock the nourishment in. At least about 90% of this nourishing formula is naturally derived, sustainably produced, and ethically traded, which is not just great news for your hair but also for the environment. 

Key Ingredients: Manuka honey, mafura oil, shea butter, baobab oil, and African rock fig extracts

Free of: Sulfates, mineral oil, parabens, phthalates, and petrolatum

Size: 11.5 fl. oz., 12 fl. oz.

Cruelty-free: Yes

7

Best Natural Formula

Biolage Hydra Source Mask

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This hydrating hair mask for dry hair employs aloe extracts and sunflower seed oil to replenish the hair with moisture and seal it in with fatty acids. The product optimizes moisture balance in the hair, meaning, it won’t weigh your hair down or cause it to dehydrate just after a few hours of use. Customers are in love with how well this product boosts softness in their coarse, rough strands. One customer even said, “ This mask is luxurious. I use it once a week when I’m shaving so it stays in my hair for a bit. Leaves my hair feeling extra soft”. 

Key Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, candelilla wax, and aloe vera

Free of: Parabens, animal-derived ingredients, mineral oil, phthalates, and sulfates

Size: 16.9 fl. oz.

Cruelty-free: Yes

8

Best for Chemically-treated Hair

Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask

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Formulated with keravis plant protein and argan oil, the Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask makes coarse and dry hair strands soft and manageable. By increasing elasticity, this hair mask makes the hair bouncy and restores its vibrancy, especially if it has been colored or chemically treated. Further, I would recommend this product for people with wavy, curly, or textured hair as the formula can effectively cater to its needs and improve the curl pattern. Notwithstanding that, it is a great choice for all hair textures, including straight hair.

Key Ingredients: Argan oil and plant proteins

Free of: Sulfates, parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, and GMO ingredients

Size: 5.3 fl. oz., 6 fl. oz., 8.3 fl. oz., and 16.9 fl. oz. 

Cruelty-free: Yes

9

Best Non-greasy Formula

Pureology Hydrate Superfood Deep Treatment Hair Mask

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On trying out this hair mask, I fell in love with its rich and comforting pina colada-like fragrance that rejuvenated my senses, and I recommend this to people who seek the same benefits. I have seen the driest of hair types get a nourished and moisturized look after using this deep conditioning treatment just once. And, as someone who has colored her hair several times in the past, I’ve observed that this product doesn’t just restore the vibrancy of the tinted tips of my hair but also of my natural hair color through the lengths. 

Key Ingredients: Avocado oil and coconut extracts

Free of: Silicones, animal-derived ingredients, mineral oil, isopropyl alcohol, parabens, and phthalates

Size: 6.8 fl. oz. 

Cruelty-free: Yes

10

Best Fragrance

Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Hair Mask

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Never in my career experience has Moroccanoil failed me, and this hydrating deep conditioner for dry strands is no exception! Yet another product that leverages the “liquid gold of Morocco” aka argan oil, the product delivers oodles of moisture without weighing the hair down or making the scalp greasy. The product boosts your hair with essential antioxidants and fatty acids, which breathe life into dull and weakened hair and enhance its appearance. Moreover, the ambrosial blend of spicy amber, musk, and sweet floral notes in this mask makes it smell like a dream and indulges your senses!

Key Ingredients: Argan oil and linseed extracts

Free of: Parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, animal-derived ingredients, and sulfates

Size: 2.53 fl. oz., 8.5 fl. oz., and 16.9 fl. oz.

Cruelty-free: Yes

11

Best for Frequent Application

Remilia Green Coco Hair Mask

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For parched tresses that have been exposed to too much sun, pollution, and heat styling tools, this hydrating hair can be a soothing treat. Its formula brims with goodies such as botanical oils and hydrolyzed protein that replenish individual hair strands with a surge of moisture, and coat them with a protective barrier to combat external aggressors. This hair mask is a restorative treat for chemically treated, colored, and relaxed hair, as it rejuvenates those strands with its antioxidant properties. Brownie points — you can apply this product to your scalp to calm and nourish it. 

Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, coconut oil, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and green tea extracts

Free of: Animal-derived ingredients, parabens, isopropyl alcohol, phthalates, and mineral oil

Size: 6.7 fl. oz.

Cruelty-free: Yes

12

Redken All Soft Heavy Cream Treatment

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If your hair has a crunchy, rough texture that not only looks scruffy but also seems to poke your skin, then this deep conditioner for dry hair by Redken is an excellent investment for you. The formula harnesses the goodness of argan oil and kernel extracts in addition to soy protein to boost nourishment in your hair. The texture of this formula is soft and creamy, which melts onto the hair as a refreshing drink of water, thereby locking in moisture. Unlike many hair masks out there, this product has a relatively lean formula, which means it's exposing your precious tresses to lesser harmful chemicals. 

Key Ingredients: Argan oil, argan kernel extracts, and soy protein 

Free of: Parabens, sulfates, phthalates, animal-derived ingredients, and mineral oil

Size: 8.5 fl. oz.

Cruelty-free: No information

13

R+Co Television Perfect Hair Masque

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The benefits of this hair mask by R+Co are fourfold. To begin with, the hydration prowess of this mask is beyond comparison, as the infused humectants and botanical oils in the formula do too much of a good job of quenching the hair. With this, the product also improves the texture of crunchy, severely dry hair, and coarse hair, making it soft and touchable. Adding to that, the product also strengthens individual hair strands and enhances manageability, so pesky hair knots are no longer a bother. All in all, this product is worth your buck!

Key Ingredients: Snow mushroom extract, coconut oil, mururmuru butter, pequi oil, abyssinnian oil, and olive oil

Free of: Gluten, parabens, petrolatum, sulfates, and animal-derived ingredients

Size: 0.5 fl. oz. and 5  fl. oz.

Cruelty-free: Yes

14

K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask

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Instead of coating the hair with superficial hydration that wears off by the next wash, this repair hair mask for dry and damaged hair takes a more advanced approach and replenishes hair with its own building blocks — proteins. By doing so, the product seals in the nourishment that other hair products provide, thereby making your hair stronger and more resilient and justifying the name — molecular hair mask. Good news — since this is a leave-in mask and not a rinse-off, the product gets enough time to smoothen every strand and improve the hair texture overall.

Key Ingredients: K18 peptide, hydrolyzed wheat protein, hydrolyzed wheat starch, and vitamin E

Free of: Parabens, phthalates, animal-derived ingredients, and mineral oil

Size: 0.51 fl. oz. and 50 ml

Cruelty-free: Yes

Now that you’ve seen my product recommendations for the best hair masks for dry hair, scroll away to understand how to shop for the best ones.

Hydrating Ingredients: 

Look for hair masks that are really rich in humectants and emollients such as panthenol, shea butter, argan oil, honey, avocado oil, jojoba extracts, cocoa butter, etc., as these ingredients draw water into the mane and seal in the moisture to keep the strands quenched and hydrated. Silicones are good occlusives for hair as they help lock in nourishment. However, they can cause a buildup in your hair and scalp if used excessively, so you can opt for a silicone-free product if required. 

Strengthening Components:

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein, keratin, elastic, and amino acids are excellent additives in a hair mask as they replenish the building blocks of the hair. These ingredients create a protective barrier on your hair, which safeguards the shaft from environmental aggressors, strengthens them, and improves the vitality of your hair.

Application Time And Efficiency:

Some products take longer to work on your hair than others, as they may provide more intensive care with prolonged application. Others may take less time to condition the hair and make it more manageable. Invest in a product depending on the time you can afford to give to it, and the frequency of application based on your personal routine.

Longevity of Results:

Adding to the time factor, invest in a product that offers prolonged results, so you don’t have to keep applying the product very often, thereby saving time and preventing hassle. 

1. Seals in Moisture

Dry hair is prone to dehydration, which simpler hair moisturizers such as leave-in conditioners may not be able to prevent. Hence, a weekly/bi-weekly hair treatment with a mask is important to keep your hair quenched for several days at a stretch. 

2. Improves Strength And Elasticity

Owing to the intensive care they offer, hair masks strengthen individual hair strands with protein, vitamins, and fatty acids, thereby equipping them to combat external aggressors. These products also help boost the elasticity of one’s hair, making it bouncy and smooth.

3. Improves Texture And Softness

The overall nourishment offered by hair masks also helps improve the overall hair texture, impart softness and smoothness, and add some slickness to your hair. With regular use of masks, the results are so good that you cannot resist touching your hair!

Step 1: As every hair mask is different, read the product instructions carefully before you begin, to understand how much time you need to make for what and what should be your pre-mask and post-mask haircare routine.

Step 2: Wash your hair with a gentle shampoo, and follow up with your regular conditioner. It will be a good idea to use a clarifying shampoo at this stage, as it gets rid of any silicone buildup on your hair and scalp, thereby prepping the surface to absorb all the nourishment from the mask. Towel-dry your hair.

Step 3: Take a dollop of the hair mask and start applying it on the ends of your hair, spreading it upwards to coat its lengths. If the product is suitable for application on your scalp, scoop up a small amount and massage it on your scalp as well. 

Step 4: Massage the product well on the lengths of your hair. Distribute the product evenly with a wide-toothed comb, as this process also helps detangle knots, if any.

Step 5: Coil your hair into a bun and secure it in place with a shower cap. 

Step 6: Keep the product on for as long as instructed in the user manual. Then, rinse it off thoroughly with water. You can choose to towel-dry or blow-dry your hair after this.