The best part is that they couldn’t be easier to use. Just apply before bed, let it do its thing while you sleep. While those with damaged or color-treated strands will see the most dramatic results, Baker says everyone can benefit: “Even those with healthy hair should use them. The goal is to protect and prevent future damage.” Most overnight masks still need a quick rinse in the morning, but that’s a small trade-off for skipping the whole wait-around-in-the-shower routine that comes with regular masks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best overnight hair masks to help you wake up with smoother, stronger strands.
Best Overall: Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum
Crown Affair
Overnight Repair Serum
Allure shopping director Shanna Shipin applying the Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum
Shanna Shipin
Why it’s worth it: If your hair feels more like sandpaper than silk, add Crown Affair’s Overnight Repair Serum to your hair-care routine. “Unlike a heavy mask, it absorbs quickly since it’s a serum texture,” says Linda Gattineri, a colorist based in Del Mar, California. A blend of silk proteins and meadowfoam seed oil nourishes and smooths the cuticle while strengthening fragile strands. “You wake up with softer, detangled hair, and over time it helps improve resilience, shine, and overall hair health,” says Gattineri, who notes it’s especially ideal for those with fine or thin hair. Plus, chia and linseed extracts help prevent breakage, while Tsubaki (camellia) seed oil, rice bran, and vitamin E lock in moisture and tame frizz.
Shipin before applying the Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum
Shanna Shipin
Shipin after applying the Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum
Shanna Shipin
“I put my hair through the wringer—curly one day, blown out the next—so this serum is a lifesaver. It’s weightless, leaves no residue on your fingers, and dries down quickly. No staining your pillowcase or getting a hair mask on your cheeks. It’s meant to be an overnight serum, but I love using it in the daytime, too, essentially whenever I’m brushing my hair smooth—it seals up my split ends so well! On top of all the benefits I see from using this serum, it also has the signature Crown Affair scent; a revelation for damaged ends.” —Shanna Shipin, shopping director
- Key ingredients: flaxseed, chia seed, Tsubaki Meadow blend, rosemary
- Who it’s for: people who want to restore softness and shine in their hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Dry Scalps: Virtue Overnight Scalp and Hair Elixir
Virtue
Overnight Scalp and Hair Elixir
Why it’s worth it: When your scalp’s feeling irritated or out of whack, it’s nearly impossible for your hair to look its best, and that’s where Virtue’s Overnight Scalp and Hair Elixir comes in.“It’s the same idea as using a night cream for your face—it hydrates and soothes while you sleep, but for your hair and scalp,” says Gattineri. The formula is powered by Virtue’s signature alpha keratin 60ku protein (yep, the same hair-healing blend in all their products) to repair damage and fortify fragile strands. At the same time, hyaluronic acid and olive-derived ceramides keep hair soft and smooth. “You wake up with softer, refreshed hair, and over time it helps reduce breakage and support healthier hair growth,” says Gattineri.
Allure senior editor Jesa Marie Calaor applying the Virtue Overnight Scalp and Hair Elixir
Jesa Marie Calaor
Calaor after applying the Virtue Overnight Scalp and Hair Elixi
Jesa Marie Calaor
“This milky serum is formulated to balance your scalp’s microbiome and strengthen strands. In the two weeks I’ve been testing this, my ends feel less crispy and my scalp less flaky.” —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, peptides, ceramides, alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, alpha keratin 60ku
- Who it’s for: people with sensitive or irritated scalps
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Damaged Hair: Alterna Caviar Restructuring Bond Repair Leave-in Overnight Serum
Alterna
Caviar Restructuring Bond Repair Leave-in Overnight Serum
Allure commerce editor Sarah Han applying the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Overnight Serum
Sarah Han
Why it’s worth it: If your hair’s feeling the effects of your obsession with hot tools or color treatments, Alterna’s Caviar Restructuring Bond Repair Leave-In Overnight Serum helps strengthen and restore fragile strands. “It’s also especially beneficial for bleached or color-treated hair, curly textures, or anyone whose hair needs a serious moisture boost,” says Kelly Novobielski, a stylist and colorist based in New York City. The brand’s caviar extract and hydrolyzed keratin work to seal cracks in the cuticle—smoothing rough texture and reducing breakage—while shea butter delivers a boost of lasting moisture.
Our tester tried Alterna’s Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Overnight Serum, a similarly luxe treatment focused on deep hydration rather than bond repair. Both formulas work overnight to soften, smooth, and strengthen hair while you sleep, so you wake up to silky, more manageable strands by morning. “By morning, it’s fully absorbed, so hair feels soft, silky, and smooth—and detangling couldn’t be easier,” says Novobielski.
Han before applying the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Overnight Serum
Sarah Han
Han after applying the Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Overnight Serum
Sarah Han
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“I’ll do eight skin-care steps without blinking but hair care? I love a do-it-all leave-in, and this Alterna overnight serum is a hydrating dream for my dry, color-damaged strands. My hair feels soft to the touch the next morning and my pink looks a tad more vibrant, too. The serum even helps coax some of my loose waves, which is a nice change from my usual blow-dry routine that involves a lot of combing and raking through my hair. It’s so simple to use, too. I rough-dry my hair until it’s mostly dry before I apply a generous amount to my mid-lengths to ends. (I have thin but dense hair and this serum feels the opposite of heavy, like it’s barely there! Some treatments, especially oils, feel like they’re weighing down my hair.) And voila, I’m ready for bed! I only wash my hair twice a week, so every other wash, I reach for this, and it’s whittled down my nighttime routine to a much more manageable level.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: caviar extract, hydrolyzed keratin, shea butter, glycerin,
- Who it’s for: people who have dry, brittle hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Frizzy Hair: Kerastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum
Kérastase
Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum
Why it’s worth it: Here’s a new reason to clock in a full night’s sleep: Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum delivers its most transformative results when you let it work at least eight hours—so you wake up to frizz-free, shinier hair. The plant-based proteins nourish hair with essential nutrients, helping to strengthen fragile strands, reduce breakage, and smooth the cuticle for a healthier texture. With the help of niacinamide, “this formula delivers deep hydration and helps manageability, all while creating a protective slip against pillow friction—perfect if you’re chasing that next-level shine,” says Novobielski.
- Key ingredients: plant-based proteins, niacinamide
- Who it’s for: people with dull or frizzy hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Curls: R+Co Bleu Sleep Masque Night Repair Serum
R+Co
Bleu Sleep Masque Night Repair Serum
Why it’s worth it: If your curls feel more crispy than bouncy, R+Co Bleu Sleep Masque Night Repair Serum provides overnight TLC. The brand’s “bleu” molecule complex rebuilds the hair’s internal structure, reinforcing weak spots and helping curls bounce back from damage. Ceramides act like a shield, sealing the cuticle to lock in moisture and defend against friction, humidity, and breakage. “I love this for thirsty curls, as it always manages to leave them so soft,” says Baker. Meanwhile, green caviar (a marine algae that’s rich in amino acids and antioxidants) delivers deep hydration and protection from environmental stressors. Add in shea butter and avocado oil to nourish and smooth, and you’ve got a serum that restores elasticity, tames frizz, and keeps curls soft, defined, and resilient night after night.
- Key ingredients: blue molecule complex, shea butter, avocado oil, green caviar, ceramides
- Who it’s for: all hair types, but especially dry, curly hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Dry Hair: Amika Dream Routine Overnight Hydration Mask
Amika
Dream Routine Overnight Hydration Mask
Why it’s worth it: Whether it’s the aftermath of coloring, constant heat styling, or just that dreaded dry office air, Amika Dream Routine Overnight Hydration Mask is your overnight remedy for parched, thirsty strands. According to the brand, hyaluronic acid pulls in moisture to plump each strand for up to 72 hours, while bio-fermented coconut water and polyglutamic acid help lock in that hydration for long-lasting softness and shine. With extracts like spirulina, “these marine-derived ingredients are highly effective at supplying moisture and strength,” says Novobielski. Plus, true to its name, it leaves your hair smelling just as dreamy as it feels.
- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, bio-fermented coconut water, polyglutamic acid, blue green algae extract
- Who it’s for: people with dry or brittle hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Mature Hair: Oribe Gold Lust Restorative Night Creme for Hair
Oribe
Gold Lust Restorative Night Creme for Hair
Why it’s worth it: Everything about Oribe’s Gold Lust Restorative Night Crème for Hair is as much about the sensorial experience as it is about results. From the first pump, that refreshing hint of eucalyptus adds spa vibes to your nighttime routine. And while it smells amazing, it’s not just about the experience: For hair that’s lost some of its strength or shine, niacinamide, biotin, and hydrolyzed lupine protein help rebuild and fortify brittle strands, while olive fruit oil and chia seed extract smooth things out for a softer, glossier finish. “This one’s ideal for finer hair—it adds moisture, tames frizz, and its thicker texture makes it amazing for restoring aging hair,” says Gattineri.
- Key ingredients: plant collagen, caffeine, biotin, niacinamide, lupine flower peptides
- Who it’s for: people with dry, damaged, or mature hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Frequently Asked Questions
Do overnight hair masks work?
You’ll see the biggest difference if your hair is dry, color-treated, or damaged—those strands have a more porous cuticle, so they soak up nourishing ingredients more easily. Even healthy hair, though, benefits from the extra hydration and protection. Beyond convenience, overnight hair masks actually have more time to do their job. Because they stay on for hours—not just a few minutes in the shower—overnight treatments penetrate more deeply to offset dryness and frizz, delivering longer-lasting nourishment than traditional rinse-out products.
The timing makes a difference, too: “While we sleep is the best time for the entire body to repair itself—it’s in recovery mode, and so is our hair. Because our hair can only moisturize itself with natural oils produced near the scalp, using an overnight mask helps nourish the rest of your strands, giving them the care and attention they don’t get on their own,” says Baker.
Which ingredients in hair treatment masks help with damaged hair?
When it comes to repairing damaged hair, look for overnight hair masks packed with keratin, hydrolyzed proteins, or amino acids that help rebuild and strengthen the hair’s structure, while natural oils such as argan, olive, and chia seed replenish lost moisture and add shine. Humectants like glycerin and panthenol draw moisture into the hair shaft, helping smooth frizz and boost elasticity. “Hydration is key to strengthening hair from the inside out. Frizzy hair is only frizzy because it’s thirsty,” says Novobielski. For longer-term hair repair, Baker also recommends that the best hair masks feature peptides, which “strengthen the hair to help prevent damage over time,” she says.
Do overnight hair masks cause buildup?
As long as you rinse it out thoroughly in the morning, an overnight hair mask typically won’t cause buildup. If your hair is fine or tends to get oily, stick with a lightweight treatment or serum instead—save the richer, cream-based masks for curly, coarse, or thick hair, which can better handle (and benefit from) intense moisture. And if your strands ever start to feel weighed down, a weekly clarifying shampoo can help reset your scalp.
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of the best overnight hair masks, we considered each product’s performance across five primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, texture, and product wear. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from two dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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