I don't know anyone who doesn't color or heat-style their hair — or both. It's hardly news that heat, sun and dye can dry out hair, and there are plenty of products on the market that claim to "undo" all that damage. The truth is deep-conditioning masks can definitely help counteract the drying products and methods we use on our hair, particularly if your hair is already naturally dry. Just as long as you don't expect miracles, you should be able to find a deep-conditioning mask that works well for you.

As a general rule, if you have fairly dry hair, it's a good idea to use a deep conditioner once every week or two. If you just want to counteract styling damage, once per month should be enough. If you have very dry hair, you might want to consider skipping regular conditioners altogether and just using a deep conditioner daily. But if your hair is really damaged, there isn't enough conditioner in the world to fix it. Get thee to a stylist and have those locks cut.

How to Apply

After shampooing, apply the mask to the lower half of your hair. Avoid the scalp, as it will only end up weighing hair down and you'll lose your natural volume. If only your ends are suffering, then just apply the mask to that section. You can run your fingers gently through to distribute, but don't rub or massage it in. Wrap your head in a warm towel, and wait 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse the conditioner out thoroughly using lukewarm or cool water.

Suggested Products

ABBA Creme Masque ($12.96, drugstore.com)
Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Fortifying Deep Conditioner 3 Minute Masque ($6.99, at drugstores)
Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense Enriching Treatment ($78.99, drugstore.com)
L'Oreal Nature's Therapy Mega Moisture Nurturing Creme ($10.95, amazon.com)
Matrix Sleek Look Deep Moisture Masque ($15.96, beautydepot.com)
Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask ($6.99, drugstore.com)
Phyto Phytocitrus Vital Radiance Mask ($36, sephora.com)

Tips

• Shampoo your scalp, but not your ends. The ends will be cleaned when you rinse, because the shampoo runs down the length of your hair.
• You can use your deep conditioner in the shower. Apply it and cover your head with a shower cap. Shower as usual, and then rinse out your hair after about 15 minutes.
• Try using a leave-in conditioner in between treatments to give your hair some extra moisture.