The $4 Trader Joe’s Buy That Saved My Dry Winter Hair

As January turns into February, it would seem that the harsh cold weather is here to stay. One day we have temperatures in the 40s, and the next, it’s a frigid 5 degrees. With these fluctuating temperatures comes dry skin and brittle, damaged hair. The winter weather can even take a toll on those who don’t color or use heat tools, or those who already have silky hair. One way to combat dryness is using a hair mask to help keep your locks hydrated.

There are a wide variety of hair masks on the market, ranging from bargain buys at the grocery store, to high-end products that can cost anywhere between $30 to $50 a jar. If you’ve logged onto Facebook in the last year, chances are you’ve seen ads for Coco & Eve, but who has the money to spend $45 on a hair mask? Not me!

I love coconut anything, so when I spotted the Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask at my local Trader Joe’s, I threw it in my cart without even looking at the price. Nothing at TJ’s is too expensive, so I wasn’t worried. When the cashier rang it up, I realized it was only cost $3.99!

The hair mask appeared in Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer in March of 2018 and is still on shelves for a good reason. It is made with coconut oil, shea oil, argan oil, as well as a number of fruit and seed extracts, including blackberry, açaí, and sunflower seed.

I follow Trader Joe’s suggestion every time I use the hair mask. Here’s what the directions say:

To get the full benefit of the moisturizing oils and revitalizing extracts, massage Shea Butter & Coconut Oil Hair Mask into your hair, from roots to ends, and leave in for about three to five minutes, then rinse. That’s it. Three to five minutes, as often as you see fit (we like to use it once a week or more), for soft, silky hair. It’s a beautiful thing.

This hair mask instantly became my favorite after just one use. If only Trader Joe’s had sold this years ago, I’d never have bought any of those $30 hair masks. It smells heavily of shea butter and coconut oil, but the blackberry and açaí do give it a nice fruitiness. I’ve often caught myself sniffing my hair after taking a shower.

After leaving it in for five minutes, I wash it out with cold water instead of hot or warm water. Hot water can be harsher on your hair, so during the winter, I do my best to not use it whenever I wash out conditioner or a hair mask.

Since I first bought this a few months ago, I buy at least two bottles every time I go to Trader Joe’s. Personally, I get between four to six uses out of the 5.1-ounce tube (my hair is roughly 26 inches long). I always use this hair mask the night before or the same day I plan to heat treat my hair, and I’ve yet to see any damage in my hair from straightening it or using a curling iron.

And if you really want to up your self care game, you’re going to want to check out Trader Joe’s $2 sheet masks as well.