11 Hair Masks to Revive Dull, Dry, and Dehydrated Strands

Best Overall

K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Molecular Repair Hair Mask

$75 at Amazon $75 $29 at Sephora View on K18hair.com

Hair Type: All hair types, color-treated | Key Ingredients: K18 peptide | Size: 0.5-3.38 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

The crème de la crème of hair masks manifests in this formula from K18. This leave-in treatment clinically reverses damage in four minutes, the brand claims and our tester can vouch for the results. Formulated with K18's patented peptide technology, the mask targets damage from bleach, heat, color, and chemical treatments. The peptides work to build bonds and make hair feel stronger and healthier. After showering (just using shampoo), you'll apply the product to towel-dried hair. After waiting four minutes, you'll immediately feel how silky and soft your locks are, just like our tester experienced. Despite not using conditioner, she still felt an added boost of hydration. Bonus: the product boasts a light floral fragrance that our tester found irresistible.

Gwen, tester with thick and curly hair: "K18 is the best leave-in mask I've ever used. I love the scent and the way my hair looks after using it. I feel like my color stayed more vibrant while using K18 on alternate shampoo days."

Best Hydrating

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Mask

$25 at Amazon $25 at Sephora

Hair Type: All hair types | Key Ingredients: Mirsalehi honey, hydrolyzed wheat protein, vitamin B | Size: 2.5-7.8 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Mask will satisfy your hair's thirst for hydration. Crafted with mirsalehi honey (a natural humectant that helps your hair retain moisture), hydrolyzed wheat protein (strengthens hair and improves water retention), and vitamin B (repairs damage and locks in hydration), this multitasking mask gives your hair the surge of nourishment it needs while also minimizing frizz and sealing your follicles for smooth, shiny results. The thicker cream takes a few moments to lather throughout the hair, but once rubbed in, it begins working its magic. After five to seven minutes, your hair will absorb the nutrients it needs to look and feel its best.

Samantha, tester with curly hair: "If there is such a thing as hair heaven, this product elevated me to that place—it felt that good to my hair. I was actually surprised at the level of hydration this product provided my hair in such a short time. My hair looked fluffier, like full, fluffy cotton."

Best Strenghening

Amika The Kure Intense Bond Repair Mask

$42 at Amazon $24 at Sephora $24 at Kohls.com

Hair Type: All hair types | Key Ingredients: Bond-cure technology, plant butter, sea buckthorn | Size: 3.3-16 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There's no better feeling than strong, healthy hair, and Amika's hair mask will give your strands the reinforcements they need to get there. Formulated with bond-curing technology, sea buckthorn, mango borage, and shea butter, the creamy product transforms dry and brittle hair into fuller, shiny strands. The repairing mask works by locking in hydration (sans any greasy residue). Our tester was really impressed with how manageable her hair felt after using this mask. It was easier to detangle, and she noticed fewer flyaways. We only wish this mask came in a tube or bottle, as the jar is a bit hard to open with wet hands in the shower.

Ashley, tester with straight, fine hair: "I love how healthy my hair feels after using this. All of my damaged, bleached ends feel so much stronger and softer. I also love that it’s not too heavy or greasy for my fine hair and that I didn't lose volume after using it."

Best for Color-Treated Hair

Cecred Reconstructing Treatment Mask

View on Cecred.com

Hair Type: All hair types, color-treated, chemical-treated | Key Ingredients: Bioactive keratin ferment, hydrolyzed rice, sea buckthorn oil, squalane | Size: 2.5-10 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Color and chemically treated hair types understand that certain products simply won't do. Luckily, this buzzy product from Beyoncé's hair care brand is intended to repair hair from heat styling, dye, and chemical treatments. Using bioactive keratin ferment, this rich mask fixes damage and reduces breakage by twice as much, the brand claims. It's formulated without parabens, silicones, sulfates, and phthalates, which can be harsh on sensitive skin and color-treated dos. Plus, it touts hydrolyzed rice, sea buckthorn oil, and squalane to enhance shine, seal cuticles, and prevent split ends and frizz. Our tester found these hydrating ingredients super nourishing to her dry mane, but if your hair is oily, you may want to opt for another pick.

Bianca, tester with hair type 4b: "Being blonde and coily is a choice many people wouldn't recommend, but I wanted to try it. With this mask, I've had zero breakage and very little shedding during my wash days, and my hair stays hydrated much longer."

Best for Exfoliation

Nutrafol Build-Up Blocker Exfoliating Scalp Mask with AHAs and Jojoba Esters

$49 at Sephora

Hair Type: All hair types, color-treated | Key Ingredients: AHA fruit acids, jojoba esters, Australian wild berries | Size: 4 oz | Cruelty-Free: No

Similar to the skin on your face, your scalp could use some good exfoliation. A solid scrub can help improve growth, prevent dryness, remove buildup, and create a healthier environment for your hair over time. This mask uses jojoba esters to obtain a gentle yet effective physical exfoliation that removes buildup. It's also fused with AHA fruit acids, which chemically exfoliate the scalp. This dual exfoliation removes dead skin cells and can help stimulate new hair growth. While many exfoliating products are difficult to wash out, our tester had no issue rinsing out the product. It didn't leave a greasy residue behind, and we love that it comes in a tube with a precise tip for easy application.

Mikey, tester with straight hair: "My hair felt quite refreshed and detoxified after use. I noticed a reduction in the amount of product buildup in my scalp, and my hair felt softer, lighter, and less weighed down after using this mask consistently."

Best for Frizz

Moroccanoil Hair Mask

$18 at Amazon

Hair Type: All hair types | Key Ingredients: Argan oil, glycerin, panthenol | Size: 2.53-16.9 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

While frizz is a totally normal component of most hair types, we understand that you may want to minimize it for a sleeker look. This mask from Moroccanoil blends argan oil, glycerin, and panthenol (a form of vitamin B5) to deliver a moisturizing and frizz-minimizing effect. Glycerin, a natural humectant, locks in hydration and seals your follicle for smooth, gloss-like hair. The thick consistency takes more time to apply to the hair, but our tester found the results worthwhile. She loved how moisturizing the mask was and visibly noticed fewer flyaways, frizz, and split ends. Plus, the light amber scent leaves your strands smelling extra good.

Lauren, tester with 2a/2b hair: "I really liked how soft, shiny, and frizz-free it leaves my hair. It is definitely super hydrating."

Best for Shine

IGK Overnight Bond Building Dry Hair Mask

$36 $26 at Amazon $36 $16 at Sephora $36 at Target

Hair Type: All hair types, color-treated | Key Ingredients: Vegan silk proteins, bond-building technology | Size: 1.7-5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Looking for a quick and effective fix that considerably boosts shine? This leave-in spray from IGK sprays on dry hair and doesn't require a rinse. It's formulated with vegan silk proteins (to add shine and softness) and IGK's bond-building technology (to strengthen your strands). It adds a gorgeous sheen to dull hair and takes your locks from limp to voluminous professional blowout quality. The simple application and fast results—our tester's hair immediately looked shinier and felt softer—make this untraditional mask a standout in our books. It's worth mentioning that the product does have a strong fragrance that may be too much for some, but we appreciate that it doubles as a hair fragrance.

Katie, tester with thick hair: "Right after application, my hair felt softer, smoother, shinier, and my frizz was immediately eradicated. I absolutely loved this effect."

Best for Curly Hair

Color Wow Hair Mask

$45 $15 at Sephora View on Bonanza.com

Hair Type: All hair types, color-treated | Key Ingredients: Blue sea kale, hydrolyzed vegetable protein complex, sea kelp, algae blend | Size: 1.7-7.5 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Curly hair types understand that their locks need some extra support (we are talking about hydration without weighing down stands). This hair mask from Color Wow packs a moisturizing punch while enhancing your hair's natural texture. The creamy mask is lightweight and gives your curls a gorgeous gloss-like sheen. Blue sea kale, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, sea kelp, and algae blend to give your locks a nourishing coating, which improves hair's texture and minimizes frizz. It's worth noting that if you have finer hair, you may want to opt for a lighter pick or ensure that you thoroughly wash out all the product so you aren't left with a greasy residue.

Ashley, tester with hair type 2c: "This hair treatment mask gave me salon-style texture. I have damaged hair, split ends, and breakage, and after every use of the Color Wow Money Mask treatment, my hair felt silky and transformed. This product gave my dry scalp a powerful moisturized feeling."

Best for Breakage From Bleach

Davines Nounou Hair Mask

$40 at Amazon View on Davines.com

Hair Type: All hair types, colored, chemically-treated | Key Ingredients: Vitamin E, tomato extract | Size: 2.5-8.87 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you bleach your hair, your strands may require a bit more TLC, and this richly packed hair mask from Davines is designed to act as a repairing treatment to rehydrate and replenish dry, brittle, and broken manes. The thick cream coats your hair, infusing it with moisture and adding a pillowy softness. Plus, tomato extract, known for its restorative properties and improvement with hair growth, gives your hair a hydrating sensation without weighing down any volume. The results are smoother, healthier hair that feels nourished without falling flat.

Chelsea, tester with hair type 2b: "I recommend this product to my die-hard blondes, who need to repair breakage and brittleness. The shine it brought to my highlights was the first thing I noticed after using this hair mask, and it didn't cause my hair to feel heavy after blow-drying it out."

Best for Sensitive Scalp

Kérastase Masque Intense Régénérant Hair Mask

View on Kerastase-usa.com

Hair Type: All hair types | Key Ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, abyssine, vitamin E | Size: 6.76 oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

You may be weary of trying new hair products if you have a sensitive, dry, or easily irritated scalp. But fear not—this pick is actually intended to provide you with some relief. Thanks to hyaluronic acid, this gentle mask hydrates the scalp while refreshing the hair. Abyssine and vitamin E work together to give you that silky, soft feeling we crave. The duo also strengthens your bonds and repairs any damage. Our tester loved how cooling this felt on her head and appreciated how the light fragrance lingered on her hair throughout the day (although that may not be for everyone).

Karla, tester with wavy hair: "My hair felt healthier and stronger, and it didn't irritate my dry scalp. Instead, it helped soothe some of the dryness."

Best for Fine Hair

Olaplex No. 8 Moisture Mask

$30 $21 at Amazon $30 $21 at Sephora $30 at Ulta

Hair Type: All, Damaged | Key Ingredients: Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate | Size: 3.3 oz | Cruelty Free: Yes

Like most other products from Olaplex, the No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask deserves all its accolades. It touts a proprietary technology that repairs the disulfide bonds that are broken when hair is colored or chemically treated, helping it stay stronger and healthier for longer. It’s super creamy, but it’s easy to spread throughout the hair, regardless of length and texture. The bottle itself is relatively small, but a little bit of product goes a long way. Results do take time—you won’t notice anything much after one use—but the more you use the mask, the fuller your hair will begin to feel. The intensive treatment also works wonders on split ends and tangles, reducing the amount of knots and shedding. Those with curlier hair might want to follow up with a hydrating leave-in conditioner after using the mask. Though curls are still receiving the intended bond repair and strengthening treatment, they might require a little extra moisture to avoid feeling coarse and dry.  

Bella Cacciatore, news editor with straight hair: "I have a lot of hair, but the individual strands are thin, so it's perfect for my hair type as it didn't weigh it down or make it feel greasy. Right after using the mask, my hair felt soft, silky, and bouncy."