Remember when you used to wash your hair all the time? Now, since the dawn of the falling to zero estrogen age, many of us can go so much longer without our heads getting anywhere near the showerhead. In some ways, life is simpler, right? But I can’t be the only one who’s missing out on my the glory days of my old hair. Have no fear, new technology-pushing hair products are here. We did a deep dive into the hair products that will actually make a difference in your locks, no matter what your issues may be.
A good shampoo and conditioner can make all the difference in how your hair looks. Sulfates, the ingredient that makes shampoo into a luxurious creamy lather is ironically what dries out our hair and dulls hair color. Our scalps and hair are not like the rest of our bodies and do not need to be washed all that often, especially as we get older. “Cleanse your scalp and rinse your hair” is how Beverly Hills stylist Terrence Parker puts it. Once you adjust to washing less often with the sulfate-free, low sudsing formulas, you will see that your hair is indeed, clean, without all that drama. What is also somewhat surprising is that shampoos formulated especially for color treated hair can be drying and harsh and actually change the color of your hair. Those blue and purple shampoos are very harsh and should not be employed on any regular basis. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo into our weekly hair routine will keep hair full and remove product buildup,
We asked a few stylists, tested and trolled our own bathrooms and happily, got to speak with Sharon Dorram, a high priestess of hair who tends to famous heads with names like Uma, Julia, and Nicole. She is also the Color Director at Virtue, a new hair care company that is knocking our personal socks off. “As a colorist, I deal in damage,” says the emphatic Dorram, “with Virtue, I see results right away — pure vibrant color. Hair is repaired, the color is gorgeous. I want to see my clients looking amazing when they leave the salon as well as for weeks after. Virtue gives us that.” Alpha Keratin 60ku™ the magic key to Virtue’s effectiveness is a patented form of the human protein keratin that was initially developed to help severely wounded military soldiers – with beneficial applications for bone, tissue, and nerve regeneration. By chance, it was also found to have enormous benefits for repairing hair. Some of us, with fine hair, have been using the shampoo with terrific results and one ITG editor, with coarse curly hair swears the Virtue Restorative Treatment Mask has transformed her hair into the softest and shiniest it has ever been.
In addition to changing up the products we use to shampoo and condition, brushing your hair regularly with a boar-bristle brush moisturizes strands, making them less prone to breakage, and keeps them shining. Since most of us are still using the same hairbrush since college, perhaps even a really old Mason Pearson (guilty) but we have to admit they are a bit pricey and have discovered a few more great choices. It seems there was wisdom in that 100 strokes with a hairbrush a night, and after getting on the best hair care wagon, our tresses are looking a good bit shinier and dare we say—younger?
Our baker’s dozen hit list includes those and other favorites like the fine hair formulas from Phyto, Rahua is the favorite of clean beauty experts, and Davines is a favorite salon brand, and because we can’t resist the pure richness and smell, Oribe.
Shop the rest of our favorite hair products below:
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.