The hair mask is an essential step in your hair routine. But faced with the offer of masks available, we can quickly find ourselves a little lost! Don't worry, Colorful Black helps you find the mask suited to the needs of your curly and frizzy hair. Because choosing your hair mask is above all a matter of observation. Take the time to study your hair: is it really dry? Do they need protein intake? How do they react to deep moisturizing treatments? We help you save time by giving you the keys to choosing the right mask for your curly hair.
Which mask for natural curly hair?
Even if your curly or frizzy hair is natural, that is to say not chemically treated (no straightening or coloring), your weekly hair routine should include a shampoo followed by a hair mask . You can add a conditioner before the mask if your hair needs a little extra nutrition or hydration, but this is optional if your hair is healthy.
On healthy hair, the hair mask will take care of helping the hair fiber to maintain good hydration throughout the week. The hair mask is the foundation of your routine and allows subsequent treatments to work to their best potential because it has already addressed your hair's essential needs. More concentrated in active ingredients than a conditioner, a mask will penetrate the hair fiber more deeply to soften, nourish (for a protein mask) and soften.
So, even on healthy hair, with top elasticity, brilliant shine and robust fiber, we think of applying a good moisturizing mask once a week and a protein mask once a month ! To save time, opt for a mask combining hydration and repair:
Pay attention to the following signs to choose the right hair mask:
- Soft hair, which stretches without breaking : excess hydration, rebalance your routine with a protein intake.
- Brittle, fragile hair : lack of protein, remember to repair and nourish
- Dry, dull hair with frizz : lack of hydration, opt for a deep moisturizing mask.
“The protein mask is the coating that will fill the hole in a wall and the moisturizing mask is the paint that follows to smooth the wall.”
Anna, Colorful Black
My hair is straightened or colored, which mask should I choose?
Pay attention to the following signs to choose the right hair mask:
- Soft hair, which stretches without breaking : excess hydration, rebalance your routine with a protein intake.
- Brittle, fragile hair : lack of protein, remember to repair and nourish
- Dry, dull hair with frizz : lack of hydration, opt for a deep moisturizing mask.
“The protein mask is the coating that will fill the hole in a wall and the moisturizing mask is the paint that follows to smooth the wall.”
Anna, Colorful Black
My hair is straightened or colored, which mask should I choose?
Straightened or colored hair is weakened hair. Don't panic, it's not inevitable! You can very well maintain your straightened hair thanks to our star of the day: the hair mask!
Essential in a routine on natural hair, it becomes essential on chemically treated hair. Straightening and coloring attack the structure of the hair fiber and reduce their keratin content, which exposes them more to external aggressions. Straightened or colored hair that does not frequently benefit from the benefits of a hair mask risks breakage, split ends and dehydration. In this specific case, arm yourself with your best ally: the protein mask.
Indeed, the protein hair mask fills the protein deficit created by the chemical treatment. This is why we speak of a “repairing” mask for protein treatments. By sealing the gaps in the hair fiber, the protein mask strengthens it and your hair regains a shiny and smooth appearance.
To maintain the strength of your relaxed or colored hair, a protein hair mask is recommended twice a month . To rebalance the pH of your hair, follow the protein treatment of a moisturizing mask. Why should we increase the frequency of protein masks on weakened hair? Because keratin, this protein that makes up 95% of our hair, does not regenerate. Our mission, if we accept it, is to remedy this lack by pampering our hair as much as it needs!
How to distinguish a protein mask from a moisturizing mask?
You have determined the needs of your hair, and it is already very good! But now that you are ready, you have a little doubt about all these products. We offer you this little guide to help you find it easily.
Observe product name
To spot a protein mask, look for the words “repair” or “nourishing” (“repair”, “reconstructive” or “reparative” in English). These properties can only be applied to masks containing a protein that can be assimilated by the hair fiber. Nourish and repair is to provide the hair with a lipid and protein element that restores its structure to give it a smooth and robust appearance.
Moisturizing masks are so named and are easy to spot. You can search for the terms “moisture” or “hydration” for branded products from English-speaking countries.
Read the composition of the product
All the compositions of the hair masks present on the Colorful Black shop are indicated directly on the product sheet. Deciphering a list of ingredients gives you all the keys to choosing a product that will suit you like tailor-made!
Repairing masks contain so-called "hydrolyzed" proteins which have the power to penetrate the hair fiber in depth. These plant-based proteins are used in hair masks for curly and frizzy hair. You can easily spot them under the following names:
- Cocodimonium hydroxypropyl hydrolyzed
- Hydrolyzed protein
- TEA-cocoyl hydrolyzed
- protein
- Cocoyl hydrolyzed
Moisturizing masks contain emollient agents, that is to say, which soften and soften the hair. Remember that only water has the power to really “hydrate” the hair! The hydration of the hair is above all ensured by the water that you drink. The moisturizing hair mask actually has an action of maintaining the natural hydration of your hair. The first ingredient of a moisturizing mask is therefore unsurprisingly, water! It is usually followed by a fatty alcohol (the emollient).
For the rest, locate these ingredients to confirm that it is indeed a moisturizing mask (non-exhaustive list):
- Cetearyl Alcohol
- Aloe Vera
- Coconut oil
- Glyceryl stearate
- Isopropyl
- palmitates
Please note : these ingredients are given for information only . A moisturizing or protein hair mask does not necessarily contain all the ingredients mentioned.
Choosing a hair mask is easy when you have the right cards in hand! Colorful Black accompanies you and guides you to create a routine perfectly adapted to your needs. If you wish, consult our personalized coaching offers, with Anna, to benefit from individual advice.
