Questions on hair mask

[music_v]

Hello everyone! I'm new to this forum and I'm really happy that I found it. I'm 24.

I have long brown hair that is prone to being greasy. I usually wash it every second day. My question is if I can use hair mask BEFORE shampooing.

I also wish to know if it would be a good idea to leave the mask overnight.

[Ylva]

Yes, you can use a hair mask or a conditioner before shampooing.

There are people who leave masks in overnight, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it just because it's unlikely to give any more benefits than keeping it in for an hour or two would.

[MoonRabbit]

I use my mask before shampooing. Works better for my hair type and I could never get around the idea of getting in the shower, getting out, and waiting another hour to get back in.

As for overnight, not sure, since I never did that with a mask before. I have used an oil soak overnight though without an issue.

[Joules]

I don't do masks before shampooing because I don't think there's any point in it for my hair.

As for leaving it in overnight - I wouldn't try that. A conditioner or a mask is basically just a mixture of different conditioning ingredients that close cuticles and provide anti-static effect. It either works in 20-30 minutes or it doesn't work at all. Soaking your hair in oil overnight is a much better idea imo.

[CherryFrizz]

One potential problem with leaving a hair mask on overnight is that it may dry in the hair, becoming difficult to rinse out.

And, if kept damp with a shower cap or the like, at least my scalp doesn't like to be wet all night, so irritation may occur, depending on your scalp's needs.

[Dark40]

I agree with Joules. I also never use a hair mask before I shampoo. Nor, I leave it in overnight. Because, I really don't see what benefit you are getting. It works better for me to use the mask after shampooing rather than before.

[MusicalSpoons]

I CWC and usually leave the first C on for an hour or more beforehand, not a mask but still a sort of deep conditioning. I have found a difference between it being on for 30 mins and being on for an hour, though that's just my experience and may also depend on the product. Sometimes I leave it on for a few hours and the outer parts of my hair feel like they've dried but I've never had a problem because of it, although I do use conditioners that normally rinse off fairly easily anyway. I wouldn't leave it on overnight though because my scalp does not like being thoroughly damp for so long (I air-dry my hair overnight but it's loose so my scalp is okay and also dries).

In short, try it out before shampoo and see if it works for you :) However if you particularly want to do an overnight treatment, oils are a better bet.

[YvetteVarie]

I have done both. Use a hair mask before shampooing and leave it in overnight. My hair used to thrive when I did this, especially when I did masks that required heat usage. I think I'll actually go back to doing this.

With hair, everything is YMMV. Some things work well for some, while others will say that is what wrecked their hair.

[Crystawni]

I haven't used a mask pre-poo, but it's my go-to leave in, which means I apply the mask to the lengthy ends of my damp hair on wash day and there it stays until my next wash day (days later). I guess that is pre-poo in a way, then. :p Anyway, my hair is soft, shiny and very manageable with it (acting like freshly cut ends), and nicely hydrated and springy with no stickiness, stiffness or weightiness that I get from adding other products. And yeah, my hair can be greasy (hormonal fluctuations of peri-menopause), but I don't apply the mask to anything else but my length and ends from my face framers, back.

[lapushka]

If it gets oily, I would not leave it in overnight. Chances are it might get on the scalp from the way you keep it up, and that's never good with oily or oilier hair.

I would just do a regular WC, so wash and then leave the mask in for 5 to 10 minutes.

I always just keep conditioner or masks in for 2 min., since I am of the opinion if it's good it should work within that time, and I don't have much time to wash the hair anyway.

I would be careful with oily hair especially.