if u want soft shiny hair

hi friends <3

here to chat: soft hair. nothing groundbreaking if you’re too lazy to read just know you should be using a leave in conditioner and oil if you want soft shiny hair :)

also: heat styling is unfortunately your worst enemy. too much of it results in dry crunchy hair :((( if you’re going to please use a heat protectant and stretch your washes. if u can: try air drying. it’s the gift that keeps giving once you’ve figured out your routine (if you’re brave enough to push through & figure it out). a topic for another day!

side note: some of you may think this is obvious- but!!!! here to say that you shouldn’t be dousing your scalp in conditioner every wash.

most ppl are good with conditioner pony tail down. (conditioning your scalp esp during drier times is ok just not every.single.time) i will not call anyone out right now but i’ve learned some of u don’t know this & are over washing. 😘

most of these products can be used for air drying or heating styling. (try to avoid heavier products if heat styling to stretch your style)

Leave in conditioners:

Does everyone need one? No. Can most people benefit off one? Yes.

If you have really tangly hair, spray or apply leave in before brushing and remember to be extra kind to your hair when it’s wet. Wet hair is in its most fragile state so it must be treated with lots of love :)

For brushing wet hair- i love a tangle teezer (with handle unless you’re a masochist but to each their own)

Yves durif vented- very different price point than tangle teezer but this what finally got me to brush my hair. It’s cute. I like how it feels. It’s chic. I am who i am.

For (almost) everyone:

davines oi milk- creamy spray. a crowd pleaser. between the smell & softness/shine. if in doubt just get this. tried & true.

divi leave in: superrrr soft. minty. kinda like a watery creamy mist. lighter than oi.

shu umera strengthening spray- this leaves your hair sooo buttery. very lightweight. fave non cream leave in.

r&co sun catcher- leave in with spf. Fancy. Smells like a le labo fragrance.

oribe supershine leave in- very luxe. moisturizing. lightweight & uv protection.

r&co candy stripe detangling spray - if you don’t love the feeling of a leave in but need a little something. lightest option here. but not supppperrr moisturizing.

For dry hair:

Kerastase nutritive thermique- thank u Lisa Barlow for bringing this gem back. It’s rich and creamy. (i use this on my ends & it doesn’t weight me down)

*kerastase thermiques are technically heat protectant leave in creams but also great for an air dry specifically the nutritive.

roz milk- a heavier cream imo. a little can be used on dry hair for some definition as well.

For over processed:

milbon repair treament- if u feel like your hair is fried.

milbon weightless replenishing mist- can be used in combo with a creamier product.

kerastase resistance thermique- rich and creamy.

Shu uemura ultimate reset hair serum- great if you don’t want a cream product. this entire line is great for over processed hair.

For anti frizz:

Kerastase discipline fluidissime- for frizzy hair. Great creamy spray that’s not too heavy and smells great.

reverie anti frizz nourishing treatment milk- i don’t consider this a lightweight milk but i don’t consider it heavy either. good in between. love the earthy scent.

Oils:

I luuurv a hair oil. A little when wet, a little when dry. In between washes for some extra shine. Basically at all times.

For (almost) everyone:

virtue healing oil- moisturizing yet thin consistency (my fave) and best smelling out all of these imo.

oi oil- not thin or not thick. perfect in between consistency.

olaplex oil- bond rebuilding and lightweight. (No olaplex products do not make your hair fall out or too much protein) :)))

For dry hair:

14th night oil- v moisturizing but lightweight. I like the scent but some say it’s a little too powdery for them. (I don’t mind and don’t think it lingers)

Kerastase ultimate elixir: tried and true.

Fable and mane: she’s thick so use sparingly. Love the smell this is what i bring with me on beach vacations for post sun/swim.

For anti frizz:

roz oil- thicker consistency. use sparingly if your hair is fine.

Hair masks:

davines vegetable hair mask- if you don’t know what you need or aren’t super dry and just need an easy situation.

Davines oi butter mask- a little on the heavier side.

Christophe robin prickly pear- if your hair is crispy and you need some extra love.

Shu uemura ultimate reset mask- i call this one the big guns.

color wow hair mask- i use this as conditioner. One of the few masks that are formulated to work quickly so i can justify using in shower. Great for fine hair bc it’s more of a gel consistency.

Divi whipped mask- minty. Very buttery but not heavy.

K18- works. Hate how much $$$ but she works. A little goes a long way.

Epres- bond building spray. This one is interesting one because it’s a pre shampoo treatment on dry hair. You spray it in your hair at least 10 minutes before you shampoo. You don’t have to soak your hair but you do want to saturate it. I suggest brushing it in and clipping up on wash day if the timing thing is annoying. It’s very lightweight so it won’t feel greasy or anything like that. Great for shine and over processed hair. *also on the cheaper side for a bond builder imo. You get multiple uses out of each bottle.

Shampoos:

These are some tried and true straight to the point shampoos that always deliver that luxeeeee shiny hair.

Davines oi shampoo- when in doubt she never disappoints.

Davines heart of glass- smells amazing & made for blondes with a very gentle pigment (won’t turn your hair purple or too ashy) this is made for all the time use not an actual purple shampoo. sooo soft. *i was obssessed with this one at one point and used it myself (you don’t need to be blonde)

Davines minu- if you don’t know what shampoo to get and just want something that’s color safe, smells good, moisturizing but not too heavy. She’s the one.

redken color extend shampoo- kinda random but love the scent and super sudsy and leaves your hair soft.

Matrix biolage- tbt but she WORKS.

Redken acidic bonding- if you’re feeling a little crispy. (Hi blondes)

Shu uemura ultimate reset shampoo- also for my over processed friends.

honestly a good clarifying every once in a while with a hydrating conditioner or mask is a very good trick. olaplex is my go to bc it isnt stripping.

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my take on silicones- here & there i’m fine. especially if you have unruly coarse hair. sometimes you just need that slip. always? not a fan. just creates build up & causes your hair to literally lock out moisture. but! this can be avoided if you use a clarifying shampoo every once in a while (if you use lots of silicones.) moral of the story is they are not EVILLLLLL how we’re told. kinda like a frenemy.

or! you can get a in salon clarifying treatment. good to do regardless if you have visible build up or not. between minerals, ingredients that are basically plastic & excess oils its nice to do a treatment that rlly gets in there & gets all that stuff out. especially if you color your hair. (Great post summer with salt water, chlorine or if you live in a building with old pipes or have been anywhere where you think the water is extra mineral-y)

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My favorite air dry: (i have fine straight hair that kinddddd of waves if i really try)

1. leave in conditioner pony tail down. If your hair is very knotty put this in then detangle.

2. (Skip this if you don’t want extra texture) A texturizing product of some sort. Currently into crown affair air dry mousse. Scrunch into hair. Do not touch. In the summer I like a wave spray. My fave is r&co bleu rose water spray. (A little goes a long way) spray then scrunch.

3. As your hair is almost dry add a small amount of oil to your ends and scrunch. (Clearly into scrunching). If you’re lazy like I- do it after you put into texturizing product.

4. If you want to get fancy- you can do a low bun (with a clip) leaving the ends out so they’re not crispy looking. 2 buns if you want extra definition. Another option is to form little twists in a couple a sections that look like ringlets (I’m lazy so i do none of these but there are options) I do a french twist situation with a clip when I’m home most of that time and that gives me a little something something.

5. If you’re prone to frizziness, don’t get toooo crazy with scrunching and make sure the leave in you use is anti frizz or smoothing. If you want an extra anti frizz air dry this spray is nice & lightweight.

Once it’s dry I add a fuck ton of texturizing and or volume spray. I love these two specific ones bc they don’t leave you crunchy or sticky. I also like davines texture spray but it’s a little heavier so use sparingly.

I use dry shampoo in between washes. Just finished Kristen ess dry shampoo (they have a brunette option btw) which I think is great for its price point. Currently trying out Monday brunette dry shampoo. I usually use klorane (love). And add dry texture and volume spray everyday until my next wash.

as always, thanks for reading <3

*p.s. some of these links are affiliate and i may make some commission with your purchase