A hairdresser shares the hair masks that actually work

“These masks are pretty much walking out the door like hotcakes.”

The haircare aisles in every chemist are overflowing with masks, treatments and conditioners promising to restore your fried ends to their original silky glory. Do hair masks actually work though? And which ones are worth buying? In search of some guidance, I asked Charlotte Archer, the Director of Melbourne-based salon Bob Hair, for some professional advice.

According to Charlotte, when you’re choosing a hair mask you shouldn’t just pick up any random product from your local chemist. “It’s quite important to pick the one that’s suited to your hair type, because there are so many different hair types, and some of them might not do anything.” 

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Your safest bet is popping into a hair salon you trust, and asking the professionals what they recommend for you. “They’ll sell you the right thing and tell you how to use it. You’ll probably use half as much, and it’ll last you twice as long,” says Charlotte. But if you want to make sure you’re choosing a quality product, below Charlotte’s shared her best hair mask picks for your specific hair type.

You’ve got curly hair

This Davines Love Curl Smoothing Mask is Charlotte’s go-to for curly-headed clients. “If you’ve got a really thick, wiry curl then the smoothing, instant mask is really beautiful because it’s thick and hydrating,” she says. For application, you just “comb [the mask] through with a big wide tooth comb and just leave it for 15 minutes and then rinse it out”. To go science mode on you, it “smooths your hair cuticle”. 

You’ve got curly hair on the frizzy side

The Davines Love Curl Hydrating Mask is the one for you. Charlotte explains that it’s a “slightly lighter mask and will be nurturing and nourishing on the hair, but it’s not going to flatten any curl… it will probably help activate it”. Essentially this mask will make your curls quenched and well-defined.

Your hair is thin and dry

Charlotte tells me this is a tricky hair type when it comes to masks because you want something that will “penetrate and get in there but not weigh the hair down”. Charlotte’s holy grail is Evo Top Drop, a treatment you can only get in the salon. There are three types (Repair, Hydrate and Blonde) all of which come in little liquid vials. This is great for thin hair because the consistency is almost like thick water. If your hair is particularly dry, the Hydrate mask is the best option. 

Most masks only last you until your next hair wash; Top Drop, however, stays in for a few months. “You actually feel it in your hair… [it will be] detangled and quite silky for up to twelve washes and that’s why I recommend that one, [because] you’re not having to over moisturise”.

You’ve got straight hair with no issues

You can try the Davines Nourishing Vegetarian Miracle Mask, which Charlotte says is a really “luxe, rich feeling one”. Otherwise, the best option is still the Evo Top Drop treatment. Charlotte does them “day in and day out at the basin… and it stays in the hair for so long”. To find a salon near you that does the treatment, head here.

The best overall mask (especially for blondes)

Charlotte’s number one pick is the Davines Heart of Glass mask. These masks are “pretty much walking out the door like hotcakes” and have been an absolute game changer for Charlotte’s salon. Designed to prevent hair breakage, it leaves your hair feeling nourished and your colour brightened. Who wouldn’t want that?

For more advice on great hair masks, head here.