Gray hair is more susceptible to becoming dry and persistently brassy with a wiry texture.
This is where a hair mask comes in. You can use a hair mask to strengthen and moisturize your hair because the lack of moisture is a massive problem for gray hair.
However, you should not pick up just about any hair mask you encounter at the beauty shop. You should buy a hair mask specially formulated to cater to gray hair.
Given the increased sensitivity of gray hair, choosing a poorly formulated hair mask might be detrimental to your gray locks.
Best Hair Masks For Gray Hair?
My research has shown these are the best masks for managing hydration in gray hair specifically.
While there are numerous hair mask products in the market, this is arguably amongst the best you can buy.
The product has been formulated to help gray hair overcome dryness, brassiness, course texture, and brittleness. The inclusion of every ingredient is well thought out and performs an essential function.
For instance, the five kinds of butter (mango, avocado, murumuru, macadamia seed, and cupuaçu) provide ample moisturizing action to keep dryness at bay.
On the other hand, Sunflower seed oil moisturizes your hair while providing essential minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium, and vitamins E, C, B, and A to your gray locks. It also has a natural violet dye that prevents yellow and orange hues from taking hold of your hair.
To use the Silver Lining Purple Butter Masque, apply the mask after shampooing your hair. Distribute it evenly with your fingers and let it sit for at least 2 minutes. Finally, rinse your hair as you’d typically do.
Don't Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Deep Conditioning Hair Mask for Dry, Damaged or Color Treated Hair...
This is a vegan, gluten-free hair mask formulated with the proprietary NOVA Complex® designed to nourish and fortify your hair. It’s particularly effective in strengthening damaged hair and preventing future damage.
In making this hair mask, the manufacturer uses over 97% natural ingredients, including algae extracts (rich in amino acids, vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals), rosehip oil, and vitamin B.
To use this mask, apply it after shampooing. Massage it with your fingers and leave it in place for at least 10 minutes. Finally, rinse it well. Use the hair mask at least once per week and when the condition of your hair improves, use it every other week.
The Fanola No Yellow Vegan Mask is a vegan hair mask optimized to deal with the yellow tones that affect most silver-haired individuals.
It’s formulated with coconut oil and enriched with Tiare flower extracts. Notably, the hair mask has vibrant violet pigments that combat yellow tones, leaving behind your true hair tone.
To use the Fanola No Yellow Vegan Mask, apply it after shampooing your hair in place of your regular hair conditioner. Massage the mask into your damp hair for three to five minutes and rinse are you usually do with your conditioner.
The Shade Variation Mask is another hair mask specifically formulated to neutralize yellow and brassy tones. Additionally, it nourishes and improves the hydration balance of the hair.
Using a combination of shea butter, almond butter, and buriti oil, the hair mask helps restore a shine to your silver locks.
Wash your hair with quality shampoo. After that, apply the Shade Variation Mask and leave it in place for five to thirty minutes, depending on how much yellow tones affect your hair.
L'Oreal Botanicals Ginger and Coriander Fragile Hair Vegan Hair Mask
L’Oreals Botanical vegan hair mask is formulated to protect fragile hair, especially from the adverse effects of the sun. Made of lightweight oils and a dash of coriander and ginger extracts, it protects gray hair from the adverse effects of frequent washing and solar radiation.
This vegan hair mask is made of 97% natural ingredients. Simply apply the mask right after shampooing your hair to use it. Wash your hair as you’d typically do, and then rinse with lukewarm water.
DIY Coconut Oil Mask
Coconut is an excellent natural moisturizer. That’s why it’s used in many hair products. Additionally, it contains repairing properties, including fatty acids that penetrate deep into every hair follicle. To make your own coconut-based mask, you need:
How To Make And Use Your DIY Coconut Oil Hair Mask
Step #1: Warm the two tablespoons of coconut oil in a clean bowl. Once the oil warms up, add the curry leaves and stir thoroughly before removing the curry leaves.
Step #2: Let the concoction sit for at least 20 minutes, allowing the coconut oil to absorb as much of the essential oils from the curry leaves as possible.
Step #3: With the oil cool to the touch, massage it on your scalp and hair.
Step #4: If possible, leave your hair mask covered with a shower cap in place overnight. However, you should let it sit for at least 2 to 3 hours.
Step #5: Rinse your hair by washing it with your usual shampoo and a deep hair conditioner.
What Makes Gray Hair Difficult To Manage?
As we age, the amount of melanin that our hair follicles make declines. Melanin is responsible for the color of our hair. Without it, new hair grows with a gray or white hue.
Lower production of melanin causes thinning of the cuticles. This translates to a thinner protective barrier. Over time, your hair becomes finer and inherently fragile than your previous melanated hair.
Due to the fragility of the cuticle, they are easy to damage. Your hair takes on a coarse feel when they’re damaged. The thinner cuticle makes your hair more susceptible to dehydration, becoming kinky and challenging to manage.
Moreover, the gradual changes that result in lower melanin production also affect your scalp’s natural oil production rate. As such, sebum production lower significantly, making it difficult if not impossible for your hair follicles to stay hydrated. This worsens the dehydration issue.
Weather conditions further exacerbate the difficulties in managing your hair. Too much sun will leave your hair dry and crispy. Humidity during the summer will induce frizz.
As stunning as your gray or white crown might appear, you will need to take good care of your hair. In fact, you might have to dedicate more effort to taking care of your hair than before.
You should be proactive in dealing with gray hair’s brassiness and dry nature. Importantly, you should invest in the right products that will make managing your hair a lot easier.
What Else Can You Do To Keep Your Gray Hair Looking Healthy And Shiny?
While using a hair mask explicitly formulated for gray hair will improve the overall health of your gray locks, it’s not the be-all solution. It will help if you take a holistic approach to taking care of your hair aside from using a hair mask. In this regard, you should:
Drink Plenty Of Water
You must stay hydrated by hydrating your hair externally using hair masks. Make it easy for your body to supply moisture to your hair by staying hydrated.
Deep Condition Your Hair One Or Two Times A Week
You should also condition your hair every time you use shampoo. Depending on the state of your hair, you should condition your hair once or twice every week. Importantly, use a deep conditioning hair conditioner, which helps impart moisture onto your hair, negating the effects of dehydration.
Massage your Scalp
Massaging your scalp regularly will improve blood circulation and, ultimately, increase sebum secretion. In turn, this will improve the hydration of your hair.
Use Color-Free Hair Products
As your hair attains a lighter color, it becomes easier to stain. Colored hair products are more likely to make your air brassy. With this in mind, use colorless hair products. If environmental stress is causing brassiness, use hair products with a purple hue to counteract the brassiness.
Protect Your Hair With Heat Resistant Spray
Gray Hair is far more susceptible to heat and its effects. With a thinner cuticle covering, your hair has less protection from heat. As such, every time you want to use a flat iron or blow dryer, apply a high-quality heat-resistant spray.
I have even more tips on how to keep your gray hair shiny and smooth in this guide.
Conclusion
A quality hair mask formulated to deal with brassiness and dehydration is an excellent addition to your hair routine.
When used correctly, it can help restore your hair to its former glory and protect it from the weather and the elements. Importantly, a quality hair mask will ensure your hair and scalp stays healthy.
