Take it from one woman who has fine, stressed and coloured hair – an overnight hair mask is my hair's saviour. Once you’ve got into the swing of using a hair treatment at night, you’ll never look back. It's as easy as applying your evening skincare routine and these days, they're formulated to leave zero residue on your pillow. It's a no-brainer in my opinion.
- Best for thickening hair: Grow Gorgeous Intense Overnight Mask, from £9.79
- Best for coloured hair: Christophe Robin Night Recovery Cream, £35 / $47
- Best for dry hair: L'Oréal Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Hydrating Cream, £12.15 / $22
- Best for damaged hair: Beauty Pie Super Healthy Hair, £25 / $30
- Best for fine hair: Van Clarke Lifesaver, £27 / $17
- Best for application: Gisou Honey Milk Active Repair Leave-In Conditioner Mist, £30 / $30
From those designed to hydrate, repair damage or even to help your hair grow, there’s a plethora of hair masks all created to be left on overnight. Wondering what an overnight hair mask really is? Award-winning hairstylist Michael Van Clarke explains: “Applying overnight is an easy way to use the treatment as it gives more time for your hair to absorb fully. The power of habits comes into play and people are more likely to use regularly.
“Usual after-shampoo masks are superficial but also mean hanging around twiddling thumbs with no clothes on. It’s such a faff that people then forget to do treatments.”
Most are meant to be applied onto dry hair, and worked into the ends of hair before sleeping. It might be an idea to sleep on a towel, or a pillowcase that you don’t mind getting a little damp, and in my experience none have ever stained a pillowcase (silk or cotton). Others require slightly damp hair, and I recommend spritzing the ends with a bottle spray to dampen it.
How I chose the best overnight hair treatments
- Tried and tested: I’ve been a big fan of overnight hair treatments for a number of years, and have personally purchased a number and also been lucky enough to be sent them for trying. I’ve included the overnight hair masks I’ve personally tried and given you my honest opinion.
- Trusted reviews: I’ve scoured online reviews to find trusted opinions of the treatments included, if I haven’t personally tried them.
- Popularity: I’ve done my research and included some of the most popular overnight hair masks, along with those cult or niche brands that are worth a moment in the spotlight.
- Price: As with everything, you can spend a lot or little – and while you can easily buy an overnight mask for hair for a few pounds, you can spend upwards of £30 / $37. You’ll find both ends of the budget spectrum in this edit.
Shop the best overnight hair treatments
1/9
Grow Gorgeous Intense Overnight Mask
© Grow GorgeousEditor's Note:
"This is a top seller on LOOKFANTASTIC, with over 40 reviews praising it's efficiency but many noting it isn't the most pleasant when in the hair."
Grow Gorgeous are a brand who are dedicated to helping hair grow healthier and stronger, with products targeting the scalp as well as the hair strands. This mask targets both, with skincare ingredients including Hyaluronic Acid to smooth and moisturise hair, Tung Wood to keep frizz under control, and Blended Green Tea Extract and Fruit Acid to nourish hair from the inside out, smoothing the cuticles to enhance your hair’s natural gloss and shine.
2/9
L'Oréal Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Hydrating Cream
© L'OréalEditor's Note:
Apply this cream to dry or damp hair and leave it to work its magic; hair is said to be soft, silky and smooth come morning.
Using the L'Oréal knowledge of skincare, the L'Oréal team have applied that know-how to haircare with an overnight hydrating mask with 8% Hyaluronic Acid designed to hydrate the hair and make it softer while you sleep.
3/9
Gisou Honey Milk Active Repair Leave-In Conditioner Mist
© GisouHELLO! Tried & Tested:
"This has been a game changer for me. If you're not a fan of thick heavy hair treatments, you will adore this. What's more, it smells heavenly with mood-enhancing notes of honey nectar, peach, vanilla and sandalwood. The mister gets top marks from me. You get an ultra-fine continuous mist that makes application easy. Winning." Leanne Bayley, Director of Lifestyle & Commerce
An all-in-one post-shower step to detangle, hydrate, smooth, protect and boost shine. Light as milk, yet rich as honey, with every mist! Powered by nourishing Mirsalehi Honey, strengthening hydrolysed milk protein and repairing ceramides, this weightless mist delivers instant care and over time repair.
4/9
Beauty Pie Super Healthy Hair
© Beauty PieEditor's Note:
Great for damaged or heat styled hair, apply this overnight serum onto dry hair and leave it on while you sleep. No need to rinse out come morning.
Smart Binding Repair technology is said to help reduce areas of damage within the hair fibers, and this serum is designed to improve hair strength & elasticity, boost moisture, strength and shine and reinforce fragile ends to prevent future damage
5/9
Christophe Robin Night Recovery Cream
© Christophe RobinEditor's Note:
Reviews suggest this overnight hair mask leaves hair not only bigger and bouncier, but stronger too. Plus, it smells gorgeous.
Infused with White Lotus Flower, this overnight mask is formulated to nourish dry, weakened strands for stronger, healthier hair.
6/9
Van Clarke LifeSaver Deep Sleep Overnight Treatment
© Van ClarkeHELLO! Tried & Tested:
“I’ve been using the MVC Lifesaver treatments for years, and I credit them with seriously sorting my hair – it went from having to be straightened if I wanted it to look half decent to being able to leave it air dried without a spot of frizz.
“This is isn’t a one-time wonder; you need to use it night after night to see results, but it really does work. I apply it onto dry hair at night, and sometimes don’t even need to wash it out in the morning. It doesn’t leave hair looking greasy in the morning, fuller if anything. This incarnation of the classic MVC product smells divine, and the scent helps you drift off to sleep easier, too!” - Carla Challis, Commerce Partnership Editor
Whatever your hair is lacking, this overnight hair mask will try to fix it. From strengthening to moisturising, this mask is a great entryway into overnight hair treatments – users have said hair gets better the more you use it.
7/9
amika Dream Routine Overnight Hydrating Hair Mask
Editor's Note:
Frazzled hair is said to be deeply moisturised with this overnight mask; helps to reduce hair breakage too.
Amika’s overnight treatment is dubbed as a moisture-boosting formula created to target dry, brittle hair of all textures and types.
It’s designed to seal in moisture for up to 72 hours and keep your hair bouncy and full of life.
8/9
Percy & Reed Overnight Hair Mask
Editor's Note:
If you’ve been a slave to heated hair appliances, this is the product for you – it’s dubbed as “beauty sleep for your hair”, with the promise to restore your hair to its former glory while you sleep.
Pro Vitamin B5 within this product strengthens hair, reduces split ends and restores lacklustre, dull locks.
9/9
Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Hair Serum for Dry Hair
© KérastaseEditor's Note:
Up to 98% of users experienced stronger hair and less frizz, in just eight hours.
This overnight hair treatment contains anti-dryness polymers for immediate care with a lightweight feeling texture. The nourishing overnight hair serum works for up to 8 hours to smooth and strengthen dry hair and help protect from pillow friction.
