The Best Hair Masks and Leave-In Conditioner Treatments

A good shampoo and conditioner can only do so much. When your hair is dry, damaged, frizzy or feeling the effects of colour and heat styling, it might be time to call in some extra help from a hair mask or leave-in conditioner.

But with shelves full of bond builders, deep-conditioning treatments and leave-ins promising an abundance of benefits, knowing what your hair actually needs can be half the battle. We’ve rounded up the treatments worth knowing about, from intensive hair masks for damaged hair to lightweight leave-in conditioners designed for everyday protection and detangling.

At a Glance

• Hair masks are concentrated, rinse-out treatments for deeper conditioning and repair.
• Leave-in conditioners are designed for ongoing hydration, detangling and protection.
• Many hair types can benefit from both: a mask for weekly intensive care and a leave-in for everyday maintenance.
• Redken and Wella are strong picks for damaged or colour-treated hair.
• Moroccanoil and Lush are worth considering if dryness or frizz is your main concern.
• Treatments in this edit range from around A$25 to A$95, depending on the formula and brand.

Hair Mask vs Leave-In Conditioner: What’s the Difference?

A hair mask and leave-in conditioner both give your hair extra care, but they do very different jobs.

A mask is a concentrated, rinse-out treatment designed to provide more intensive care than your everyday conditioner. It can be particularly useful for dry, damaged, bleached or frizz-prone hair, and is generally used once a week or as needed.

A leave-in conditioner, meanwhile, stays in your hair after washing. Usually worked through towel-dried strands before styling or air-drying, it can help with hydration, softness, detangling and frizz control. Depending on the formula, it may also offer heat protection or help shield hair from environmental damage.

So, do you need one or both? If your hair is healthy and fine, your regular conditioner may be enough, with a mask used occasionally when it needs a little extra care. If your hair is dry, damaged or regularly heat-styled, using a mask for deeper conditioning and a leave-in for everyday maintenance can make sense. Just follow the directions for your individual product, as frequency and application will vary.

Want to make your salon colour last longer between appointments? These tips can help you get more out of your colour, and if you’re looking for a new salon, discover these businesses putting sustainability at the heart of their beauty practices.

How to Choose the Right Treatment for Your Hair

Start with your biggest hair concern rather than choosing a product simply because it’s popular. The right formula will depend on what your hair needs, whether that’s more moisture, support for weakened strands or protection for colour-treated hair. The table below shows what to generally look for depending on your needs, but don’t hesitate to experiment with products, as results can vary from person to person.

You can also look for formulas that are sulphate- or paraben-free if that’s important to you. 

Remember: more isn’t always better. Overusing rich treatments can leave fine or oily hair feeling heavy, while leaving a rinse-out mask on for longer than directed won’t necessarily improve the result. Follow the product instructions and adjust how often you use each treatment depending on how your hair responds.

The Best Hair Masks and Treatments in Australia

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to haircare. The best treatment for you depends on what your hair is doing right now, whether that’s breaking at the ends, feeling permanently thirsty or refusing to cooperate with frizz. We’ve organised this edit by hair concern, giving you hair mask options first, and then leave-in conditioners to finish. Prices are accurate at the time of writing but may vary by retailer.

Best for Damaged or Colour-Treated Hair

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Liquid 5-Minute Mask

If breakage and colour damage are your main concerns, this concentrated mask is designed to help strengthen and condition sensitised hair. Its bond-building formula works in just five minutes, making it a useful option when you want more intensive care without turning haircare into a full Sunday afternoon project.

RRP: $62.49. Shop here.

Wella Premium Care Colormotion+ Structure+ Mask

Designed with WellaPlex bonding technology, this salon-grade mask targets damaged hair while helping to maintain colour. Its formula is designed to strengthen the hair and prolong colour vibrancy, making it a useful pick for treated strands.

RRP: $44.00. Shop here.

Best for Dry or Frizzy Hair

Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask

For medium to thick, dry hair, this rich treatment delivers a deeper dose of hydration and conditioning. Argan oil and other nourishing ingredients help improve softness, shine and manageability, making it a good option when dryness leaves your hair feeling rough or difficult to style.

RRP: $25.50. Shop here.

Kérastase Nutritive Hair Mask for Dry Thick Hair

Designed for very dry, medium to thick hair, this rich treatment focuses on replenishing moisture and improving softness and manageability. The rich cream feeds hair with nutrients and moisture for suppleness, radiant shine, and a satin touch. 

RRP: $95.00. Shop here.

Best for Fine Hair

Bumble and Bumble Thickening Plumping Mask

Fine hair that needs a little more body may get along well with this lightweight mask. Its Strand-Plumping Technology is designed to give strands a thicker-looking finish while detangling and helping protect against breakage. It’s made for fine to medium hair that needs conditioning without sacrificing volume.

RRP: $80.00. Shop here.

GROWTH BOMB Hair Strengthening Mask

Powered by caffeine from Yerba Mate Extract and botanical antioxidants, this strengthening mask delivers deep hydration while helping boost volume and support healthier-looking hair. Jojoba and Macadamia oils smooth dry, damaged strands, tame frizz and leave hair with a high-gloss finish. The result? Hair that looks thicker, feels stronger and still has plenty of movement.

RRP: $24.99. Shop here.

Best Leave-In Conditioner

Lush Super Milk Conditioning Hair Primer

If dryness and frizz are your main concerns, Lush’s Super Milk is a lightweight leave-in designed to hydrate, soften and detangle. Almond, coconut and oat milk help condition the hair, while lemon juice adds shine and olive oil helps nourish the strands. The lightweight spray can also be used to refresh second-day hair without leaving it feeling weighed down.

RRP: $31.00. Shop here.

Ouai Leave-In Conditioner

If you want one product to cover most of the leave-in basics, Ouai is a strong all-rounder. Ouai’s leave-in helps detangle, hydrate, smooth frizz and protect against heat damage. Tamarind seed extract provides lightweight hydration, while panthenol, vitamin E and hydrolysed proteins help condition and strengthen the hair.

RRP: $33.00. Shop here.

The Right Treatment for You

Your hair doesn’t need every treatment on the shelf, just the one that makes sense for what it’s asking for. A mask can give dry or damaged strands a deeper dose of conditioning, while a leave-in can make everyday detangling, styling and protection a little easier.

Start with your biggest hair concern, pay attention to how your hair responds and build your routine from there.

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All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Banner image credit: Lucy Alcorn