Hair Stylists Spill The Best Products To Heal Every Hair Issue

Can’t make it into the salon? The quarantine struggle is real, but that doesn’t stop color from fading, split ends from forming, and an overall mane meltdown from occurring. That’s where the pros come in. These hair repair experts are here to help make lackluster locks luminous again and basically give your hair the DIY spa day it deserves.

If you’ve been relying on the same shampoo, condition, repeat routine, it might be time to switch things up, product-wise. There are scalp scrubs and apple cider vinegar rinses for itchy patches, miracle-working treatments and smoothing brushes for flyaway realness, and a slew of other one-two punches to set a bad hair day good again. The best part? All products can be purchased online, so you don’t have to break your social distancing standstill for vanity’s sake.

To Seal Split Ends

Split ends can happen to the best of us – from excessive hot tool usage and over-processed dying, so Hair-Man to the Kardashian-Jenners, Andrew Fitzsimons, recommends using a leave-in conditioner to combat the issue. “Lately I’ve been loving Daily Dose Miracle Moisture Spray Leave-In Conditioner, $18, which leaves your hair soft, moisturized, and tangle-free,” he says. “To help with split ends, I love cocktailing the leave-in with TIGI Copyright Split End Repair Cream, $19, because it has ingredients like keratin, a bonding complex, and amino acids to seal the hair fibers.”

To Fight Frizz

“The best way to combat frizz is to add moisture back into the strands,” says Fitzsimmons. “I love cocktailing an anti-frizz conditioner, like NatureLab Tokyo Smooth Conditioner, $14, with an oil, like ORS Essential Coconut Oil, $6. Leave it in your hair (bonus points if you wrap it in plastic, or put on a shower cap) for about 20-30 minutes as a deep conditioning treatment. Not only will it help with frizz, but it will leave your hair luxuriously shiny, soft and moisturized.”

To Fix Fading Color

Redken brand ambassador Matt Rez tends to the tresses of boss babes like Eiza Gonzalez, Olivia Holt, and Chiara Ferragni, so you know his color-boosting tips are on point. If your mane is looking dull AF from WFH, he suggests cocktailing Redken Color Extend Magnetics Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner, $15 each, with Redken One United Multi-Benefit Treatment Spray, $25, to detangle and prep for heat – if you’re even still about that blow-dry life.

For blonde hair: Use Color Extend Blondage Color Depositing Purple Shampoo and Conditioner $22.50 each, followed by Redken Color Extend Blondage Anti-Brass Purple Hair Mask, $29. Use this in place of conditioner every few washes to fight brass while treating your hair,” he says.

For brown hair: Rez suggests Redken Color Extend Brownlights Blue Toning Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Conditioner, $22.50 each, and on days when you’re going wash-free, touch up bedhead locks with Redken Triple Dry 15 Dry Texture Finishing Spray, $22, before that Zoom conf call.

“Since we’re all extending the time between cuts during this challenging period, I’m getting emails from clients asking about uncomplicated ways to maintain condition, so hair stays looking good as it grows,” explains Guy-Laurent Winterstein, creative director of John Barrett Salon. “The key is to use products that still leave hair looking natural, even when deep conditioning. For super damaged hair, he recommends starting with a rich, yet lightweight formula like Truffle Shampoo from Moroccan Gold Series, $25, then continuing the restorative sequence with the fast-acting, 3-minute Truffle Hair Mask, $30. “It’s made with fresh black truffle extract, which has its own unique antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients, as well as vitamin E.”

 To Soothe an Itchy Scalp

According to Howard McLaren, co-founder and creative director of R+Co, the best product to soothe an irritated scalp is R+Co Crown Scalp Scrub, $38. “This works on a dry, itchy scalp and removes loose dandruff flakes. R+Co Acid Wash ACV Cleansing Rinse, $32, is also good to clean, calm, and repair the scalp, in conjunction with the scrub.”

 To Break Up Knots and Tangles

“Conditioner is a must to address an unruly mop that’s found itself tangled, knotted, and dreaded beyond repaid,” says Glamsquad artistic director Giovanni Vaccaro. “One of the best primers for this situation is It’s A 10 Miracle Leave-in Product, $19, and you should couple that with the ultimate detangling tool: GSQ by Glamsquad Boar Bristle Brush in Smooth Operator, $15.

To Nourish Damaged Curls

Hollywood’s most in-demand curl expert, Shai Amiel, aka The Curl Doctor, shared his fave product line for damaged curls, “I’m currently enjoying Innersense products. It’s a certified organic line that tests on the ThinkDirty app. I recommend applying all their products to very wet hair because they’re so rich and concentrated.” One of his go-to products is the Hydrating Hair Masque, $30; “It’s the most intense hydration I use now. It’s very rich and works on all hair types. It can be used on its own or mixed with a lighter conditioner.” In fact, he also recommends the Hydrating Cream Conditioner, $9, which he says “Can be used as your regular conditioner or as a treatment.”

To Pamper Stressed-Out Strands

If your mane doesn’t have a main issue at the moment, kudos to you! But seriously, we all deserve a little self-care RN – from our tresses to our toes – so Garnier consulting hairstylist Millie Morales is here to serve the hair treatment tips. “I love mixing and matching different hair masks on my clients. For example, I have very long hair, so sometimes I’ll apply three different hair masks: One for the roots (Smoothing Treat with Avocado Extract, $6), one for the middle (Hydrating Treat with Aloe Extract, $6), and one for the ends (Damage Repairing with Papaya Extract, $6). I’ll also mix that up with Kérastase Genesis Masque Reconstituant, $62, since this splurge-worthy mask delivers intense nourishment and hydration to protect hair against breakage.”

Find out more tips about mixing up your hair products and hair multi-masking here.