How to apply the mask to different parts of the curls, the features of their use before and after washing the hair, the rules for using purchased and homemade products. Hair masks are cosmetic products that help to improve the condition of the curls, make them softer and more obedient, and comprehensively improve them. There are many types of such products, each of which requires a special approach to application. Their effectiveness depends on the correctness of their use.
General rules for applying masks to hair
Curl masks can serve a variety of functions. All of them saturate, strengthen, restore integrity, keep the color of the colored strands and have a different positive effect on the hair. However, in order for the product to work as efficiently as possible, it must be used correctly.
Consider the basic tips on how best to apply the mask to your hair:
- It makes no sense to use a mask, conditioner, balm while washing your hair. All these funds are aimed at improving the condition and softening the hair, but their effect is somewhat different from each other. So, the air conditioner acts on the surface of the curl. The mask penetrates into its structure. Therefore, conditioners and balms should be washed off a couple of minutes after application. The mask must be removed from the head after five to ten minutes on average.
- The optimal use of the mask is every 3rd time after washing your hair. In this case, it is applied instead of a conditioner. The latter should be applied regularly after each wash of the strands, except when a mask is applied.
- It is not recommended to use the curl mask more than twice in one week. Otherwise, the hair will be overloaded and its appearance may deteriorate.
- Before starting to use a particular mask, you should check if you are allergic to the product or its components. To do this, be sure to conduct a test. Take a small amount of the product and apply it to the inside of the brush. After five to ten minutes, you will be able to track the presence of a reaction to cosmetic products. If it is not there, then you can safely use the tool. Pay special attention to masks containing honey, pepper, essential oils.
- If you use a composition that requires dilution or heating, then make sure that the temperature of the product when applied to the head is about 37 degrees, not higher.
- Carefully study the instructions for use of a particular store mask. If you do not adhere to the rules for using the product, you can harm your hair.
Almost all of these rules apply to both homemade and commercial hair products. In addition, it is also recommended to take into account the time of applying the composition to the strands - before or after washing. As a rule, this depends on the presence of certain components in the product and the desired effect.
No special tools are required for applying masks to the strands. Typically, the product is dispensed by hand with or without gloves. If you need to apply it to the roots, then rub it lightly with your fingers. To distribute the product along the entire length of the strands, they resort to the use of brushes, narrow combs with rare teeth.
To enhance the effectiveness of any hair mask will help "insulation". To do this, a cellophane cap or a special bath cap is put on the treated strands and the head is covered with a warm cloth. Thus, the active substances from the cosmetic product are better penetrated into the hair structure.
Features of the use of a ready-made hair mask
Commercial beauty products are usually used after shampooing. The answer of hairdressers to the question of whether to apply a mask purchased in the salon on dirty or clean hair is unambiguous - on cleaned and slightly damp ones.
The algorithm for applying the product to the curls in most cases is as follows:
- Wash your hair with any suitable shampoo. It is advisable that the entire cosmetic line for hair care (shampoo, balm, conditioner, mask, oil) is one brand.
- Blot the strands a little with a towel. Don't rub or push them. Let the water drain off on its own. You can wrap your curls in a cloth for two minutes to absorb excess moisture.
- Before applying the hair mask, lightly hold it in your palms to warm it up to body heat.
- Apply to the strands along the entire length, stretch if necessary with a comb.
- To improve the performance of the cosmetic product, wrap your head with a soft cloth. Pre-wrap your hair with a plastic bag or bath cap and warm with a towel.
- Withstand the time specified in the instructions for the product. This is usually no more than fifteen minutes.
- Rinse off the strand thoroughly with plenty of clean water. Make sure that the remnants of the mask are not present in the curls, otherwise they will look greasy and unkempt.
- Wrap your hair with a soft cloth. Do not try to squeeze moisture out of them too much so as not to damage the structure.
Remember not to use emollients such as conditioner or balm after the mask. Otherwise, the curls will be overloaded with active ingredients and silicones. This will negatively affect their appearance.
The subtleties of using homemade hair masks
Handmade masks for curls are not inferior in efficiency, and sometimes even surpass purchased ones. However, their diversity requires more attention in the process of use. So, homemade products can be used before washing the curls, after, and also distributed at the ends, along the entire length or on the roots of the strands.
Rules for applying a mask before washing your hair
Most homemade hair formulations are used before cleansing your head with a cleanser. In this case, it is allowed to apply the mask to dry or damp hair.
Before washing, it is recommended to use the following types of products:
- Oil formulations … This is mainly due to the specifics of the effect of oil on the strands. In addition, it leaves a greasy film on them, which can only be washed off with a detergent.
- Coffee masks and with added oils … As a rule, coffee also leaves a fatty film on the curls. In addition, additional ingredients such as castor or olive oil are often added to it.
- Means with sour cream, kefir, yogurt, mayonnaise … Such masks also require thorough rinsing with detergents.
- Compositions with honey … This product has a specific effect on curls, strands after honey also require thorough cleansing.
- Pepper, mustard masks … They contain elements that irritate the skin. Therefore, they should only be used with dirty hair covered with a natural fat layer.
- Garlic, onion remedies … In addition to the fact that such products are irritating to the epidermis, they also have a specific sharp aroma, which should be eliminated only by thorough cleansing with plenty of water.
It is also worth noting which masks are applied to dry hair. These are mainly oil products. This allows the components of the product to optimally penetrate the structure of the strands.
On unwashed and dry or wet curls, the composition is recommended to be applied thirty to ninety minutes before rinsing. To do this, tilt your head over the bath or in the shower and carefully treat all the curls with a brush, sponge or fingers.
Most often, homemade caring products have a liquid structure and begin to drip after application on the neck, face, and drip. To prevent this from happening, after smearing your hair, be sure to wrap your head in a bag or use a bath cap. Additionally, wrapping your hair with a warm cloth, you will achieve an enhanced effect from the mask.
After the expiration of the exposure time of the composition on the strands, wash it off with shampoo. In some cases, you can use conditioner to make it easier to detangle your hair.
Using masks after washing your hair
Most of the masks that are applied after shampooing are used on wet curls. There is a certain group of products that should be used on clean strands. Let's consider them:
- Masks that give the effect of tinting, lamination, toning … This category includes products based on chamomile flowers, rhubarb root, natural honey. In order to achieve not only a healing effect, but also a certain toning, it is important to apply them to peeled strands.
- Gelatin masks … In addition to strengthening hair follicles, such products laminate curls, therefore, gelatinous compositions must be applied to cleaned wet strands.
- Yeast masks … Purchased such formulations are applied after washing, homemade ones - before washing your hair.
- Beer masks … Beer is an excellent substitute for conditioner, so these products are suitable for use after shampooing.
- Rye flour masks … Most of the rye-based formulations have a cleansing effect, so it is not necessary to wash the curls after them.
We also note that after shampooing, almost all professional cosmetic products are applied both in the salon and at home.
Rinse the strands after the mask applied to clean hair, you need to more thoroughly to remove the remaining mixture. Balms or conditioners should not be used after such procedures. To facilitate the combing process, it is better to use a special oil or spray after washing.
It is not recommended to dry the curls with a hairdryer, it is better to wait for the natural drying of the strands.
For which sections of hair can masks be applied?
Different formulations are applied to different areas of the curls. It depends not only on the result you want to get, but also on the composition of the product.
Answering the question whether it is possible to apply a mask to the hair roots, hairdressers must specify what effect on the curls is needed. Usually, cosmetic products are applied to the base of the hairs to strengthen and grow. It also affects the weakened strands, since there is an effect on the follicle. In addition, root formulations are effective for dandruff.
In general, this method of use is recommended for masks:
- On the basis of pungent products - onion, garlic, pepper, mustard, and cognac;
- With the inclusion of aloe;
- Based on individual oils such as burdock.
However, it is strongly not recommended to use masks containing coconut oil on the roots of curls.
Funds are applied to all strands, if desired, to influence the structure of the curls. As a rule, this applies to restorative and nutritional formulations.
This category includes:
- Masks, which consist of olive, almond, coconut, flax, argan, burdock oils;
- Compositions with fermented milk products, mayonnaise;
- Cosmetic products with aromatic extracts - rose, lavender and others;
- Means with chicken eggs and various additives - oils, alcohol;
- Clay compositions;
- Masks with dark bread and rye flour;
- Banana Nutrient;
- Masks to restore the shine to the strands, with a toning effect - with chamomile, gelatin, henna, beer, coffee.
Also, such cosmetic products can be distributed at the ends of the curls. As a rule, this is done to eliminate the section, to "seal" the hair. In such cases, certain formulations based on oils are used, as well as a mask with kefir and yeast.
How to properly apply the mask to your hair - watch the video:
It is necessary to know about the intricacies of using such funds, since this affects the effectiveness of the entire procedure and the condition of the curls. You should take into account the composition of the cosmetic product, the rules for applying it to the strands to achieve maximum results.
