Worried about hair loss? Sick of dealing with flyaways or broken strands? Concerned that you might be balding and want to take preventative measures? Sounds like you need a hair growth mask.
Hair health is so important. There’s no point growing out your hair in the hopes of long, luxurious locks when your hair is damaged and slowly thinning.
Wanting fresh and healthy hair is obvious but it’s also easy to get sucked down the path of ‘healthy hair’ products filled with chemicals and junk.
They have complex ingredient lists that end up leaving you with a much lighter wallet and the same hair problems.
Yet people keep buying them. They want an easy fix to all their hair problems and are willing to fork out the cash for a product with little real value.
The first step is to recognize that there is no miracle ointment – no spray, paste or cream that will give you the hair of your dreams. However, if you want something to nourish and rejuvenate your hair, then hair growth masks are the ideal product.
Simple, real ingredients make hair growth masks the most effective way to promote growth, keep your hair healthy and add an extra shine.
But first, what are they?
What is a hair growth mask?
A hair growth mask is a cream or ointment that nourishes your hair so it can grow back stronger and healthier.
A hair mask is just like a face mask, except it’s for your hair.
You can make a DIY growth mask yourself or you can choose from a long list of the top hair growth masks on the market – we’ll get to that later.
There is a variety of hair growth masks out there. Some focus on adding volume, promoting growth, or simply adding a healthy glow.
But how does all of this actually work?
How does a hair growth mask work?
Hair growth masks work by nourishing and hydrating hair strands which allows them to heal, grow and shine.
The exact details depend on the ingredients in the individual hair mask however here’s a general rundown.
Hair growth masks:
- Moisturize the scalp. This helps you control dryness and flakiness and keep this vulnerable part of your body in great condition.
- Keeps hair soft. By keeping the hair soft and supple, you’ll stop strands from turning brittle and breaking.
- Ensures proper circulation. This might surprise you but healthy blood circulation is essential for great hair growth. It ensures a steady supply of key nutrients to the hair follicles.
- Unclogs hair follicles. Blocked hair follicles can inflame the skin and cause breakouts of pimples or boils.
Hair masks have a range of benefits and the process is ridiculously simple. Gently massage the recommended amount through your hair and across your scalp. Then you’re done!
Once set, you can leave it for a couple of minutes or the rest of the day. Once again, it all depends on your goal, your hair, and your product.
As always, check the packaging for the exact details. But that’s not all you should check. Choosing a hair growth mask with the right ingredients is essential.
What ingredients make a good hair growth mask?
They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but you can (and should!) judge a hair mask by its ingredients.
Now, there is no ‘perfect’ set of ingredients. However, there are some key things we can look for. We want the active ingredients to provide the hair with what it's lacking, whether that’s bond rebuilders for damage repairs, oils for hydration, or vitamins for health.
However, we want this to be done through really simple and natural ingredients rather than chemicals or heavily processed products.
Let’s run through some of the most common hair results people are chasing and the quality ingredients we’d expect to see for each.
Thicker Hair
Ideal Ingredients: Licorice root extract, Nigella Sativa seed extract, Panax Ginseng Berry extract
In order for your hair to grow thick, it needs a regular supply of vitamins and nutrients which are carried through the bloodstream.
The Licorice root extract maintains this proper blood flow to ensure future thickness and the Nigella Sativa has a high concentration of thymoquinone to naturally restore hair growth in already thinning areas.
Longer Hair
Ideal Ingredients: Piper Nigrum seed extract, Licorice root extract, Native Kakadu Plum
The Kakadu Plum increases the production of elastin and collagen which strengthen hair and maintain hydration.
Piper Nigrum removes dead skin cells from the scalp, allowing room for new and longer growth.
Healthier Hair
Ideal Ingredients: Panax Ginseng Berry extract, Nigella Sativa seed extract, Native Kakadu Plum
The Panax Ginseng Berry increases dermal cells, a key defensive system that protects the body from harmful environmental factors.
Kakadu Plum also contains 100x more Vitamin C than an orange. Not only does this increase shine but it also prevents potential product build-up and disease.
What’s great about these ingredients is that they each have a whole range of overlapping benefits. All of these incredible ingredients (and more!) can be found in our Best Overall Hair Growth Mask - listed below.
Some Ground Rules - What are we looking for in each of these hair growth masks?
- Quality Ingredients. We’ll be avoiding products with artificial chemicals that might accidentally damage your hair. Only natural ingredients and extracts to promote healthy growth and shine.
- Value for Money. We don’t mind a few items on the pricier side. However, they need to prove they’re worth the extra cash. The most common retail price (in AUD) and a link to purchase will be written alongside every product.
- Effectiveness. There’s no point in buying a product that offers no result. Every product needs to have science backing it and positive reviews from both consumers and critics.
Now, it’s time to take your hair to the next level with this list of the Top 8 Hair Growth Masks.
Top 8 Hair Growth Masks that Work
Best Overall
If you’re looking for salon-worthy results at a great price, then the Hair Folli Hair Mask is just what you’ve been waiting for.
Natural ingredients, great value, and incredible results have well and truly cemented the Hair Folli Hair Mask as the Best Overall hair mask.
This hair mask is fresh on the market and Hair Folli’s first batch sold out on the very first week. And this popularity is unsurprising considering its wide range of benefits and fast results.
The first round of users has already been wowed by thicker and softer hair with less dull, dry or damaged hairs. And it’s all down to the rich natural ingredients.
In fact, the ingredients are so effective that we used them as our benchmark earlier when discussing ideal ingredients for achieving your hair goals.
It’s perfectly designed to give you a silkier, shinier feel and also open your hair up for future growth. The Hair Folli Hair Growth Mask also has a rich texture and a sweet smell. Users are already raving about how it’s a much nicer experience than similar brands.
Not to mention it’s great value, at only $47.00 for a 250 ml tub. Unlike many competitors, you won’t have to navigate your way through a range of inconsistent sellers with individual postage expenses and fees.
Simply head to the Hairfolli growth mask page to purchase the best overall hair mask. Plus, you’ll receive free worldwide shipping so you can enjoy the benefits sooner.
Most Popular
The Shea Moisture hair mask blew us away with its popularity. It has well and truly established itself as one of the most consistently impressive hair masks.
Its Google reviews average 4.6 stars from over 16,000 impressed users. They rave about everything from its outstanding quality, its effect on a range of hair types, and the bargain price.
The natural Jamaican Black Castor Oil leaves all types of hair feeling softer and shinier. It's also perfect for those with curvy and wavy hair.
You’re advised to leave it for up to 30 minutes or 10 to 15 minutes if you’re applying some heat from something like a dryer.
This hair growth mask offers an enjoyable experience due to its lovely buttery peppermint and castor oil smell. And those ingredients do more than just smell great. They also create a unique formula ideal for people who have struggled with other brands.
And let’s not forget that while you can’t put a price on great hair, $19 is an absolute steal for such a popular item.
Most Revolutionary
Olaplex products are some of the most effective and this ‘Repairing Treatment’ doesn’t disappoint. It’s perfect for people who have experienced a colour service or really any major hair changes.
The best hairdressers or experts can still accidentally weaken or even compromise your hair. However, this is unlikely to do any real damage as long as you address the damage relatively early on.
Olaplex’s Hair Perfector Treatment is perfect for supporting your hair and fostering new growth. However, even if you’ve never altered your hair in any way, your hair could still be suffering. Pollution, diet, and exposure to the sun are all major factors.
Honestly, the Olaplex Repairing Treatment is great for just about every type of hair and nearly every situation. But why is this?
Olaplex enlisted the help of chemists to design a now patented bond-building technology that repairs the damaged parts of individual hair strands. It quite literally revolutionized hair care and hair masks.
Now, you might be worried that this one sounds a little more intense than most of the other masks. After all, its core ingredient is bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimalaete, which seems a lot more hardcore than something like ‘honey extract’.
However, it’s really quite tame. The active ingredient simply acts as a ‘bond multiplier’ which helps new hair form, connect and grow.
The main problem in hair care products is normally an excessive amount of protein which ends up overloading and draining the hair. Luckily, Olaplex’s treatment formula is not nearly that aggressive and has a great balance of protein.
The vast majority of users have only great things to say, describing it as their miracle product.
Most Extravagant
Oribe is an iconic hair care brand known for the sense of luxury and prestige surrounding each product.
This Deep Treatment Masque is an experience designed to leave you with the silkiest, most hydrated and healthiest hair you’ve ever had.
Not only does it give you the smooth locks you’ve been searching for but Oribe’s carefully crafted hair growth mask keeps them strong enough to last.
In fact, it provides long-lasting UV protection so you can enjoy your time outdoors without the extra stress of slowly frying hair. It is undoubtedly a premium product however its range of health benefits makes it a worthwhile gift to yourself.
Most Time-Efficient
It can be easy to put off doing things we want to do because of the time they’d take. We want to cook our own meal but it’s easier to get takeaway.
What the K18 Repair Hair Mask does is remove that time hassle entirely by bringing it down to an easily achievable 4 minutes.
Plus, it delivers pretty much the same shiny, soft, and strong hair you’d expect from any of the other masks. However, it is worth noting that K18 achieves these same results through a combination of natural and synthetic ingredients.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, just worth noting. Additionally, its miracle time comes at a steep price with it being listed on Amazon at $75 for only 50 ml.
However, it has nearly as big of a fan group as the Most Revolutionary Olaplex, so it’s clearly worth the extra cash for some people.
Overall, if you’re willing to pay a premium price for it, K18’s Molecular Repair Mask will deliver great results at a much faster pace.
Most Nourishing
This is a unique hair mask from Sol de Janeiro, combining three traditional Brazilian kinds of butter - Cupuaçu, Murumuru, and Tucumã. These blend together to form a fully natural hair repair treatment filled with antioxidants and fatty acids.
Users enjoy speedy results due to this deep nourishment blend. The Triple Brazilian Butter mask also provides serious hydration and extra resistance to breakage.
Now, a common problem with these sorts of full-on, fatty hair products is that they clog hair follicles. Blocked hair follicles lead to thinner and weaker hair and if inflamed can become painful lumps and scars.
Luckily, this blend of Brazilian butters has been designed with this in mind and brings all the benefits without any sticky product build-up.
And while three different kinds of butter might sound like a pretty thick formula, it delivers salon-worthy results without weighing your hair down. That way you can keep your curls and unique style while the omega fats take care of any unwanted frizz.
Plus the application is super simple. You can enjoy spreading this nice-smelling cream through your hair and then let it sit for 10 minutes or even a bit longer if you have the time.
When you’re ready, be sure to rinse thoroughly. Also, if you want to take full advantage of the hair growth mask's protection against breakage, place a special focus on the ends of the hair.
Best for Humidity and Heat
An enriching and moisturizing formula, Kiehl’s Olive Fruit Oil Hair Mask is ideal for hair suffering from humidity and heat. It’s rich with avocado oils and olive fruit, designed to protect hair from humidity and help heal those suffering from sun damage.
If you live somewhere hot, then this is the ideal hair mask to help you tackle life without the stress of humidity messing with your hair.
And even if you live someplace a little colder, the benefits are still there. Particularly if you’ve ever damaged your hair through excessive heat styling.
You might not feel the damage straight away. However, addressing it sooner rather than later will allow you to grow shinier and thicker.
The recommended application is a little more specific than others and this is worth taking into consideration. However, if you do choose this hair growth mask, be sure to follow the advice so you can best feel the benefits.
You should shampoo, rinse and towel dry beforehand. The next step is to apply a generous amount of the hair mask to dry or damp hair.
The minimum time to leave it is three minutes however we’d recommend a bit longer as that will provide considerably longer-lasting protection. As with most of these hair masks, you can spread them evenly or place a special focus on hair ends.
Altogether, it doesn’t matter if you’re planning a beach trip or struggling to fight the summer heat, Kiehl’s hair mask is the most effective way to properly protect against heat damage.
Best for Bleached and Dyed Hair
This deeply penetrating and ultra-hydrating cream is the ideal hair mask for people with chemically treated hair.
Even professional dye jobs can cause unseen structural damage to your hair. Vitamin’s Keratin Hair Mask has a wide range of ingredients that expertly address this problem.
The coconut oils and keratin create a smooth natural beauty while castor oil strengthens and moisturizes damaged hairs. The formula is sleek but not oily and while it will reduce any annoying frizz, it won’t weigh down your hair.
But what makes it so perfect for bleached and dyed hair is that it is a scalp reviver. Vitamin Hair Cosmetics has created a hair growth mask that strengthens and helps the hair roots grow again.
Often with chemically damaged hair, you just have to cut your losses (sometimes literally!) and wait for it to grow new again.
However, what people often don’t realize is that the damage affects more than just the hair you’ve dyed or bleached. Your scalp and the roots of future hair also suffer.
This means your hair will continue to grow weaker and thinner for years to come. Vitamin has created a keratin-based hair mask that goes straight to the root of the problem and heals your hair.
This hair mask can stop some minor damage from the very beginning so you don’t pay the price in years to come.
Conclusion
Life is too short for regrets and taking the time to invest in your hair will be helping your future self.
After all, you should never underestimate the power of a good hair day. You live your life with an extra spring in your step, full of confidence and ready to take on the world. And with the help of these quality hair masks, every day can be a good hair day.
This list was full of awesome hair masks, all with their own unique benefits, ingredients, and application. However, if you’re still struggling to make up your mind, we just have to recommend our Best Overall, the Hair Growth Hair Mask by Hair Folli.
Are you hoping for a thicker, softer, and shinier head of hair than ever before? If so, look no further than this brand-new hair mask. Plus, you can enjoy the benefits sooner with free worldwide shipping from the Hair Folli website.