I may moonlight as a beauty blogger, but during the day I am a magazine editor.  One of the magazines I edit is a hairstyling magazine, where among other perks, I get to attend hair shows.  At one hair show I attended a couple of years ago, the Simon Cowell of the hairstyling world, Tabatha Coffey was the keynote and she said something that I’ll never forget.  She was talking about upselling merchandise to clients as it’s not the water at the salon that makes clients’ hair look and feel nice, it’s the products they use.  Even now, years later, that has stuck with me. My hair always looks and feels amazing whenever I leave the salon, but essentially it’s all the same water regardless of where my hair is washed, it’s the products that make it feel incredible.

I don’t know what the weather might be like for you, but in Winnipeg right now (right smack dab in the centre of North America and Canada), it’s been freezing cold and we just can’t seem to shake it.  Not only are my cuticles dried out, but my hair has taken a toll as well.

Aside from the weather, with all the damage I subject it to on a regular basis (hair dye, heat styling), proper maintenance is a must.  I like to think of every Thursday as masque night, whether it’s a face masque (GlamGlow is my fave) or a hair masque (I skip the conditioner and use this instead), I like incorporating some sort of deep-moisturizing product into my routine.  Not only is it good for your hair, but it leaves your locks feeling so much better.

I have collected my fair share of hair masques throughout the year (both salon and drugstore), here are my top picks.

L’Oreal Professional Mythic Oil Nourishing Masque

Perfect for normal or thick hair (like me!), this masque’s rich and creamy texture enriches hair and leaves it with a radiant glow.

For those unfamiliar with the Mythic Oil line, Mythic Oil is a multipurpose oil that balances the natural oils found in hair, leaving you with shiny, silky hair and no frizz.  This stuff is seriously bomb.  From the expensive gold packaging to the smell, to even the way it leaves your ends feeling, if you are feeling like a decadent masque for your locks, pick this stuff up.  Yes, it’s pricy at C$30 a pop, but considering that you only use a small handful of the stuff once a week (I would use it twice a week if your hair is really damaged), it will last you a long time.

L’Oreal Professional Serie Expert Pro-Keratin Refill Masque

Did you know that one in every two women struggle with very dry, sensitized or damaged hair?  L’Oreal Professional’s Pro-Keratin Refill masque (as part of their shampoo and conditioner line) corrects the hair fibre by compensating for loss of substance and creating a defines shield around the hair fibre to protect against daily aggressors.

Herbal Essences Honey, I’m Strong Rinse-Off Treatment

Herbal Essences’ Honey I’m Strong line can leave you with 10-times stronger hair after one wash.   The formula coats hair to repair the outer layer while providing strength against future damage.  I don’t reach for this masque as often as the others, but it does the trick: it leaves your hair feeling smooth and it’s incredibly affordable.

Garnier Fructis Damage Eraser Strength Reconstructing Butter

I actually got this in an Influenster VoxBox, where they sent lab samples of the products first and we had to guess the brand (all we knew was that it was a L’Oreal brand).  The Damage Eraser is line is fab, but when I read “butter” in the name of this product, I was sold.

The product is formulated for distressed, damaged hair and it intensely reconstruct’s hair strength for strong, rejuvenated and shiny-looking hair.  The formula contains Phyto-Keratin Complex with plant-based proteins, and fruit concentrate and Cupuaçu Butter, with natural lipids. A bunch of fancy-named stuff for a product that really works.  And, like the Herbal Essences masque, because it’s drugstore, it’s pretty affordable.  I have to say that this one is one of my faves.

Pantene Pro-V Damage Detox Weekly Rehab Creme

As part of Pantene’s brand-new Damage Detox line (which rids your hair of dullness and build up), this once-a-week creme seals damaged cuticles to renew hair.  To make this product even more fab, it’s enriched with Mosa Mint oil and antioxidants.

Pantene Expert Collection Advanced Keratin Repair 60 Second Therapy Ampoules

This one is a bit pricey for drugstore, but it really packs a punch.  You get five of these little packs to coat your hair, mimicking hair’s natural protective layer to leave it smooth and shiny. Most masques require anywhere from two to five minutes to penetrate the hair, but this one works in a minute. With that being said, I usually keep it on longer, but if you are in a rush, these are perfect.

I really swear by hair masques as they really do leave your hair feeling and looking fab.  I highly recommend them for weekly treatments and especially if you have stressed-out hair (too much heat styling, hair colouring, etc.). There are a ton of them out there and you don’t really need to get all fancy and buy the most expensive one, I find that the majority all do the same thing when it comes down to it, they leave your hair feeling silky smooth.

What’s your favourite hair masque?

Please note, this post contains products sent by PR. All opinions are my own.

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