20 Hair Masks for Curly Hair to Bring Your Locks Back to Life
If you have curly locks, you know all too well how quickly curls can turn from defined ringlets to frizzy strands. So, what's the best way to combat our number one foe? With a good 'ol hair mask. Whether you're dealing with dryness, breakage or dullness, a hair mask can put those woes to rest. If you're in the market for shiny, soft and healthy curls, adding a deep conditioner to your lineup is a must. You'll want to use it once (or twice!) a week to give your curls and coils the extra love in the moisture department. So, instead of walking aimlessly down the beauty aisle, we rounded up 20 hair masks for curly hair to get you started.
RELATED: The 26 Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Curly Hair
1. Garnier Fructis Damage Repairing Treat 1 Minute Hair Mask
Best Overall
With over 20,000 5-star reviews, it's no wonder this hair mask is a favorite amongst curly gals. Why? It's a 3-in-1 mask that you can apply for only one minute (we're not kidding), use as a regular conditioner or leave it on for daily moisture. Plus, the vegan formula (and the lasting scent of papaya it leaves behind) is a great match for dry, damaged or color-treated curls.
2. Olaplex No. 3 Hair Protector
Best for Damaged Hair
You know your curls are going to get extra care especially if 'protector' is in the name. This $28 pick is just what damaged locks need. Apply the mask once (or twice) a week to bring your curls back to life.
3. Cantu Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque
Best for Dry Hair
Your hair feeling a bit parched these days? Look no further than this hair masque to boost moisture in your dry strands. The key ingredient—shea butter—repairs and restores curls, so you can forget all about dryness for days. And with a price tag of $6, you can't go wrong.
4. SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Hair Masque
Best for Type 3 Hair
Calling all type 3 curls. With ingredients like coconut oil, neem oil and silk protein, expect your locks to come out soft and smooth. This deep treatment is ready to boost shine while reducing any frizz for 3A to 3C curls.
5. Camille Rose Algae Renew Deep Conditioning Mask
Best for Thin Hair
This treatment is no joke when it comes to strengthening thin or dull strands. The formula (like mango butter and blue green algae) works to repair, restore and replenish curls in about 10-20 minutes.
6. Mielle Organics Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner
Best for Type 4 Hair
While all hair types can try this deep conditioner, type 4 curls can benefit the most for its rich ingredients. The babassu oil (among other fatty acids and natural oils) improves curls and coils. Whether you have dry or damaged hair, let this $14 pick be the intense treatment you turn to.
7. Mixed Chicks Deep Conditioner
Best for Frizzy Hair
Every curly gal knows that frizz is unavoidable. However, if there's a product that can minimize it, then you have yourself a winner. Enter this deep conditioner that will hydrate, define and soften curls. Use it twice a week and it'll manage your locks in no time.
8. Carol's Daughter Coco Creme Curl Quenching Deep Moisture Hair Mask
Best for Definition
If you're looking for defined and voluminous curls, this $13 find can get the job done. Its moisturizing blend (aka coconut milk, coconut oil, mango butter and murumuru butter) can soften, smooth and protect locks, so you can say goodbye to dry, frizzy styles.
9. Not Your Mother's Match Green Tea & Wild Apple Blossom Nutrient Rich Butter Masque
Best Budget
Why pay for overpriced treatments when you get all the same benefits times ten for half the price? This butter masque is only $9 and yet it's so much more. The matcha green tea and wild apple blossom blend conditions hair and leaves clean, healthy curls behind. Oh, and did we mention in under 2-3 minutes? Sounds like a win-win.
10. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
Best Vegan Formula
When rosehip oil, vitamin B and algae is involved, expect your locks to be taken care of. The vegan formula improves breakage, restores shine and boost moisture to your curls.
11. Eden Bodyworks Jojoba Monoi Deep Conditioner
Best All-Natural Formula
Want an all-natural product? We've got you covered. This deep conditioner includes moisturizing ingredients (like jojoba oil, coconut oil and tea tree oil, to name a few) to strengthen and nourish brittle strands. Plus, with weekly use, it can protect and prevent any future breakage.
12. Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Hair Mask
Best Scent
Yes, it checks off all the boxes when it comes to leaving your strands hydrated, detangled and soft. But can we talk about the scent? Thanks to its fruity blend (aka the organic blueberry extract, chamomile extract and aloe leaf juice), your hair will look good and smell good too.
13. Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Super Nourishing Coconut & Fig Hair Masque
Best for Brittle Hair
Whether you're dealing with split ends, very dry strands and frizzy flyaways, this hair masque is ready to transform your curls. The 5-in-1 treatment repairs and restores your hair—thanks to its core ingredients (virgin coconut, fig and shea butter). Plus, with a little help from their tangle tamer (which comes with the masque), your hair will look spankin new.
14. As I Am Hydration Elation Intensive Conditioner
Best Deep Treatment
Get ready for your hair to receive the salon treatment. Seriously, it's called an intensive conditioner for a reason. The coconut, shea butter and vitamin E blend penetrates the scalp and roots to moisturize and strengthen your curls. Just leave it on for 30 minutes (and under a hooded dryer) and let it go to work.
15. Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate Shea Butter Hair Mask
Best for Type 2 Hair
If your curls are more on the loose (almost wavy) side, here's a hair mask to keep your curls defined. The shea butter, coconut oil and macadamia oil mix locks moisturizes and defines after a wash. The 2-in-1 can act as both a deep conditioner and a leave-in when you need it.
16. Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask
Best for Dull Hair
Are you locks lacking luster and volume? The main ingredient—argan oil—ensures for maximum shine. Add this as a weekly treatment, leave on for five minutes and you'll see a difference in your curls.
17. Alikay Naturals Honey and Sage Deep Conditioner
Best for Low Porosity Hair
People with low porosity hair have to constantly deal with moisture staying put. Thankfully, this deep conditioner is making it easier to keeps curls nourished—no matter your hair type or texture. The formula (aka honey, babassu oil and sage) improves dryness, protects from irritation and revitalize weak strands. Plus, the scent is amazing.
18. ORS Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner
Best Drugstore
No more breaking the bank for a good conditioner. For $6, you can get a formula that restores, rebuilds and improves your locks, especially when olive oil is its core ingredient.
19. Ouai Treatment Mask
Best for Color-Treated Hair
Let your color shine through with a hydrating and protective mask. This $38 find is great for fine to medium hair (though they do have one for thick hair as well) featuring moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and keratin.
20. African Pride Moisture Miracle Moroccan Clay & Shea Butter Heat Activated Masque
Best for Detoxifying
The morroccan clay and shea butter combo removes buildup for clean, healthy locks. The creamy formula does a deep cleanse while strengthening weak strands.
RELATED: I Went to a Curly Hair Salon for the First Time and Here’s What I Learned
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