Let’s talk about something that’s close to every woman’s heart (and head) – haircare tips, techniques and products! Whether you’re a parted in the middle, sleek and straight enthusiast, a curly queen, or somewhere in between, taking care of your locks is a universal priority. With the abundance of products out there promising everything from luscious volume to silky smoothness, navigating the hair care aisle can sometimes feel overwhelming. Fear not, because in this blog post, we’re going to break it down, sift through the potions and lotions, and share the products we love best. Let’s embark on this hair care adventure together!
LEFT: Megan’s Picks; RIGHT: Christa’s Picks
Megan’s Haircare Needs
My hair is fine, thick AND color treated so I focus on smoothing (my hair gets frizzy if someone SAYS humidity) products. I’m always trying to maintain my color (brightness/glossiness) between appointments. I see my magician beautician every 7-8 weeks but honestly I should go every 6 weeks. My hair grows really quickly and the combo of these products and the expert skills of my hair dresser keep my roots at bay. For reference, I wash and blow my hair dry once every 3 days. Give or take. On the off days I don’t do much, sometimes dry shampoo (or a hat if it’s really bad) but typically it looks ok for several days.
Megan’s Favorite Haircare Products for Color Treated Hair
Kristen Ess Shampoo/Conditioner : Love this color safe shampoo and it’s sulfate free. Makes my hair feel light, not heavy. I switch up my shampoos about every six months because I find they doen’t work as well over time. Fantastic lather. Question? Is there a rule that we have to use the same brand conditioner as shampoo? Will someone please comment and let me know if that’s a science thing or just great marketing?
Sugared Angel : The holy grail, beauty secret in my shower. This is a treatment that I use once a week between coloring appointments. It tones my beige blond and gives shine to my (faux) golden locks. Game changer.
Kevin Murphy Hair Spray : I rarely use hairspray but if I do it’s Bedroom Hair. The name says it all and it smells amazing.
Living Proof Dry Shampoo : When I use dry shampoo this is the one I reach for. Doesn’t make my hair weirdly white or powdery.
Nourish Hair Oil : If I could only have one of these products this is the ONE. Keeps my hair soft, healthy and helps with frizz.
Color WOW! – One Minute Transformation : Instant FRIZZ fix. Mix with the Nourish Hair Oil and work evenly into your hair before you blow dry. This is the only combo I ever use. Smooth, soft and no frizz.
Shop Megan’s Favorite Haircare Products
Shop Megan’s Favorite Hair Tools
Christa’s Haircare Needs
I have fine hair, so volume is the name of the game! Products that are light and don’t weigh my hair down, and products that add volume, are all part of my haircare routine.
Christa’s Favorite Haircare Products for Fine Hair
Olaplex Shampoo and Conditioner : These work so well on my fine hair and give me so much extra volume! It moisturizes without flattening or weighing my hair down.
- Function of Beauty Shampoo + Conditioner : My daughter recommended Function of Beauty and it’s also a favorite. I’ve been using the shampoo + conditioner on and off for years, and it’s always the one that I refill my travel toiletries with. It’s a good backup, too, when I run low on Olaplex. What makes FOB unique is their customized formula. You take a quick two minute hair quiz and choose the formula that works for you based on your top three concerns. And, for fun, you can pick what color your products are and they come with stickers to decorate the bottle (something our inner 13 year old selves love)! I also love that they have a subscription service, so you never run out.
Kristen Ess Instant Lift Volumizing Mousse : I use this daily and apply to the roots. It’s another product my daughter recommended. This mousse gives my hair a little extra lift and helps it hold the volume I get from styling with my blow dry brush. (I recently forgot this on a trip and boy did I notice a difference!)
Kristen Ess Working Texture Spray : I use this after I curl my hair to give it some extra fullness and hold.
R+Co Outer Space Flexible Hairspray : I’ve used this for years – it’s a great hair spray for volume and doesn’t leave your hair feeling crunchy or sticky. Smells good, too.
Amika Perk Up Talc-Free Dry Shampoo : For those mornings when I need to go out and can’t wash my hair, this stuff works miracles. My daughter’s tip is to use it the night before, and your hair stays great the next day.
Shop Christa’s Favorite Haircare Products
Shop Christa’s Favorite Hair Tools
Christa’s Tips for Curling My Hair
I am far from a hair expert or beauty blogger, but I wanted to share how I’ve been curling my hair because I always get questions about it. I finally learned the trick with my curling iron, and it’s so easy to do now! Practice is key — and studying YouTube videos like you’re a teenager helps, too! Everything I use is linked below.
STEP 1
After blow drying my hair, I use my DryBar velcro rollers along my part in four sections — two big rollers at the back and two small rollers at the front. I just take as much hair as will fit around the roller. This should give a little extra volume, but more importantly it helps me keep the top layer out of the way while I curl the bottom layer.
STEP 2
I start in the front and work my way around with the curling iron (for my shorter hair, I prefer this 1.25″ curling iron from T3). I always curl the front sections away from my face, the second section on each side toward my face, and the rest of the sections get curled either way—this helps the curls not look too uniform and keeps them fuller. Keep the curling iron held vertical and pull it down when twisting. Don’t worry if some of the underneath layers of hair don’t get curled—it doesn’t really make a difference. The key for me: I studied videos, especially this tutorial for her overall curling process and the video below for the important twist technique.
Once I get the curls all around, then I hit the four sections in the rollers, curling them all away from my face. You can play with the angle of your curling iron on the front sections to get the look you want.
STEP 3
THIS IS IMPORTANT! Let the curls cool before you do anything with them. This is a good time to get dressed or put on your makeup or catch up on emails.
STEP 4
I use my fingers to gently separate the curls here and there. I also do a quick check of the back to make sure there isn’t anything weird happening.
STEP 5
If I need some ends to be straighter, I take the curling iron and flatten some of them (I don’t like them to curl under). I just use the same curling iron and flatten a piece here and there.
That’s it. And again, the key for me was studying the “wrap and twist” video and working on that twist with the curling iron. Don’t get frustrated. It took me a few months of trying to get the curls right, and I get faster at it every day. When I finally got the twist down, it all clicked and now I can curl my hair in under five minutes. Good luck and let me know if you have any questions.
Don’t forget to check out our other recent beauty posts – All About Skincare and All About Makeup.
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