I know—finding the right haircare brand for you isn’t always easy without a little assistance. I speak from experience when I say that there is a lot out there that just doesn’t sit right, especially for curls. Although some brands claim to work for all hair types, that doesn’t always end up being the case. Hair types that err on the drier side sometimes need a little something more in order to really thrive, not just survive.
And with other harsh agents like sulfates floating around in certain formulas, it can really start to feel like a landmine when you’re on the hunt for a good shampoo, conditioner, or other treatment. But fear not—celebrity stylists are here to help. In order to finally cut through the noise, I asked them what brands they actually consider top-notch for every hair type and what each brand’s hero products are. Read on below for the best haircare brands of all time, according to the pros.
Celebrity hairstylist and colorist Kiyah Wright touts Pantene’s Gold Series as the best line for some serious rehab. “It performs as advertised and it’s a great affordable hair repair line that’s available locally,” she says. “It also makes your hair feel instantly soft and detangled. The cleansing conditioner is a favorite as well as the shampoo and conditioner.” It’s a favorite of Wright’s and users alike as a few of the shampoos and conditioners are sulfate-free and contain nourishing argan oil. Argan oil is known for its ability to moisturize the scalp and help nurse dry or damaged strands back to health.
Oribe is a cherished brand among celebrity stylists Ro Morgan, Christian Wood, and even trichologist Bridgette Hill because it truly caters to a variety of hair textures and doesn’t skimp on quality. “Oribe has some of my all-time favorite session styling products,” says Wood. “They created this magical texture spray which was revolutionary in styling hair and gives it that lived in cool-girl texture.”
Oribe also always continues to tinker away at its product formulations to keep evolving as users (and their hair) do. Its products are truly custom-designed with scalp health top of mind and are tested rigorously before hitting the market to ensure top quality.
Wright always recommends this line for the cost-conscious who have highly curly or coily hair and struggle with dandruff. “It’s great for treating an itchy or dry scalp,” she shares. “The Scalp Elixir is a favorite of mine and the hair masque is extremely hydrating. It’s affordable and is designed for textured hair. We’ve never had a haircare line for textured hair that treats the scalp and also conditioners and softens the hair. Most conditioners leave the hair feeling brittle and dry, but the Royal Oils collection has perfected their craft and really made a conditioner that hydrates the hair and protects the scalp.”
Shu Uemura creates all of Wood’s ride-or-die products. “They not only look chic but have brilliant shampoo, conditioners, and styling products that actually work as well as they say they do,” Wood says. He even uses these products himself because they’re nourishing, soothing, hydrating, and provide a lot of hold to the hair. This definitely doesn’t hurt on certain occasions when you’re a celeb stylist. “I need [products] to do what [they] say they’ll do on the bottle and have long-lasting results due to the nature of red carpet styling,” he shares.
It comes as no surprise that Kérastase is celebrity stylist–approved and considered to be one of the best haircare brands out there. When your hair could use some extra TLC, turn to Kérastase for its restorative treatments. “It’s truly the best on the market for masks, oils, and reparative products,” says Wood.
Design Essentials products will always be staples for Morgan and Hill. It’s a brand that truly caters to diverse hair types and structures, much like their other favorite Oribe. “I have always looked at hair by texture and not race or ethnicity because hair textures can vary, even within a single family,” says Morgan. He also thinks the brand’s Agave & Lavender collection is great for those who want to blow out their naturally wavy or coily hair. “It delivers exceptional heat protection for blow dryers and hot tools. The Almond & Avocado Curl Enhancing Mousse and the Honey Curl Forming Custard are perfect for keeping curls and coils hydrated as well.”
Hill is also quick to sing its praises, stating that Design Essentials products are of superior quality. They also come at a fair price point and some items can even help manage certain scalp conditions.
Another brand Morgan uses most often on both his own hair and the lush manes of his clients is Bumble and Bumble. “I love Bumble and Bumble for naturally straight, wavy, and curly hair,” he says. “Bumble and Bumble’s thickening spray works double duty for both a luscious blowout or a snatched ponytail on straight hair.”
Celebrity stylist and colorist Jason Backe swears by The Crown which offers in-salon treatments and other game-changing products. For curly hair, Backe loves the brand’s Hero Supreme Serum. “It leaves hair feeling nourished, healthy, and super shiny,” he says. “It’s packed with strengthening elastic and ingredients to restore hair strength.” He also loves the Dull No More Hair Mask for coily hair and the Fine the Volume collection for straighter hair types. “It helps keep hair from falling flat.”
Wright’s go-to brand for organic, vegan products is Brite Hair Care. “This brand is my favorite in terms of fun colors, amazing hair masks, and easy ways to shift your hair tone at home,” she shares. “Its shampoo colors make achieving a temporary pastel color simple, while its toners offer a quick shade refresh. If you want to rock some red tones, their Hair Color Made from Plants has some amazing options!”
I mean, this really wouldn’t be a roundup of the best haircare brands without the hair industry’s damage repair darling, Olapex. Stylists all agree this magical reconstruction line truly does offer products that strengthen the hair and revitalize it from the inside out. Now that the brand has expanded into shampoos, conditioners, and other hero products, the time to invest is now.
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