5 of the Best Hair Masks For Dry, Damaged Hair

When it comes to giving dry, damaged hair the extra care it deserves, a hydrating hair mask is one of the hardest-working beauty products in your hair care kit. Packed with powerful ingredients, these deep treatments nourish stressed-out strands with an injection of deep, hard-working care, while delivering bespoke benefits for your hair type – whether you have straight hair, wavy hair or curly hair.

But with so many types of hair masks out there, how do you find your perfect formula? Here are our favorite hair masks for dry hair, with added benefits to suit your goals...

• Best mask for intense repair: ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask
• Best mask dry, brittle hair: Fusion Intense Repair Mask
• Best mask for colored hair: ULTIMATE COLOR Miracle Leave-In Mask
• Best mask for curly hair types: NutriCurls Deep Treatment Mask
• Best mask for dull, frizzy hair: ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask

1. Best Mask For Intense Hair Repair: ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask

This deep repair mask is like AI for your hair. It's packed with smart conditioning agents, which are able to identify the areas where hair is most damaged, and treat them with the level of care they crave. It also makes your damaged hair up to 6x easier to detangle¹, so you can glide your comb through without tugging on already sensitized strands. The dream for knotty, dry, stressed-out lengths.

Best for: Truly damaged hair that needs deep conditioning. All hair types. Color-friendly.

Key ingredients: AHA to repair internal hair bonds, and Omega-9 to replenish the hair's outer layer.

How to use it: After washing with ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo, apply a scoopful of ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask to the mid-lengths and ends of hair. Let it absorb for five minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

When to use it: Once per week, or more if hair is severely damaged. Alternate with ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner.

Give it a boost: To level up the results of ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo and Mask, mist towel-dried strands from root to tip with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. This one-of-a-kind leave-in treatment repairs hair damage in 90 seconds², leaving your hair up to 12x smoother¹ with up to 99% less breakage³.

"THE ULTIMATE REPAIR LINE HAS NEVER LET ME DOWN. IT HAS RESTORED HAIR ON CLIENT AFTER CLIENT ALLOWING ME TO CREATE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL COLOUR ON A HEALTHY CANVAS"

Wella Professionals Ambassador Nikki Lee (@nikkilee901)

2. Best Mask For Brittle, Dry Hair: Fusion Intense Repair Mask

If your strands feel like they're always at risk of snapping, Fusion Intense Repair Mask can help, with a creamy formula that makes hair 95% more resilient against breakage⁴. Brittle lengths and split ends are reinforced with the power of Silksteel Technology, which draws inspiration from nature's strongest fiber, the spiderweb, to repair snap-prone hair on both macro and micro levels.

Best for: dry, brittle hair that's prone to breakage and split ends.

Key ingredients: Silk amino acids and intense conditioning agents.

How to use it: Wash with Fusion Intense Repair Shampoo, gently blot hair with a microfiber towel, then apply the mask to damp mid-lengths and ends. Let it absorb for five minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

When to use it: Weekly or on those days when hair feels like it needs extra support.

Give it a boost: To help your conditioning mask penetrate deeper, wrap hair up in a warm towel while the treatment absorbs. It's a simple trick, but one that will level up your mask's benefits, so you enjoy stronger hair.

3. Best Mask For Healthy-Looking Hair Color: ULTIMATE COLOR Miracle Leave-In Mask

Over-washing color-treated hair is one of the fastest routes to fading, so reduce your rinsing steps with ULTIMATE COLOR Miracle Leave-In Mask. The creamy, no-rinse hair treatment adds shine, moisture and manageability, with the added bonus of up to 4x more resistance to breakage¹ and built-in UV protection. Your dream shade will glow.

Best for: color-treated hair that's thirsty for a moisture boost and a healthy-looking sheen.

Key ingredients: Glycine and B5

How to use it: After washing your hair with ULTIMATE COLOR Shampoo, towel-dry with a microfiber towel, and then smooth ULTIMATE COLOR Miracle Leave-In Mask through lengths and ends. Leave it in and either let your hair air-dry or blow-dry as desired.

When to use it: Every wash day. Unlike many hair treatments, this mask is designed for regular use, so your color-treated hair always looks its healthiest.

Give it a boost: Protection is essential for maintaining color vibrancy and glossy shine, so add ULTIMATE REPAIR 5-in-1 Protective Leave-In to your styling routine. It helps to shield strands against heat from hot tools up to 230°C/450° F, while offering protection from frizz, breakage, friction and UV exposure.

4. Best Mask For Curly Hair Types: NutriCurls Deep Treatment Mask

Enhance the beauty of your curl pattern with the damage-defying NutriCurls Deep Treatment Mask; a sumptuous deep conditioner that gives waves, curls and coils the texture-loving care they crave. Intense moisture meets dreamy definition in this one-of-a-kind curl treatment – ideal if your lengths are feeling a little dry and in need of nourishment.

Best for: wavy, curly and coily hair gasping for shape-boosting moisture.

Key ingredients: Jojoba Oil and Panthenol

How to use it: Apply a generous amount to mid-lengths and ends, and take advantage of its richness to work through knots. Use your fingertips or a wide-tooth comb to gently separate tangles. Then, let it absorb for at least five minutes, before rinsing with warm water.

When to use it: Once per week. It's great for a Sunday refresh after a busy weekend.

Give it a boost: For extra curl definition, dry and style just-masked hair with the plopping method. All you need is a soft, cotton T-shirt to blot away excess moisture and these quick-to-follow steps:

1. Lay the T-shirt on a flat surface in front of you. The base should be closest to your body and the neck farthest away.
2. Flip your head upside down so your curls are resting on the T-shirt.
3. Slowly lower your head, so your curls are accordioned onto the T-shirt.
4. Once your head reaches the fabric, wrap the -T-shirt around your hair. Secure by tying the sleeves of the T-shirt together.
5. Leave in for at least 30 minutes or longer if preferred. You can even keep plopping in place overnight, so you wake up to bouncy curls.

5. Best Mask For Dull, Frizzy Hair: ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask

If damage has left your hair dull, reach for this hair radiance-boosting mask, which leaves lengths soft, silky and polished. Unlike a lot of smoothing hair masks on the market, it doesn't rely on heavy proteins or rebuilding agents to control fluff and frizz. Instead, it gives you inside-out nourishment and a protective barrier that defies humidity.

Best for: dry, frizzy, unruly hair that needs a helping hand in terms of taming.

Key ingredients: Squalane and Omega-9

How to use it: Wash with ULTIMATE SMOOTH Shampoo, blot hair with a towel until it's damp, then apply ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask to mid-lengths and ends. Then let it absorb for five minutes before rinsing and styling as usual.

When to use it: On those days when you want an ultra-silky blow-dry.

Give It a boost: For even more nourishment and a glass-like glow, mix a scoopful of ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask with a drop of ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum in the palm of your hand. It creates a frizz-fighting, super-smoothing concoction that dials up softness and shine, for 96 hours of frizz control⁵.

How to Use a Hair Mask for Dry, Damaged Hair

1. Shampoo first with a formula that complements your mask Massage gently into the roots. Let the lather run through the lengths. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
2. Remove excess water Gently squeeze out water so the mask can penetrate effectively. If hair still feels wet, lightly blot with a microfiber towel.
3. Apply the correct amount of mask Fine hair: 1 walnut-sized amount Medium hair: 1-2 walnut-sized amounts Thick or long hair: 2-3 walnut-sized amounts
4. Focus on mid-lengths and ends Avoid applying heavily at the roots unless hair is extremely dry. Take the time to massage the mask in so every strand is coated.
5. Comb through Use a wide-tooth comb for even distribution.
6. Leave on Most hair masks for dry, damaged hair perform best when left on for five minutes. Very damaged hair may benefit from up to 10 minutes.
7. Rinse thoroughly Use lukewarm water and rinse until your hair feels clean and free of residue.
8. Adjust frequency by hair type Fine hair: Every 7-10 days Medium hair: Once weekly Thick, coarse or highly porous hair: 1-2 times weekly Bleached or heavily processed hair: 2 times weekly

Looking for more advice on your hair care regimen? Discover our virtual hair consultation tool, powered by AI to build a hair care regimen completely bespoke to you.

¹ Vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.

² When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.

³ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue instrumental test vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.

⁴ Fusion shampoo and conditioner vs. non-conditioning shampoo.

⁵ When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum.