Top 5 Hair Mask Tips for Dry, Damaged Hair

Top 5 Hair Mask Tips for Dry, Damaged Hair

Living with dry and/or damaged hair is not the best experience – because those who do suffer from dry hair will tell you the same thing we’ve experienced ourselves: an inability to absorb and retain moisture the same way as normal hair.

As a result, the texture and brightness often appears brittle, dry, fragile and generally lacklustre. Yep – not all that fun!

Many factors can be attributed to dry and damaged hair, such as using heat styling products, harsh shampoos and conditioners containing too many chemicals, or not using the right hair mask or shampoo specifically formulated for dry/damaged.

However, certain lifestyle and nutritional habits can also play a key role in maintaining optimal hair health. For instance, dry and/or damaged hair may be caused by:

Nutritional imbalances or deficiencies

  • Too much exposure to the sun
  • Excessive hair wash, especially when using harsh shampoos and conditioners
  • Use of heat styling products
  • Use of generally harsh hair products
  • Bathing or swimming in chlorinated water
  • Not enough water consumption throughout the day

And this is where a hair mask comes in to save the day – one which contains Jojoba, Marula and Argan Oil along with other ‘super nutrients’ to make your hair feel softer, shinier and healthier. The Sardar Co Hair Mask definitely has you covered.

woman pouring hair mask product into hand

What is a hair mask?

Hair masks are a form of hair treatment, which are formulated with butters, oils, antioxidants and other nourishing ingredients. These hydrating masks are far more effective at nurturing hair than your average shampoo or conditioner for dry and damaged hair as well as curly and thick hair – yielding dramatically beneficial results after just a single use.

Hair, especially women’s hair, go through a lot of stress – heat styling, exposure to the sun water and weather elements, too much chlorine or contaminated water, experimenting with new hairstyles, etc. All of these can cause hair to become dry and frizzy, especially if you already have dry or damaged hair.

Hair masks can reduce the chances of hair breakage and make your hair look and feel vibrant, soft, beautiful and healthy throughout the day. And the best part is, you don’t even have to book a beauty salon appointment!

hair mask tube showing ingredients

Top 5 tips on correctly applying a hair mask for dry hair

Tip #1: Pick the right ingredients

Whether you choose to make your own hair mask at home or pick a clinically proven one known to repair dry and damaged hair, you need to know the key ingredients to look for.

So, your hair mask should contain several ingredients, such as proteins to make hair strong, oils and lipids to help moisturise it and antioxidants to give it the protection it needs. Therefore, some of the key ingredients your hair mask should have include:

  • Jojoba oil – prevents hair loss and promotes thickness
  • Argan oil – provides moisturisation, and prevents dryness and fizziness
  • Marula oil – nourishes hair from the root to tip and keeps it hydrated
  • Olive fruit oil – penetrates the hair shaft to preserve moisture and lock it in

Tip #2: Shampoo before applying the hair mask

Use a clarifying shampoo which acts as a deep cleanser to get rid of residue and build-up. The healthy nutrients from your hair mask will not penetrate effectively unless you get rid of the grease, dirt and build-up first.

Shampoo using warm water only as that will open up the cuticles on your hair, allowing the hair mask to deeply reach into your hair’s structure as you use it.

Tip #3: Section damp hair

Many people get confused about whether to use their hair mask over wet or dry hair. While you can always towel-dry your hair right before using the hair mask, the cuticles in wet hair are fully open, which means it will be easier to absorb the hair mask and have it penetrate deeply.

Depending on hair length, thickness and texture, you should divide your hair into 3-6 sections, which will make the hair mask application not just easier but also more evenly distributed.

Spread your hair mask evenly onto locks (from roots to ends) using either your fingers or the Sardar Co detangler hair comb.

Tip #4: Apply a little heat

Yes, it’s understandable that applying any kind of heat styling to dry or damaged here is often akin to blasphemy in the hair care world, but light heat will actually help in better nutrient penetration.

So, after you’ve applied the mask, set your blow dryer on the lowest heat setting and very gently blow dry to aid in product penetration.

Tip #5: Leave mask for 10-20 minutes

Many expert hair stylists and ‘hair care gurus’ will tell you that 5-10 minutes per application is sufficient, but we recommend leaving your Sardar Co Hair Mask for anywhere between 10 and 30 minutes for the best effect. Cover your head with a warm towel afterward.

However, if your hair is extremely dry or damaged, then you might want to leave it on overnight. This is also a good way to get the results you’re after – plus, it allows the high-quality ingredients to seep in even deeper, and repair as well as restore the hair a lot better too. Keep in mind though that if you’re leaving it on overnight, then there’s no need to use it on damp hair.

Finally, to remove the hair mask, rinse it off with cool water if you like (warm water is fine too), towel dry and style your refreshed, soft and beautiful hair as you normally do.

Common Hair Mask FAQs

Do I need to use a hair mask?

Absolutely! It’s a deeply nourishing and soothing hair treatment which can make a major difference in terms of the shine and strength of your hair. This is especially important of you have dry or damaged hair. Quality hair masks are packed with hydrating, nourishing and restorative ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil and jojoba oil.

Is it possible to leave a hair mask on for too long?

Leaving a hair mask on for too long (longer than 30-45 minutes) or even overnight when applied to damp hair can make it prone to breakage. We recommend leaving it in for no more than 10-30 minutes at a time.

How often should I use a hair mask?

The hydrating hair treatment is usually enough once a week for dry and damaged hair – however, you can safely use yours for up to 2 times a week. As long as you pick a quality hair mask with all-natural ingredients, you’re good to go.


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