The Best Face Tanners For a Natural Glow
- Hair
- The Best Hair Mask
The Best Hair Mask For Dry, Damaged And Bleached Hair
By Franchesca Villar
-
If your hair's feeling a little worse for wear, maybe it's been bleached, over-styled or just hasn’t seen a trim in a while, it might be time to bring out the big guns. Hair masks are the intensive treatments that go deeper than your everyday conditioner, working to repair, hydrate and revive stressed strands from the inside out. Rescuing brittle ends, boosting moisture or protecting your colour investment is the bread and butter of the right hair mask, which can make a noticeable difference in how your hair looks and feels.
From bond-repairing treatments for bleached lengths to rich, buttery formulas for extra hydration, we've rounded up the best hair masks that deserve a spot in your routine.
Why Use A Hair Mask?
Hair masks are designed to give your hair a concentrated hit of goodness. Unlike your daily conditioner, they work on a deeper level to address specific concerns like damage, dryness, or colour fade.
They’re especially useful if you regularly use heated tools, bleach your hair, or spend a lot of time outdoors. Over time, all of this can compromise your strands, so adding a mask once or twice a week is a small switch that can lead to softer, shinier, stronger hair.
What To Look For In the Best Hair Mask
- Hydration heroes: Shea butter, argan oil and coconut oil are brilliant for dry, coarse or frizz-prone hair.
- Strengthening actives: Ingredients like keratin, proteins or bond-repair tech help reinforce weak, damaged strands.
- Colour-safe formulas: Essential for bleached or highlighted hair to prevent fading and further stress.
- Lightweight options: If you’ve got fine or easily weighed-down hair, go for masks that are water-based or silicone-free.
The Best Hair Mask To Have On Your Radar
Best Hair Mask For Dry Hair
Biolage Full Rescue Restorative Mask
£38.00Designed to quench even the driest lengths, this rich mask helps restore softness and elasticity to thirsty hair. It’s particularly good for coarse or thick textures, thanks to its ability to deeply hydrate without leaving hair feeling heavy.
Kérastase Chronologiste Masque Intense
£33.00 £56.00 (42% off)A salon-grade treatment with a luxurious texture, this formula combines hyaluronic acid, abyssine and vitamin E to intensely hydrate and revive dry, tired-looking hair. Expect smoother, shinier and visibly revitalised results.
Best Hair Mask For Bleached Hair
Schwarzkopf Professional Bond Repair Nourishing Mask
£16.74Formulated with advanced bond repair technology, this one’s a winner for bleached or chemically processed hair. It helps rebuild internal hair bonds, improving resilience and shine post-colour treatment.
Paul Mitchell Forever Blonde Dramatic Repair
£18.95 £25.05 (25% off)Formulated especially for lightened hair, this leave-in treatment uses a blend of proteins and safflower oleosomes to repair and hydrate damaged strands. It helps boost shine and manageability, restoring softness to brittle lengths.
Best Hair Mask For Damaged Hair
Selective Professional Oncare Intensive Black Mask For Damaged Hair
£15.75A deep repair treatment created for chemically treated, brittle or weakened hair. Its rich, creamy formula works to restore elasticity, improve texture and leave hair feeling noticeably stronger from root to tip.
Matrix Instacure Build A Bond Instant Revival Liquid Mask For Mega Damaged Hair
£19.80A powerhouse for seriously stressed hair. This bond-repair liquid mask targets internal damage, helping to rebuild hair fibres and minimise breakage. Ideal for hair that’s feeling fragile, overstretched or at breaking point.
Best Hair Mask For Hair Growth
Bumble and bumble Thickening Plumping Mask
£28.99 £39.00 (26% off)This strengthening mask is ideal for hair that’s fine or prone to breakage. It plumps each strand while reinforcing the hair fibre, helping reduce fall-out and supporting your goal of longer, healthier hair over time.
ESPA Active Nutrients Super Nourish Hair & Scalp Mask
£23.50 £34.00 (31% off)More than just a hair mask – this one treats the scalp, too. Its blend of natural oils and plant actives helps create the ideal environment for healthy hair growth, while conditioning the lengths for added softness and shine.
Best All-Rounder Hair Mask
Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-In Treatment
£33.00 £36.00 (9% off)Lightweight but highly effective, this multi-benefit treatment strengthens, detangles, protects against heat and reduces breakage in one go. Ideal for all hair types, especially if you’re looking for something fuss-free and hard-working.
Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask
£24.00 £28.00 (15% off)A cult favourite for good reason. This creamy mask leaves hair silky-soft and glossy without weighing it down. Packed with jojoba oil and sea buckthorn, it’s great for everything from everyday dryness to post-holiday damage.
How Often Should You Use a Hair Mask?
For most hair types, using a mask once or twice a week is a great way to maintain softness and strength. If your hair is extremely dry or damaged, you can bump this up to two or three times a week. For finer or oil-prone hair, once a week (or every other week) is usually enough, just focus the application on the mid-lengths and ends.
Always apply to clean, damp hair after shampooing. Leave on for 5-10 minutes (or longer if directed), then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm or cool water to help seal the cuticle.
Hair Mask Tips That Actually Help
- Use a wide-tooth comb to distribute the mask evenly through damp hair.
- For deeper results, wrap hair in a warm towel while the mask is on.
- Always rinse thoroughly, using cooler water to boost shine.
- Unless your mask is also designed for the scalp, concentrate it on the lengths and ends.
FAQ About Hair Masks
Q: What’s the best hair mask for dry hair?
A: Look for nourishing, hydrating formulas packed with oils, butters or ceramides. Masks like the Biolage Full Rescue Restorative Mask are ideal for injecting serious moisture into parched strands.
Q: What’s the difference between a mask for damaged hair and one for dry hair?
A: Dry hair needs hydration, while damaged hair also needs strengthening ingredients like proteins or bond-repair complexes. Some masks (like Matrix Instacure Build A Bond) target both.
Q: Can hair masks help bleached hair?
A: Definitely. Bleached hair often needs both moisture and structure support. Bond-repair masks like Schwarzkopf Professional Bond Repair Nourishing Mask work well for this.
Q: How often should I use a hair mask?
A: Once or twice a week is a good starting point. If your hair is very dry or damaged, you might benefit from more frequent use until it improves.
Q: Can hair masks help with hair growth?
A: Indirectly, yes. Healthier hair is less prone to breakage, so masks that improve strength and hydration can support length retention, which is key for hair growth goals.
Q: Should I apply hair masks to roots or just the ends?
A: Focus on the mid-lengths and ends, where damage and dryness are usually most severe. Only apply to the roots if the product specifically says it’s suitable.
For more on hair, have a read of our guide on How To Get Rid Of Frizzy Hair.
Written by Franchesca Villar
With a love for all things beauty, Franchesca is a skilled beauty content and copywriter with expert knowledge of all of the latest beauty trends. She loves perfecting her bouncy blow-out routine (no matter how time-consuming), is on the eternal hunt for the best glow-boosting product, and is a lip-gloss addict.
