It doesn't matter what the price point is — figuring out which hair products are actually worth your cash is a tricky endeavor. Not only have we rounded up tried-and-true hair products that get the hairstylist stamp of approval, but they're all drugstore options that won't break the bank. From curl-defining cream to a cult-favorite hair spray, we've got your hair covered from root to end.
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Lauren Viola, head colorist at Eddie Plishti Salon in New York City, says she uses this Sun Bum Leave-In conditioner year-round. "I discovered this product when looking for a leave in conditioner that wasn't too greasy and was paraben-free many years ago, and I have been using it ever since," she says. "It makes hair soft, manageable, and reduces frizz. It is also safe to use on color-treated hair, which is a bonus, and it comes in a spray bottle which I love, as well."
"Elnett has been an industry leader cult classic for as long as I can remember. It's so good that stylists sneak it in backstage at NYFW shows when the show may be otherwise sponsored by another product line to make sure their runway styles will be perfection," says Kali Ferrara, a NYC stylist for The Salon Project at Saks Fifth Ave.
Interestingly, the product didn't actually make it stateside until 2008, and until then U.S. stylists would haul it across the ocean. Ferrara says the hairspray "is like magic." It offers a buildable hold, which means you can add more product according to your needs. It also brushes out nicely without leaving weird flakes or clumps behind.
We don't always think about hair care from the inside out, but supplements can help support hair growth and strength. Some are quite expensive, but Ferrara says she's found a winner in Vitafusion's Gorgeous Hair, Skin & Nails Multivitamin.
"I was looking for a multi vitamin packed with a dose of biotin and stumbled upon the Vitafusion brand. It carries every kind of vitamin you should ever need, all in great tasting gummies. My favorite has always been the hair, skin, and nail gummies," she says. "They're well priced, taste great, and I noticed a difference in my hair and nails within six weeks."
Curly and frizz-prone hair types: listen up! Hair stylist Bradley Leake heard about Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Cream from a good friend who'd moved to Texas where the humidity was out of control. Long story short, she went through a ton of different products before she found a winner in this product. "It's a salon-quality styling cream at a steal of a price," says Leake. "It defines, shines, and makes curly hair more manageable by sealing in moisture and eliminating frizz."
