As someone who has dealt with some form of hair damage most of their life, I recommend you take it from me: You need a good deep conditioner. I spent the majority of my teenage years heat-styling because I found my natural, curly texture just too difficult to work with on a daily basis. Little did I know that would cause some long-term damage that would be tough to repair.
What really helped save my lackluster locks was choosing the right repair masks and switching out my shampoo and conditioner. It takes effort, but you can spin those straw-like and damaged strands back into gold. Although I have a few of my own favorites I swear by, I tapped a few celebrity stylists to get their recs because, well, they're the experts. If you're in the market for a solid option in this department, keep reading for what they had to share below.
Ricky Mota, Celebrity Hairstylist
Alterna The Science of Ten Perfect Blend Hair Masque
"This is one of my favorite hair masks to use as a deep-conditioning treatment. Hair is always left deeply nourished, incredibly silky, and shiny afterward."
Amika Soulfood Nourishing Hair Mask
"I love that this is an ultra-rich mask packed with vitamins and nutrients to moisturize, soften, and give you smooth-looking hair."
Richy Kandasamy, Celebrity Colorist & R+Co Collective Member
R+Co Television Perfect Hair Masque
"When hair becomes dry and brittle, you need to restore the natural oils that are often stripped away. I recommend a deep hydrating mask like this once a week. This will give you a deep treatment, replenish, and hydrate.”
Marwa Bashir, Celebrity Hairstylist, Colorist, & R+Co Collective Member
R+Co Bleu de Luxe Reparative Masque
"The De Luxe Reparative Masque is super rich and pumps the hair full of moisture without weighing it down.”
Franck Izquierdo, IGK Co-Founder
IGK Antisocial Leave-In Dry Hair Mask
"This is actually a great leave-in spray mask that can double as frizz control in a pinch and won’t weigh the hair down whatsoever. Its lightweight mist adds a soft veil of shine and can temporarily smooth down the cuticle so hair appears vibrant and healthy.”
Other Beaty-Editor Favorites
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
Even though I don't heat-style my hair as much as I used to, my hair still suffers from lingering damage. This is easily one of the best leave-in treatments I've used to help repair that. It's a process, but the patented peptide technology really does the trick to help repair those strands.
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Repair Perfector
I've been a longtime user of this repair wizard and don't plan on stopping anytime soon. It's one of the best deep conditioners for damaged hair because it strengthens and protects the hair shaft from the inside out. My hair always looks noticeably revived after use.
Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask
Stylists always recommend Moroccanoil products for their deep hydrating abilities and argan oil–rich formulas. This particular mask is great for thick, curly hair since it adds a ton of moisture. I've found it to be one of the best masks for my 3C-4A curls.
Adwoa Beauty Blue Tansy Reparative Mask
This curl-enhancing mask helps reduce dryness and frizz that comes with excessive heat or chemical damage. It also detoxes with ingredients like Moroccan lava clay.
Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Mask
Celebrity stylists never stop talking about how fantastic Oribe products are, and I can confirm they are truly magical. The brand's Gold Lust Transformative Mask is a nutrient-rich formula that provides intense hydration and helps repair hair fibers at a deeper level.
Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask
Dae's soothing moisture mask is exactly how it sounds—a monsoon of rich hydration for your hair with desert-derived botanicals.
SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Treatment Masque
This drugstore option is a fan favorite for a reason. It features Jamaican black castor oil, which is great for extra hydration and damage repair. It is a bit on the thick side, so that's something to be aware of if you have finer hair and would like something lighter.
Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Hair Mask
This is a great mask for curls, particularly because it makes them softer, tangle-free, and easier to manage.
Bumble and Bumble Bond-Building Repair Treatment
Bumble and Bumble offers another fabulous bond-building treatment to help repair split ends and smooth the hair cuticle.
Virtue Restorative Treatment Mask
This is another personal favorite of mine that I use weekly. I love that the hydration it delivers lasts for quite a bit of time and a little of the product goes a long way to cover my thick, curly hair.
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