The most difficult part of managing any type of hair is coming up with a wash day routine. Yes, we all know that hair needs to be shampooed and conditioned but what next? What else do we add? What does it do? How does it work? Those are all questions that we have asked ourselves when trying to come up with a routine that WORKS!

A hair masque is a good place to start. Hair masques are packed with hydrating ingredients that go a long way in sealing in moisture while rejuvenating hair strands. However, many would say that they do not see the importance of hair masques. The problem isn’t the masque but rather the fact that many do not know how to use masques to extract the most from them.

Stay tuned as we dissect the ins and outs of hair masque treatments.

1.  Know what kind of results you expect from a hair masque.

When it comes to hair masques, consider what you want your mask to accomplish before going mask shopping:

• If you want to hydrate the feel of dry and damaged hair, look for an intensive hydration hair masque
• To combat a greasy-feeling scalp, go for a clay-based masque that will absorb excess oils
• If your aim is to tame curly hair, look for a moisturizing masque packed with plant oils to help calm the look of frizz
• To preserve your dyed hair color, look for a masque with protective and restorative ingredients

2. Ensure that you apply the masque correctly so as to extract all the potential from the product.

If you just slapped some product on to the ends of your hair, waited for 30 seconds, and then washed it out, chances are that you’re not going to be impressed with your hair masque.

In order to achieve the very best results, you need to apply your hair masks in a certain way.

Here’s how…

It is best to apply a hair masque to wet/freshly washed hair. Your aim should be to distribute your hair masque as evenly as possible throughout your hair. However, there should also be a focus on the most damaged parts of your hair, which will usually be the ends. Once your mask has been spread through your hair, gently massage it in before leaving it on for at least five minutes. The longer you leave it in, the more time you’ll be giving the ingredients to penetrate into your hair. Once you’re done, rinse the masque out.

You should always shampoo before using a masque but then condition your hair after. The shampoo will open up your hair cuticles, allowing your strands to receive more goodness from the mask. Then, your conditioner, as well as the rinse that comes after it, will ensure that you remove any product residue that could weigh your hair down.

3. Bring on the heat!!!

This can truly be game-changing. Adding heat after applying a hair masque will allow certain ingredients to be more easily absorbed when warm.

A heated cap can be the easiest and most efficient way to add heat to your wash day routine– imagine a shower cap that’s heated – that’s exactly what a heated cap is. You simply place one into the microwave to warm it up before use – you can then apply this directly over your hair and hair masque.

A hooded dryer can also work for adding heat to your hair masque- if you feel like adding that extra fancy.

The marriage of all of these, make the addition of a masque to wash day a spectacular experience. However it is important to remember that the biggest DON’T of masquing is forgetting that less is more. A masque does not need to be applied every day or every time you wash. 

HAPPY MASQUE DAY, ALL!