How To Use A Hair Mask For Natural Hair

Natural hair and hair masks go hand in hand. Why? Because natural hair is known to be prone to dryness, and hair masks are fantastic moisturizers. If you have just discovered hair masks and want to know how to best use them for your natural hair, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll tell you step-by-step how to use a hair mask for natural hair. 

Instructions for Using a Hair Mask on Natural Hair 

Since natural hair is prone to damage from hair dryness and manipulation, it’s essential to follow the below steps to a T. 

  • Thoroughly wash your hair. Hair masks cannot penetrate layers of dirt and oil. They were not made for this purpose. So, before using a hair mask on your hair, you should make sure that you wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo. We suggest choosing a clarifying shampoo that incorporates natural ingredients and doesn’t contain sulfates. While you do want your hair to be clean, you don’t want to strip your strands of all of their moisture. 
  • Section your hair. To get the most out of your hair mask, you need to apply it to every single strand. To ensure even distribution, part your hair into at least 4 sections and braid each section down to the ends. If your hair is less than 3 inches long, you can skip this step. 
  • Apply the mask to your damp hair. Squeeze out any excess water from your first section and begin applying your hair mask. Be generous with the product and make sure that every strand is completely coated in the product. You don’t want to miss any spots. After applying the hair mask to the section, use your hands to finger comb the product through. Repeat this step for all of the other sections. 
  • Allow the hair mask to work. The difference between a rinse-out conditioner and a hair mask is that a hair mask needs to sit on the hair for more time than a rinse-out conditioner does. In most cases, around 10 minutes is enough time for your hair mask to do its job. But if you bought a pre-made hair mask, you should reference the instructions on the packaging to find out how long to leave the hair mask in.
  • Rinse the hair mask out. Rinsing is an important step that you shouldn’t skip. Hair masks are not formulated to be left on the hair, so you should take a couple of minutes to rinse it out thoroughly. 
  • You’re all done. Style your hair as desired.

Tip: If you experience tangling while you’re applying the hair mask, feel free to spritz your hair with some water. The water will aid in product distribution and make your hair more manageable. 

We hope that the tips in this article are helpful to you as you attempt to give your hair the care it needs. With the right hair mask and application technique, you’ll unlock a new, better version of your natural hair! 

 

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.