12 Best Vegan + Cruelty-Free Hair Masks

Searching for a hair mask that doesn’t contain animal-derived ingredient or byproducts and isn’t tested on animals? First of all, we love you. Second, we pored through the internet to find the best vegan and cruelty-free hair masks that are out there and we’ve listed them for you below.

The hair masks ahead hydrate and repair hair without animal-derived ingredients and they do it just as well (or even better) as their non-vegan and non-cruelty-free counterparts.

Hair Type

There’s a vegan and cruelty-free hair mask for every hair type — from fine and sleek hair to thick and curly.

What hair mask is best for you depends on what your hair needs, whether that be hydration or repairing damage.

In general, if you have dry, coarse, or curly hair look for an oil-based formula. Whereas damaged fine hair is generally better off with a protein-rich mask, which nourishes without leaving hair greasy or weighing it down.

Here, the 12 best vegan and cruelty-free hair masks of 2022.

Index

1. Best Overall: Amika | Soulfood Nourishing Mask
2. Best Overall, Runner-up: Verb | Ghost Hair Mask
3. Best for Damage-Repair: Briogeo | Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
4. Best for Bleached Hair: Olaplex | Hair Perfector No. 3 Repairing Treatment
5. Best Budget: EVA NYC – Therapy Session Hair Mask
6. Best Detangling Mask: Coco & Eve | Like a Virgin Hair Masque
7. Best for Color-Damaged Hair: Pureology | Hydrate Superfood Treatment Hair Mask
8. Best Leave-In Mask: K18 – Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
9. Best Hair Mask for Curls: Briogeo | Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating & Defining Mask
10. Best Splurge: Oribe – Gold Lust Transformative Masque
11. Best for Dry & Damaged Hair: Aveda | Damage Remedy Intensive Restructuring Treatment
12. Best for Dull Hair: Rahua | Omega 9 Hair Mask

The 12 Best Vegan + Cruelty-Free Hair Masks

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1/12

Best Overall:

Amika’s deep conditioning hair mask instantly conditions and nourishes hair without weighing it down. Jojoba seed oil and sea buckthorn will leave your hair frizz free and soft enough that you can comb through it with your fingers.

Best for: all hair types | Key ingredients: jojoba seed oil, sea buckthorn | Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, mineral oil, animal (by)products | Cruelty-free: yes, Amika is a Leaping Bunny-certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product. However, Amika is not a vegan brand, as is also sells products that do contain animal-derived ingredients

2/12

Best Overall, Runner-Up:

Whether your hair is straight or curly, thick or thin, this do-it-all mask is a treat for every strand. It works on all hair types to repair damage, tame frizz and increase shine, while giving a boost of hydration using a lightweight formula of glycerin and moringa seed oil. We also love the grapefruit oatmeal scent that leaves hair with a light and fragrance.

Best for: all hair types and textures | Key ingredients: glycerin, moringa seed oil | Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products | Cruelty-free: yes, Verb is a PETA-certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product. However, Verb is not a vegan brand, as is also sells products that do contain animal-derived ingredients

3/12

Best Damage-Repair Hair Mask:

This hair mask was Allure’s 2021 Reader’s Choice Award and we totally get why. It has ultra-strengthening and moisturizing properties which it gets from hair-loving ingredients like rose hip oil, algae extract, almond oil, and vitamin B. The lotion-like mask repairs months of dryness and damage in no time, and will leave your hair softer and smoother after first use. It comes with a subtle fruity scent which we think is impossible to dislike.

Best for: all hair that’s dry and damaged | Key ingredients: rosehip oil, algae extract, vitamin B | Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, silicones, alcohol, animal (by)products | Cruelty-free: yes, Briogeo is a cruelty-free brand. Do note, they are owned by Wella, a company that is not cruelty-free | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product. However, Briogeo is not a vegan brand, as it also sells products that do contain animal-derived ingredients

4/12

Best Vegan + Cruelty-Free Hair Mask For Bleached Hair:

To repair damage from bleaching, your go-to product should be Olaplex’s No. 3 Repairing Treatment. The hair stylist staple offers a patented bond-building technology that works from the inside out to repair and restore even heavily damaged hair after only one use. It is the best way to keep your blonde healthy in-between bleaching sessions.

Best for: every hair type and texture in direct need of repair | Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, alcohol, silicones, animal (by)products | Cruelty-free: yes, Olaplex is a cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, Olaplex is a vegan brand

Related: The 7 Best Vegan + Cruelty-Free Purple Shampoos

5/12

Best Budget:

With nearly 9000 5-star reviews on Ulta alone, Eva NYC Therapy Session Hair Mask is widely considered one of the best budget-friendly hair masks out there. In addition to skipping the sulfates and paraben, it uses argan oil and plant protein to hydrate and smooth damaged and dry hair. “It makes my hair so soft and dramatically helps with frizz for me.” says one reviewer.

Best for: all hair types and textures | Key ingredients: argan oil, plant protein | Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products | Cruelty-free: yes Eva NYC is a Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product. However, Eva NYC is not a vegan brand, as is also sells products that do contain animal-derived ingredients

6/12

Best Detangler:

Coconut oil is a miracle ingredient when it comes to repairing and protecting hair. That’s why Coco & Eve uses it, along with shea butter to moisturize and argan oil to tame frizz. The coconut and fig scented mask works on all hair types (even extensions!) to condition, detangle, and leave hair shiny. Best part? The mask comes with a detangling brush that you can use in the shower to brush your mask through your hair.

Best for: all hair types in need of moisture and repair | Key ingredients: coconut extract, fig extract, shea butter, linseed, argan oil, glycerin | Free of: sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products | Cruelty-free: yes, Coco & Eva is a PETA-certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, Coco & Eve is a vegan brand

7/12

Best for Color-Damaged Hair:

Pureology’s nourishing hair mask is an oasis in the desert for color-damaged hair. Its creamy, deep-conditioning, color-safe formula is made with avocado and coconut oils to moisturize dry locks and add extra shine while leaving your hair with a sweet aromatherapeutic scent. Pureology can also be used as an overnight hair mask for maximum benefits.

Best for: colored, dehydrated hair | Key ingredients: avocado oil, coconut oil | Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products | Cruelty-free: yes, Pureology is a PETA-certified cruelty-free brand. However, Pureology is owned by L’Oréal, a company that is not cruelty-free | Vegan: yes, Pureology is a vegan brand

Related: The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoos for Colored Hair

8/12

Best Leave-In Repair Hair Mask:

K18’s leave-in hair mask hit the market a few years ago and quickly went viral. This is thanks to the brand’s patented peptide technology that undoes all kinds of damage and heals the inner structure of your hair. After a few weeks you can expect to see a big difference in hair’s softness, smoothness, and general health. Instead of killing 10 to 15 minutes in the shower, you apply a few pumps on shampooed (unconditioned) towel-dry hair and just wait 4 minutes before you style your hair as usual.

Best for: damaged hair | Key ingredients: sh-Oligopeptide-78 | Free of: sulfates, paraben, phthalates, animal (by)products | Cruelty-free: yes, K18 is a PETA-certified cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, K18 is a vegan brand

Related: The Best Cruelty-Free Shampoos for Dry and Damaged Hair

9/12

Best Hair Mask For Curls:

This specially designed mask for the curly, wavy, and coily is packed full of nourishing ingredients to help nourish and define curls and coils. Fatty avocado acids and shea butter restore moisture and smooth frizz, while rice amino acids and tomato fruit ferment form a protective barrier around each strand. The protein-free hair mask is made from 97% naturally derived ingredients.

Best for: curly, wavy, and coily hair | Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, silicones, animal (by)products | Cruelty-Free: yes, Briogeo is a cruelty-free brand. Do note that they are owned by Wella, a company that is not cruelty-free | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product. However, Briogeo is not a vegan brand, as is also sells products that do contain animal-derived ingredients

Related: The Best Vegan + Cruelty-Free Shampoos for Curly Hair

10/12

Best Splurge:

Feeling like splurging? With this hair mask you won’t regret it. Enriched with biotin, shea butter, white tea leaf extract, and many more top-notch ingredients, it deeply conditions while softening and smoothing hair and leaving it ultra-shiny. It washes out easily and doesn’t weigh hair down. Plus, it smells heavenly.

Best for: frizzy damaged hair | Key ingredients: biotin, shea butter, protein blend, white tea leaf extract | Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products | Cruelty-free: yes, Oribe is a cruelty-free brand. Do note that the brand is owned by Kao, a company that is not cruelty-free | Vegan: yes, this is a vegan product. However, Oribe is not a vegan brand, as is also sells products that do contain animal-derived ingredients

11/12

Best for Damaged and Dry Hair:

For severely damaged hair, opt for Aveda’s Damage Remedy hair mask. It uses quinoa protein, meadowfoam seed-, jojoba-, and castor oils to repair and replenish dry, straw-like hair. It makes hair easy to comb through, deals with frizz and split ends and leaves behind a fresh botanical scent like Aveda knows best.

Best for: dry damaged hair, all hair types and textures | Key ingredients: glycerin, castor seed oil, jojoba seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil | Free of: paraben, sulfates SLS and SLES, animal (by)products | Cruelty-free: yes, Aveda is a Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free brand. However, they are owned by Estée Lauder, a company that is not cruelty-free | Vegan: yes, Aveda is a vegan brand

12/12

Best Vegan + Cruelty-Free Hair Mask For Shiny Hair:

Dull hair got you down? Opt for this shine and overall health booster. Made from ethically sourced Amazonian rahua tree nut oil, which is known for its nourishing and strengthening abilities, along with moisturizing sunflower seed oil, this lightweight hair mask leaves hair soft, frizz-free and so shiny. Plus, the smell of eucalyptus turns your shower in a spa.

Best for: damaged, dull hair | Key ingredients: rahua oil, sunflower seed oil | Free of: paraben, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, silicones, synthetic fragrance, animal-derived ingredients | Cruelty-free: yes, Rahua is a cruelty-free brand | Vegan: yes, Rahua is a vegan brand

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Why Use a Hair Mask?

Is your hair damaged from bleaching, coloring, or heat styling tools, or is your hair just naturally dry? Consider a hair mask to be your new best friend.

Hair masks are formulated with deep-conditioning and reparative ingredients, such as oils and proteins, to restore moisture and repair damage.

Hair masks also detangle, tame frizz, and add shine to your hair.

So if your regular conditioner isn’t cutting it, adding a hair mask to your weekly routine is a good idea to bring your lengths back to life.

How To Apply a Hair Mask?

1. After shampooing, squeeze out excess water and apply hair mask instead of your conditioner
2. Massage the mask for a minute or 2 in your hair to absorb the product
3. Use your fingers or a comb to brush the product through your hair
4. Leave on for about 10 minutes (following the product instructions). We like to use this time for something productive like shaving legs or a face mask
5. Rinse thoroughly. For your shiniest hair yet, rinse with cold water

Aim to use a hair mask one to two times a week (in place of your conditioner), depending on your hair’s condition.

FAQ

How Do We Know If A Brand Is Cruelty-Free?

We at Beauty.Beyond.Cruelty always do our research to ensure the brands on this site don’t test on animals or allow others to do so on their behalf.

We check the brand’s cruelty-free status on their website, we reach out to brands, we verify if the brand is certified cruelty-free by PETA or Leaping Bunny, and we check its status with cruelty-free database Cruelty-Free Kitty.

Sometimes, the cruelty-free status of a brand remains unclear. If there is any doubt about a brand being 100% cruelty-free, the brand will not make it in here.

Parent Company Note

A cruelty-free brand can be owned by a parent company that does tests on animals.

Since the products and ingredients of the brand itself are never tested on animals, we at Beauty.Beyond.Cruelty consider these brands to be cruelty-free.

However, we do always mention it below each product when a brand has a parent company that tests on animals.

What Is The Difference Between Cruelty-Free and Vegan?

Vegan is not the same as cruelty-free. In order to be considered vegan, a product has to be free of all animal-derived ingredients such as lanolin, and silk proteins. Cruelty-free means that the brand does not test its product or ingredients on animals.

This means a product can be cruelty-free and not vegan. In the same way, a product can be vegan and not cruelty-free.

The hair masks in this article are all vegan as well as cruelty-free.

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Why Trust Beauty.Beyond.Cruelty

We at Beauty.Beyond.Cruelty are beauty enthusiasts + devoted animal lovers that pour through the internet to select the best cruelty-free skincare, hair, and makeup products that are here to find.

Our findings are based on reading (lots of) reviews, doing ingredient research as well as testing the products ourselves.

Questions or Remarks?

Do you have any questions or remarks about any of the vegan + cruelty-free hair masks in this article, or do you know a mask that needs to be on this list? We’d love to hear from you in the comments down below.

UP NEXT: The Best Vegan + Cruelty-Free Shampoos for Every Hair Type

This post has been updated in October 2022 since it was originally published in September 2021.