As someone that has extremely fine hair that is also very long and colour-treated, it’s fair to say that I struggle to keep it in good condition at the best of times. Right now though, as I’m about six weeks overdue a cut and colour, my hair is crying out for some love. It’s scraggly, lifeless and the ends are dry and split. Sadly though, whereas many people turn to hydrating and repairing masks to help give their frazzled lengths some life, hair masks have always just made my hair greasy.
While I have my skincare and makeup routine down to a fine art, when it comes to my hair, I have always struggled to know exactly what it needs. Every mask, oil or spray recommended to me just seemed to make my hair feel weighed-down and limp. Upon explaining to a hairdresser that I had finally admitted defeat as I sat in the salon chair, she made me reel off a list of the masks I had tried. “Have you ever considered that you’re just using the wrong masks?” she asked. And the truth is, I hadn’t. I had always assumed that all hair masks did the same thing, just to varying levels.
But how wrong I was. From that moment onwards, I dedicated my nightly bath routine to finding the perfect non-greasy hair masks that still work to repair and nourish individual strands. So, with well over a year under my belt of trying just about every single hair mask out there, it’s safe to say my hair has been through it. The good news however, is that I have finally managed to compile a strong list of the products that offer my hair the nourishment it needs, without weighing it down. Keep scrolling for the very best non-greasy hair masks out there.
I love this hair mask. I gave some of the other, better smelling (although this one still smells amazing) Ultimate Blends formulas a go, but I found them a little too much. This aloe vera formula though proved just right. Free from weighty silicones, this 98% natural mask leaves hair impossibly soft. I have gone through three pots sits discovering it last year.
This is probably my favourite hair product of all time. It is the full package. It strengthens, nourishes, softens, adds shine and works to protect hair against further damage. Every time I look at the price of this I really wish I didn’t love it as much as I do.
With goji berry extract and olive oil, this 100% vegan mask sounded like it was going to be weighty, however I couldn’t have been more wrong. Not only does it smell divine, it also offers just the right amount of hydration for bouncy, shiny hair.
For some reason, when I see that a hair product has avocado oil in it, I automatically assume it’s going to be overly hydrating and leave my hair greasy. But honestly, the nourishing oils in this mask just seem to hydrate dry ends, without weighing down the roots. I’m a big fan.
This is a mask with a difference. Simply spray it on before bed and go to sleep. It’s as easy as that. Come morning your hair feels soft, looks shinier and is totally sleek. No need to rinse.
This particular range is marketed towards people that have long hair, but if you ask me, it’s perfect for just about everyone. It’s hydrating and gives a beautiful shine to even my most bleach-damaged strands. Oh, and it’s £3.
If you are unsure of what to do about your stressed-out hair, Redken’s Extreme range is a really good place to start. It uses a really impressive concoction of proteins, ceramides and lipids to reinforce the hair and drastically improve the condition. This is hardworking, seriously effective stuff.
Out of all of the mask brands I have ever tried, Kérastase probably came the most highly recommended. However, I definitely found certain formulas too thick. This one, though, left my hair feeling stronger, healthier and revitalised.
The thing I love the most about this particular treatment is that it comes in individual portions which stop me from wasting product unnecessarily or not using enough. For days when my hair is particularly dry and knotty, this stuff sorts me out.
Unlike most nourishing hair masks, this conditioning treatment is applied to hair before you shampoo it. Out of every single hair mask I have ever tried, this is without a doubt the most weightless but effective one out there. It’s a cult product for good reason.
This throwback treatment is probably the first ever hair mask I tried. Not only do all Aussie products leave your hair smelling unbelievably good, but I really do regard them as some of the best budget haircare products around. This particular three minute mask uses Australian balm mint and a variety of nourishing oils to leave hair soft and bouncy.
On first glimpse, this thick, almost putty-like mask looks like fine hair’s worst nightmare. However, free from weighty silicones, the results are surprisingly lightweight. It’s a little pricey, but it uses human-identical keratin to actually reconstruct and strengthen the hair without just coating it. Unlike anything else out there, I’d say this little mask is one of the best around.
So many masks make my flat hair appear even flatter (yes, apparently that is possible). This stuff, however, actually makes my hair seem more voluminous and bouncy. It’s definitely my most recent discovery, but has also quickly became one of my best. Using amino acids, it also works to strengthen hair. It’s long, silky lengths in a pot.
If you’re really not sure on the kind of mask your hair requires, this one is a good place to start. With 10 claimed benefits (from repair to anti-frizz), this mask caters for almost ever hair issue. The best bit? It only takes three minutes to get to work.
This natural mask is jam-packed with hydrating, nourishing ingredients. With olive oil, jojoba oil, cherry oil and rhizobian gum, it totally transforms brittle hair in just 10 minutes.
The first time I tried this, I found it a little too thick. However, when I gave it a second and third try, I realised that a little goes a really long way. Sitting somewhere between an everyday conditioner and an intense weekly treatment, it’s a great way to keep hair health ticking over.
