What Is a Hair Masque?
A hair masque is a deep conditioning treatment for the hair. It is not used every day, but is applied once every week or two to add moisture to hair, prevent frizz and breakage, and make hair soft and shiny. There are many different hair masques available, and it is also possible to make a hair masque at home with items found around the house.
Hair masques typically contain deeply conditioning and moisturizing ingredients, including shea butter, avocado oil, botanical and fruit oils or extracts, and vitamins, among many others. A hot oil treatment is a type of hair masque; in this type of treatment, warm oil is applied to the hair to make it soft and moisturized. Hair masques can be useful for people with any type of hair, but those with dry or color-treated hair find them especially beneficial. Those who have oily hair can still make use of a hair masque, but it may be a good idea to do the treatments less frequently, such as every two or three weeks.
A hair masque should be applied to wet hair, which will allow the nourishing ingredients to better penetrate the hair. In general, it is a good idea to apply this type of hair treatment while out of the shower, because most masques will need to sit on the hair for quite a while. Some must be left on the hair for half an hour for the full benefits.
Be sure to thoroughly coat all of the hair for the most benefits. It may also be a good idea to apply a plastic bag or shower cap to the hair while the hair masque is in place. This can prevent dripping as well as encourage further conditioning through the build-up of heat under the plastic. After the designated time has elapsed, the masque should be thoroughly rinsed to prevent hair from becoming greasy.
Hair masques are typically much more expensive than other conditioning treatments for the hair, and frequently come in smaller containers. For that reason, many people choose to make their own deep conditioning masques at home, using ingredients such as avocados, mayonnaise, egg whites, and olive oil, among others. There are many recipes that can be found by searching online, all using natural ingredients found in the kitchen. Otherwise, hair masques may be purchased in drugstores or salons, or ordered online.
Written by B. Miller
