How to Deep Condition Your Hair With Amika

We might sound like a broken record here, but British weather can really do a number on your hair. Cold winter air dries the strands out, central heating makes it worse, and summer sun and humidity finish the job. The good news? Deep conditioning masks exist specifically to replenish moisture, repair damage and strengthen the hair to undo all of that.

Amika makes three hair masks that we recommend constantly at Revive in Codsall, each built for a different concern. Here's the proper salon guide to which Amika mask suits your hair, how to use them properly, and why deep conditioning genuinely deserves a place in your routine. For wider context on hair masks across professional brands, browse our complete treatments and masks collection alongside.

In This Article

• Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Mask
• Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask
• Amika The Kure Intense Repair Mask
• How to choose the right mask
• Deep conditioning FAQs

Why Deep Conditioning Actually Matters

Daily conditioner is brilliant, but it only sits on the hair for a minute or two before it gets rinsed out. That's enough time to smooth the cuticle and deliver some light hydration, but it isn't enough to seriously repair, deeply moisturise or strengthen the hair shaft. That's where deep conditioning masks come in.

Masks sit on the hair for 5 to 10 minutes (or longer with some brands), which gives the active ingredients time to penetrate the cuticle and work inside the hair shaft rather than just on the surface. That's the difference between hair that feels conditioned and hair that's genuinely repaired or hydrated. Used weekly, a mask can dramatically change the condition of dry, damaged or stressed hair within a few washes.

For the science of why cool-water rinsing after a mask makes the actives lock in more effectively, our cold water rinse guide covers it in detail.

Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Mask

What it is: Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Mask is the deep conditioning best friend for dry, coarse, curly, coily or low porosity hair. It's a hyaluronic acid-infused treatment that delivers genuinely impressive moisture: 5 days of clinical hydration, 5 times easier combing, and 5 times more hydration after a single use. The texture is whipped into a rich, luscious cream, and the formula is silicone-free, which allows the active nutrients to soak fully into the strands rather than sitting as a film on the surface.

The hyaluronic acid is what makes this mask different from a typical deep conditioner. Originally a skincare ingredient, hyaluronic acid is one of the most reliable moisture-binders in cosmetic chemistry. It draws water into the hair shaft and holds it there, plumping up dry strands the same way it plumps dehydrated skin. For low porosity hair (where moisture struggles to penetrate the cuticle at all), this is genuinely transformative.

How to use it: While you're in the shower, squeeze excess water from freshly washed hair. Apply Hydro Rush from mid-lengths to ends, then comb through with a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush to disperse evenly. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Use weekly, or more often as needed.

Best for: Hair types 2A to 4C, dry or coarse textures, low porosity hair, anyone whose hair feels thirsty no matter what conditioner they use. To extend the hydration approach throughout the rest of your routine, pair with the Amika Hydro Rush Leave-In Conditioner as a between-wash boost. For other hydration-focused options across professional brands, browse our conditioner for dry hair collection.

Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask

What it is: Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask is the fan favourite of the Amika treatment range, and it's the mask we recommend most often when clients aren't sure where to start. Packed with sea buckthorn and jojoba oil, this deep conditioning treatment nourishes, softens and leaves hair clinically proven to be 7 times more moisturised after just one use.

The combination of sea buckthorn and jojoba oil is genuinely well-balanced. Sea buckthorn brings the omega-7 fatty acids and vitamin profile that runs through the whole Amika range. Jojoba oil is the closest natural oil to the sebum your scalp produces, so it conditions in a way the hair actually recognises and absorbs rather than just sitting on the surface. The result is moisture that feels weightless, with softness that lasts well beyond the first wash.

Soulfood is also one of the most versatile masks on the market. It can be used weekly as a deep treatment, or used more frequently as an everyday conditioner alternative if your hair is particularly dry or stressed. That flexibility is part of why it's so popular.

How to use it: While you're in the shower, squeeze excess water from freshly washed hair. Apply Soulfood from mid-lengths to ends, then comb through to disperse evenly. Let it sit for 5 to 7 minutes. Rinse thoroughly. Use weekly, or as your every-wash conditioner if your hair needs the extra moisture.

Available sizes: Soulfood comes in 60ml travel, 250ml standard and 500ml jumbo. The 250ml is the most popular size and lasts most clients about three months of weekly use. The 500ml is the better-value option for daily users or anyone with longer or thicker hair.

Best for: All hair types, particularly anyone whose hair is generally healthy but feels dry. Also the safest "first mask" if you've never used a deep conditioner before and aren't sure what your hair actually needs.

Amika The Kure Intense Repair Mask

What it is: Amika The Kure Intense Repair Mask is the ultimate kure for genuinely damaged hair. Loaded with bond-strengthening technology, mango butter, shea butter, borage oil and sea buckthorn, this reparative treatment is designed to transform dry, broken and over-processed hair from the inside out.

What makes The Kure different from a regular deep conditioner is the bond-strengthening technology at the core of the formula. While hydrating masks soften and moisturise (which damaged hair also needs), The Kure actually works on the structural bonds inside the hair shaft, the same bonds that get broken by bleach, colour, heat styling and chemical treatments. Combined with the heavyweight conditioning agents (mango and shea butter bring serious lipid replenishment, borage oil delivers gamma-linolenic acid for deep nourishment), the result is hair that's clinically proven to be 3.2 times stronger, 8 times more conditioned, and with 69% less breakage after one use.

For seriously damaged hair, this is one of the most effective bond-repair masks on the professional market. We use it on clients with bleached blondes, regular colour clients, and anyone whose hair is showing the wear and tear of heat styling, and the difference is usually visible within a couple of uses.

How to use it: While you're in the shower, squeeze excess water from freshly washed hair. Apply The Kure Intense Repair Mask from roots to ends (note: this one goes through the entire length, unlike Soulfood and Hydro Rush which stay at mid-lengths and ends). Comb through to disperse evenly. Let it sit for 10 minutes for maximum penetration. Rinse thoroughly. Use as a weekly treatment in place of your regular conditioner.

Available sizes: The Kure Intense Repair Mask is available in 20ml and 30ml sachet sizes (great for trying it out or for travel), 250ml standard and 500ml jumbo.

Best for: Damaged, bleached, broken, chemically processed or heat-stressed hair. For a complete repair routine, pair with the matching The Kure Bond Repair Shampoo and The Kure Bond Repair Conditioner, or look at the Amika Realm of Repair Gift Set which bundles the system together at a saving.

Which Amika Mask Is Right for You?

The quick decision tree we use in the salon:

• Dry, coarse, curly, coily or low porosity hair: Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Mask. Hyaluronic acid for serious hydration that lasts five days.
• Generally healthy hair that feels a bit dry, or as a "first mask": Soulfood Nourishing Mask. The versatile all-rounder, suitable for weekly use or as an every-wash conditioner.
• Damaged, bleached, broken or heat-stressed hair: The Kure Intense Repair Mask. Bond-strengthening technology for genuine structural repair.
• Not sure which? The Amika Mask Quest Nourish + Hydrate Mask Set bundles Soulfood and Hydro Rush together so you can try both for less than the cost of buying separately.

You can also rotate masks. A lot of our clients use Hydro Rush or Soulfood weekly for moisture, then switch to The Kure once a month (or after any colour appointment) for deeper repair. The whole Amika treatment range is built to layer rather than fight each other, so rotating between two masks is genuinely useful for hair with multiple concerns.

How to Get the Most From Any Amika Mask

The masks do the heavy lifting, but technique compounds the effect:

• Apply to clean, freshly washed hair. Masks work best on hair that's just been cleansed. Buildup from previous products blocks the actives from penetrating, so don't try to use a mask on day-three hair.
• Squeeze excess water out first. Soaking-wet hair dilutes the mask before it can do its work. Press out the excess gently with a microfibre towel or your hands, leaving the hair damp but not dripping.
• Use a wide-tooth comb to distribute. Combing the mask through ensures every strand gets coverage and helps the product penetrate evenly. A brush works too, just make sure it's a detangling brush, not a stiff paddle brush. Browse our hair brushes collection for options.
• Let it sit for the full recommended time. Most people rinse too quickly. The 5 to 10 minutes (or 10 minutes for The Kure) gives the actives time to actually do their work. Use the rest of your shower routine while you wait.
• Rinse with cool water at the end. Cool water helps the cuticle lie flat and locks in the conditioning. Hot water washes the active ingredients out faster than necessary.
• Don't rough-towel after. Press dry with a microfibre or cotton T-shirt. Rough-towelling roughens the cuticle you just spent ten minutes settling.
• Follow with a leave-in or oil if needed. For extra moisture lock-in, finish with the Amika Hydro Rush Leave-In Conditioner or browse our hair oil collection for finishing options.

Deep Conditioning FAQs

How often should I deep condition my hair?

For most hair types, once a week is plenty. Dry, damaged or coarse hair may benefit from twice a week. Fine hair or hair that's prone to oiliness may do better with once every two weeks. The simple rule: if your hair starts to feel limp or heavy, you're using too much mask too often. If it still feels dry the day after, you need more.

Can I leave an Amika mask on overnight?

No, and you don't need to. The clinical claims for all three Amika masks (5x more hydration for Hydro Rush, 7x more moisturised for Soulfood, 3.2x stronger for The Kure) are based on the recommended use times of 5 to 10 minutes. Longer than that doesn't deliver additional benefit and can leave the hair feeling weighed down or coated. Stick to the recommended time on each mask.

Should I use a hair mask before or after shampoo?

After shampoo, always. The shampoo cleanses the cuticle so the mask can penetrate properly. Using a mask on unwashed hair means the actives can't get past the buildup, so most of the product just sits on the surface.

Can I use The Kure mask if my hair isn't damaged?

Yes, but you probably don't need to. The Kure is built specifically for structural repair of damaged hair. If your hair is healthy and you just want a hydrating treatment, Soulfood or Hydro Rush will give you better results. Save The Kure for when you actually need it (after a colour appointment, after a heat-styling-heavy period, or when your hair is genuinely showing damage).

Can I use Amika masks on coloured hair?

Yes. All three masks are colour-safe. The Kure is particularly good for colour-treated hair because the bond-repair technology helps undo the structural damage that colouring causes. Browse our wider shampoo for coloured hair collection for colour-safe wash-day options to pair with the masks.

What's the difference between the Amika Hydro Rush Mask and Conditioner?

Both use hyaluronic acid as the core moisture active, but the mask is a much higher-concentration, deeper-penetrating treatment. The conditioner is for everyday use after the shampoo. The mask is for once-a-week deep moisture. They work as a system together — daily conditioner for maintenance, mask for the deep work.

Can I use Amika masks on fine hair without weighing it down?

Yes, with the right one. Hydro Rush and Soulfood are both lighter formulas suitable for fine hair, applied only to mid-lengths and ends. The Kure is richer and can feel heavy on fine hair, so use it less often (every two to three weeks rather than weekly) and focus the application on the most damaged sections rather than the whole head. For more on fine-hair routines, see our how to add volume to fine hair guide.

How long does a 250ml Amika mask last?

For weekly use on shoulder-length hair, a 250ml mask lasts roughly three to four months. Longer or thicker hair will use slightly more per application. If you're using a mask as your every-wash conditioner (which Soulfood is suitable for), expect to go through it faster, in which case the 500ml jumbo size is better value.

Are Amika masks vegan?

Yes. All three masks are vegan, cruelty-free (Leaping Bunny certified), sulphate-free, paraben-free and colour-safe. The whole Amika range is built around clean formulation standards. For more on Amika's ingredient philosophy, see our Amika shampoo and conditioner ingredients guide.

Browse the full Amika collection at Revive, our wider treatments and masks collection across all professional brands, or our conditioner for dry hair and leave-in conditioner ranges for everyday products that pair well with deep conditioning. We're a working hair salon, not a faceless reseller, so if you're stuck choosing between Hydro Rush, Soulfood and The Kure, drop us a message and we'll talk you through it.

Free UK delivery on every Amika order at Revive Hair Artists.