When this new mask launches in September, hightail it to the nearest Sephora. I used it one time -- letting it sink in for about 10 minutes -- and my hair was incredibly silky, shiny, and smelled like a high-end flower shop for days. It's made with botanical oils that really do nourish your hair, and it has cleansing properties to remove residual chlorine and product buildup.
Price: $39
Where to get it: Sephora, Ulta, Nordstrom, etc.
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In salon: Biolage Advanced Fiberstrong
The Biolage Advanced Fiberstrong line has a shampoo, conditioner, leave-in cream, and a fortifying treatment for at-home use, but the in-salon treatment is the super-charged hero. Tests show that one treatment makes hair 12 times stronger -- 12! It left my hair shiny and bouncy, and my breakage-prone ends have looked better ever since.
Price: $50
Where to get it: matrix.com for salons
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At home: Michael Van Clarke 3 More Inches Pre-wash Treatment
Within 30 seconds of meeting British celebrity hairstylist Michael Van Clarke, I liked him -- and I knew he was going to do good things for my hair. I can't resist that accent, and he openly bagged on Kate Middleton's signature hair. (He thinks it's well-styled, but the cut is just meh.)
I road-tested the Pre-Wash Treatment, a thick cream you apply to dry hair before you shampoo. The instructions say to let it sit for an hour, so I slathered it on, put my hair in a knot, and headed to the gym. Sixty minutes later, I washed and conditioned with the 3 More Inches shampoo and conditioner and dried my hair with a blow dryer and round brush. The treatment contains cashmere proteins that penetrate each hair strand to strengthen the weak spots -- and you apply it before you wash so there's no residue on the hair from your shampoo and conditioner. While I can't vouch for what happens on a microscopic level, I can tell you that my hair felt stronger and looked healthier after using the product.
Price: $38
Where to get it: SpaceNK.com
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In salon: Rahua Omega 9 Pro Treatment
The hair oil trend is hard to deny (it's just a matter of time before Supercuts starts offering Argan oil treatments). For the oil connoisseur, there's Rahua -- a natural, organic line with ungurahua oil (yes, the name is real) from the Amazon. The oil is derived from the ungurahua nut, which grows in the rain forests of Ecuador, and it's been used to treat dry, itchy scalp issues for centuries. This fall, Rahua is offering an in-salon treatment that takes their Rahua Omega 9 Mask and kicks it up a notch with even more oil.
I stopped by the Mizu Salon in New York City to experience it for myself. After a double wash with the Rahua Voluminous Shampoo, my stylist combined the mask with a dropper-full of straight ungurahua oil. The oil cleanses and detoxifies the scalp, and it feels warm and tingly while it works. While the nutty scent takes some getting used to -- it's like Argan-meets-espresso -- the silky hair definitely doesn't.
Price: $60-75 excluding blowout
Where to get it: rahua.com for salons
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At home: Clear 7 Day Intensive Treatment
If you want a bargain treatment, but one that's crazy effective, this seven-day treatment includes seven tubes that are less than two bucks each. And as long as you don't have Rapunzel hair, you can stretch one tube into two or three sessions, bringing the grand total down to 75-cents a pop. The formula contains ingredients like aloe, coconut oil, and vitamins C and E, which nourish your scalp while hydrating your hair. Bonus: Not only is it safe for colored hair, it's good for your color.
After using it just once, a friend commented about how soft my hair looked, and said she couldn't resist touching it. Which she did. Please note: not all flattering comments get a greenlight to invade my personal space. I made an exception for this one -- because she was right!
Price: $14.99
Where to get it: Drugstores
Reality check: Labor Day is around the corner and that inevitable back-to-school anxiety will hit soon. Of course you have a million things to do to get ready, so let's ignore the things you don't want to do (like putting your summer stuff in storage and breaking out those scarves) and let's talk about your hair. Your poor, poor hair.
For all of the bliss and fun of summer, your hair takes a serious beating from so much exposure to sun, salt water and chlorine. The good news? While retailers fill the aisles with 3-ring binders, salons rack up on new damaged hair treatments and hair care brands launch amazing products for at-home use, as well.
We tested the newest hair treatments -- from the salon splurges to the best drugstore buys -- and rounded up the seven we're in love with. Find one that suits your hair and budget now! (At least your hair will be ready for the first day of school.)