Do you ever get overwhelmed by trying to add new steps to your hair care routine? Shampoo and conditioner are the basics, but where do hair masks fit in? What’s the difference between a hair mask and a conditioner, anyway? When and why should you use one over the other?

Ultimately the difference between a hair mask and a hair conditioner comes down to the difference between treatment and maintenance. 

Think of your daily skincare routine. Generally, you cleanse your skin and apply a moisturizer; then, once or twice a week you’ll use an exfoliator or a face mask for more intense benefits or to reset your skin. The cleansing and moisturizing routine is the maintenance, but the real magic comes from the deeper treatments.

Regular maintenance of your hair is similar to skincare in that your cleanser and moisturizer are just like your shampoo and conditioner. The goal of shampoo is to remove dirt, oil, bacteria, and product from the hair, while conditioner works to infuse your strands with hydration, moisture for shine, softness, and manageability.

The same way just cleansing and hydrating your skin alone won’t necessarily give you the results you want, shampoo and conditioner aren’t able to provide the hair-changing results that come with deeper treatments—and that’s where hair masks come in!

Hair masks are formulated to provide specific benefits for your hair’s unique needs. They sit on the hair longer and with a higher concentration of ingredients so they’re able to penetrate deeper. Some of these benefits can include:

- Infusing damaged hair with missing proteins and essential fatty acids to help repair and strengthen the strands. (Try Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask for protein/moisture balance)

- Replenish dry and dehydrated locks with moisture and hydration to increase softness, shine, and manageability. (Try our Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Mask for intense hydration)

- Promote consistent curl pattern and enhance curl definition by smoothing and sealing the hair cuticle. (Check out the Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating & Defining Mask for enhanced curl definition)

- Calm, soothe, and hydrate a dry, itchy, irritated scalp. (Our Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Cooling Hydration Scalp Mask is a must-have for a hydrated and balanced scalp)

All hair types and textures, listen in: if you find yourself seeking healthy hair results that your shampoo and conditioner aren’t providing on their own, try incorporating a hair mask into your weekly routine!