Let me just state something obvious: I’m no hair expert. Ironic, right? I write a beauty blog, but if you’re a regular, then you probably notice I rarely write about hair. Aside from tousled waves or using a flat iron, my hairstyling skills are pretty basic. But I’ve always been a product hoarder so I have been around the block when it comes to trying a myriad of products.
I’m a firm believer in maintaining a robust lipstick and mascara wardrobe—but I also feel the same way about hair products. From dry shampoo to a good ‘ole bottle of hairspray, these are my 7 favorite essential hair products I can’t live without.
Mousse is a must-have for volume and hold and can be used a number of ways depending on the look you want to achieve. Personally, I like to create the illusion of thicker hair so I like to apply John Frieda Volume Mousse at the root and massage it into my scalp.
Whether you’ve donned a fresh blowout or used a curling iron, a little hairspray to help finish and hold goes a long way. I like Bumble and Bumble Spray de Mode because it doesn’t make my hair feel crunchy or sticky.
I try to air dry my hair as much as possible but in the fall and winter, I have a much harder time not using a hair dryer (read: I ALWAYS use a hair dryer in the winter). To help minimize damage, I always use a heat protector and this one by TRESemme does the job for a reasonable price.
Redken One United is a great universal multi-benefit treatment you can use after you’ve washed your hair and before you style it. Using this always softens and helps detangles my hair before I blow dry. This product is packed with so many other benefits so if you’re a beauty minimalist, this “all-in-one” spray should be your hero product.
Whoever invented dry shampoo blessed us all with at least one extra day of “clean” hair. I used to be all about the spray formula but then I tried this Detox Whipped Dry Shampoo Foam and it changed my life. Hello, third day hair. For a more detailed review, check out a previous post here.
Kerastase Nutritive Oleo Relax Serum is by far my most expensive hair product in my arsenal but it’s worth every penny. When my hair is looking rebellious (frizzy, dry and basically out of control), this little miracle worker keeps it looking tame.
Simply put, Ouai Wave Spray is my favorite because it smells so damn good. And it works. So there’s that. This can be used on wet or dry hair and unlike other salt sprays, this one won’t dry out or feel gritty on your tresses. I even like using this as a perfume for my hair.
Shop my favorite hair products below!
What are your essential hair products? Let me know in the comments!