Choosing a Hair Mask for Your Hair Type

Your hair goes through a lot. Heat styling, brushing, colouring, sweaty gym sessions, chlorine, product build-up, hot showers, windy commutes: it all adds up. And, if you’re reading this, chances  are you've spent a lot of time and money on your hair. 

To get return on investment, it makes sense to treat your tresses with the care they deserve. Enter the hair mask. These at-home hair treatments have a leg up on usual conditioners and styling creams with their mega moisturising ingredients designed to sink in and (usually) be rinsed off.

Let's start from the beginning, hair porosity is a way of understanding how your hair absorbs and holds moisture and it can affect everything from how frizzy your hair feels to how well your treatments actually work. There are three main levels – low, medium and high porosity – and it all comes down to how tightly the outer layer of your hair is packed.

• Low porosity hair has a tighter structure, so moisture takes longer to get in but once it does, it tends to stay put.

• High porosity hair is more open, which means it can absorb moisture quickly, but it also loses it just as fast.

• Medium porosity sits somewhere in the middle and is generally easy to hydrate and manage.

Porosity isn’t determined by curl pattern or hair thickness. Anyone can have any porosity level, and it can even vary across different parts of your hair. Knowing where your hair sits can help you choose products that actually do what you need them to – and avoid the ones that don’t. Not sure? Ask your hairdresser!

We often talk about protein when it comes to diet, but what about your hair? Over time, heat styling, colouring, and even the weather can wear down your hair’s natural structure, leading to breakage, split ends, and that stretchy, brittle feeling. A protein treatment steps in to strengthen and smooth, restoring elasticity and giving your hair that healthy, salon-fresh bounce again. 

Whether your strands are fine, thick, damaged or somewhere in between, incorporating protein into your routine can help bring back strength, shine and control. Need a place to start? Try the OGX Bond Protein Treatment for serious damage repair and breakage protection. Or reach for the Matrix InstaCure Build-A-Bond Mask. It’s powered by citric acid and squalane, it penetrates deep into the hair fibre to reinforce weak spots while smoothing the surface for a silky, revived finish.

Not all masks are created equal. The best ones are matched to what your hair’s actually going through. Let’s find yours...

For something a little more low-key but still just as luxe, Wella’s SP Classic Hydrate Mask brings the salon to your shower – minus the small talk. Lightweight yet deeply conditioning, the mask delivers an instant moisture surge to thirsty strands, helping to smooth, soften and revive dry or fine hair without flattening your volume.

A salon-level treatment in the time it takes to scroll your feed, the sulfate-free Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Liquid 5-Minute Mask melts into the hair to deliver deep hydration, noticeable shine, and serious strength: no heavy residue, no waiting around. Perfect for damaged or colour-treated hair that needs a fast, hard-working rehab session.

Another crowd favourite designed to neutralise the metal particles that can cause breakage and colour dullness, the L’Oréal Metal Detox Mask is like a detox for coloured hair, leaving it softer, shinier and stronger.

For hair that puffs up at the slightest hint of humidity, the OGX Brazilian Keratin Hair Mask is an ultra-nourishing and fast-acting mask that helps hydrate and smooth frizz-prone strands, leaving hair soft, glossy and photo-ready. Work the formula through damp hair once a week and let it do the rest.

If your curls are on the thirstier side, you might want to go a little richer. Packed with shea butter, coconut oil, and macadamia oil, this mask deeply quenches and softens curls. Its creamy formula helps restore moisture to dry, damaged hair, leaving your mane nourished and defined. The Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter Hair Mask is a particularly good pick for curl types that drink up moisture fast and still want more.

If your hair snaps when you so much as look at a brush, reach for the Nioxin Anti-Breakage Strengthening Mask. It's designed to help reinforce the hair shaft and reduce breakage over time, leaving hair more resilient and less prone to splitting. While ideal for thinning or chemically treated hair, it's an all-rounder for anyone needing a bit of damage control.

Not dealing with thinning but still battling snapping strands? Split ends starting to stack up? The Pantene Biotin Jar Mask helps smooth frayed strands and reduce signs of breakage, thanks to a blend of biotin and Pantene's Pro-V nutrient complex. Add it to your weekly routine for healthier-looking, softer, more manageable hair.

And if you want to go straight to the top of the food chain, the reputation of the Olaplex No.8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask speaks for itself. Using the brand's patented bond-building technology, it strengthens and restores damaged strands while deeply hydrating dry, dehydrated hair. Expect less breakage, more shine, and locks that feel soft, silky and visibly healthier.

Your scalp is skin, and just like the skin on your face, it benefits from a targeted cleanse before any treatment. If yours is dealing with visible flakes, excess oil, or irritation, even the best mask can only do so much. Getting your scalp into balance first means every other step in your routine works harder.

Hair masks aren’t just for wash day. Use one before shampooing as a pre-wash shield, or slick it on for a glossy bun: either way, it’ll tame flyaways while doubling as a leave-in treatment. You can even sleep in it or apply post-swim to offset the drying effects of salt, chlorine or sun exposure. Basically, it’s working overtime – even when you’re not.

Whether your hair’s feeling dry, dull or downright defeated, the right mask can make all the difference. From in-shower staples to multi-tasking treatments, it’s your go-to for bringing strands back to life – and keeping them that way. Shop hair masks online or in-store at Chemist Warehouse.