The 6 Best Hair Masks for Dry Hair
Dry hair is rarely a standalone problem. Usually, it comes with signs of damage, a halo of frizz or weak, delicate strands that are crying for a boost of hair strength. So, when you're looking for a hydrating mask to make hair glossy and perfectly nourished, you might need it to target a wide range of added concerns before you reach your dream mane.
We're here to help. With so many masks and leave-in treatments in our portfolio, we've got the creamy products you need to get hair back to its healthiest condition. Whether you're fighting flyaways or targeting dullness, find the ideal deep conditioner for you, plus tips to help you get the most from each masking session...
1. The Best Hair Mask for Dry, Frizzy Hair: ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask
Dry hair and frizzy hair go hand-in-hand – especially when it's wet outside or the humidity levels are high. Why, exactly? Because, when the hair shaft is thirsty, it tries to soak up any water it can find, including moisture in the air. This causes even the most carefully styled manes to become frizzy and unmanageable. But there's an easy solution: ensure your hair is so nourished that it doesn't need to seek moisture elsewhere.
ULTIMATE SMOOTH Intense Mask is the answer; a suits-all-hair-types deep treatment packed with Omega-9 fatty acids and a nourishing oil called Squalane. A glass hair essential, it cares for brittle hair from the inside out, so you get glossy shine and frizz control in one. Team it with the ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum to level up its frizz-fighting power. Together, this duo gives you nourishment in 30 seconds and smoothness that lasts up to 3 days¹.
2. The Best Hair Mask for Dry, Damaged Hair: ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask
If you're dealing with dry, damaged hair, whether caused by heat, friction or chemical treatments, it's time to swap traditional conditioner for a weekly dose of deep repair. Often, damage doesn't just affect the outer layer of hair (known as the hair cuticle), but it also impacts the internal bonds, requiring intensive nourishment and a consistent regimen.
That's where ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask steps in. The deep conditioner is designed to target unevenly damaged hair, because its condition will rarely be consistent from root to tip. For example, you might have breakage through the crown where you regularly tie up your hair or you could be dealing with split ends through the face frame if you focus heat from hot tools there.
The mask's smart conditioning agents will identify these areas and give them the inside-out care they need, so you get a bespoke treatment that rebuilds and repairs the hair shaft. Follow it with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue to repair hair damage in 90 seconds². The potent leave-in treatment also gives you 99% less breakage³; simply mist it through damp hair and let it work its magic. Looking for more recommendations? Discover our best masks for dry, damaged hair and take your pick!
3. The Best Conditioning Mask for Dry, Curly Hair: NutriCurls Deep Treatment
While each of the masks above are suitable for curly and coily hair types, sometimes you want specialized curl care to define your natural hair texture. Our favorite hair mask for curls and coils is NutriCurls Deep Treatment, a rich, creamy mask that gives you bouncy, healthy hair with its blend of Jojoba Oil and Panthenol. These star ingredients are hero nourishes that drench strands in intense moisture, which in turn takes down frizz to help each and every curl and coil stand out.
For extra-parched hair, swap your shampoo for a co-wash, like NutriCurls Cleansing Conditioner, and use it on the hair wash days when you aren't applying your mask. The low-foam formula gently cleanses dry curls while delivering an injection of moisture, so you get washing and conditioning in one texture-loving, curl pattern-enhancing step.
4. The Best Hair Mask for Dry, Delicate Strands: Fusion Intense Repair Mask
Dehydrated hair has often been stripped of the protective oils that keep strands strong, leaving the hair fiber vulnerable to snapping and split ends, especially through the mid-lengths and ends. Sound familiar? Then you need a hair mask that contributes to hair strength and makes strands more resilient, like Fusion Intense Repair Mask.
This breakthrough formula harnesses Wella's exclusive SilkSteel Technology, which was inspired by nature's strongest fiber, the spiderweb. By repairing the hair fiber at both macro and micro levels, the treatment not only cares for drier hair, but also improves hair elasticity and resilience by up to 95%³. Combine it with one to three pumps of ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum to top up the oils your parched hair has lost.
5. The Best Hair Mask for Dry, Color-Treated Hair Types: INVIGO Brilliance Vibrant Color Mask
If dry, dull hair is affecting your dream shade, turn to a nourishing, color-protecting regimen, like INVIGO Color Brilliance. After washing with the Color Protection Shampoo to gently cleanse and protect colored or bleached hair against metals, treat dry hair types to the Vibrant Color Mask. It's brimming with Lime Caviar and antioxidants to keep fading environmental stressors, like pollutant particles, at bay.
You can even find it in two versions – one for coarse hair and one for medium or finer hair types – so you get just the right level of care you need while making dull strands history. Want extra radiance? Once per week, swap it for the Color Fresh Mask in your natural, bold or pastel shade of choice. In 10 minutes, the tinted treatment revives your hair color, so it looks salon-fresh.
6. The Best Hair Mask for an Itchy, Dry Scalp
Better scalp health = better hair health, so if you're dealing with a dry, flaky scalp, give it an extra boost of moisture with the INVIGO Balance Sensitive Mask. With Allantoin as the key ingredient, it soothes and alleviates itchiness, while also leaving the lengths and ends of your hair feeling cared for and refreshed.
Simply apply the fragrance-free mask to the roots of your hair and smooth it down through the lengths, then massage the scalp treatment with fingertips to encourage better blood circulation to your hair follicles. This simple step can also help to lift away dead skin cells, so you're left with an overall healthier scalp that's calm, balanced and nourished.
How to Level Up Your Hair Mask Application
Like most beauty products, the secret to success isn't just in your hair care formulas; your application technique is also key to hydrated, healthier hair.
1. Focus on the Mid-Lengths and Ends
Unless it's a hydration scalp mask, your hair mask should be focused through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair to ensure you're not adding too much moisture to the roots and making hair greasy. This is especially important if you have thinner hair or an oily hair type, as applying rich, nourishing masks to the scalp may result in weighed-down, flat hair.
2. Squeeze Out Excess Water
After washing your hair, gently squeeze out excess water. Otherwise, if your hair is too wet pre-masking, the nourishing doses of ingredients in your hair products may be diluted. Damp hair is the ideal base for a mask, so you might even want to lightly towel-dry the lengths and ends to ensure strands absorb as much hydration as possible.
3. Avoid Rinsing with Hot Water
Hot water can strip your hair of moisture, leaving you with brittle strands, but you need some level of warmth to ensure your hair mask or rinse-out treatment are properly removed. So, avoid hot or cold water and always wash with lukewarm water. Once the residue has been rinsed out, you can try a cool water blast through clean hair to encourage glossy shine.
4. Towel-Dry with a Microfiber Towel
Keep your newly hydrated hair happy by swapping regular towels for a microfiber towel. They minimize friction on contact with hair as they're ultra soft and ultra-absorbent. If you have straight hair, you should also make sure you're gently blotting hair dry instead of rubbing it. If you have curly or coiled hair, be extra delicate and boost your curl pattern with a press and twist motion that encourages ringlets to coil up.
5. Get an Intense Boost of Hydration with This Power Pair
Up the level of hydration with a miracle duo that keeps hair glossy and nourished. After washing and towel-drying lengths, follow these two steps to repair damage, dullness and frizz:
- First, mist hair from root to tip with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. The leave-in treatment repairs hair damage in 90 seconds² while leaving you with 99% less breakage³. Allow it to absorb before detangling your hair with a wide-tooth comb. This is the answer to stressed strands in need of supercharged TLC.
- Next, layer ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum over the top. Like an instant conditioner, it gives dull strands a hydrating boost of Omega-9 and Squalane. The result: nourishment in 30 seconds and smoothness that lasts up to 3 days¹. Not only does it leave hair glossy, but it also protects against the effects of heated styling tools.
6. Keep Your Regimen Consistent
All beauty products work harder when you're using them consistently, so make sure you're applying your hydrating hair mask a couple of times per week (then condition hair with your usual conditioner on all other wash days). If your hair needs an intense boost of nourishment, use the mask on consecutive wash days at first, before making it a once or twice weekly treat to keep hair soft and moisturized. You can also use ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum on a daily basis. Apply it to damp or dry lengths for a glossy glow that revives even extra-parched hair.
Looking for more advice to achieve healthy hair? Discover Wella's new virtual consultation tool, which acts like your personal stylist to build your bespoke hair care regimen.
¹ When using ULTIMATE SMOOTH Miracle Oil Serum, if unwashed for 3 days, vs. untreated.
² When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
³ Vs. non-conditioning shampoo.