14 best hair masks in Singapore to fix damaged, permed, bleached and frizzy hair
Because you deserve good hair days, always
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PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES, AVEDA
Vanessa Chia
A hair mask is a powerful addition to any haircare routine. The best bit? They require little effort but deliver maximum results, from deeper hydration to restoring hair health.
Packed with concentrated nourishing ingredients along with advanced delivery systems and technologies, a hair mask does more than your daily conditioner as it offers a deep restorative treatment to heal, strengthen and repair from the inside-out.
Whatever your hair woes, get your locks smoother, softer and shinier with these quick fixes.
In this article
Why do I need a hair mask?
What does a hair mask do for your hair?
How to use a hair mask?
Best hair mask for frizzy hair
Best hair masks for permed hair
Best hair masks for bleached hair
Best hair masks for coloured hair
Best hair masks for rebonded or straightened hair
Why do I need a hair mask?
While it’s true that chemical services like colour, perm and straightening damage the hair, daily habits and environmental stressors, like sun exposure, wind, pollution, the use of heated styling tools and even tight hairstyles can also take a toll on hair health, leaving it vulnerable to dryness and breakage.
This is where hair masks shine as they work hard to replenish lost moisture, repair hair’s inner structure to improve its overall health, manageability and shine.
What does a hair mask do for your hair?
Damage can cause gaps within the hair’s structure - it’s what leads to that dry and rough texture. A hair mask imbues hair with intense hydration because it conditions the hair with nourishing botanical oils and butters, boosting shine and softness, leaving locks looking commercial-worthy.
At the same time, the use of ingredients like keratin and proteins repair the damage internally to strengthen strands, making hair more resilient and less prone to breakage, which in turn reduces frizz and fly-aways.
How to use a hair mask?
For best results, never apply the mask too close to the hair roots and scalp. Instead, application should be done evenly on clean, damp and post-shampooed hair, focusing from the mid-length till the ends.
Then leave on for the recommended time and rinse thoroughly before drying and styling.
Ultimately, finding the right hair mask really depends on your hair type and goals. Whether you’re looking to deal with dryness, lacklustre colour and brassiness or frizz, there is a solution to tackle the damage and give locks the TLC it deserves.
Best hair masks for frizzy hair
Lucido-L Re* High Damage Repair Hair Mask (For Damaged Hair), $20.80
PHOTO: AMAZON
If you use heated styling tools like a curling iron, flat iron or hairdryer, daily, this is for you. Inspired by the ‘acid heat treatment’ used in many Japanese salons, this deeply reparative mask contains acidic ingredients to target the damage within the hair strands.
When heat is applied from your styling tool, it boosts the absorption of the active ingredients like levulinic acid, meadowfoam delta-lactone and oleic acid to protect and repair, leaving hair smooth, shiny and manageable once more.
Wooshop Kevin Murphy Hydrate.Me Masque 200ml, $55.29
Original price: $65.95 (16 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: WOOSHOP
Quench dry, parched locks with an intense burst of moisture. This hydrating hair mask delivers vitamin-charged, micro-capsules packed with rose hip fruit extract, omega-6, evening primrose oil, Kakadu plum and shea butter deep into each strand of hair, conditioning it from root to tip.
SUBLIMIC Airy Flow Mask by Shiseido Professional, $65
Original price: $72 (10 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: SHISEIDO
Rather than just a superficial smoothening of the hair externally, this hair mask boasts a unique Thermo-Shaping complex that uses the power of heat to correct and rebuild the inner structure of unruly wavy hair from the inside-out.
Together with a blend of active ingredients, including aloe leaf extract, glycine and hydroxyethyl urea, it protects the hair from humidity, keeps frizz at bay and offers long-lasting hair control for smoother and healthier locks.
It comes in two variants, Unruly Hair and Thick, Unruly Hair, to suit various hair type and needs.
Best hair masks for permed hair
Shunji Matsuo Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Masque 50ml, $39.25
PHOTO: AMAZON
No one likes frizzy curls, especially after a perm job. Rebuilding hair fibres with its bio-restorative complex, this intensive hair mask nourishes overworked hair while fortifying damaged strands and improving hair elasticity to reveal bouncy and defined curls.
Watsons Honey Repairing Hair Treatment Wax for Dry and Permed Hair 500ml, $7
PHOTO: AMAZON
Restore hair’s resilience with this hair-strengthening mask. Even better? It won’t break the bank. Blending keratin, biotin and 11 types of amino acid, it imbues hair with moisture so locks stay silky smooth while scalp is restored to a healthy state once more.
L’Oreal Professionnel Absolut Repair Molecular Leave-In, $46
Original price: $51 (10 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: LAZADA
No more fussing in the shower. This leave-in hair mask with its one-of-a-kind formulation comprising of a peptides bonder and five amino acids repairs hair’s macro-molecular structure from deep within to improve its strength and elasticity.
Best hair masks for bleached hair
Amika Bust Your Brass Intense Repair Hair Mask, $61.68
PHOTO: AMAZON
When it comes to upkeeping blonde hair, insiders know that it takes a lot of maintenance. Ensuring that your blonde locks stay bright, this moisturising and toning mask not only reduces brassiness, but also strengthens hair and reduces breakage thanks to its Bond Cure technology paired with plant butters and fatty acids.
Kérastase Premiere Masque Filler Reparateur, $88.90
Original price: $95 (6 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: SEPHORA
Repair brittle strands and reduce hair breakage with this reparative hair mask. The secret lies in the anti-breakage filler that rebuilds the hair fibre from the inside, strengthening weakened overprocessed hair. The result: Hair is stronger and healthier.
Aveda Botanical Repair Intensive Strengthening Hair Masque Rich, $116
PHOTO: SEPHORA
Say goodbye to coarse, rough and damaged hair with this intensively rich mask. It fortifies and repairs the hair bonds with a combination of plant lipids and butters, leaving tresses softer and shinier. The answer to smoother hair on the inside and out.
Best hair masks for coloured hair
Sisley Hair Rituel by Sisley Color Beautifying Hair Care Mask, $140
PHOTO: TAKASHIMAYA
For busy bees, this quick and fuss-free reparative hair mask is the BFF your coloured hair has been looking for. All it takes is just three minutes to restore vitality and vibrancy to coloured tresses.
Nourishing and protective ingredients - sunflower seed extract, vitamin E acetate, pro-vitamin B5, ceramides, passion fruit and shea oils - all come together to restore hair health.
Fino Premium Touch Hair Mask Rinse-off Treatment, $10.90
Original price: $15.90 (31 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: WATSONS
If you’re dealing with frizz and unruly locks, this viral hair mask is what you need. Powered by six active ingredients such as royal jelly ex, trehalose, sorbitol, squalane and pearl peptide, it deeply hydrates and nourishes damaged hair with ease.
Plus, the use of glutamic acid also helps prolong hair colour too. No wonder it’s been Japan’s number one hair mask for five consecutive years!
Best hair masks for rebonded hair
NatureLab Kiseki Molecular Repair Leave-In Hair Masque, $34.20
Original price: $36 (5 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: WATSONS
This leave-in hair mask promises to reverse damage at the hair’s molecular level in just four minutes. The secret?
A power-packed formula that contains four different types of plant peptides (milk thistle seed, hydrolysed pea, rice and soy), paired with powerful botanical extracts, to restore strength, softness and resilience.
Moist Diane Extra Smooth & Straight Hair Mask, $15.92
Original price: $19.90 (20 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: MOIST DIANE
Hate idling in the bathroom waiting for your hair mask to work? You won’t have to anymore with this ultra fast-working treatment.
It takes a mere 30 seconds to tame frizz, detangle unruly locks, repair damaged cuticles and imbue hair with intense moisture and nourishment to achieve smoother, sleeker tresses. Perfect for busy mornings.
Bondi Boost Rapid Repair Bond Builder+ Hair Mask, $39.50
Original price: $52.50 (25 per cent off) Buy here
PHOTO: BONDI BOOST
This one’s for the naturalists, with its silicone-free and botanically-enriched formulation. Aside from containing argan, grapeseed and linseed oils, the upgraded formula also includes an exclusive Polycare split therapy technology.
The result is a product that ensures deeper repair to undo damage and fortify the hair. It reduces existing and prevents future hair breakage, so you get healthier and smoother hair that you can instantly feel and see.
FAQs: Hair masks
Which hair mask is the best for dry hair?
According to this list of best hair masks, those with dry hair can try the Lucido-L Re* High Damage Repair Hair Mask (For Damaged Hair), the Kevin Murphy Hydrate.Me Masque and the Shiseido Professional Sublimic Airy Flow Mask.
Can hair masks help with dandruff?
Yes, you can use hair masks to restore your scalp and ensure it regains a healthy balance. Hair masks containing ingredients such as tea tree oil and salicylic acid can be helpful in reducing oil build up and soothing irritated scalps.
Is it good to use a hair mask every day?
No, hair masks should not be used daily. Depending on the formula, hair masks should be used anywhere from once a week to every other week.
This story was adapted from Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore.
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