Style

The 7 Best Hair Masks For Healthy & Defined Curls

by Maria Cassano

Curly hair types tend to be more vulnerable to dryness, frizz, and breakage — but giving them a little extra TLC can go a long way. Luckily, the best hair masks for curly hair can work wonders on even the driest of curls. These hair superheroes are designed to nourish and hydrate parched strands, minimize frizz, and protect hair from future damage — without weighing down your curls.

No matter how thick or thin your hair is, all curls needs one thing: moisture. That's because, with all the twists and turns in the hair shaft, natural oils from the scalp can't travel down the strands as easily as they do with straight hair. As a result, hair experts often recommend that those with curly hair do deep conditioning mask treatments at least twice a month.

The question then becomes, "Which kind of deep conditioning mask is right for my hair?" If you've got fine, light curls, you don't want to weigh them down with a thick and greasy mask. But, if you've got thick or coarse curls, you'll want to opt for something heavy duty that'll give you some serious definition. Regardless of your hair type, there's a mask out there for you.

These seven healing and hydrating masks are perfect for whipping curly hair back into shape.

1Reinforce Your Hair's Weak Spots For Healthier Curls With This Bio-Restorative Complex

ORIBE Gold Lust Transformative Masque, $66, Amazon

Restore overworked hair with ORIBE 's Gold Lust Transformative Masque, which provides loads of nourishment, strength, and moisture. Its bio-restorative complex fills in weak spots in the strands, helping your curls to remain sleek and bouncy no matter how much you've processed them in the past. "It worked like a miracle," says one reviewer. "Just like all those hair products promise, this stuff actually made my hair soft, manageable and pretty again."

2Get More Bounce With This Real Yogurt Mask

Hairgurt Curl Perfecting Deep Conditioner (2 Pack), $24, Amazon

Specifically formulated for improving bounce and elasticity, Hairgurt Curl Perfecting Deep Conditioner has actual yogurt in it to repair strands from within. It's also free of sulfates and parabens, and reviewers say, "Every deep conditioner I've ever used has been thick in consistency, so I was very skeptical when I opened this product and saw that it was 'fluffier' than I was used to... but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised!"

3Increase Shine & Moisture With This Rich Mask For Any Hair Type

SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Masque, $11, Amazon

With ingredients like manuka honey and Mafura oil, SheaMoisture's Intensive Hydration Masque works well for any hair type. It's extremely lightweight, but increases shine, manageability, and moisture. Reviewers say they saw a difference in just one use: "I use this on my daughter's dry, curly hair and it becomes moisturized, bouncy, and VIBRANT." It's also free of sulfates and apparently smells sweet, earthy, and wonderful.

4Bring Life Back To Dry, Fine Curls Without Weighing Them Down

Arvazallia Hydrating Argan Oil Hair Mask, $12, Amazon

Argan oil is a dry oil, which means that it absorbs quickly into hair without excess grease. That's why the Arvazallia Argan Oil Hair Mask, is awesome for thin, damaged curls that could do without the weight. It's extremely hydrating without being overly thick, and reviewers say it smells incredible and leaves hair feeling soft and manageable. "My curls have never popped so much!" says one happy buyer.

5Create More Defined Curls & Control Frizz With This Coconut Oil Mask

Majestic Pure Coconut Oil Hair Mask, $13, Amazon

For curls in need of more definition and frizz-control, the Majestic Pure Coconut Oil Hair Mask is rich in vitamin E and fatty acids that add smoothness and shine. It's made with botanical ingredients that leave your hair feeling "very clean, no heavy feeling," and reviewers say it "smells like summer!'

6Strengthen Damaged, Over-Processed Hair With Proteins And Amino Acids

ArtNaturals Argan Oil Hair Mask, $13, Amazon

The ArtNaturals Argan Oil Hair Mask also contains hydrolyzed wheat, oats and quinoa proteins, and silk amino acids to strengthen even the most damaged hair. It's a great option for people who are trying to get their curls back after loads of processing: "My curls have come back completely - even the ends of my hair now curls, which it hasn't done in a very very long time."

7Add Moisture To Fine Hair To Keep It Frizz-Free & Bouncy

Deva Heaven In Hair Intense Moisture Treatment, $18, Amazon

The DevaCurl Heaven In Hair Moisture Treatment is great for thin hair that needs a huge boost of moisture to keep it frizz-free and bouncy. It's got a lovely lemongrass scent and works best as a 30-minute weekly intense treatment. "Even after the first wash, my curls have more structure, bounce and vitality, and the ends are no longer brittle and dry," says one reviewer.

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