9 products that will inspire you to
Level up your
hair routine
presented by:
psychologists have told us that hair is directly linked to our happiness, but this we knew. We’ve all had bad hair days, but we’ve also had really great ones. Every time you’ve splurged on a blowout before an important meeting at work or relished in the healthy bounce your curls hold after a shampoo, you’ve experienced what we know to be true: good hair days matter.
So, these POPSUGAR editors decided that there's only room in their lives for good hair days — scratch that, they’re here for great ones. How exactly are they doing this? The first step: dedicating more time to their hair routine — after all, it’s self-care. The second: overhauling their routines with products that get the job done (without busting their budgets). Enter Kristin Ess Hair, which recently launched at Ulta Beauty. Lucky for us, these three women shared their hair-spiration with us and the nine products they’re relying on to reach their ultimate good-hair-day goals.
Aviel Kanter, professional beauty enthusiast, was religious about her color and cut appointments. Every six or so weeks, she was in the salon getting balayage and a trim. “While I haven’t been able to get a professional dye job in what feels like forever, I’ve felt more freedom to play around with my styling at home,” Aviel added. “I love experimenting with subtle colors that aren’t permanent but still leave a nice hue that’s visible on all my Zoom meetings.” The Kristin Ess Hair Rose Gold Temporary Tint is one of Aviel’s favorites since she can control the intensity of the color and it’s delivered via aerosol, so she can target the exact pieces of hair she wants to dye.
appointments haven’t really been possible for the last year, I’ve had to embrace the more natural whims of my strands — which also means I’ve had more time to focus on my hair’s overall health now that I’m not endlessly stressing about the exact shade of golden blond I want.” Aviel came to the realization that more is not necessarily better and applied this ethos to her in-shower hair-care routine.
For years,
Before the pandemic,
an editor with a penchant for beauty, knows well: a fussy, oily scalp. In fact, she’s tried almost every oil-purging method in the book, but her time at home has inspired her to continue experimenting in the hopes of curbing her oily-scalp situation.
As Rayna has learned, oily scalps need two things: a purifying shampoo, like the Kristin Ess Hair Scalp Purifying Micellar Shampoo, and a scrub, like the Kristin Ess Hair Instant Exfoliating Scalp Scrub. “Because I have fine hair, I often reach for volumizing shampoos and shy away from clarifying ones out of fear that they’ll make my hair fall flat,” Rayna said. “This shampoo gently removes any oil buildup and leaves my roots feeling light and bouncy.” To sweeten the deal, both scalp products have pointed-tip applicators that make using them a breeze and help you get to the root of the problem — no pun intended — making them the perfect additions to a scalp-reset routine.
Something Rayna Rossitto,
Irene San Segundo was rushing off to the office every morning, and like many other New Yorkers, her main priority in the early a.m. was catching a not-so-crowded train vs. completing every step of her routine before heading out the door. Fast-forward to 2021, and Irene’s lifestyle has changed drastically. Now, her work-from-home lifestyle allows her to dedicate more time and attention to her daily regimen, which specifically includes treating her curls.
“My hair-care routine has always been very low maintenance and focused on hydration,” Irene said, noting how crucial it is not to overwash her curls. “Now, I have more time to let moisturizing products absorb, so I can use more products, like hair masks, that need to sit on my hair longer.”
Once upon a time,
her new curl-loving routine, Irene opts for the Kristin Ess Hair Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo and Moisture Rich Curl Conditioner, a moisturizing duo made to nourish curly hair. “The conditioner makes in-shower detangling smooth and quick,” Irene said. But her favorite product as of late? The Kristin Ess Hair Weightless Shine Curl Defining Jelly. “My hair is quite long, and the best thing about this product is that the texture is very light and doesn’t weigh down my curls.” For any hair ploppers out there, this one's for you.
in her new rotation: Kristin Ess Hair Weightless Hydration Daily Scalp + Hair Mask. Although she’s often avoided hair masks (the usual 10-minute wait times turn her off), Rayna said this unique formula is worth adding into an oily-scalp regimen. “It’s a versatile formula that you can leave on for as long as you like,” she said. “I treat it in the same way as a conditioner, working it from my roots to ends and letting it sit for two minutes before rinsing out.”
The third product
Credits
Shop Color Care
"Since frequent salon
To round out
Shop scalp Care
Shop CURL Care
"The Kristin Ess Hair The One Signature Shampoo and The One Signature Conditioner fit this mindset to a T,” Aviel said. “Like the name suggests, they’re the holy-grail, all-you’ll-ever-need shampoo and conditioner duo.” While the shampoo helps Aviel’s hair feel clean without stripping it of its natural moisture, the conditioner doesn’t weigh down her fine hair. An added bonus for Aviel: these formulas are cruelty-free.
EDITOR: Samantha Sasso
ART DIRECTION: Meg Konigsburg
PHOTOGRAPHY: Matthew Zach
PRODUCTION: Cassie Doyle
HAIR: Akihisa Yamaguchi
MAKEUP: Ashley Rebecca
WARDROBE AND PROPS: Alexis Badiyi
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Hair-spiration
they promised, and hair-spiration they gave.