I've tried dozens of hair products — here are 5 I always re-buy
What's in my beauty cabinet? From dry shampoo to leave-in treatments, these hair care products are worth the hype.
If you've read my bylines on Yahoo Canada before, you may know that I have a thing for hair care. Growing up, I accompanied my mom to the hair salon so often that her lifelong hairdresser remains "Aunt Anne" in my phone. I understood hair care to be an integral part of someone's self-care routine, and consequently, have dabbled in serums, conditioners and masks essentially from childhood.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
NEXXUS Clean & Pure Scalp Scrub
L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise Extraordinary Oil 1001 Uses Hair Mask
The Ordinary Sulphate 4% Shampoo Cleanser for Body & Hair
Amika Dream Routine Overnight Hydrating Hair Mask
Because I have tried a shocking amount of hair products (a perk of the job!), I'm always eager to share with friends (and strangers on the internet) what's worth their dollar and what's worth skipping. To see five hair products I re-buy and recommend time and time again, scroll below.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
Award-winning dry shampoo that actually cleans hair by absorbing oil, sweat, and odour
Suitable for all hair types
Sephora shoppers say "no other [brands] compare to this."
Honestly, it pains me how much I love this dry shampoo. I wish I could tell you, "No, spending $40 on dry shampoo is absurd. Get the cheap one!" But that would be a lie. Living Proof actually cleans your hair by absorbing oil, sweat and odour while adding body and texture. Your cheap dry shampoo may give you a few more hours of life, but Living Proof can give you days — yes, days — of good hair. Again, the price tag is steep, especially considering how much you will love and use it; but I swear it's worth it.
NEXXUS Clean & Pure Scalp Scrub
Purifying scalp scrub designed to gently exfoliate the scalp and remove impurities, including product and oil build-up
Use in lieu or in addition to your regular shampoo
4.3-star rating on Amazon, 3,700 reviews
Until a hairdresser introduced me to a scalp scrub, the idea of using one seemed rather unnecessary. However, after many months and hair washes since that appointment, a scalp scrub is now a constant in my hair care routine. My scrub of choice, the Nexxus scalp scrub, provides a deep, detoxifying clean to remove impurities and build-up on the scalp (think: leftover dry shampoo, hairspray, etc.), leaving you with a salon-worthy clean. I use it before shampooing my hair about once a week and can't sing its praises enough.
L'Oreal Paris Hair Expertise Extraordinary Oil 1001 Uses Hair Mask
Wallet-friendly hair mask
"Amazon's Choice" pick
Nourishes hair for up to 48 hours
I have written at length why I love this $8 hair mask, but it bears repeating. L'Oreal's Extraordinary Oil 1001 can be used in the shower, as an overnight mask, or as a leave-in treatment. I've been a loyal fan of the product for years, admiring its results as much as its $8 price tag. In a world of $40 dry shampoos, an under-$10 hair mask is just what the accountant ordered.
The Ordinary Sulphate 4% Shampoo Cleanser for Body & Hair
Gentle, fragrance-free hair cleanser
Removes oil and dirt without drying out your hair
Sephora reviewers call it their "saving grace."
If you want to get back to the basics and give your hair room to breathe, this is the hair cleanser for you. Unlike traditional shampoos, The Ordinary's Sulphate 4% Cleanser is low-foam but delivers an effective, to-the-root clean for your hair and scalp. I use it every 2-3 shampoos when I want a break from product build-up and need a good, simple hair wash.
Amika Dream Routine Overnight Hydrating Hair Mask
Hyaluronic acid-infused overnight hair treatment mask designed to boost moisture
Leaves hair 3x more hydrated by morning
4.5-star average rating on Sephora
As far as lightweight overnight treatments go, I really like Amika's Dream Routine Overnight Hydrating Hair Mask. It's infused with hyaluronic acid, coconut water and blue/green algae and doesn't leave hair feeling heavy. I put it on the bottom third of dry hair before I go to sleep and wake up with healthy, hydrated strands.
Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
