It was 78 degrees yesterday (March 9th!) and with daylight savings only a week away, my hair is ready for its own revival of Spring Awakening. Fresh cut aside, during warmer weather, I tend to wash my mane more often and with no hats, beanies, and hoods, I definitely use more product and tools to style dat lewk. Mixing decade long favorites with some amazing new highlights, my most recent hair and scalp cleansing or conditioning formulas are from Christophe Robin, Terax, HAIRSTORY, John Masters Organics, and 100% Pure.
Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt
After hearing about this award winning phenomenon for months, it was the day I met the man behind the brand that he insisted I stay for a treatment to experience the cult classic. Under his watchful eye, a stylist whisked me away and delivered an experience that blew me away. Not. Even. Kidding. Infused with Sweet Almond Oil and Chamomile Extract, this thick paste is also studded with jewel like Sea Salt crystals. Instantly cooling, this soothing and purifying medley removes all product buildup and leaves you feeling uber clean and ultra fresh. A single teaspoon applied to wet hair lathers up something fierce and never leaves you dry. A true gem, this Christophe Robin hero gives your hair and scalp a clean slate. My thick and abused hair indulges at least once per week. $52 – 200ml at Sephora.com
Terax Original Crema Conditioner
A favorite of A-listers, master stylists, industry insiders, and yours truly, this gem has been a constant in my haircare stash for fifteen years. All around remarkable, this iconic conditioner is indeed, the OG. Superb at detangling and eliminating split ends, it revitalizes, tames frizz, rejuvenates, and strengthens damaged hair. Medium weight and creamy in texture, it rinses off like a dream leaving my mane soft, shiny, and full. As a loyalist who remembers the white and baby blue jars from two repackagings ago, I am thrilled that both the formula and the pleasant botanical scent have remained the same for decades. Catering to every hair type and condition, the constantly growing Terax lineup now includes a range of leave-in options in addition to shampoos and a new Crema + Keratin™ conditioner. $22 or $48 – 6.7oz or 16oz at beauty.com
HAIRSTORY New Wash
A go-to when time is of the essence, New Wash is a one step cleanse and nourish solution that takes the trend of the now ubiquitous cleansing conditioners to the next level. The truth is, it’s actually a shampoo. So genius that it completely eliminates the need for a traditional conditioner… even for those who wouldn’t dream of skipping it. Fueled by countless good-for-your-tresses botanicals like Jojoba, Nettle, Evening Primrose, and Ylang-Ylang Extracts, it also features Hydrolyzed Keratin and Vitamin B to give you deliciously balanced, perfectly cleansed and manageable hair. The lovely aroma is a pure perk. Apply generously to wet hair, take your time to massage it into the scalp, and rinse thoroughly. The results are so tangible that I’ve been known to skip a day or two when using New Wash. Clean and modern, done and done. $40 – 8oz at shophairstory.com
John Masters Organics Spearmint & Meadowsweet Scalp Stimulating Shampoo
Sometimes, when my enthusiasm for haircare gets derailed and results in not-so-cute scalp buildup, nothing gives me life like some John Masters Organics. Fresh and minty, it delivers a tingling sensation as it rejuvenates and purifies dull hair and an itchy scalp in a single lather and rinse. If you’re struggling with scalp sensitivity, most definitely give this shampoo a try. My most recent stint overdoing it with a certain scent of a very popular (think late night infomercial) cleansing conditioner led to an unfortunate scalp issue but this shampoo followed by a few drops of John Masters Deep Scalp Purifying Serum ($23) had me back in the game within a week. Hashtag winning. $18 – 8oz at ulta.com
100% Pure Sea Algae Hair Mask
Formulated with absolutely no water whatsoever (and good luck finding a product where ‘aqua’ is not topping the ingredient list), 100% Pure is one of my favorite brands by default. The Sea Algae Hair Mask is a year round SOS remedy for every type of hair that could benefit from a subtle makeover. Packed with some of nature’s best, it features rich, lush and deeply moisturizing Jojoba, Argan, and Coconut Oils in addition to Shea and Avocado Butters with a healthy dose of Red Algae, Pro-Vitamin B5, Vitamin E, and Calendula Extract. Thick and creamy, it penetrates deep to deliver immediate and lasting softness. Thanks to the bright and uplifting citrus fragrance, you will reach for this mask often and if your hair is having a particularly rough time, try a light application as an overnight treatment. Full disclosure: far from being a natural beauty fanatic, I cannot get enough of 100% Pure – these all natural and vegan blends are just ah-mah-zing. $35 – 8oz at 100percentpure.com
