Key points

• A hair mask is best used once or twice a week. Where damage is a concern, you can go up to three or four times a week.
• Apply after shampooing, mainly from the mid-lengths to the ends, leave it for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
• The ONSENSOU Beppu hot spring algae hair mask also works well as weekend intensive care.

In brief: Hair masks are best used 1-2 times a week (up to 3-4 for damaged hair), applied from mid-lengths to ends after shampooing, left on for 5-10 minutes, then rinsed thoroughly. ONSENSOU's Beppu hot spring algae hair mask works well as a weekend intensive treatment.

QHow often should a hair mask be used?

AOnce or twice a week is the basic guide, adjusted to the state of your hair. If dryness is a concern, or if colouring and perming have left damage building up, twice a week suits; for ordinary care, once a week is enough. The ONSENSOU hair mask contains Beppu hot spring algae and is formulated to add moisture while conditioning the hair, so regular use helps keep hair looking its best.

QHow much hair mask should be used?

AIt depends on the length of your hair: roughly one cherry-sized amount for short hair, two for medium and three for long. Some adjustment is also needed for how much hair you have and how thick it is. Working mainly on the ends, aim for enough to reach the whole length. Too little will not add enough moisture, and too much simply takes longer to rinse out.

QWhen is the best time to use a hair mask?

AThe best moment is just after shampooing, once the excess water has been taken off. Wash the hair clean, then press it gently with a towel to remove the water it is still holding. Too much water dilutes the mask, and too little makes it hard to spread evenly through the hair. Applying it when the hair has been blotted to about the right degree helps the Beppu hot spring algae ingredients in the ONSENSOU hair mask coat the hair evenly.

QHow long should a hair mask be left on?

AAround 5 to 10 minutes is the guide. The recommended time varies from product to product, but 5 to 10 minutes is generally right. Working the mask through the whole length over that time lets the moisturising ingredients reach all of the hair. When you have time, covering your hair with a warm towel or a shower cap helps the surface of the hair settle with the warmth. Leaving it on longer is not better, so keep to the stated time.

QWhat is the difference between a hair mask and a conditioner? Do they need to be used separately?

AA hair mask is an intensive care item with a richer formula than a conditioner. A conditioner is for daily use to keep the hair in good condition, while a hair mask is used once or twice a week as special care. ONSENSOU suggests adding moisture with the conditioner day to day and using the hair mask once or twice a week for intensive care. There is no need to use both together: on the days you use the hair mask, use it in place of the conditioner.

QCan a hair mask be applied to the scalp as well?

AAs a rule, use it mainly from the mid-lengths to the ends. A hair mask is made to add moisture to the hair and condition it. A product that is not designed for the scalp can leave it feeling greasy if applied directly. With the ONSENSOU hair mask, start about five centimetres down from the roots and work towards the ends, taking particular care to work it into the ends where damage shows. If you want to keep the scalp clean, use an item made specifically for scalp care.

QIs there a knack to rinsing a hair mask out?

ARinsing thoroughly with lukewarm water is what matters. Water that is too hot leads to dryness, so lukewarm water of around 38 degrees is best. Stroke the hair gently with the pads of your fingers and rinse carefully until the mask has washed away completely. Anything left behind can make the hair greasy or affect the scalp environment, so take your time and rinse it out properly. If the hair feels smooth rather than rough once rinsed, you have used it correctly.

QIs it all right to use a hair mask every day?

AWe recommend once or twice a week as a rule. Used every day, more of the ingredients build up on the hair than it needs, which can leave the result heavy or feeling greasy instead. As an intensive care item, a hair mask keeps hair looking well groomed when it is used regularly. If you really do want intensive care every day, adjust by cutting the amount to about half the usual. The important thing is to find the right frequency by watching the state of your hair.

QCan a hair mask be used on fine or soft hair?

AOf course it can, though adjusting the amount and the frequency is the key. On fine or soft hair the ingredients tend to stay on the hair and leave a heavy result. Use a little less than usual, start at once a week and adjust as you watch how your hair responds. The ONSENSOU hair mask contains Beppu hot spring algae and is formulated to add moisture while aiming for a light finish, but it still pays to adapt how you use it to your hair. Keeping away from the roots and working mainly on the ends also helps hair keep a soft, airy look.

QHow soon after colouring or perming can a hair mask be used?

AWe recommend avoiding the day of the appointment itself and starting from the following day. The hair is not yet settled immediately afterwards, so leaving around 24 hours is wise. It is precisely when colouring or perming has changed the state of the hair that care which adds moisture with a hair mask matters. The ONSENSOU hair mask is formulated to add moisture while conditioning the hair, so it supports the look of your hair after a salon visit. Take particular care over your hair routine afterwards.

QCan a hair mask and a conditioner be used together?

AThere is no need to use them together. On the days you use the hair mask, use it on its own after shampooing. A hair mask has a richer formula than a conditioner or rinse and does the work of conditioning the hair, so layering the two may leave the hair heavy.

QHow long does it take to notice a difference?

AIt varies from person to person, but with use once or twice a week many people notice a change in how their hair feels and looks within about two to four weeks. The ONSENSOU hair mask contains Beppu hot spring algae to add moisture, and continued use gradually brings the look of the hair into good order.

QCan a hair mask be used outside the bath?

AIt is designed on the basis that it is applied after shampooing and rinsed out. It is not the same as a leave-in treatment, so always use it in the bath and rinse thoroughly. Left in, it may make the hair greasy and affect the scalp environment.

QShould the frequency change between winter and summer?

AThe state of the hair changes with the season and the surroundings, so adjusting is a good idea. Twice a week in winter, when dryness sets in easily, and once a week through the humid summer, for example: adjust the frequency as you watch your hair. If it feels dry, raise the frequency; stay flexible.

QIs there anything to watch for when using a hairdryer afterwards?

AYou can use a hairdryer as you normally would after a hair mask. Blot the hair gently with a towel, then dry it with warm air holding the dryer 15 to 20 centimetres away. Finishing with cool air protects the hair you have just conditioned with the ONSENSOU hair mask from the dryer heat, and leaves it looking better still.