Should I shampoo after a hair mask? No, you should first shampoo your hair and then apply a hair mask. This method is better because shampoo will open your hair cuticles, and then your hair will react to the hair mask better.
A hair mask should be the intermediate step in your beauty routine. What beauty routine should you follow for the best results?
- Wash your hair with an appropriate shampoo
- Apply hair mask and wait for a couple of minutes
- Apply conditioner
- Rinse your hair with cold water
- Dry hair and apply some oil
A lot of women usually follow this routine when they wash their hair. However, some of them do the opposite and apply a hair mask first.
Why is this ” reverse” routine good sometimes?
It is good if you have extremely dry hair, and then the hair mask will help you protect your hair from more damage.
Some shampoos, especially those with sulfates, will dry your hair even more, so it is better to protect it.
Keep reading if you want to learn more about masks and choose the right one for your hair texture.
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Do you use a hair mask before or after conditioner?
You should use a hair mask before conditioner and after shampoo. You should put a leave-in conditioner after a regular one if you have extremely dry hair.
This method will help you better penetrate the hair mask and conditioner ingredients.
Apply the maks and the conditioner from your hair’s middle part towards the ends. You should avoid putting masks and conditioners on the roots because you can end up with greasy hair.
You should use hair masks once a week, and you should use conditioner every time you wash your hair. These steps are essential if you want your hair to look healthy and shiny.
It would be best to choose the conditioner and hair mask based on your hair type; every hair texture is different.
How to choose the right hair mask for your hair
Hair masks help you hydrate and nourish your hair, and they are an important step in everyone’s beauty routine. However, you should choose hair maks based on your hair texture.
Find your hair type below, and check out the right hair masks for you.
Dry hair
If you have dry hair, you should choose masks labeled” for dry hair”. These hair masks will have ingredients such as jojoba oil, almond oil, aloe vera etc.
Dry hair types should also focus on moisturizing their hair with hair milk or hair lotion. Also, leave-in conditioners are the best choice for this hair type.
One of our favorite hair masks for dry hair is L’Oreal Paris Total Repair 5 Masque.
Greasy hair
If you have greasy hair, you should choose masks labeled” for greasy/ oily hair”. These hair masks will have ingredients such as lavender oil, tea tree oil and aloe vera.
One of our favorite hair masks for greasy hair is Bellisso Hair Masque.
Curly hair
If you have greasy hair, you should choose masks labeled” for curly hair”.
If you have dry curls, you can also check out the masks for dry hair and combine them every week. Curly hair also needs extra moisture, so don’t forget about that.
Choose a product that contains shea butter and lots of water. This will help keep your locks beautiful and healthy every day.
One of our favorites for curly hair is definitely Shea Moisture Intensive Hydration Hair Masque.
How often should you use hair masks?
You should use a hair mask once a week, but if you have extremely damaged hair, you can use it twice a week.
It would be best if you didn’t use it more than twice a week because you can experience product build-up or end up with greasy hair. However, if your hair is thick and you don’t experience any negative side effects, then you can use it.
Why are hair masks good?
Hair masks help you maintain smooth and healthy hair, and they are considered an essential step for everyone’s hair type.
We have mentioned different masks for different hair types above, so follow that, and you won’t make a mistake.
How often should you use hair oil?
Hair oil is the last step in your hair routine, and you should use it once a week. Twice or more is unnecessary, and you can end up with greasy and oily hair.
After you dry your hair, apply some oil onto your palms and go through your hair. Don’t overdo it if you don’t want to end up with greasy hair.
If you have thin hair, use just a bit of oil and focus on the ends of your hair. If you have thick or curly hair, then you can add a bit more.
Rub the oil gently so that you don’t pull any healthy hair off, and then brush your hair.
You should choose oils based on your hair type and needs, but our favorites are always natural, such as olive, coconut, almond, and neem.
Olis is not a necessary step for you, so you should only use them if you need to. One of the biggest mistakes with oils is that people use them to hydrate their hair.
Oils do not create moisture; we need to use hair milk and lotions for this purpose. We use oils to maintain our hair and to keep the moisture locked in place.
Conclusion: Should I shampoo after a hair mask?
You should wash your hair first, then apply a hair mask. Shampoo opens your hair cuticles, which means that your hair will react to the hair mask better.
You can try the reverse method – hair mask + shampoo if you have extremely dry hair that needs extra protection.
You should choose the right mask based on your hair texture and type; always read the label on the products.
Above, we have mentioned the key ingredients you should look for on the product label.
Pro tip: You can always make homemade masks with these natural ingredients, and you will have the best results.
You will avoid all the “bad” ingredients like perfumes and alcohol if you make your own masks. This is especially important for dry hair types because these ingredients can dry out hair even more.
We hope this blog post gives you the information you need about hair masks and how to implement them in your hair care routine.
Do you have a favorite hair mask that you would like to share with the rest of us? Leave a comment in the section below.
