Senior Beauty Editor Needs ... Beauty Advice!
For the past five years, I've totally boycotted conditioner. I've never dyed my hair, I reason, so there's not much to repair—and anything creamy has always turned my hair oily, sad, and flat. All hairstylists disagree with me, strenuously.
At first the no-conditioner plan felt wonderfully liberating and harmlessly anti-establishment; at the time, I had an Amélie-inspired choppy bob that leaned distressingly toward Dorothy Hamill, and the shampoo-only routine (plus a large handful of Kusco-Murphy Beach Hair gave it the impression of waviness and, I hoped, Audrey Tautou. Then my hair grew to shoulder length, I got heavy, '70s-ish bangs, and my routine still felt like a pretty great idea—this time in a tousled, undone, pseudo-Charlotte Gainsbourg fashion.
However. In an almost-overnight transformation, my hair is suddenly, noticeably, extremely long—long enough that there have been several inquiries about where I've gotten my extensions done. The problem is that, though it's no thicker or more unruly than it used to be, the bottom third is starting to feel ratty: rough, a little plastic-y. And if the air is at all dry (basically all indoor spaces, from November through February), the static situation is disastrous. So. Here's the challenge: How do I find a conditioner that simultaneously gets rid of static, adds a significant amount of body, transforms American Doll hair back into actual-person hair, and, ideally, smells like clean laundry? I'm definitely in the market, and welcome any and all suggestions.
—Cristina Mueller, senior beauty editor
Mizani Hydrafuse Conditioner. I use it on all my clients. Fine hair, curly hair, you name it. It works wonders and rinses out beautifully and doesn't have a super heavy scent.
I've heard wonderful things about Wen Haircare. (Didn't Lucky feature it recently?) It's a cleansing conditioner, so you can still stick to using just one product.
Without a doubt it's Phytosesame Express Hydrating Conditioner. It's lightweight, makes you hair shiny and smells great! My group of friends all use it and we have totally different hair. PS I'm a makeup artist at a high end store so I have tried all the best!
If most conditioners make your hair greasy and limp, try TiGi Self-Absorbed Conditioner. It's super light but does the trick, and while it doesn't smell like clean laundry, it does have a nice light citrusy scent.
I second the recommendation for Wen Cleansing Conditioners. They clean your scalp while leaving the rest of your hair completely conditioned. Just follow the directions: when it says to massage your scalp vigorously, they mean it.
Redken All Soft Shampoo, and now Sally Hershberger Supreme Head Shampoo and Style Primer for Wavy Hair. Neither one requires the conditioner on a daily basis and reins in the static that my hair seems ideally suited to display (I was That Girl In The 20 Years Ago But Still Humiliating Experiment With Static Electricity Generator On The 6th Grade Trip To The Science Museum).
try dove conditioner, it will say volumizing, or for fine hair.
This is totally exciting, guys--thanks so much for all the suggestions! Weirdly, I actually had one of the Wen conditioners sitting on the edge of my desk, and was contemplating whether or not to go the slightly-odd, no-shampoo-ever route. It's definitely going into the bag now--and I have a whole new list of things to try. I'll report back....
--Cristina
i have the exact same type of hair as yours. when mine was short and choppy and very "shane on the L word", u used nothing except shampoo and bumble and bumble salt spray (love it!) and my hair looked great. now that it's almost shoulder-length, i sometimes use a dab of conditioner on the ends...but very sparingly and not very often.
i totally agree with phytosesame...it's really great. of course, since i only use a pea-sized dab once a week, it lasts me for years. it has a delicious yet natural scent.
i also like LUSH veganese. very lightweight, with lemon to keep the oilies away. definitely worth checking out.
This may sound like a strange suggestion but have you tried Argan Oil? It has been used in Morocco and Europe for years but is only now taking hold in he US. It is 100% organic and NOT GREASY. On dry hair, you put some argan oil on your hands (a small amount) and massage it into scalp and hair. Wait about about 30 minutes before shampooing and conditioning. You will see immediate results! It restores the shine to dull, lifeless hair; it prevents split ends, alleviates dry and itchy scalp. Kaeline offers very high quality argan oil products.
Well I have never tried Wen so definitely cannot attest to its performance but I can let you know about the conditioners I have recently enjoyed:
EVERY DAY
Ojon Ultra Hydrating Conditioner
Aveda Smooth Infusion Conditioner
INTENSE
Dove Advanced Care Therapy Conditioner
Frederic Fekkai Protein Rx Reparative Treatment Mask
Here's to healthy hair again!
Ellen
Lipstick, Powder 'n Paint
Terax Crema gives me the softest hair ever - healthy, shiny - amazing!
Sounds like you already got some great ideas, but in case you're still looking to experiment -- I love Walgreen's (yes, Walgreen's) "Say Yes to Carrots" conditioner. I have very fine hair, chin-length, and this makes it soft, bouncy, and full of life.
It may sound silly but good ol' Neutrogena Triple Moisture works like a dream for weightless moisturizing. I have thick, coarse, very dry hair, and am addicted to the stuff (and the wonderful clean smell)...if I can steal it back from my roomate, who has fine, thinner but equally dry tresses. :(
amen and ibid to WEN products.
I imagine you could get instructions direct from Chaz and a new do as well in his CA shop - or you can tape and /or watch him on QVC.
I found that there was a learning curve to use it properly, but once I found it, I'm hooked! Enjoy..
I'd second Terax. I have the exact same hair dilemma you do, and it made everything tremendously better.
Soft, shiny, not at all greasy. Perfection in a tube!
I would recommend Calm conditioner. It is very light and will not weigh your hair down. Also it does not take much time to work. Recommended time on hair is 1 minute before rinsing. great product at a great price
since you've had such great luck with kusco-murphy"s beach hair, try their lavendar creme. it not only will give your hair the delicate bounce it deserves, the aroma is amazing. with a touch of this magical creme and a soft knot to set, you will have a sexy set in no time flat.