Tips for Using Color Depositing Masks
The moment has come: you’ve finally got your hands on one of our brand-new Color Depositing Masks. You know what it is and how to use it—but we figured a few additional tips can’t hurt. Read on for our best advice!
Make sure the shade is right for your hair.
Different shades of Color Depositing Mask work with different haircolors—but unfortunately, no shade is a match for everyone. (That’s the trade-off for their temporary nature and non-damaging formula.) You can use our shade quiz to make sure your pick will work for you. We recommend Aquamarine, Hibiscus, Champagne, Platinum, and Rose Gold for light blonde to medium blonde hair, while Cocoa and Bordeaux should be reserved for light brown to dark brown hair.
(Update as of January 2021: We launched two new shades! Copper is formulated for medium blonde to medium brown hair, and Lilac is formulated for light to medium blonde hair.)
Conduct a strand test.
It’s hard to say exactly how any of the Color Depositing Masks will look—or how long it will last—without testing it first. There are just too many factors in play, including what color your hair is before you start, your hair’s porosity level, how long you leave the mask on, and how often you wash. However, testing it out an inconspicuous strand before you commit to a full head of color can give you the answers you’re looking for.
Here’s how it works. Start by choosing a small piece of hair to test, ideally one that’s mostly hidden when your hair is styled normally. Section off the strand and tie the rest out of the way. Apply Color Depositing Mask on the strand and leave on 2–3 minutes. Rinse. If the color is too subtle, try a second strand and leave on for longer. We know it’s hard to resist diving right in—but patience pays off!
Check your calendar.
Having Rose Gold hair is a ton of fun, and we highly recommend everyone try it at least once. But if you have an event coming up—maybe you’re a bridesmaid in a wedding or in the process of interviewing with your dream company—where debuting a brand-new haircolor isn’t exactly ideal, you might want to hold off. Reading this a bit too late? Don’t panic. To hit reset or expedite the color washout process, give your stylist a call or visit a Moroccanoil salon.
Fresh mani? Wear gloves.
Here’s the good news: these masks shouldn’t stain your skin. (And anything that looks like staining should wash right out with a little soap and water.) But if you’re trying to protect your brand-new manicure or are otherwise worried about staining, you can just wear a pair of rubber gloves. Voila—problem solved.
More good news: Color Depositing Masks won’t stain your bathroom, either. The bad news? If it looks like they did, it’s time to give your tub a good old-fashioned scrubbing. The masks are probably just adhered to soap scum, and your go-to shower cleaning products should take them out.
Can you shampoo out an how long do they last ??. Also can you use on grey hair ??i
Color Depositing Masks are designed to fade out over time (with repeated washes). Unfortunately, they are not formulated to cover grey hair.
Does it cover gray hair?
Unfortunately, the masks are not formulated to cover gray hair.
Worked on my 100% grey hair
I am interested in the Moroccanoil Colour depositing mask where I can purchase this product and how much it is.
Hi! You can purchase this product from Moroccanoil.com or use our Salon Locator (https://www.moroccanoil.com/us_en/salon-spa-locator) to shop in a salon near you. It’s also available from retailers including Sephora, Amazon, and Nordstrom.
Single-dose masks cost $7, and the full size costs $28.
When you wash out the mask, do you use clean water or should you use shampoo and conditioner?
We recommend applying to clean, towel-dried hair, then rinsing with clean water. Make sure to check the packaging for full instructions!
How do I get it so the colour doesn’t wash out my hair in the first wash? I washed my hair for the first time since leaving the salon and all the colour has come out already.
Hi Olivia! The longevity of the masks varies depending on a few factors. Two of them are the starting shade of your hair (the masks usually last longer on lighter shades) and your hair’s porosity, both of which are hard to adjust. However, you can try applying the mask and leaving it on for a longer period of time. Generally, the longer the masks are left on the hair, the more intense the results will be.
I am new to dying my hair and it’s something I really want to do, but I am also scared of ruining my natural blonde hair. When the color fades, what should I expect my hair to look like? Would my natural blonde be ruined?? Thank you.
All of the Color Depositing Masks are formulated to fade out over time! Generally speaking, the masks should fade out of hair that has never been colored before more quickly that they would fade out of chemically lightened hair.
Does it work on bleached hair?
Yes! Just note that the masks do tend to last longer on light-colored and highly porous hair, and the bleaching process does tend to increase hair’s porosity, so you may experience more vivid, long-lasting color! We recommend conducting a strand test somewhere inconspicuous before committing to all-over color.
I have a mask that provides a subtle color enhancement to my colored hair. I would like to continue to apply the mask periodically until I am ready to apply permanent color again. Should I wait until the mask washes out completely before applying permanent the color?
No, you can reapply as needed to increase the intensity of the color!
Can the colour mask be used on pre-dyed hair?
Yes! The masks tend to last longer on light-colored and porous hair, and the color process does tend to increase hair’s porosity. Just make sure that you use a mask formulated for your current shade rather than your natural shade!
What are the ingredients in the color depositing masks. And will it damage my hair?
Color Depositing Masks are non-damaging and contain nourishing ingredients including apricot kernel oil and an amino acid blend. They also contain ArganID, a proprietary technology that helps infuse argan oil into hair’s cuticle, helping to repair and seal the hair. You can see full ingredient lists on the product pages!
I have long and thick hair, will one bottle be enough?
It’s hard to say for sure without seeing your hair! But yet, a full-sized bottle should provide multiple applications. 🙂
Hello, i have platinum/light blonde highlights that my hair stylist put in my hair, my hairs natural color is light brown but i have been using highlights( always platinum blonde) for three years now plus in the past(15 years ago or so) My hair has always lightend fast when i have had it done. Do you think that i could use the Platinum shade to refresh my highlights while making the rest of my hair that is not highlighted lighter? Would this be safe for me to do? Thanks, Sherri
Hi! Color Depositing Masks only deposit color on the surface of the hair, so they can’t lighten hair. (We would compare the effect to coloring on dark paper with a light-colored marker–it just won’t show up!) However, you should notice an effect on your platinum blonde highlights.
My hair is already white/grey and I love it, would maybe also like to apply the mask and use it as a rinse.
Will that work on my grey hair?
Unfortunately, the mask is not formulated to cover grey hair, although some people have acheived results. If your hair is closer to white, you may notice results–just make sure to stick to the shades that are formulated for light hair!
will it ruin my light blonde hair like hightlights?
The masks are all formulated to fade out over time. They do tend to last longer on light-colored and color-treated hair (because it is more porous). And as always make sure to follow directions and use a mask formulated for your hair color! 🙂
Can you mix colors? For instance, the silver and rose gold?
Yes, you can! For instance, you can pastelize fashion shades by adding 3 parts Weightless Hydrating Mask to 1 part Color Depositing Mask. You can also create custom shades (for instance, Red is 1 part Bordeaux and 1 part Copper). We’ll actually be sharing more custom formulas on our Instagram account this month to celebrate the two new shades, so make sure to keep an eye out!
Okay to use on hair that already has highlight? Looking for a solution to isolation grow out.
Yes! Just note that it is likely that the shade will appear more vivid + last longer on highlighted strands than it will on non-highlighted hair.
Do i apply the mask on damp hair or completely dry hair?
Our recommendation is to apply to damp hair, but you can use on dry hair as well. Just make sure to rinse it out afterward.
Hi, can you use the cocoa to dye hair that has been colored to light/platinum blonde back to brown TEMPORARILY?? I’d like to see if I want to go back to my dark shade for a few weeks or so, but don’t want to have to bleach it out if I don’t like it.
The Cocoa mask is formulated for use on light brown to dark brown hair, so we would not recommend using it platinum blonde hair!
How long does the color last on your hair after applying it to blonde hair?
It varies depending on several factors, including how light your blonde is and the porosity of your hair! You can read more about porosity here.
https://moroccanoil.com/blog/beauty/hair-porosity-101/
I have curly hair that is to the middle of my back- so pretty long. Will the single dose mask cover my entire head or should I purchase the bigger bottle? Thanks!
Hmm, it’s hard to say for sure without seeing your hair! Most people find a single-use mask to be enough for one application, but if your hair is long and thick, it’s possible that you may need more.
Will this dye come out if it gets on clothes?
Yes, if any contact occurs the color should wash out during a normal laundry cycle!
If you don’t want it to be An intense color should I wash it after a min or two
Leaving the mask in for less time can help lessen the intensity of the color! For the fashion shades (for instance, Aquamarine and Hibiscus), you can also try mixing 3 parts Weightless Hydrating Mask with 1 part Color Depositing Mask.
Does rose gold take on ginger hair ?
The Rose Gold mask is formulated for light to medium blonde hair, but depending on how dark your hair is, you may see results! You can always try a single-use mask before committing to a full-sized bottle.
I just got the hibiscus color and hoping for something to show up since I am more on the red side. I will reply after I have done it to update all the red heads on here.
Can this be used on color treated hair? My hair was lightened about 6 months ago from light/medium brown to a medium blonde.
Yes, they can! Just note that the masks tend to last longer on hair that is lighter and more porous. (The lightening process tends to increase hair’s porosity.) We recommend conducting a strand test somewhere inconspiculous before committing to a full head of color!)
I hope you develop a mask that covers grey hair…. at least temporarily. 🙂
Thank you for this feedback! You’re definitely not alone in that request, and we will keep it in mind. 🙂
The instructions say to apply to clean towel dried hair, does this include my usual conditioner?
Because the masks are so nourishing, you can skip conditioner before applying!
Does it work on dark hair?
Cocoa and Bordeaux are both formulated for use on light brown to dark brown hair.
can they be used over blond highlights with brown roots…no grey
Yes! Just note that the shade is likely to be more vivid + last longer on your highlights than on your natural hair or darker sections of hair. It is unlikely that results will be uniform.
I have medium brown hair with fine blonde highlights. So in this case what color would I use?
It depends on the results you’re going for + how thick your highlights are and how light the color is! The color will likely appear most vivid on your highlights, and will last there longer. Because they will pick up the color more, it’s probably best to stick to shades formulated for light-colored hair. We would also advise doing a strand test before committing to a full head of color.
Does it cover over colored gray hair?
Hi! Unfortunately, the masks are not formulated to cover grey hair.
Can this be used to cover grays
Hi! Unfortunately, the masks are not formulated to cover greys.
If u have grey hsir can I use the platinum to make it more silver
Hi! The masks are not formulated to cover grey hair, so you may not notice apparent results. That said, some people have attained results on grey hair–you can always give a single-use mask a try to see how it works!
Does it works on bleach hair?
Yes, they do! Just note that masks tend to last longest on light-colored hair with high porosity. (Bleached hair is usually fairly porous–you can read more below!) So you may want to do a strand test somewhere inconspicuous before committing to a full head of color.
https://moroccanoil.com/blog/beauty/hair-porosity-101/
How often can I use the mask?
As often as you’d like!
Can this be used on dry hair? Or just damp towel dried hair?
Can it be left on for more than the 5-7 minutes?
Yes, you can use on dry hair as long as you still wash it out afterwards!
It can also be left on for more than 5-7 minutes. Depending on the starting shade and porosity of your hair, you may see a more vivid result the longer you leave it on.
How often should I use this mask to maintain the level of colour. I’m using Bordeaux on brown hair.
I had a Lilac mask: It turned out purple and after a few washes it went blue!
I revisited the salon, they cleansed my hair and applied Rose Gold: It went lilac and silver.
How do you fancy sending me some form of compensation?
Hi! We’re sorry to hear that you had this experience and understand how frustrating it must be. Would you be able to reach out to our customer service team? You can reach them by calling 1-888-700-1817 or emailing info@moroccanoil.com.
Can colours be mixed for different tones ? Thanks
Yes, absolutely! We’re actually going to be sharing some formulas for custom color mixes on our Instagram account this month, so keep an eye out. 🙂
Hi was just wondering if this product is OK to use if you are allergic to normal hair dye and toners?
Thanks
We would recommend checking with your doctor before use!
Can you mix the colors?
Absolutely. For example, to intensify the golden tones in Rose Gold, mix with Champagne. Or to darken the red tones in Bordeaux, mix with Cocoa. You can also mix fashion shades with Moroccanoil Weightless Hydrating Mask to achieve a softer pastel result. We recommend mixing ¾ mask with ¼ Color Depositing Mask and 3/4 parts Weightless Hydrating Mask.
Can you use this product on already treated hair? I dye my gray hair.
Yes, you can!
I used the copper one first, due to being a red head gone somewhat grey. I loved it, but, didn’t read the instructions. (Face palm) so it left big cheeto colored splotches on the top of my head (giggling) but gave me great highlights at the ends.
Redid it with the comb, still to much on the top. So my daughter worked in some of the blonde one and it toned it done a bit. Still love it tho, great product without all the harsh chemicals that strips my hair and leaves it brittle.
We’re happy to hear that it worked well for you! Sorry to hear abuout the splotches, though we’re happy you were able to find a solution. 🙂 Using a comb definitely helps!