What's the Difference? – OLAPLEX Inc.

Key Takeaways

• Hair masks and conditioners are both meant to hydrate, improve manageability, and enhance the overall health of hair.
• Hair masks are thicker, richer, and more intense than conditioners, and they are used less frequently.
• Using a hair mask softens, strengthens, reduces frizz, and protects hair against damage.
• Any hair type can benefit from hair masks, but tangly, dry, thick, and color-treated hair gains the most from their deep hydration and restorative effects.

Jump to

Hair masks and conditioners serve similar purposes: they hydrate and nourish our hair. But what’s the difference between these two essentials? Learn about conditioners and hair masks, what they do, whether you need a hair mask, the best ones, and which OLAPLEX hair mask is right for you.

What Is Conditioner?

We're betting you know what a hair conditioner is and use one religiously, but let's review. We use conditioner after shampooing to replenish moisture, increase shine, soften, protect, reduce frizz, and detangle. Not all conditioners are created the same, and some serve different purposes. For example, volumizing formulas help lift the roots, while purple conditioners assist with toning hair. 

Using conditioner is straightforward, but let’s dive into it anyway:

1. Wet your hair. 
2. Wash your hair with a shampoo like Nº.4 Bond Maintenance® Shampoo.
3. Rinse.
4. Apply a conditioner like Nº.5 Bond Maintenance® Conditioner to the ends and mid-lengths.
5. Let sit for 1-3 minutes.
6. Rinse and proceed.

What Is a Hair Mask?

Hair masks share a lot in common with conditioners as they:

• Soften hair
• Increase shine
• Minimize frizz

The key difference between hair masks and conditioners? Hair masks are thicker, richer, and moisturize more intensively than a conditioner. Also, masks are usually used once weekly.

How do you use a hair mask? Here’s how:

1. Apply to clean, damp hair after shampooing, saturating the mid-lengths to ends.
2. Leave on for 3 minutes.
3. Rinse.

How Do I Know If I Need a Hair Mask?

If you have any of the following, it’s a good idea to consider incorporating a hair mask into your routine:

• Tangled hair
• Breakage
• Dryness
• Color-treated hair

The Best OLAPLEX Conditioners and Hair Masks

All OLAPLEX masks and conditioners are tested, trusted, and backed by science. Which ones are right for you? Let's talk about hair types and goals to help you choose.

Weightless Nourishing Mask

Some masks can feel heavy on fine hair because it’s more prone to oiliness and flatness. If you have fine hair, don’t let this deter you from using one: OLAPLEX’s Weightless Nourishing Mask is specifically formulated for fine and medium hair. This instantly volumizing mask locks in lightweight hydration and seals hair cuticles for up to five washes without weighing hair down. A single use immediately reduces breakage and helps prevent snapping wash after wash to support length retention over time.

Weightless Nourishing Mask provides:

• 2X volume instantly and all day
• 2X hydration instantly* with 1.5X hydration after 5 washes
• 32% reduction in breakage instantly
• 63% more shine

Rich Hydration Mask

This deeply restorative, moisturizing hair mask for medium to coarse and very dry hair types locks in intense hydration and seals hair cuticles for up to five washes to prevent moisture loss and keep hair smoother and shinier. Using this mask just once will continue to lock in intense hydration and instantly create all-day frizz control and reduce and prevent breakage for smoother hair. 

Rich Hydration Mask offers:

• 16x instant hydration with 6x hydration after five washes*
• 71% instant reduction in breakage
• 119% more shine
• 74% frizz reduction all day, even in high humidity

*On bleached hair tresses

N º.5 Bond Maintenance® Conditioner

Nº.5 is the classic go-to OLAPLEX conditioner for all damage-prone types and hair textures on days when you’re not using a hair mask. This color-safe, nourishing conditioner repairs and strengthens while increasing manageability for smoother, healthier-looking hair when used with Nº.4.

N º.5FINE Bond Maintenance® Conditioner

A great complement to the Weightless Nourishing Mask, Nº.5FINE is formulated for fine hair types that experience damage and lack hair volume. When used after washing with Nº.4FINE Bond Maintenance® Shampoo on days when you’re not using a hair mask, this conditioner:

• Repairs and strengthens hair
• Provides healthy body and volume
• Hydrates without weighing down fine strands or contributing to excess sebum production

N º.5P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Conditioner

If you have blonde or grey hair, Nº.5P is the one for you. It goes beyond your typical purple conditioner.

When used with Nº.4P Blonde Enhancer™ Toning Shampoo, Nº.5P:

• Neutralizes brassiness, brightens, and tones
• Hydrates and smooths
• Strengthens and repairs

Make Hair Goals a Reality with OLAPLEX

Everybody can benefit from a hair mask, regardless of their hair type. Take the next step to healthier hair—explore our products and find your ideal routine with our hair quiz.