I am a hair mask virgin. I have been able to balance my hair dryness and health with shampoo and conditioners. I also don’t use curly irons or any additional products in my hair. I even try to air dry my hair as much as possible. For me, less is more but I have so many friends who swear by hair masks, I had to try it.
Hair masks can help moisturize and nourish hair. Masks are especially beneficial for dry, damaged, or frizzy hair. Some hair masks can help improve the health of your scalp and boost the strength of your hair as well. Key benefits of a hair mask include:
- shinier, softer hair
- added moisture
- reduced hair breakage and damage
- less frizz
- a healthier scalp
- stronger hair
- less environmental and product damage
The #1 selling hair mask on Amazon is Arvazallia Professional Series Hydrating Argan Oil Mask. It cost $12.95 for 250 Ml/8.45 fl oz. The packaging says that it is good for: Deep Conditioning & Hydration for Softer, Silkier, & Healthier Looking Hair. It is 100% Sulfate and Paraben free.
Directions: Apply a generous amount to clean shampooed hair that is still damp or lightly towel- dried. Comb the treatment through the hair and leave in for 5-7 minutes and then rise. Use this 1-2 times weekly.
Ingredients: Water, Cetearyl Alchohol, Amodimethicone and Trideceth-12 and Cetrimonium Chloride, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Parfum, Argania Spinoza Kernel Oil (Argan Oil), Steartrimonium Chloride, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol.
Amalie is all about natural and organic ingredients so honestly this ingredient list concerns me a bit. I did some research on the top 3 ingredients and found the following:
Cetearyl alcohol is a chemical found in many cosmetic products. It’s a white, waxy substance made from cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, both fatty alcohols. This ingredient can be found in animals and plants, like coconut and palm oil. They can also be made in a laboratory. Not sure where this ingredient comes from in this product?
Amodimethicone is a silicone. Silicones have a bad reputation in haircare because there is a huge range of silicone items some which actually build up on hair. Amodimethicone helps hair to be soft, smooth and shiny and does not build up.
Cetrimonium chloride is used as a detangler in many hair care products. It’s considered safe to use as an ingredient for cosmetics and personal skin and hair care products
Results: To be honest I have healthy hair so I was not expected a big difference. I found after use that my hair was softer and shinier but not less frizzy. I am not fond of the smell (strong perfume smell) and found it to be almost slippery in the shower as I rinsed it off. This is likely due to the silicone in the formulation. Would I use it again? Yes, maybe? They recommend use 1-2 times and week and I think it would build up on my hair so I would not do that. Next time, I think I am more likely to make my own hair mask at home with natural ingredients.
I’m a big believer in each ingredient having a reasons for being. It’s always best to use natural ingredients that heal or fix what you need vs chemicals. Example, bananas help reduce frizz. Bananas contain silica, potassium, natural oils, and vitamins which helps to make hair softer and shinier. For more details on how to use hair masks check these details from healthline.
I started researching formulas for making your own mask at home and it seems very easy. I like the idea of making your own mask because you can customize the formulation based on what your hair needs and you know the ingredients are free of chemicals. Here are some thoughts from Good Housekeeping – 7 DIY hair masks you can make at home.
