While this may seem like an unnecessary extra step (you are conditioning in the shower after all), our experts say it's crucial. Pelusi points out that leave-in conditioner helps you detangle and comb your hair more easily, which saves time. And Jones says using a leave-in daily helps "keep hair hydrated and acts like a 'primer' before applying styling products."
If you have fine hair or are worried about volume, Potempa recommends Aussie Mousse + Leave-In Conditioner, $4.99. "The combination of root-lifting volumizer and a soft, leave-in conditioner makes it really easy to style your hair. I always apply it before I blow dry," she says.
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No. 2: A boar bristle brush
Both Potempa and Jennifer J. love Mason Pearson boar bristle brushes because they "can create a perfect, sleek ponytail or a full, voluminous wave," Potempa says. But if you think the $170 price tag makes baldness sound appealing, rest assured that there are more affordable alternatives. Try the Denman Groomin Brush with Natural Boar Bristles & Nylon Pins, $15.99. It has a mix of natural boar bristles and nylon just like the Mason Pearson, but is a fraction of the price.
There are currently 2,084 hair products on ulta.com, and I've tried almost all of them.
I'm a beauty editor after all, so this comes with the territory. And while testing every new hair product that hits the market is a serious job perk, the one little downside is that my bathroom is overflowing with flat irons, curl creams, spray foams, scalp exfoliators... you get the drift.
This isn't just a beauty editor's plight, though. Most women I know are on a quest for amazing hair, which leads them to buy and try an obscene amount of hair products.
Obviously we don't need hundreds of hair products. So, to weed through the superfluous and pull out the essentials, we talked to five pros: Celebrity hairstylist Sarah Potempa, celebrity colorist and owner of Juan Juan Salons in Beverly Hills, Calif., Jennifer J., owner of Marco Pelusi Hair Studio in West Hollywood, Calif., Marco Pelusi, Head & Shoulders celebrity hairstylist Sunnie Brook Jones, and celebrity hairstylist David Babaii.
What they gave us: A complete list of the only hair products every woman really needs. Read on to see if you've got everything they recommend and get ready to toss anything else taking up space in your bathroom.
