So many hair products and so little time! I am a huge advocate of trying a hair product multiple times before saying yay or nay because a lot of factors go into how a shampoo, conditioner, or treatment works best for you. Did you use enough product? Did you use too little? What was the weather like that day? Etc, etc…
After giving a long list of haircare goodies a go 2-3 times, I am happy to have narrowed it down to these brands who have made the cut (hair pun intentional). Keep in mind I have naturally straight, thick, color-treated blonde hair so these are products best suited for my hair needs.
Best for Breakage – The SEVEN haircare KENTE BOND line including shampoo, conditioner, and reparative spray is clinically proven to decrease breakage by 60%. If you have color-treated hair or are actively using heat tools, investing in breakage protection products like the KENTE BOND line will strengthen your hair and increase shine using amino acids, Sweet Almond, and Pro-Vitamin B5.
Best for Shine Restoration– PHYTO’s PHYTOJOBA Shampoo is a gentle shampoo that cleanses without stripping. Unlike many shampoos I’ve tried that suck the life out of my strands, this one leaves my hair moisturized and restores hydration. Also unique to this shampoo is it’s ability to cleanse without tangling, allowing you to use a smaller amount of conditioner and spend less time brushing.
Best for Your Budget – If you’re looking for a shampoo that cleans out your hair and not your wallet, pick up Yes To’s new Detoxifying Charcoal Shampoo. There are a lot of charcoal products on the market currently and many cary a steep price-tag unlike Yes To, which offers a great budget buy. The aim of this type of shampoo is to deep cleanser using charcoal to attract all impurities in your strands and scalp. The clarifying formula, along with their Detoxifying Charcoal Conditioner, should be used sparingly with a recommended application of 1x/week or every other week depending on how frequently you wash your hair and your hair type (especially is it’s color-treated!).
Best Treatment for Repairing & Protecting – I can’t rave enough about Miriam Quevedo! From their Glacial White Caviar Resort Beach Waves (which is my favorite wave spray of all time) to their Glacial White Caviar Hydra-Pure Shampoo and Extreme Caviar Restructuring Luxe Serum, the brand can always be found in my shower or in my medicine cabinet. Serums are no longer just for your face and now Miriam Quevedo wants you to put them to a test on your hair. Based around the lipo-protein complex found in select caviar, Extreme Caviar Restructuring Luxe Serum works to actively restructure the hair strand by strand, while also providing superior protection for your scalp. Using this product after washing and conditioning but before drying, I am able to protect from the heat while boosting my scalp’s ability to repair from the root.
Best for Split-Ends & Smoothing Flyaways – A little known brand, Three Little Words (TLW) appeared in my inbox recently and their minimalist packaging and cheeky product names (Winter is Coming, I’m Really Busy, Let’s Get Naked, etc) caught my attention. I am always apprehensive about treatment oils since my hair is naturally straight and most weigh it down leaving it greasy, but I couldn’t resist one with the name “Let’s Get Tacos”! TLW’s Let’s Get Tacos Treatment Oil seals split-ends and uses grape seed oil to moisturize and add shine without weighing it down or leaving your hands with a greasy residue. It even offers the added bonus of Kakadu plum oil, which provides UV protection and heat resistance. My only gripe with this product is that the cap allows far too much product out so be careful when pouring it into your palms. A little goes a long way!
Best for Adding Volume – Fly high with OUAI’s new UP Kit including their Volume Spray, Texturizing Hairspray, and Dry Shampoo Foam in TSA-approved sizes. When traveling your hair can lack luster and go limp and finally there is a set to solve these woes. I’ve used these products individually in the past on my no-wash days when I need some added Va Va Voom so I love that all my faves are now sold in one kit. Whether you’re traveling or just want to throw these mini’s in your purse, you’ll never have hair that falls flat again.
Best Treatment for Thinning Hair & Hair Loss – After a long winter, my hair started to thin – not that it’s easily noticeable from first glance but rather in my brush and on my dark hardwood floors (yuck!). I started using PHYTO’s Phytopolleine Botanical Scalp Treatment to stimulates micro-circulation to awaken the scalp and energize my hair. Whether you’re suffering from a dry, oily, itchy, dandruff-prone scalp or thinning hair, this 100% essential oil blend gives the fortifying boost your scalp needs. It’s incredibly easy to use: apply to the scalp section by section using the dropper bottle, massage in gently in circular motions, leave to work for 20 minutes, and shampoo hair as normal. For an intensive treatment, leave to work on hair overnight.
Best for Dry Shampooing – The “little French can” that sparked the dry shampoo revolution back in 1971 continues its leadership in the dry shampoo category today. Whether you want to cleanse and refresh your hair on the go, extend the life of your blow-out, protect hair color or instantly add touchable texture and volume to any style, KLORANE dry shampoo offers all of the above. My personal favorites from their line include the award-winning Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk which is gentle and suitable for all hair types, has an ultra-fine powder formula, and doesn’t leave behind a white residue and their Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk Non-Aerosol, offering the same benefits as their original dry shampoo minus the eco-damage! For those of you who aren’t blonde, KLORANE also offers these formulas for Medium-dark brown hair.
Best for Sun Protection – Warmer days are ahead… I hope! In preparation for sunnier skies, I’ve busted out Klorane’s new Sun Radiance collection. Klorane’s Sun Radiance Protection Oil uses botanical ingredients to protect hair against the effects of the sun, salt, sand and chlorine—the characteristics of a summer day at the beach or pool. The product can be used over dry or wet hair, and has fragrance notes of ylang-ylang and coconut milk. YUM!