Dae is one of the most popular haircare brands to emerge over the last few years. With a handful of viral products, I’m surprised they only sell one hair mask.

The Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask is a thick, buttery hair mask designed to give dry hair an extra dose of moisture. The formula has a rich, almost whipped texture that is meant to provide a “rainstorm” of hydration for your hair, making it ideal for those with dry or damaged strands.

While I have personally found Dae hair products to be hit or miss (see my full Dae Hair Review for mini reviews of everything), I’ve been surprised by how polarizing the Monsoon Moisture Mask is. Some love the scent; others hate it. And while it’s meant to be a hydrating hair mask, some even argue that it leaves their hair feeling worse.

Below, I’m sharing my full, unsponsored review of the Monsoon Moisture Mask. I break down what the mask feels like, how it smells, pros, cons, tips for using it, if I think it’s worth the money, and how it actually performs on dry, damaged hair.

dae monsoon moisture mask review

Honestly, my results were more underwhelming than I expected. I really wanted to love the Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask, and my first impressions were good! I loved the ultra-rich texture, and the mask was easy to apply and rinse out. That said, I didn’t notice enough of a difference in how my hair looked or felt afterwards. I know some people have said that the mask makes their hair feel drier, so I think this is one of those products that really depends on your hair type and what you're looking for in a mask. If you have dry, damaged hair or want something that is going to give you noticeable results, it isn’t worth it; try this mask instead.

If you want a mask that comes in a cute jar that feels great to use on a self-care night, but you hair doesn’t necessarily need much help, you might like it.

Lastly, let’s talk about the scent because that seems to be the most polarizing aspect of this mask. It is an herbal, earthy yet fresh fragrance that really does remind me of a rainstorm. I personally love it, but it’s nothing like Dae’s other citrusy scents, so I can see why others don’t like it. The mask is also strongly fragranced. The scent doesn’t go away when you wash the mask out, but was gone by the end of the day. If you are sensitive to fragrance, I would skip this one, or at least go try it in-store first.

mask texture and how it made my hair feel

The texture of Monsoon Moisture Mask is incredible. It’s ultra-rich, buttery, and while it almost seems too thick, it still melts into the hair easily. I have fine hair and was worried that this mask would weigh my hair down, but it surprisingly didn’t.

That said, while the first impression of the texture is good, how the mask ultimately makes your hair feel is underwhelming. My hair didn’t feel dry, per se, but it didn’t feel any better or different than before. The product contains fragrance and alcohol, which are drying ingredients, so it almost seems like that cancels out the nourishing pear oil and coco butter. My hair wasn’t greasy, but also didn’t have that nourished, hydrated feel or look that I typically get after using a hair mask.

pros

Thick, buttery texture that feels rich and luxurious
Feels nourishing while applying without being watery or runny
Easy to work through the hair

cons

No noticeable difference in my hair compared to my regular conditioner or other masks I've tried
The rich texture doesn't necessarily translate to better results
Very strong fragrance, which is polarizing; many people dislike the smell (that said, I personally like it)
Not be worth the price if you're looking for a mask that produces a noticeable difference in softness, hydration, or manageability

key ingredients

Anytime I invest in a hair mask, I like to look at the ingredients because I hate when a mask gives me superficial softness when it’s actually full of silicones and fragrance that cause build-up and damage over time. Looking at the Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask, there are a few key ingredients that you find in other Dae products:

Prickly Pear Seed Oil - delivers intense hydration with a high content of vitamin E, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants.
Cactus Flower Extract - supplies essential vitamins and minerals to help keep individual hair follicles healthy.
Cocoa Seed Butter - strengthens the hair shaft, repairs damage and deeply nourishes.

That said, this mask is heavily scented and does contain fragrance as an ingredient (not just essential oils), so that is something to keep in mind if you have dry hair.

is it good for damaged hair?

Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask is not the best hair mask for damaged hair. I tried this mask a LOT (used over half the jar) yet never really noticed enough of a difference. If you do want this mask (or already have it), follow up with a leave-in conditioner or hair oil.

As far as good masks for damaged hair go, I really like this one by Amika. It’s slightly more expensive ($4 more) but worth every penny. It actually nourishes your hair, adds hydration, and makes your hair SO soft. They have a different version (also $4 more than Dae’s) that is better for repairing damage, so you’ll notice results over time, but it doesn’t give you that instant softness that most hair masks do.

is the dae monsoon moisture mask worth it?

Sadly, I don’t think the Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask worth it. By no means is it a bad product, but there are just so many other hair masks available that perform better, so this one isn’t something I’d repurchase or recommend.

The smell is polarizing, and while I love it (crossing my fingers for a candle version), so many people don’t. I would hate to recommend it to you and have you not like it, either.

Dae excels at creating functional products that look cute, smell incredible, and are easy for all hair types to use. Monsoon Moisture Mask is decent, not exceptional, and I don’t necessarily think it’s worth the $32. I’d much rather put that money towards their 3-in-1 Styling Cream or Violet Hour Purple Shampoo.

who it's best for

People who love thick, buttery hair masks
Dry or coarse hair that tends to respond well to richer formulas
Anyone who enjoys strongly scented hair products
People who primarily want a mask that just feels luxurious, and don’t really care about the results

who should skip it

You have fine hair that gets weighed down easily
You're looking for a hair mask that makes a noticeable difference after one use
You have dry hair, or are prone to dryness
You dislike strongly fragranced hair products
You're looking for repair or strengthening, not just basic moisture

Lastly, skip Monsoon Moisture Mask if you already have a hair mask that gives you better results. I don't think this one is good enough to replace a tried-and-true favorite, but I would love to see Dae release a different hair mask in the future.

Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask Review