10 best hair masks for soft, smooth and manageable locks

Lifeless and lacklustre hair—what’s that?

Unruly hair is not only difficult to manage—feeling dry and limp—but it also accelerates breakage. The monsoon is known to augment frizz and dehydration, making hair more unmanageable than ever. So it’s no surprise that your mane perpetually looks flat, greasy, and unhealthy during this time of the year. The solution? A good, nourishing hair mask. However, it is important to pick a hair mask that suits your hair type. We chalk out a list of the best hair masks for all hair types.

Absolut Repair Hair Mask, L’Oréal Professional

If dry, brittle and frizzy tresses continue being a concern, despite oiling and conditioning your hair, it’s time to upgrade to this quinoa protein-enriched mask from L’Oréal Professional. The no-frills formulation, big on nourishing ingredients, makes it the best hair mask for every hair type under the roof, including coloured and treated hair. You can expect softer, smoother and detangled locks after using this one.

Chronologiste Masque, Kérastase

If your hair is ageing at a rate faster than you would have thought, add this hair mask to your hair care routine. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, bisabolol, sodium hyaluronate, ceramides, and abyssine—a fermented molecule that stimulates the fibres of your hair—this luscious hair mask improves the shine, softness, and hydration level of your hair within the first few uses.

Bringadi Post Wash Hair Mask, Kama Ayurveda

A deeply nourishing addition to Kama Ayurveda’s cult Bringadi line, this post-shampoo hair mask is loaded with ingredients like coconut milk, Bhringraj, amla, rosemary seed oil, sesame oil, and castor oil to strengthen and moisturise your hair simultaneously. Its creamy texture is a bonus; however, it does feature a rather peculiar Ayurvedic scent.

Treatment Mask, OUAI

Products from OUAI—hairstylist Jen Atkin’s hair care line—have been a favourite among the likes of Padma Lakshmi, Jessica Alba, Chrissy Teigen, the Kardashians, and Masaba Gupta. The Treatment Mask is one of the best hair mask creations you’ll come across not only because it’s available in two variants—fine to medium hair and medium to thick hair—but also because the formulation is as good as a warehouse of nourishing ingredients such as coconut water, sunflower seed oil, rice bran oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, keratin, glycerin, and many botanical extracts. 

Leave-in Molecular Repair Mask, K18

This Leave-in Molecular Repair Mask from K18 has bagged several awards for being the best hair mask that doesn’t even need to be rinsed off. Loaded with peptides, hyaluronic acid, and wheat starch, this creamy yet lightweight product is an instant fix to tame frizzy hair and reverse damaged, dry hair within four minutes of leaving it on. And yes, you can skip conditioner or a hair mask, if you’re using this after shampooing your hair.

Miracle Hair Mask, It’s a 10

The Miracle hair care range from UK-based hair care brand It’s a 10 offers some of the best hair-revivifying solutions. The Miracle Hair Mask contains ingredients such as keratin, amino acids, hydrolysed collagen, sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, and linseed oil that take the hair from dry and damaged to silky smooth and deeply-conditioned within 10 minutes. The best part? Despite heavy moisturisation, this mask doesn’t weigh down the hair. 

Invigo Nutri-Enrich Mask, Wella

Easily the best hair mask by Wella, this one provides intense nourishment and leaves the hair smelling fresh and pleasant without causing excess oiliness. Enriched with vitamin E, Goji Berry extracts, panthenol, and oleic acid, this custard-texture mask fortifies brittle hair, alleviates unruliness, and also prevents breakage. 

Weightless Hydrating Mask, MoroccanOil

Created specifically for fine and dry hair, the Weightless Hydrating Mask from MoroccanOil is a lightweight rendition of the original Intense Hydrating Mask that could cause a greasy, flat mane for some. This one champions a blend of argan oil and shea butter to revive dull hair, deliver an optimal dose of moisture and keep the locks looking and feeling fresh. 

Frizz Dismiss Mask, Redken

Loved by professionals, Redken’s solutions are efficient and high-performing. This Frizz Dismiss Mask seems to be the best hair mask for the current weather, considering it tames frizz and makes the hair more manageable by offering protection against humidity. The pH-balanced formulation is headlined by Babassu Oil, a powerhouse of fatty acids to treat split ends and dryness and prevent damage caused by pollutants. 

Nutriplenish Treatment Masque Deep Moisture, Aveda

Prepared with a unique mix of moisture-boosting ingredients like mango seed butter, organic coconut oil, and pomegranate seed oil, this hair mask is as good as an express treatment for perished ends, weak hair bonds, and a dehydrated mane. The buttery soft texture nourishes every strand, leaving you with bouncier, smoother, and healthier hair.

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