Lockdown and hair: where do we even start? On the downside, those of us whose hair grows really quickly find that we now look like one of those little creatures in the Moomintrolls who are essentially just balls of hair, with eyes peeping out. As for roots, don’t let’s go there.
But conditioning? Now you’re talking. One of the things you never have time for in normal circumstances is to do proper conditioning, as opposed to the sort you apply only to rinse off instantly. Now, folks, is the time to take time for hair masks, the kind that leaves hair soft, sheeny and manageable. I am not mad on the overnight mask, on the grounds that I’d have to wash the pillowcase. But there are lots which you can leave on for anything from two minutes to half an hour or more which really do make a difference. Give them a go. So once the lockdown is over and we all emerge blinking in the sunlight, our overgrown manes will be lovely, sleek and shiny.
Here are five of the best.
Daniel Galvin Jr OrganicHead Argan Oil Detox Hair Masque
My favourite. Daniel Galvin Jr is something of a genius and this mask really works. In an ideal world you’d have it applied in Daniel Galvin’s Belgravia salon under heat, but even at home, it makes a real difference…I swear my hair colour looked more nuanced afterwards. The ingredients are plant products, half of them organic. You leave it on for 25 minutes, and bingo, nourished hair.
Valmont Recovering Mask
Yes, you read the price correctly. But if money’s no object, this is an excellent product. It’s rich without being sticky, with a glorious smell. It didn’t banish tangles completely but the end result after leaving in for three minutes was very nourished, very groomed hair. Lovely.
Andrew Fitzsimons for Primark Shine Hair Mask
Yes, you read that price correctly too. This is a very good product for the price. The texture is more like jelly than a sticky cream and it leaves the hair smooth and manageable. More like a conditioner than a mask: you can wash it off immediately. The only downside is that the instructions are in tiny white type.
£3.50 | Shop in-store
Kerastase Resistance Masque Therapiste
This is meant to be the biz for very dry, very processed thick hair. Mine isn’t particularly damaged (especially not now, hah!) but I found this an excellent, very nourishing cream with a pleasing smooth texture. Kerastase does terrific hair products; this is up with the best.
Hershesons Almost Everything Cream
As the name suggests, this is a fabulously versatile product that you can use on hair wet or dry, to tame frizz or use as a conditioner. And if you leave it on for longer than normal, say, 20-30 minutes it turns into a very effective mask. I gather you can use it on beards too. Yay.
Elasticizer Philip Kingsley
This is a venerable product, developed by one of the great trichologists, the late Philip Kingsley, and it really works. It’s a pre-shampoo mask, which you leave on for up to half an hour – the longer the better – under a plastic cap, shampoo off, and bingo, moisturised, nourished hair.
Also available from M&S (£34)
Verdict:
There’s lots to like here, but of all the above, the Daniel Galvin is my favourite - the best all rounder – and excellent value. If money were no object, the Valmont is lockdown luxury in a big pot.
