Our Holy Grail Hair Products
Last month, our team shared our skincare routines. (It was SUCH a treat hearing readers’ recs in the comments, too; I screenshotted all the lip balm suggestions!) Today, we decided to do the same for hair: our daily routines, our favorite products, and the little tricks we’ve learned along the way. Here goes…
Alison Piepmeyer, Partnerships Director
How would you describe your hair?My hair is one of the things I really like about myself. It’s wavy/curly with lots of texture. It usually cooperates with whatever look I’m trying to pull off, which I appreciate!
Tell us about a typical morning.It depends on my mood and energy level. Sometimes I’ll do a full curly-girl routine (with a microfiber towel, mousse, defining cream, and hair wrap). But that takes a while. So, I usually let it air dry into loose waves — that way I can stretch washes longer, along with dry shampoo. I used to part it down the middle, but lately I’ve been copying Natasha Pickowicz’s half-up style.
What kind of detangler do you use?I love the T3 paddle brush because the bristles are spaced far enough apart that they detangle my hair without ruining the curl pattern. (Curly hair can get very poofy very quickly.)
What’s your wash routine?I wash my hair only once or twice a week, because curly hair gets dry so easily. I also color my hair, so less frequent washing makes the color last longer. I rotate between a few shampoos: Nizoral (for dandruff and hair-loss prevention), a purple shampoo and conditioner (when my blonde starts getting brassy), and Odele shampoo and conditioner for regular washes, because it’s acne-safe (I have acne-prone skin, and I’m very strict about this!).
Air-dry or blow-dry?I mostly air-dry. If I’m doing the curly-girl method, I’ll diffuse it, but otherwise it dries into slightly chaotic waves that I’ll clean up with this straightener. (I learned a lot from hairstylist Ashley Streicher’s Instagram videos; she completely changed how I use a flat iron.)
Do you have a favorite hair-styling trick?Following hairstylists on Instagram has taught me everything. In addition to Ashley Streicher, Amber Yackzan has great styling tips for bobs. Sophie Marie taught me all about “The Bowl Method” for curly hair. My entire “For You” feed is videos like this.
Do you have a nighttime hair routine?If my hair is curly, I sleep in a silk bonnet to help preserve the curls and prevent frizz. Otherwise, I mostly just throw it up into a silk scrunchy and fix the waves in the morning.
Do you have a hero hair product?Living Proof dry shampoo forever! I use it constantly, since I go pretty long between washes.
Any other treatments?I have a lot of grays, and my hairstylist explained that blonde highlights are the easiest way to blend them naturally. The grow-out is softer, which means I can go much longer between salon visits.
What’s the biggest haircare lesson you’ve learned?Do. Not. Cut. Bangs. I’ve been laughing because all the online hair girlies are obsessed with Mika Abdalla’s haircut on the new show Off Campus. But thank god for PSAs like this, you’re doing the Lord’s work.
Christine Pride, Columnist
How would you describe your hair?Long and thick. Also: reliable. I’ve had the same simple hair “style” (if you can call it that) for decades, and though sometimes I want to chop it all off, I’ll take my steady, familiar hairdo over novelty.
Do you have a go-to style?I have exactly two hair looks: a top knot/bun (80% of the time), or blown out waves (20% of the time). Maybe — MAYBE — you’ll catch me with a side braid, if I’m feeling wild.
What kind of brush/comb/detangler do you use?My hair tangles easily, so I use this Tangle Teezer brush, which is good for gently working out snarls and smoothing my hair out.
What does your wash routine look like?Boring and low-maintenance: I use TRESemmé Curl Shampoo and Conditioner, then slap on Nourish & Shine and Ouidad Leave-In Conditioner for extra moisture.
Air-dry or blow-dry?Doing it myself takes 193 hours. So, if I want a really good blowout, I go to Blo Bar. Their blowouts last five precious days.
Do you have a before-bed hair routine?If my hair has been blown out, I sleep with it in a bun in this blue bonnet, and it’s very sexy.
Do you have a hero hair tool?I tried the Rev Air for a hot second. It’s basically a vacuum meets a blow dryer. But it didn’t give me dramatic results, despite the amazing before-and-after photos all over the internet. Not a hero product, but I thought it worth mentioning, because there’s a lot of hype around this thing!
Any other treatments you regularly do?I get my hair chemically straightened four times a year, like clockwork. And now I’ve added a color rinse to the routine, to cover grays. I can’t do these treatments at the same time, so it makes for eight annual visits to the salon! (Shout out Beauty Bar in Harlem.) At home, I try to use this deep conditioner for 10 minutes, once a week, so my hair doesn’t get too damaged from the aforementioned treatments.
What’s the biggest haircare lesson you’ve learned?It’s only hair.
Jannelle Sanchez, Senior Editor
How would you describe your hair?Jannelle: Very full and very long. My hair also has a slight natural wave (for those who use hair charts, mine is 2b).
How do you do your hair on a typical morning? Do you have a go-to style?For the first two days after a wash, I’ll wear my hair down and tousled. I’ll comb out any tangles, smooth frizzy bits with my straightener, and leave the rest untouched so the waves stay intact. Three days post-wash, my hair is oilier, so I comb it out and pull it into a sleek, middle-part ponytail. I’ll top it off with layer of hairspray. The smell always makes me think of my grandma getting ready for work.
What kind of brush do you use?I’ve been using the same hairbrush for eight years! It’s a wide paddle brush — here’s the newest version.
What does your wash routine look like?I like to wash every three days. For two years, I’ve been buying the jumbo pack of Nexxus Advanced Hydration Therappe Humectress Shampoo and Conditioner from Costco, and it’s been working well. But just this week I tested out Hairstory’s Air Dry Kit, and I was shocked by the results. I used the pre-wash and cleansing cream, and as soon as I looked in the mirror — my hair still soaking wet — I could see more defined waves. The next morning, my hair was super soft and looked extra voluminous.
Air-dry or blow-dry?Air dry. And for date nights or special occasions, I like to curl my hair with a big, barrel curling iron. I love the glamorous look of blown-out curls!
Do you have a favorite styling trick?When I was six, I was over at a friend’s house when her mom mentioned that we should brush our hair before showering. And omg, that was life-changing! You know how hard it is to work shampoo into tangled wet hair?! Ever since that playdate, I’ve brushed my hair first.
Do you have a nighttime routine?Honestly? Nothing. I aspire to be at a place in my life where I can do more for my hair, but right now — with three kids under five — I’m lucky to get my washes in!
Do you have a hero hair tool?A toothbrush! I have lots of postpartum baby-hair bangs, so when I want sleek hair, I’ll spray my roots with hairspray and then go over my hair with a toothbrush, smoothing down all the fly-aways and baby hairs. It works like magic.
What’s the biggest haircare lesson you’ve learned?It took me 20 years to learn which hairstyles work with my face shape — and which I don’t. I can rock a bob. I can rock bangs. I cannot rock a fully slicked back ponytail, or straightened hair with a middle part. Learning this has saved me from many crabby days and salon meltdowns.
Joanna Goddard, Founder and Editor
How would you describe your hair?Straight and fine. And my grays are definitely coming in!
How do you do your hair on a typical morning?Wash, air-dry and that’s it! I used to blow dry every single morning, and my hair would get so dry and damaged. Now that I’m doing less with it, my hair feels soft and smooth.
What kind of brush/comb/detangler do you use?I use a regular comb when my hair is wet. (I don’t want a brush to break my hair.) But when it’s dry, I use the Mason Pearson brush that my English aunt gave me decades ago. Hair stylists always say how amazing boar bristles are for your hair — and I just do as I’m told.
What does your wash routine look like?I wash my hair every day (I know!). I use RÔZ shampoo and conditioner, and then I comb through with their hair milk serum while it’s still damp (I’m very brand-loyal when it comes to their hair stuff). I’ll scrunch it in my hand, while it’s drying, which gives me a bit of a bed-head wave. That’s pretty much the whole routine!
Do you have a favorite styling trick?No, I’m useless! But if I take on an overnight flight, I’ll bring a baseball cap for the next morning — it makes me feel like an actress in the airport to have a baseball cap over my greasy hair.
Do you have a nighttime/before-bed hair routine?Honestly, I just read my book and pass out. Right now I’m reading It’s a Lot by Alison Leiby, which is so great — lots about being an only child!
Any other treatments you regularly do?I get my hair cut by my friend Reagan Baker — named after Ronald Reagan, like the ’80s kid she is. Her haircuts are a splurge, but they fall so beautifully without any styling, and they grow out so well that I only need to get two a year. Then I get my grays covered by Aliya at Fox & Jane in Brooklyn. She’s young but super talented.
What’s the biggest haircare lesson you’ve learned?For me, the less, the better. My hair is so much healthier now that I mostly leave it alone.
Kaitlyn Teer, Senior Editor
How would you describe your hair?Thick and wavy.
Do you have a go-to style?I have a razor-cut shag with thick bangs (I go to a stylist who specializes in razor cuts, like the ones made popular by Edo Salon). The cut works really well with my wavy texture and means I don’t have to do any additional styling. I can just wash and air-dry!
What kind of brush/comb do you use?I brush out my waves before showering, and afterward I use a wide-tooth comb on damp hair.
What does your wash routine look like?I’ve used Hairstory’s New Wash and Hair Balm for years. I also use an anti-dandruff shampoo once a month, to keep my scalp healthy.
Do you have a favorite styling hack?I apply Hair Balm while my hair is still dripping wet, to lock in moisture (a tip I got from Samin Nosrat). It reduces frizz and makes my waves look defined.
Do you have a nighttime hair routine?I always sleep in a messy bun, with my bangs pinned back — I can’t stand the feeling of hair on my face when I’m sleeping! On a typical morning, I shake out my bun and smooth out my bangs. If I’ve got some real bedhead, I’ll wet my bangs for a fresh start.
Do you have a hero tool?My stylist encouraged me to get my own feather-styling razor so I could trim my bags at home whenever I got the urge! I’m always taking off a little here, a little there, to keep them on point.
What’s the biggest haircare lesson you’ve learned?I’ve learned never to put my trust in an inspiration photo! Never! It led to so much heartbreak when I was younger. Now, if I’m looking to change things up, I bring in like 10 reference photos to communicate the overall vibe I’m going for. But I’ve also come to accept that my hair is always going to look like my hair, not anyone else’s.
Kelsey Miller, Senior Editor
How would you describe your hair?Super-fine, but a ton of it. It’s silky, which is nice, but I’m often trying to rough it up a bit to create a little texture.
How do you do your hair on a typical morning?Most days, I just rake out the tangles and go, then I almost always wind up in a ponytail by 11 a.m. I genuinely love my hair, but having it around my face distracts me! Even on my wedding day, our photographer had to kindly remind me to stop tucking my hair behind my ears.
What kind of brush/comb do you use?I am obsessed with the UNBrush detangling brush. I initially bought it for my daughter, who has curly hair. I thought $18 was a little steep for a plastic brush, but the reviews were incredible — and frankly, I’d have paid anything for a brush if you told me it would make bedtime brushing less scream-y. Let me tell you, that $18 piece of plastic lived up to the hype! And it’s just as incredible on my heap of fine hair. It takes care of tangles without ripping. It’s the only brush I’ll use on either of us now.
What does your wash routine look like?I’m a wash-every-day person, like Joanna (I also know!). I shower at night, and for the last couple years, I’ve used Herbal Essences Grapefruit Volume Shampoo and Conditioner. It rinses clean and conditions very well, but it doesn’t add weight or residue. I’m a lifelong drugstore-shampoo advocate.
Do you have a favorite hair-styling trick or hack?I just learned this hair-tuck trick on TikTok, and I wish someone had shown me it years ago. It’s the one thing that actually does allow me to keep my hair down without feeling the constant urge to tuck it behind my ears or pull it into a ponytail.
Do you have a before-bed hair routine?I have an extremely glamorous sleep-on-totally-wet-hair method. If I do manage to let my hair dry before going to sleep, the pineapple-bun method is great. As a kid, I’d braid my hair to prevent tangles, but this is even better. Also, I’m a side-sleeper, and it genuinely makes sleeping more comfortable.
Do you have a hero hair product or tool?For the past decade, Iles Formula Finishing Hair Serum has been the only styling product I use. I rub a tiny dollop between my hands, then finger-comb it through the bottom half of my hair. It’s the one product that actually smooths without overwhelming my fine hair and creating greasy-looking clumps. It’s definitely my most expensive hair product, but the bottle lasts me around two years. My other hero is these toddler hair ties, which are made of magic sweatshirt-esque fabric and are soooo gentle on your hair.
Any other treatments?I get a haircut once a year, and that’s all she wrote. I don’t have the patience for actual hair coloring, but I do love to mess around with tinted conditioners at home sometimes. The Christophe Robin copper conditioner is sooooo pretty and easy (on my hair, it just adds a little warmth). It’s the most user-friendly type I’ve tried — meaning, it doesn’t leave neon stains on my skin when I inevitably smear it on my forehead.
What’s the biggest haircare lesson you’ve learned?YOLO. Get the cut, try the perm, do that Angela Chase dye job your inner child’s been pining for. Hair is never permanent (nothing is, right?), so why the heck not?
How do you like to do your hair these days? Any tricks or products you swear by?
P.S. Nine women on going gray, and a super-easy hair trend (that’s great for summer heat too).
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Diterbitkan : 2026-06-04 18:40:00
sumber : cupofjo.com
