13 Best Drugstore Hair Masks Of 2024, According To A Certified Hairstylist
These amazing hair masks make your dreams of damage-free, healthy hair a reality.
Jill Turnbull is an internationally acclaimed freelance hairstylist, colorist, and makeup artist with over 47 years of experience. She founded her own beauty brand and her work has been featured in editorial magazines worldwide.
Jill is also a highly sought-after educator, renowned for her direct, meticulous, and modern approach to hair, makeup, and styling for fashion shoots and advertising campaigns.
Read full bio of Jill Turnbull
Experience: 2 yearsOyendrila holds a master's degree in English Literature from the University Of Calcutta, West Bengal, and is a certified skin care coach. As a beauty and lifestyle writer with two years of experience, she writes about everything that the modern woman needs to know about grooming and self-care.
Read full bio of Oyendrila Kanjilal
Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
Experience: 7 yearsAnjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.
Read full bio of Anjali Sayee
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If you have been looking for the best drugstore hair mask, we got you covered here. Pollution, dust, humidity, lack of proper nutrition, all can play havoc on your hair quality and strength. Not taking proper care of your hair may worsen things further. That is why your hair needs that additional pampering, restorative care, and the TLC of a hair mask treatment every once in a while. Hair rejuvenation to keep it healthy and damage-free. A hair mask helps nourish your scalp and moisturize every strand to make them longer, stronger, and healthier. You can choose any of the 13 top drugstore hair masks listed below to get you started.
In This Article
13 Best Drugstore Hair Masks
1. Best Cruelty-Free Formula: Macadamia Natural Deep Repair Hair Masque
The Macadamia Natural Deep Repair Hair Mask penetrates deep into the hair follicles to nourish and hydrate each hair strand. This shine-enhancing pro-oil complex is a blend of macadamia and argan oils that reconstruct and rebuild damaged hair. They also improve hair health, shine, and elasticity. Macadamia oil is rich in essential fatty acids that work more efficiently than any other mineral oil to deliver shiner hair. They bind to each hair shaft and strengthen it. The vitamin E and green tea extract in this mask offer antioxidant protection to brittle hair strands from environmental damage. The emollient properties of macadamia oil give your dehydrated hair a silky smooth appearance. Further, the product has not been tested on animals. For a more detailed review of this hair restorative product and how people experience it, here’s a video.
Pros
- Safe for color-treated hair
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Cruelty-free
- Gluten-free
- Detangles curly hair
- Adds shine to dry hair
- Makes hair manageable
- Eliminates frizz
- Lightweight
- Improves hair elasticity
Cons
- Contains silicones
- Contains added fragrances
Pro Tip2. Best For All Hair Types:Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Mask
Fall in love with your hair with the Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Mask. This budget hair mask deeply conditions, hydrates, rehabilitates, and strengthens your hair. It is specially formulated to enhance the texture, softness, shine, and manageability of all hair types. The premium quality argan oil, infused in the hydrating hair mask, is rich in essential vitamins and nutrients that protect your hair from heat damage caused by styling and improve its overall health. This drugstore hair mask offers you a salon-style hair treatment at an affordable cost. Know more about this product in this video along with the tester’s experience of using it and make an informed decision.
Pros
- Long-lasting results
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Detangles and adds shine
- Suitable for all hair types
Cons
- None
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 41,726 customers have given the product positive reviews on Amazon.
3. Best Paraben-Free Formula: L’Oreal Paris Hair Care Elvive Total Repair Hair Balm
The L’Oreal Paris Hair Care Elvive Total Repair Hair Balm fixes the five signs of hair damage. These include split ends, weakness, roughness, dullness, and dehydration. Unlike other hair balms, you need to rinse this balm out after leaving it for 3-5 minutes. It is infused with nourishing ingredients like sweet almond oil, protein complex, and ceramide elixirs. The ceramides keep the hair cuticles flat, add shine to hair, and allow hair strands to withstand wear and tear. The treatment mask also enhances hair elasticity and seals moisture. The sweet almond oil nourishes and moisturizes the scalp. After applying shampoo, massage this balm through wet hair. Leave it on for 3-5 minutes and rinse. Learn more about this product in this video with the help of the reviewer’s experience of using it.
Pros
- Repairs hair bonds
- Strengthen hair fibers
- Repairs chemically treated hair
- Repairs split ends
- Also works as a regular conditioner
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
Cons
- Contains silicones
- Not suitable for 4C type hair
Pro TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 8,449 Amazon users have vouched for this amazing product.
| Macadamia Natural Deep Repair Hair Masque Best Cruelty-Free Formula | Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Mask Best For All Hair Types | L'Oreal Paris Hair Care Elvive Total Repair Hair Balm Best Paraben-Free Formula | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair Type | Dry-&-Damaged | Dry | Damaged |
| Dimensions | 3.12 x 3.12 x 3 inches | 3.94 x 3.94 x 3.15 inches | 3.5 x 2.9 x 3.5 inches |
| Weight | 8 Ounces | 8.4 Ounces | 8.5 Ounces |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 3,630 | 41,726 | 8,449 |
| Price | $8.99 | $12.95 | $5.97 |
4. Best Moisturizing Formula:Head And Shoulders Deep Moisture Masque – WRONG LINK/PD
The Head And Shoulders Deep Moisture Masque gives your brittle hair and itchy scalp a royal treatment. It moisturizes damaged, dull hair. This deep moisture mask is designed for natural, relaxed, kinky, curly, and coarse hair locks. The active ingredients of this royal mask include pyrithione zinc (0.5%) and coconut oil. The pyrithione zinc is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. It reduces scalp infection and stubborn dandruff and protects hair strands from oxidative damage. The coconut oil in the mask is rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids that seal moisture in the hair and scalp.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- No added dyes
- Balances natural oils
- Intense moisturizer
- Anti-dandruff formula
- Nourishes curls and coils
Cons
- Strong smell
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product has garnered over 4,696 positive reviews on Amazon, and the number continues to grow.
5. Best Color-Safe Formula:Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Ultra-Nourishing Mask
This ultra-rich nourishing and moisturizing mask is specifically formulated to replenish hair strands and reverse hair damage. The Carol’s Daughter Almond Milk Mask deeply penetrates the hair shaft. It also nourishes dry and damaged hair. This rich, creamy, paraben-free hair mask is formulated with almond milk, rosemary leaf extract, sweet almond protein, and olive oil. The almond milk contains protein and iron for strengthening the hair fibers, reducing breakage, and preventing hair loss. The fatty acids in almond milk help in the deep conditioning of the hair. The rosemary oil penetrates deep into the hair follicles and supplies nutrients and oxygen to each hair shaft. This stimulates hair growth and prevents premature hair damage. This ultra-nourishing silicone-free hair mask is the best buy for naturally curly hair – from the short-cropped 4C type curly hair to 1C wavy hair.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Sulfate-free
- Mineral oil-free
- No added fragrances
- Petroleum-free
- No artificial colors added
- Seals moisture
- Prevents split ends and breakage
- Color-safe
Cons
- Unpleasant odor
Pro Tip6. Best Anti-Frizz Formula:Garnier Fructis Damage Repairing Hair Mask
The Garnier Fructis Damage Repairing Hair Mask is a potent solution for dry and damaged hair. Its hair smoothing and repairing creamy formula is formulated with avocado, banana, papaya, coconut, and goji berry extract that seal in the moisture, repair damage, and restore hair shine. The treatment mask is available in different flavors based on the active ingredients used. Choose the right one as per your need for a long-lasting nourishment with frizz control. This 3-in-1 solution can be used as a mask, a leave-in conditioner, or a nourishing cream.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Silicone-free
- Free from animal testing
- A nourishing, smoothening, and strengthening formula
- Anti-frizz
- Color-safe
- Saves time
- Smells good
- Suitable for 1C to 4C hair types
- Available in different styles
Cons
- Very thin mask
7. Best Vegan Formula:Maui Moisture Heal And Hydrate Hair Mask
The Maui Moisture Heal And Hydrate Hair Mask is great for sealing moisture and preventing split ends. This softening and hydrating mask is infused with shea butter, coconut oil, and macadamia oil. These ingredients are handpicked, handcrafted, and extracted from the Maui island. The intensive treatment mask also has a blend of aloe vera and coconut oil that moisturizes hair from the roots. It also maintains the hair’s pH balance. The macadamia oil is rich in fatty acids that offer a protective shield to seal the hydration in dehydrated hair. The shea butter heals and nourishes the locks while adding a dose of moisture to them.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- 100% vegan
- Pure ingredients
- Heals, hydrates, and moisturizes
- Color-safe
- Minimizes split ends
- Adds shine to curly hair
- Refreshing smell
Cons
- Greasy
Quick TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 14,717 rave reviews on Amazon prove why we are so in awe of this product.
8. Best Revitalizing Formula:Eva NYC Therapy Sessions Hair Mask
The Eva NYC Therapy Sessions Hair Mask is infused with keravis protein and argan oil that help regain and revitalize damaged hair. Eva NYC has developed a protein-based complex (Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol) that penetrates deep into the hair shaft to optimize moisture content and hair elasticity. It also offers a protective shield to the hair cuticles. The argan oil and keravis protein complex increase hair resilience and flexibility and reduce hair breakage. The sea buckthorn extracts are rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids that protect hair and lock in extra moisture.
Pros
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Silicone-free
- Color-safe
- Not tested on animals
- Makes hair stronger
- Leaves hair super soft
- Refreshing smell
- Clinically-tested
Cons
- None
"This hair cream makes my hair softer and more manageable. The fragrance is delightful, and even a small amount makes all the difference in my hair. It works on my dry and frizzy strands, offering hydration without heaviness. It fixes the damaged ends of my hair and imparts a healthy shine. I use it weekly to detangle stubborn knots and make the hair smoother."
9. Best Conditioning Formula:Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque
The Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil mask is a deep-conditioning treatment for curly hair. It is blended with shea butter, manuka oil, mafura oil, baobab oil, and African rock fig that restore natural hair moisture, add extra hydration, tame frizz, and strengthen your follicles. Its intensive care hydrating formula is free of paraben, phthalates, mineral oil, and petrolatum, making it ideal for people with over-processed, damaged, or color-treated coily hair.
Pros
- Suitable for color-treated and bleached hair
- Moisturizes the hair
- Reduces frizz
- Easy to use
- Cruelty-free
- Silicone-free
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Phthalate-free
- Mineral oil-free
- Petrolatum-free
Cons
- Strong fragrance
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product is so liked by shoppers that it has gained over 1,162 great reviews on Amazon.
10. Best For Damaged Hair:SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque
The SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque is a complete formula to moisturize, restore, and protect the hair. The detangling masque is infused with organic shea butter, sea kelp, and argan oil. The organic shea butter is a potent moisture-locking ingredient – it is filled with essential fatty acids and vitamins A and E that soften and heal hair strands. The sea kelp is rich in magnesium and calcium and reduces hair loss. The argan oil moisturizes and strengthens hair follicles. The innovative organic blends in the masque detangle knots, add extra moisture, infuse protein, and restore hair luster to reveal shinier hair.
Pros
- Detangles hair
- Color-safe
- Protects hair from environmental and chemical damage
- Adds luster and shine
- Protects from hair breakage
- Cruelty-free
- Perfect for a low-porosity 3C-4C type hair
Cons
- Odd smell
- Heavy for thin hair
11. Best For Dry Hair:The Body Shop Shea Butter Hair Mask
The Body Shop Shea Butter Hair Mask intensely nourishes hair, especially dry to very dry hair types. This natural ingredients-based mask replenishes the hair shafts making them healthier and reduces frizz. The product combines shea butter, cocoa butter, virgin coconut oil, and organic olive oil to reduce breakage and promote shiny and voluminous hair. Further, the product has not been tested on animals. For best results, use the mask as a weekly treatment before your daily washing routine.
Pros
- Eliminates frizz
- Pleasant fragrance
- Sulfate free
- Cruelty-free
- Manages unruly, rough hair
Cons
- None
12. Best For Stimulating Hair Folicles:Not Your Mother’s Nutrient Rich Butter Masque
The Not Your Mother’s Nutrient-Rich Butter Masque is made with a detoxifying blend of matcha green tea and wild apple blossom that enrich your hair and scalp. The matcha green tea is rich in antioxidants that not only protect the hair shaft but also stimulate hair follicles and promote hair growth (thanks to its epigallocatechin gallate). The wild apple blossom enriches the hair and scalp with its antioxidant properties. This ultra-nourished butter masque with creamy consistency restores damaged strands and leaves hair softer.
Pros
- Deep conditioner
- Moisturizes stubborn curls
- Great for dry, damaged hair
- Pleasing smell
- Stimulates hair follicles
- Not tested on animals
Cons
- None
13. Best UV Protection:An Antioxidant Booster: L’Oreal Paris Hair Care Expertise Everpure Repair Mask
The L’Oreal Paris Hair Care Expertise Everpure Repair Mask is a sulfate-free and color-safe formula. It is infused with antioxidant-rich complex containing acai, goji, rosemary leaf oil, and peppermint oil to protect hair strands from the daily environmental aggressors like UV rays and heat damage caused by styling. The formula also prevents future damage.
Pros
- Color-safe
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Free of harsh salts
- 100% vegan
- Protects chemically treated hair
- Strengthens and polishes hair strands
Cons
- Strong fragrance
These are the top affordable hair masks that provide nourishment and intense hydration to dry and damaged locks. But before you make a purchase, you need to know how to choose an effective hair mask. The following section can help.
Tips To Choose The Right Product
- Define your hair type. This helps you make a better decision.
- The mask must have a blend of nourishing ingredients like argan oil, coconut oil, green tea butter, or aloe vera gel. These prevent split ends or hair breakage and also help maintain hair texture.
- Your favorite hair mask should be rich in essential fatty acids that offer a shield to your hair and seal in the moisture.
- It should not contain harmful chemicals as they may strip the moisture.
- Ensure the mask contains vitamins A, C, and E that protect the hair shaft from free radical damage.
Infographic: A Step-By-Step Guide To Apply A Hair Mask At Home
Pollution, dust, humidity, and lack of nutrition can strip the moisture and strength of the hair, making it dull and lifeless. A hair mask can help with hair rejuvenation and nourishment of your hair by making it stronger and healthier. But you must know the right way to use it to reap its maximum benefits. Check out the infographic below to understand how to apply a hair mask like a pro.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Poor nutrition, pollution, and product build-up can cause hair fall. Lack of proper care can further deteriorate the condition. A drugstore hair mask can help you keep your hair healthy. It nourishes your scalp, pampers your tresses, and keeps it rejuvenated. It gives you damage-free healthy hair and prevents premature greying. It moisturizes your strands, improves hair elasticity, and makes them stronger, longer, and more manageable. The Macadamia Natural Deep Repair Hair Masque revives and repairs dry and damaged hair, while the The Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Mask is a restorative treatment that renews the lost shine and moisture in chemically-treated hair. The Maui Moisture Heal And Hydrate Hair Mask is an excellent choice for those with over-processed hair in need of extreme nourishment and extra hydration. Most of the products on our list are paraben-free, vegan, and color-safe. However, a few products might have overpowering fragrances and may only suit some hair types. So, do check out product reviews before picking one.
Why Trust Stylecraze?
The writer, Oyendrila Kanjilal, a certified skin care coach and hair care enthusiast devoted to finding the most excellent products to replenish and repair your tresses. She scoured the web, researching and investigating multiple products and their reviews, to compile this list. These masks make your tresses more manageable, less frizzy, smooth, and healthy. They also contain enriching ingredients, and are free of harsh elements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use a hair mask everyday?
No. Ideally, you should use a hair mask once or twice weekly, depending on your hair needs.
Should you use a hair mask before or after conditioner?
Apply your mask after shampooing and before conditioning the hair.
How long should you leave a hair mask in?
Ideally, your hair mask should be left on for 20-30 mins at a stretch.
What is the difference between a hair mask and conditioner?
While a traditional conditioner just makes the hair soft and manageable, a hair mask does more than that. It deeply moisturizes the hair, adds essential nutrition to the scalp and the strands, and protects them from future damage.
Can you apply hair masks on oiled hair?
No. Applying a hair mask on oily hair is not very beneficial as your strands, and the scalp will not be able to absorb the product.
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