Anybody else living with crazy quarantine hair?
Yeah, girl, I’m with ya. The last haircut I got was in May…of 2019, so what’s sitting on top of my shoulders at this point is basically like 90% hair and 10% head. HAHAHA! Since I haven’t really had any place fancy to go other than Target and Trader Joe’s, I haven’t styled my mop in ages; however, for the sake of my sanity, I still put effort into applying styling products and leave-ins before air drying because, if I don’t, this hair veers into mad scientist territory, and to quote Hall and Oates, “I can’t go for that (no can do).”
Cue all the quintessential styling potions and moisturizing leave-in lotions, most of which can be used on a wide variety of hair types, from fine to thick, coarse, curly and everything in between.
I have long wavy hair that naturally veers into dry, frizzy, unruly territory. The top half from my roots to the mid-shaft is my natural color, which is peppered with silvery strands. The bottom half is a melange of miscellaneous shades of hair dye.
The following products have been getting me and my mane through the last few months with my sanity (somewhat) intact…
Alterna My Hair My Canvas Easy Does It Air Dry Balm: Smooths frizz, adds lift
This vegan balm is the bomb (totally dated slang, but you know I had to go there) because it does a little bit of everything — smooths flyaways, adds shines, coaxes out curls and adds moisture to thirsty strands — all without weighing hair down. I use this mostly for my silver hairs, which when left to their own devices are hella frizzy like dry ramen noodles gone wild. I do two squeezes of this balm, each about the size of a MAC eyeshadow pan in its packaging, into the palm of my hand, working from my roots down to my ends, and my hair looks so much smoother and silkier and generally less crazy. If you deal with frizz or unruly grays, this will be your jam! $29 for a 3.4-oz tube.
INGREDIENTS
Water/Aqua/Eau, Glycerin, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Isododecane, Polyacrylate-13, Octyldodecanol, Octyldodecyl Xyloside, PEG-30 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Butylene Glycol, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Lilium Candidum Flower Extract, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Charcoal Powder, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyurethane-35, Fragrance (Parfum), Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool.
Alterna My Hair My Canvas Glow For It Universal Gloss: Shine without weight
This non-greasy shine-enhancing, frizz-defying serum is made for all hair types, but particularly normal, oily, coarse and/or curly hair. Like the Easy Does It Air Balm, it’s made from vegan ingredients and doesn’t leave my hair feeling like it’s coated with a thick layer of product. My hair just feels like regular hair when I use it, which I love. Universal Gloss mixes well with other styling products, too, and I like to swirl two to three pumps into the Air Dry Balm before working it in. Use this if you want shiny strands that don’t feel like greasy coated noodles! $26 for a 2.5-oz. bottle with a pump.
INGREDIENTS
Cyclopentasiloxane, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Dimethiconol, Bambusa Vulgaris Extract, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Charcoal Powder, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Oil, Glycerin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Seed Oil, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Water (Aqua, Eau), Fragrance (Parfum), Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Eugenol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol.
Bumble and bumble Save the Day Repair Fluid: A lightweight leave-in for intense moisture
Packed with antioxidant camellia flower oil, this leave-in conditioner repairs and moisturizes dry and damaged ends. The lotion-like formula feels thin and lightweight, but it’s also rich enough to handle the thirstiest strands. It packs a major hydrating punch! Made for all hair types and cruelty-free. $45 for a 3.2-oz. bottle with a pump.
INGREDIENTS
Water , Dimethicone , Glycerin , Cetearyl Alcohol , Hydrogenated Lecithin , Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer , Dimethiconol , Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil , Caffeine , Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil , Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil , Chenopodium Quinoa Seed Extract , Sisymbrium Irio Seed Oil , Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract , Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol , Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract , Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil , Coco-Glucoside , Hydrogenated Castor Oil/ Sebacic Acid Copolymer , Dihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl , Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol , Ethylhexylglycerin , Caprylyl Glycol , Linoleic Acid , Saccharide Isomerate , Tocopheryl Acetate , Silica , Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane , Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate , Panthenol , Lecithin , Xanthan Gum , Fragrance , Citronellol , Citral , Limonene , Phenoxyethanol , Mica , Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891)
Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil: Shine and softness
If you’re feeling fancy, this $$$ hair oil hits the spot. Argan and jasmine oils, along with shea butter shea butter, soften dry and thirsty strands while also smoothing frizz and adding loads of shine. Made for all hair types — curly, oily, dry, damaged, color-treated, fine, normal and coarse hair. I use this on my ends when they’re feeling extra crispy. $56 (!) for a 3.4-oz. bottle with a pump.
INGREDIENTS
Cyclopentasiloxane, Coconut Alkanes, Dimethiconol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Tocopherol, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergamot) Fruit Oil, Litchi Chinensis (Lychee) Fruit Extract, Orbignya Speciosa Kernel Oil, Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Wood Extract, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Ribes Nigrum (Black Currant) Seed Oil, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Leontopodium Alpinum Flower/Leaf Extract, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, TBHQ, Parfum/Fragrance, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citral.
R+Co Neon Lights Dry Oil Spray: For cray-cray flyaways
If your flyaways are perpetually on the struggle bus, this is your one way ticket off! Neon Lights is a fine mist shine spray, and its superhero power is smoothing runaway strands. I hold it an arm’s length away from my head, and do two to three quick bursts to the front of my hairline to smooth down the unruly baby hairs which stick up in every crazy direction. The trick is to use the smallest amount you can get away with; if you apply too much, your hair will flatten out and feel greasy. $29 for a 4-oz. bottle.
INGREDIENTS
Isopropyl Myristate, Isobutane, SD Alcohol 40-B (Alcohol Denat.), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil, Carapa Guaianensis Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyquaternium-59, Butylene Glycol, Aqua/Water/Eau, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum/Fragrance, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Limonene.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Happy Tuesday! ?
I am currently testing the Hyaluronic Hair Treatment from The Inkey List which works great for my frizzy ends when air drying, but I admit I cheated and had a cut and color two weeks ago, when the cases in Germany were at an all time low.
I got my hair cut in June after 6+ months without a trim. I cut it to my shortest layer so it would be all one length and man, things are kind of a mess still! Frizz city. I think I need to use a UV protectant when I’m walking Hettie. I also wash my hair most days because I sweat a lot and it’s been so humid.
Looks like some good recs. I also ordered Olaplex from Sephora and it should arrive soon.
Good luck with the Olaplex! What did you order? I finished the bottles I got from the last Sephora sale, and while I liked them, I wanted to try something new. Maybe Briogeo is next up. 🙂
I got the number 3! my hair isn’t too damaged but I haven’t been using UV protection.
I liked the Briogeo hair mask I got with my birthday gift, but not the scalp scrub – I hate mint.
I’ve been using Oribe supershine moisturizing Cream. I like the way it smooths and makes my hair shiny. I might check out the Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil. Neiman Marcus has 3.4 oz. for $56. That’s more than the bottle/price you have listed.
I’m tempted to try some of the Olaplex home treatments. For some reason my hair has become very weak and I noticed breakage at the spot my ponytail goes in. Sigh.
Thanks for the heads up on the price! Just corrected it. 🙂
omg I felt like you just had your hair cut but that was last May?? Cray time going cray fast.
I knew I had to start treating my hair better when my stylist in early July said, “Your hair is so dry.”
I have two distinctly different textures of hair. The hair on the “surface” is porous, thick, dry, wavy, almost textured. The “underbrush” hair (closer to my neck) is fine, smooth, straight as a pencil.
I love the look and descriptions of the Alterna products; they make me think of Aveda, my all time favorite label for all things hair. My second favorite is LUSH hair treatments. I tried the Shea Moisture hair masks but I may just spring for a few tubs of the LUSH H’Suan Wen Hua when I finish up the Shea Moisture. The LUSH treatment does wonders for the “surface” hair and smells like a cross between Fruit Loops and salad dressing, which I happen to not mind.
My bright whites/silver strands are coming in, too, which I’m kinda excited about!
I find it fascinating how so many of us have multiple textures in our hair! You’re making me want to try that Lush product!
I’m glad you did this post – I always like to hear what hair products are working for people. I always thought my hair was very fine but I’ve dyed lots of friends’ hair in the last few months so now I’d say that it’s more on the medium light side. 🙂 I have healthy, spiral curl on the underside but the top layer goes from pretty straight at the roots to wavy with slight frizz mid-shaft and curl on the ends. For fine hair not caring about much volume at the roots, Pureology has a leave-in spray that I like. Color Fanatic Multi-tasking spray (has a big 21 on the label). But I’m still on the lookout for something that will add lift to my roots and not be crispy. And give the mid-shaft top layers some more curl definition without being crispy. You know… I’m just asking for perfect, air dried hair with no effort. I mean, really. How hard is that? HAHA! PS I can’t believe how long it’s been since you’ve had a cut. How many years before it’s Crystal Gayle long? 😉 My quick math says 8 more to go.
You know I’m all about non-crispy hair these days too! Perhaps we’re still recovering from the ’80s? I remember not being satisfied until my bangs and side wings were substantially crispy and lacquered firmly into place.
Oh, gosh, you know I was right there with you. I sometimes forget the importance of the side-wings when I reminisce about my 80s hair because I usually think of the skyscraper bangs. But you’re right that the crisp and defined side wings were key. 🙂 And by reminisce, I do mean “cringe”. HAHA! I got a bit nervous when the mullet looked like it might make a comeback with the boys, but the young gals seem to be more into that smooth, straight, center-part, 90s Gwyneth Paltrow look (at least in our area). That’s definitely easier. For them and for my eyes. 😉
Whoa! I thought I had gone a long time without a haircut. My last cut was in January, but I finally broke down and scheduled an appointment this weekend. I’ve been using a lot of different products from Briogeo, Oribe, and Olaplex, but my hair is dry and feels brittle right now. It’s just too long. I ordered a new shampoo from R& Co that I’m excited to try. I’ve tried samples from them before so this will be my first time trying one of their products long term.