Repair Your Hair with These Mane Magicians
My Father, Gaston was a Hair Dresser for over 50 years. He and my mother Suzanne, who was an Esthetician and Makeup Artist, owned their own salons. Always the innovators, my parents even formulated their own beauty products, including an entire luxury hair care line. Truly inspiring.
I have very fond memories as a little girl, maybe 4 or 5 years old, organizing and perfectly lining up the hair products on the shelves at the salon. To my complete and utter childish joy, I would receive a whole quarter for my impeccable work. My reason for telling you this little backstory is to make you aware of the fact that I have been in the beauty industry my ENTIRE life. It's all I've ever known, and boy do I know a lot about it. Throughout my own professional career, I have worked at high-end salons and spas and owned my own as well. What does this have to do with my dry, damaged hair you ask? Knowledge and experience are everything people and I am here to bestow mine upon you!
My handsome Father Gaston and my beautiful Mother Suzanne back in the 80's
Damaged hair...we all have it to some degree. From split ends to a general lack of moisture, our hair is constantly agonized due to so many different factors. It can be self-inflicted damage. Lifestyle is a big one, how often you wash your hair, blow-dry it, use heated styling tools, etc. However, there are certain damage factors that we just can't hide from. Environmental aspects such as the sun don't only affect our skin, it takes a toll on our hair as well. Hormones also like to toy around with our precious tresses, decreasing overall oil production, drying out our hair and scalp like the Sahara desert. Well, there is a healthy hair oasis out there that comes in the form of moisture delivering, split end mending, shine inducing hair treatment, and repair products and tools. I'm going to let you in on all of my tried and true favorites from masks to dryers. In my professional and expert opinion, these products are the best at repairing and protecting your hair from all of the nasty aggressors I mentioned earlier. Don't you worry your pretty little hair...You'll be twirling, flipping, and whipping that gorgeous, shiny, and bouncy mane back and forth in no time.
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector $28 www.olaplex.com
What it is: An at-home treatment, not a conditioner.
What it does: Restores a healthy appearance and texture back to your hair by way of protecting the hair structure and repairing damage. Strengthens and reduces breakage.
Who it's for: Suitable for all hair types, especially those with chemically damaged hair.
How to use it: Apply to damp hair from roots to ends 1-3 times a week depending on damage level. Comb through and leave on for a minimum of 10 minutes. Rinse out, shampoo, and condition as normal.
Olaplex is a well-known hair repair miracle-worker in the salon world. As a salon owner, I am very familiar with the hair healing results of this product on every kind of hair and am still very impressed by it. Olaplex has created a system of products that work on a molecular level to repair and protect damaged hair by rebuilding and strengthening the bonds of the hair shaft. Since this product is not a conditioner, it will not weigh your hair down. So those of you with baby fine hair, go ahead and pile it on! This is a great treatment for those blondies who have gone a little overboard with the bleach. I sometimes leave this on for an hour or more. This makes my hair noticeably soft and smooth to the touch. Since I am a brunette and don't often color my hair or use heated styling tools, I only use this treatment occasionally. However, this is great to use weekly on hair that is visibly damaged.
Carol's Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask
Carols Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask $32 www.carolsdaughter.com
What it is: An intense repairing and deep-penetrating hair mask.
What it does: Nourishes hair from roots to ends, reverses existing damage, and protects against future damage.
Who it's for: Suitable for all hair types especially those who want to reduce breakage and grow longer hair.
How to use it: Shampoo as normal, remove excess water from hair, apply the mask for 5 to 30 minutes. Rinse and style as usual.
I've used this mask for over a decade. Made with Monoi Oil, which is a blend of Tahitian Tiare Gardenia Flower Extract and Coprah Coconut Oil, it smells like pure tropical heaven. If you have trouble growing your hair out due to breakage, this one is for you. It will make your strands unbreakable. They'll spring back like a rubber band! Clinically tested to reduce breakage by 98% after just one use, this is one major mask. Even with its extremely nourishing and moisturizing ingredients, your hair won't feel heavy or weighed down, even those with super baby-fine hair can use it. If you're only using a regular conditioner, the addition of a mask to your hair care routine will transform your tresses, guaranteed. I feel like a model from one of those Pantene commercials with the shiny, bouncy locks every time I use this luscious mask. I can actually let my hair air dry after using this and my normal halo of frizz is nowhere to be found. I like to put this on my hair, put on a shower cap, and wrap it in a warm towel. The warmth from the towel will help the mask penetrate the hair shaft even more. I leave it on for up to an hour while I'm busy doing things around the house. Just rinse out and let your hair air dry. I use it on my hair once a week.
Aquis Rapid Dry Lisse Hair Turban
Aquis Rapid Dry Lisse Hair Turban $30 www.aquis.com
What it is: A hair turban to wrap around wet hair.
What it does: Keeps hair healthier by reducing the amount of time it stays wet. Dries hair 50% faster than other methods.
Who it is for: Everyone
How to use it: After showering, turn your head upside down and place the turban over your wet hair, twist, and secure at the base of the neck with loop and button.
I might have a slight obsession with this Aquis turban. Alright, I definitely do. My collection consists of about a dozen of these in different colors. I use one to wrap my soaking wet hair every single time I wash my hair. I've used other turbans in the past, but none compare to this one. It is extremely comfortable, it buttons at the base of your neck and feels so snug and secure that you'll forget you even have it on. I'll leave it on while I'm doing my makeup, or I used to pre-quarantine when I actually wore makeup. I started using these about 6 years ago and can't live without them. I have noticed a big difference in the overall health of my hair. I know what you're thinking...a big difference from a towel? Yes, for real, and I'll explain why. When hair is wet it is weaker and more vulnerable to damage and breakage. Friction is the enemy of wet hair. So if you've been rubbing and squeezing your freshly showered mane with a regular bath towel, stop, stop it now! What makes this turban different than the others out there is Aquis's Aquitex fabric which is inspired by the effective moisture-wicking abilities of workout fabrics and moves water away from your hair quickly and evenly. This allows your hair to dry in half the time and minimizes frizz, split ends, and breakage. It also helps build essential oils and nutrients at the root of your hair and this means healthier happier hair! I bet it never crossed your mind that those seemingly innocent and fluffy bath towels were wreaking havoc on your fragile strands. Do yourself and your hair a favor by investing in a few of these, I guarantee you'll notice a difference.
T3 Cura Luxe Hair Dryer
T3 Cura Luxe Hair Dryer $285 www.t3micro.com
What it is: A professional hairdryer with a full range of customizable features than can be personalized for every hair type.
What it does: Creates the ultimate frizz-free blow out without damaging the hair.
Who it's for: Everyone
How to use it: Per product manual instructions, customize to your desired settings, and blow your way to a magnificent mane.
I am frequently asked what hair dryer I would recommend. I've used dryers by T3 for over a decade and it is the only brand I personally use and recommend. Hands down, this blow dryer is AMAZING. Think a blow dryer is just a blow dryer. That is wrong wrong wrong. I can't stress enough the unreal difference a high-quality hairdryer can make, it's mind-blowing. This is the latest and greatest dryer by T3. The features are so cool. First of all, the heat is digitally controlled to ensure that it will never damage those precious locks and has 5 different temperature settings and 2-speed settings. It generates negative ions to dry your hair quicker while imparting serious body and shine. This dryer even turns off automatically when you let go of the handle. What?! Yes, this one seemingly superfluous feature saves me so much time because I'm not constantly turning the dryer on and off in between sections of hair or while repositioning my round brush. The Cura also has a volume booster feature which for me, as a member of the bigger the hair the better club, is insanely awesome. Bring on the volume! It also has a cool shot button to lock in your style. If you are not using cool air on your hair at the end of heat styling you need to be. It will not only help lock in the style, but it will also add shine and bounce too, so do it. Aside from all the groovy features, this blow dryer is pretty, insert heart eyes here. It comes in white with rose gold accents, black with rose gold, and midnight blue with yellow gold. Why does this matter? It doesn't, but it certainly doesn't hurt either. This is also the lightest weight and quietest dryer I've ever used and will last you forever. My T3 dryers normally last at least 5 plus years and it also comes with a 2-year warranty. The company's customer service is 5 star, all you have to do is mail it in and they'll fix it for free. So instead of wasting your money on cheap dryers that need to be replaced every year and damage your hair, just suck it up and invest in a T3, you'll thank me later.
Oribe Split End Seal
Oribe Split End Seal Beautiful Color Treatment $48 www.oribe.com
What it is: A split end mending serum.
What it does: Visibly reduces the appearance of split ends.
Who it's for: All hair types, especially those with visibly damaged ends.
How to use it: Apply evenly onto wet or dry hair focusing mostly on the ends of the hair. Style as usual.
I have carried Oribe products in my salon for several years and love them. I am most definitely #oribeobsessed. As far as a luxury line of professional haircare products goes, this is the ultimate. The prices are pretty steep, but the products are deliciously decadent and effective. Oribe's products are grouped according to specific hair types and concerns. This split end seal is one of my top 5 favorite Oribe products. I opt for this serum especially when I'm in serious need of a chop and my ends look like miniature dead tree branches. I use it when my hair is damp and by the time it's dry, those little buggers are completely camouflaged. I relied on this product a lot a few years ago when my hair was sadly over-processed and damaged. It not only repairs damaged ends and reduces breakage, but it also acts as a heat protector as well. This luscious serum, which is part of their beautiful color line and comes in a beautiful ruby-colored bottle, is made using Oribe's Signature Complex, a blend of watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower. This complex protects the hair from oxidative stress while keeping your natural keratin from deteriorating, all while keeping your ends looking sleek and smooth.
Silke London Silk Hair Wrap
Silke London Silk Hair Wrap $68 www.silkelondon.com
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