Ever wondered how long you should leave hair masks on your hair? Or why you should even use a hair mask? It kind of depends on the type of treatment you’re using.
Hair treatments and hair masks are a bit of an obsession for me. I have curly hair, which is naturally dry plus I colour my hair.
That’s a double dose of damage that requires some serious moisture to get my hair back to ‘normal’. Well, I don’t think there is a normal, but masks stop my hair feeling like straw, so I love them.
I use a hair mask almost every time I wash my hair. Most of the time I just do a quick treatment so I can do it in the shower. Once a fortnight, I’ll do a proper treatment and let me hair really soak up all the goodness from the hair treatments.
How to use a hair mask
Here are three easy tips for using a hair mask.
- Apply a hair mask between your shampoo and conditioner. The exception is oil treatments which you need to shampoo out of your hair and then condition.
- Concentrate your mask on the ends of your hair. The ends of your hair need the help the most. Apply your treatment on the midlengths and ends of your hair.
- Comb your treatment through. After applying your mask to the ends of your hair, use a wide tooth comb to distribute the product through your hair. Once your time is up, rinse it out and apply your conditioner.
How long should you leave hair treatments on your hair? – Hair Romance Hair Mask Cheat Sheet
So how long should you leave your mask on your hair? It’s important to follow the instructions on the bottle, but if it’s not clear then follow my quick cheat sheet to hair masks.
Protein treatments
10 minutes
- If you have coloured or damaged hair, be careful with protein treatments. Follow the instructions on the product though as a general rule, never leave them on longer than 10 minutes.
- Always use a timer and pay attention when using protein treatments on dry or damaged hair. Over use of protein treatments can make hair brittle and cause more damage.
- Apply protein treatments after shampooing your hair but before conditioning.
- It’s recommended to only do protein treatments once a week or once a fortnight.
Hydrating treatments
5-20 minutes, or even longer
- Moisturising treatments can be left on your hair for any time. After a certain time you don’t get any more benefits from the products.
- Use hydrating treatments for 5-20 minutes. Do follow the directions on the product for specific timings.
- Apply hydrating treatments after shampooing your hair but before conditioning.
- You can do extra treatments for an hour or overnight but you’ll get almost the same benefits as doing the treatment for 20 minutes.
Coconut oil
30 minutes or overnight
- You can use coconut oil as a treatment before you wash your hair. Leave coconut oil on your hair for at least 10 minutes. You’ll get better results if you leave the oil on longer – say 20-30 minutes.
- Apply the oil to your hair, concentrating on the ends. It’s great for a head massage too.
- You can also do an overnight oil treatment and then wash your hair in the morning. It’s more convenient to do this, just make sure to put a towel on your pillow!
Olaplex
10 minutes minimum but the longer, the better
- Olaplex is a bond restorer that is applied during colour treatments though there is a take-home treatment. Don’t confuse this with a conditioning treatment (like I did!).
- Leave the treatment on your hair for a minimum of 10 minutes. Ideally, you should leave it on for 30 minutes, or even longer.
- Apply Olaplex to clean, towel-dried hair. As you have to leave it on so long, I usually get out of the shower and let it work, then hop back in to rinse it off and apply conditioner.
What’s your favourite hair treatment or hair mask? How often do you treat your hair and how long do you leave your hair treatment on your hair?
Alessandromsmommy says
Hi I bleached my hair and it’s all damaged at the end I got a tresemme repair and protect hair mask how long should I leave that on for my hairs really bad
Sam says
Can we apply fish oil to hair …or fish oil hair mask
Hair Romance says
you could try, but I think the smell would be overwhelmingly awful. It’s better to eat oily fish or take a supplement than to put it on your hair x
Afsheen says
Hey there! Loved your post <3 Just wondering how long I can keep my Coconut oil cream mask by GOSH that has keratin in it?
The box says just 5-7 minutes…
Hair Romance says
always follow instructions on the packet 🙂 keratin is a protein so should not be left on hair for a long time x
Hinan says
Can we leave EGG YOLK OIL (not raw) overnight?
Hair Romance says
I’m not sure, egg is a protein so it may not be a good idea.
Emily says
Can I leave my Privana purple mask in my hair overnight?
Hair Romance says
Hi Emily, with colour masks I always follow the guidelines they specify. I wouldn’t sleep in a colour mask, best to use a hydrating/moisture mask xx
Nishka Nachappa says
For me, sleeping with coconut oil in my hair is pure torture. Being a late-riser, I’m known to enjoy my sleep. But on the mornings after I’ve gone to bed with oil in my hair, I cannot wait to wake up and rush to the shower. That’s why off late I do elaborate coconut oil pre-poos.
I apply a generous amount of coconut oil thoroughly to my hair, i.e. from root to tip and let it soak for 8-12 hours. I then shampoo and condition as usual. Shampooing twice is almost absolutely necessary.
The result is glossy, soft, strong and manageable hair. There’s very less breakage even with not so delicate strokes of the comb.
I enjoy doing this treatment for my hair and u suppose I’ve found a way that’s convenient for me and let’s me reap its benefits without subjecting myself to any torture.
Chantale says
What about charcoal masks??
Hair Romance says
oh good question! I would follow the specific pack instructions as the charcoal is neither moisturising or protein based so it will depend on the indivdual mask. Personally I love charcoal masks for my skin but I haven’t tried any on my hair. I’m worried they could stain my blonde hair x
Lex says
What do you consider a “protein treatment”?
Hair Romance says
Hi Lex, protein treatments are designed to strengthen your hair and contain ingredients like keratin, wheat proteins, amino acids or other proteins. The instructions on the label will state the correct time to use the mask. With hydrating treatments you can leave them for longer without worrying but protein treatment timings should be followed as per the label x
Jules Peacocke says
Treatments are awesome when designed for the problems your hair may have.
In salon we have noticed that most treatments these days are instant or 60 seconds.
The reason this has happened is that the science of hair show us that once a ingredient or product is applied the hair will soak up what it needs immediately a little like a sponge, once that sponge is full it can take no more.
So what we will do for a high-end treatment service is rinse the ingredient/treatment then reapply a bit like layering ingredient/product allowing the hair to let go a little then take more in.
Hair Romance says
Thanks for commenting Jules, that’s really interesting to hear about layering a treatment for maximum effect. 🙂
Jules Peacocke says
Your welcome. Jules
Rebecca H says
Thank you so much for such an informative post!
Beauty Wanderer
Hair Romance says
Thanks Rebecca 🙂
Wendy says
I’ve bern following you a while now . Good and interesting posts .I’d love to send you my new formulas ilesformula.com to review. No more need of masques . They have instant shut down on hair cuticles. Turns zll hair types to spun silk texture instantly. I travel the world doing hair campaignes for major hair companies . These are the on set key that i launched public 2 weeks ago.
Wendy@ilesformula.com
DeAnna G says
Please share your new formulas. I am a former hairstylist. Ty
Sonia from Sonia Styling says
Aww, that’s us! Hair masks have always been a bit of a mystery to me, so thank you for debunking them. x
Hair Romance says
I love this pic of us xx
Randall says
^^Same. Though I think the word you were looking for there is “demystifying,” not “debunking” 🙂
Hayley G says
Coconut Oil for the win!
Works so amazingly well on parched tresses – that and all your other tips + info on other treatments is so awesome and handy.
Thanks HR! x
Hair Romance says
Thanks Hayley! Love a coconut oil treatment. I mix it with Darshana (which is a base of citrus oils) and it smells SO GOOD.
Lisa quinten says
Ouai has the best hair masks . I tried it by accident because it got sent to me with my Ipsy bag. Glad I did because now I buy it n love it before that I used kerastase masks n still do!!! I recommend both