Winter is a time for change in our beauty routines. Whether it's introducing a hydrating moisturiser or topping up with a face mask, we're always on the lookout for remedies to the negative impact the cold, abrasive weather brings.
But masks aren't just a quick fix. "Many people only think about using a hair mask or treatment when they can see or feel that damage has been done. Damage, such as split ends, can be concealed, but only temporarily. Regular use of a mask will keep your hair in healthy condition and help fortify it, so it resists damage," Paul Percival, cofounder of Percy & Reed explains.
Read on for our pick of the best masks for the time-conscious, lovers of luxury and those looking for luscious locks in time for the party season .
This is our go-to when our dry and brittle locks need a bit of SOS. Made with olive butter to soften, jojoba oil to counteract static flyaways and cherry oil to add intense moisture, it'll leave your tresses refreshed and healthy.
Apply a plum-sized amount to damp hair, leave for up to 10 minutes, then comb through and rinse.
Davines NOUNOU Nourishing Repair Mask, £19.45, available at Cult Beauty
Infused with botanical oils, camellia and apricot seed, this intensive deep treatment will give you soft, sleek hair without losing definition. With no sulphates or waxes, it protects from dryness and is perfect for fine-but-thick hair.
Spread through wet hair, focusing on the ends, leave to work for 3-5 minutes and rinse well.
L'Oréal Paris Hair Expertise EverRiche Nourishing Intense Mask, £6.99, available at Feel Unique
Swedish brand Maria Nila offers a whole host of treatments suited for coloured hair; our favourite is this Sheer Silver hair masque. With violet pigment and blackberry extract to neutralise golden shades in blonde hair, it restores shine and strengthens the hair structure, which can be damaged by heat styling, over-washing and UV rays. Hedda Mirow, head of marketing at the brand, says the benefits of using a hair mask are "healthier hair, with an overall better hair quality, especially if your hair is exposed to sunlight, winter conditions and/or styling tools."
Apply to clean, damp hair and leave for 3 minutes. For a stronger effect apply to towel-dried hair and leave for 5-10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and finish with conditioner.
Maria Nila Sheer Silver Masque, £18.95, available at Sally Beauty
In our quest for healthy hair, we often neglect our scalp – and a neglected scalp can lead to dandruff and oily roots. Philip Kingsley Exfoliating Scalp Mask remedies this by minimising flaking, removing dead skin and counteracting the build-up of more flakes. It also contains organic aloe vera to soothe.
Use once a week by applying directly to the scalp in partings approx 3cm apart. Gently massage over scalp, leave for 10-20 minutes, rinse well and shampoo as normal.
Philip Kingsley Exfoliating Scalp Mask, £8, available at Look Fantastic
This is a luxury salon treatment in an at-home formula. It protects colour, adds shine and contains super indulgent ingredients that restore vitality, including coconut oil, mango oil, marshmallow extract and aloe vera gel. Percival recommends using the treatment weekly "or more often if needed, to prevent damage being done in the first place." The mask also comes with a beautifully illustrated bonnet, which when worn over the applied product, "intensifies the conditioning process".
Work through towel-dried hair, cover with treatment bonnet, then rinse and style as usual.
Percy & Reed Totally TLC Hydrating Mask, £20, available at Marks & Spencer
If dull, lifeless hair is your concern, this fast-acting treatment will transform your tresses into soft, shiny locks. Infused with Australian macadamia, jojoba and avocado oil to smooth split ends and roughened cuticles, it's perfect for the time- and budget-conscious.
Apply a grape-sized amount to wet hair, leave for 3 minutes, then rinse well.
Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Treatment, £4.99, available at Boots
When your hair is lacking vitality – particularly if colouring has left it deflated and sapped of moisture – L'Occitane's Repairing Mask formulation, enriched with sweet almond oils and shea butter, replenishes the hair's moisture reserve and restores its capillary fibre, for stronger and healthier-looking tresses.
Smooth the cream through hair from the mid-lengths to the ends 1-2 times a week.
L'Occitane Repairing Mask for Dry & Damaged Hair, £26, available at Feel Unique
While masks for dry hair are in abundance, oily roots still need attention. Greasy hair is caused by excess oil on your scalp and roots and can lead to over-washing, which in turn produces more oil. This pre-shampoo treatment instantly absorbs oil for lighter, deeply cleansed roots.
Before shampooing, apply onto dry roots and massage into your scalp, leave for up to 5 minutes, then rinse out while massaging the scalp until the water runs clear.
L'Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Clay Masque Pre Shampoo Treatment, £5.99, available at Boots
Relaxed Afro hair can often bring with it breakage and split ends, so using a regular mask will help repair damage and improve texture and strength. Enriched with argon, avocado, jojoba and sesame oils, the Mizani Supreme Oil Mask will transform frizzy hair into sleek and more supple locks that are manageable and healthy with a lustrous shine. Use once a week for optimum conditioning.
Spread a generous amount throughout wet hair, leave for 3-5 minutes, then rinse well.
Mizani Supreme Oil Mask, £16.45, available at Look Fantastic
Buttery soft with violet tones to revitalise blonde, grey and white hair, Schwarzkopf's Bonacure Oil Miracle Barbary Fig Oil Restorative Mask improves the combability of rough hair, while injecting a dose of moisture to dehydrated locks, due to the infusion of barbary fig oil and micro keratin.
Apply to mid-lengths and ends of towel-dried hair and work through with fingers. Leave for up to 10 minutes and rinse.
Schwarzkopf Professional BC Bonacure Barbary Fig Oil Restorative Mask, £14.75, available at Feel Unique
We can't get enough of this mask for its natural-origin ingredients and lightweight formula. Containing organic banana puree from Ecuador and Brazil nut oil from Peru, this vegan mask is mineral oil- and silicone-free. A weekly treatment leaves locks instantly shinier and noticeably less frizzy, without weighing hair down.
Massage into damp, clean hair and leave for 10 minutes.
The Body Shop Banana Truly Nourishing Hair Mask, £12, available at The Body Shop
Superfood ingredients, avocado and coconut oil, are essential when moisture needs rebuilding, leaving hair hydrated, softer and more manageable, while the AntiFade complex protects colour-treated hair.
Following shampoo, apply a 50p-sized amount to wet hair, wait 5 minutes and rinse well.
Pureology Hydrate Superfood Treatment, £26.50, available at Feel Unique
Knots are perhaps one of the most frustrating but common problems we encounter with hair. The formulation of keratin and marula oil helps fight frizz and detangle while boosting shine and taming flyaways.
Apply to wet hair, and gently massage into roots with fingertips to build a lather. Then rinse well and condition as normal.
Tresemmé Keratin Ultimate Smooth Mask, £6.10, available at Boots
For an 'urban antidote' to pristinely coloured hair, TIGI's Bed Head Colour Goddess Miracle Treatment Mask combines keratin, provitamin B5 and sweet almond oil to keep coloured locks vibrant while retaining moisture. The low pH formula also helps lock down pigment after colouring.
Apply weekly, concentrating on mid-lengths and ends.
TIGI Bed Head Colour Goddess Miracle Treatment Mask, £15.50, available at Feel Unique
If you don't have hours to spend in the salon, try this nourishing, ultra-rich, 3-minute moisture-boosting product. It repairs damage caused by dehydrating weather conditions and heat-styling products, and can also be used overnight for a more indulgent experience.
Evenly spread product from root to tip through clean, wet hair. Leave for 3 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Umberto Giannini Over Indulge Nourishing Hair Mask, £8.50, available at Boots
Husband and Wife duo, Steven Schapera and Defaf Alamri, founded London Labs with the intention of merging skincare science with haircare. Their aim is to encourage people to pay as much attention to their hair as they do to their skincare routine. This AHA Peel & Scalp Mask duo gently exfoliates to de-congest the scalp, combatting the build of up excess sebum and dead skin cells to leave a flake-free and radiant head of hair.
Apply the AHA Peel to your clean, dry or damp (not wet) scalp, leave in for 10-15 minutes, then rinse out.
London Labs AHA Peel & Scalp Mask Duo, £26, available at London Labs
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