Diamonds & Pebbles: Hair Mask Vs Deep Conditioner: What Is The Difference?

I often find myself asking this question a lot: hair mask vs deep conditioner? And if I find myself asking this question, I’m pretty sure there are others of you too who also ask yourself the same thing. First off it would probably help defining the difference between a hair mask and deep conditioner as I often feel like they’re the same thing.

HAIR MASK

I’m still not 100% on hair masks, but hair masks are like super-conditioners that cover your whole hair with added qualities like moisturising, strengthening, adding shine and softening hair. Masks are usually creamier and thicker as they hold more goodness. As masks do hold so much goodness, I’ve often read that it’s best to do a mask once a month or so, so that your hair doesn’t get over saturated with too much goodness – which could end up having adverse effects on your hair i.e., cause your hair to start having problems.

Dark & Lovely Amla Legend Replenishing Hair Mask

Like the name suggests, a deep conditioner is product that is supposed to condition your hair which in turn helps rejuvenate and strengthen your strands. If like me you have transitioning hair, a deep conditioner helps keep both your new growth and your old relaxed ends in good shape, whilst also looking after the demarcation line (the bit between your new hair and relaxed ends), keeping it strong and preventing severe breakage. I’ve often read that it’s good to deep condition your hair once a week (though I do it once a fortnight) depending on your hair’s needs, especially in the winter as the cold can dry out your hair and make it brittle.

Vitale Olive Oil Hair Mayonnaise

So the question still remains: hair mask or deep conditioner?

For me now, I’d say that deep conditioner is definitely an important part of my hair regimen so I would probably have to go with that. Additionally, because my hair suffered from breakage and other damage, deep conditioning my hair really helped bring it back from the brink and I noticed a real difference in it. Though I have used masks in the past, I prefer to keep them for “special occasions” when I feel like giving my hair a different kind of treatment. However all that being said, there probably isn’t that much of a difference between the two as products have different information on them meaning a deep conditioner could be marketed as a mask and vice versa. So despite what I’ve written, it is best to take it with a pinch of salt.