For restoring dry, damaged, or overprocessed hair, deep-conditioning treatments and hair masks have become increasingly popular over the last several years. But with a growing range of products for home-use along with in-salon services, many find themselves wondering which route produces the best results.
Here, I explore the differences between at-home and in-salon conditioning treatments and break down how to choose the best option for you.
What are at-home hair conditioning masks?
There is something special about leaving the salon with soft, silky, and shiny hair, and I often hear from my clients that they want to recreate that feeling at home. The solution can be as simple as adding a deep-conditioning mask to your regimen.
At-home hair masks can be a great option for those with specific hair goals, such as growth, hydration, and shine. I recommend choosing a mask tailored to your specific hair needs and goals. For example, if you have fine strands that are easily weighed down, avoid heavier masks and look for one that hydrates fine hair, such as Kérastase Genesis Masque Reconstituant (it delivers moisture with a lightweight feel).
There are hundreds of deep-conditioning masks on the market for at-home use. To narrow down ones that best suit your hair, I always recommend talking with your hairstylist. Some key ingredients to avoid are harsh sulfates — they can strip your hair color and leave your scalp and hair feeling dry — as well as heavy silicones that can weigh down your hair and cause buildup, which can lead to breakage.
How to Use an At-Home Hair Conditioning Mask
At-home masks are typically easy to use and won’t take much time out of your day. I recommend adding it to your in-shower routine about once a week. A hair mask goes beyond what your regular conditioner can do for your hair as the ingredients tend to be more potent.
If you wash your hair once a week, I recommend using a hair mask instead of a conditioner to deliver the most benefits. If you wash your hair two to three times a week, or even daily, I recommend using a conditioner daily and incorporating a mask once per week in place of your conditioner.
- After you rinse your shampoo, apply the mask from mid-strands to the ends of your hair using a wide-tooth comb. This type of comb is gentle and helps distribute the product evenly when the hair is damp.
- Leave the mask for three to five minutes or according to the directions. Allowing the mask to sit gives it time to penetrate the hair cuticle and absorb all the nourishing ingredients it has to offer. Rinsing too early can affect the results.
My Favorite At-Home Hair Conditioning Masks
My all-time favorite mask for at-home use is the K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask, which we also use in-salon at LifeSpa — it’s great for all hair types. This mask is designed to reverse hair damage by rebuilding the internal structure of the hair, leaving it stronger, smoother, and healthier. With consistent use, it helps hair become more resilient to chemical and heat damage from day-to-day styling.
- For at-home use, I recommend shampooing as normal and skipping conditioner.
- After you get out of the shower, towel dry your hair before evenly applying two to three pumps of the K18 mask with your hands. Before applying, rub the product between your hands to emulsify and then distribute it through hair, starting at the ends and working your way up.
- This product does not require rinsing out. Let the mask sit for exactly four minutes and then apply any other styling products or heat protectant if you’re using hot tools.
- I recommend using this mask once a week.
For those with thick or coarse hair, a thicker, creamier conditioning mask may be beneficial as your strands naturally need more moisture. I recommend the Kérastase Chronologiste Masque as it offers intense nourishment, hydration, and shine yet leaves the hair with a light, bouncy feel.
- After shampooing, while you’re still in the shower, remove as much moisture as possible from your hair by squeezing it with your hands.
- Apply a small amount of the mask — starting with your ends and moving upward toward the middle of your hair, avoiding the scalp; distribute evenly with a wide-tooth comb.
- My rule of thumb with all at-home masks is “less is more,” so work in small sections, conserving as much product as possible. Allow the product to sit for at least three to five minutes before rinsing well and styling as normal.
Is an at-home hair conditioning mask the best choice for me?
As much as I would love to see my guests weekly for in-salon conditioning treatments, that’s not ideal from a cost or time perspective for most. This is where an effective at-home routine comes into play.
Using a weekly mask at home can help combat the damage from daily styling between salon visits. I typically recommend visiting your stylist every six to eight weeks and adding an in-salon conditioning treatment to your appointment. Beyond that, a weekly at-home mask can help achieve your healthy hair goals, especially if you have dry or damaged strands.
What are in-salon hair conditioning treatments?
Many salons provide conditioning treatments as an add-on to a hair color, extensions, haircut, or other service. Like an at-home mask, in-salon conditioning treatments feature effective ingredients to help with hair issues like dehydration, dullness, and lack of volume. However, in-salon treatments often provide more potent ingredients and are typically done in conjunction with a service that can be damaging to the hair like coloring, highlighting, or extensions. These treatments are designed to protect strands and counteract damage during those services as they can be harsh on the hair.
Other stand-alone treatments, or ones done with a haircut or blow dry, are typically for addressing specific hair concerns you may be experiencing, such as dehydration, brittleness, dryness, dull strands, or lack of volume. These treatments are often customized to specific concerns and are ideal for those looking to improve the health of their hair. The results can last up to six weeks but vary based on your hair type and styling and washing routines. Your stylist can let you know what to expect from the specific treatment you choose.
My favorite in-salon hair conditioning treatment recommended for color or extension services
If you’re coming in for a color, highlights, or extension service, the K18 Molecular Treatment is my go-to conditioning treatment. This treatment involves both a hair mist and hair mask. They are used throughout the service and are designed to strengthen and support the hair and mitigate damage throughout coloring or extension process.
Using K18 throughout the entire service helps strengthen your hair from the inside out and gives you the best overall finished result. K18 is a biomimetic haircare line we use at LifeSpa; it’s known for treating hair at a molecular level.
Unlike most conditioning treatments that sit on top of the hair, this multiple-product line works inside the hair cortex by reconnecting broken keratin chains. These are the bonds that give hair strength and elasticity. I especially recommend this type of treatment for chemical services, like coloring or lightening, as well as extensions as these can weaken or break the internal bonds of your hair, making it more fragile, dry, or prone to breakage over time.
This treatment involves a comprehensive process: Once my guest arrives and we consult on our goals for their service and any concerns, I start by brushing their hair completely. I then mist their hair with water, making it slightly damp. This opens the hair cuticle slightly, so the conditioning product can more easily travel to the cortex of the hair.
From there, I mist the hair with K18 Professional Molecular Repair Hair Mist, which is an in-salon product only; I then color the hair. Once the hair color is done processing, I wash it with K18 Peptide Prep Clarifying Detox Shampoo, which helps remove any leftover color molecules and prepares a clean canvas for toning or glossing.
Right before we apply the gloss or tone, I go back in with the K18 Professional Molecular Repair Mist at the shampoo bowl, brushing it through your hair completely and allowing it to sit for exactly four minutes. After I have applied the gloss and reached the desired tone, I then wash again with the K18 Damage Shield PH Protective Shampoo to cleanse gently, reduce frizz, and enhance shine.
Next, we head back to the chair to finish off the remaining steps of this treatment. I’ll use the K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask again to help detangle and strengthen the strands after the color or extension service. I let it sit on the hair for exactly four minutes. Then I gently comb the hair to ensure there are no tangles.
I’ll then use two to three pumps of the K18 Molecular Repair Mask and apply it using my hands, starting at the ends and working up. I let this mask sit on the hair for exactly four minutes. The mask further helps lock in all the benefits of the mist and leaves the hair feeling smooth and soft.
Then, I apply any other styling products needed depending on the final look we want to achieve, as well as a heat protectant, before blow-drying and styling to finish.
My favorite in-salon hair conditioning treatment recommended for cut or blowout services
For those coming into the salon for a cut or blowout who are facing some health hair issues such as dry, brittle hair, dullness, thin or limp strands, or lacking moisture, I recommend a customized conditioning treatment to address their specific concerns.
At LifeSpa, we offer Kérastase Fusio Doses, which is a completely customized treatment made up of two components: a concentrate and a booster. The concentrate is the “base” of the treatment, or your main concern, and the booster is for your secondary concern.
For example, if a guest comes in for a haircut and mentions their hair feels dry and dull, I recommend a concentrate with extra nourishment to add softness and a booster that works to add shine. There are up to 30 combination possibilities, and the results can last four to six weeks, depending on your hair condition, texture and how often you wash it and use heat styling.
Paying attention to how your hair feels from day to day and expressing any concerns with your stylist can help them recommend the best treatment for you to get your hair to its healthiest state.
After shampooing, I towel dry the hair until it’s about 60 percent or more dry. I then mix the chosen two-part conditioning treatment together. To apply, I take small, one-inch sections of hair and generously brush the treatment through the mid-lengths to ends of the hair strands until all the hair is covered. I let the treatment sit on the hair for five minutes before rinsing and resuming the rest of the service.
Is an in-salon hair conditioning treatment the best choice for me?
I always recommend adding an in-salon conditioning treatment for those getting a color or extension service because these services are harder on the health of the hair. In-salon conditioning treatments are especially beneficial for those who color their hair blonde, as lightening your hair color can be damaging no matter how healthy your hair is. Using in-salon treatments when you’re getting any color or extension service will leave your hair strong and manageable between appointments.
If you’re only getting a haircut or blow-dry, I recommend talking with your stylist to determine the best option for your hair needs and goals. I always look at my guest’s hair and ask them how they’re feeling about it. If they have concerns, I’ll suggest a customized treatment to combat those issues.
