All our experts agreed that a quality blow dryer is worth the investment. "Your hair won't look like you just got a professional blowout without a salon blow dryer," says Jennifer J. And Babaii adds, "A well-made, powerful dryer cuts drying time in half." Here are a few of our experts' favorites:
Potempa: H2PRO Ultra Light Nano Hi-Tech 2500, $109.99. "This is the quietest, lightest blow dryer I have ever used. I love that it dries my hair fast and has a cool button that locks in place." A blast of cool air at the end of a drying session sets the hair, closes the cuticle, and leaves hair feeling healthy, she says.
Jennifer J.: Barbar Ceramic ECO 8000 Blow Dryer, $99.99. "[It] is the grand daddy of all blow dryers. It is strong, silent, and eco-friendly."
Jones: Paul Mitchell Express Ion Blow Dryer, $150. "Get [dryers] that have baked-in ions and ceramic -- not plated. A girl's got to have the real thing!"
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No. 5: Heat protectant spray
If you're using hot tools, a heat protectant spray is a must. "With the power in modern blow dryers and the high heat of flat irons [450 degrees in some cases], we need to make sure our hair stays healthy to look its best," Potempa says. But if you're wary of putting yet another product on your hair, Babaii suggests a multi-tasking spray like IT&LY HAIRFASHION Pure Texture, $16.49. "[It] serves as a root booster and helps create those beach waves. You can also use it to protect against humidity and heat damage."
Most of us don't wash our hair every day, and most hairstylists agree that's a good thing. And while fewer washes may mean a healthier scalp and softer ends, it also can mean greasy roots and a smelly head. Which is why Jennifer J. calls dry shampoo "a girl's best friend." "It will get rid of the oil in your hair and adds volume as well," she says. She recommends Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo, $4.99.
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No. 8: A ceramic round brush
Just like the blow dryer, our experts say a quality brush will give you a better final look. "A great ceramic brush will speed your drying time," Jennifer J. says. She adds that using one like the X5 Superlite Thermal Round Brush, $8.99, while blow drying can even make it so that you don't need to flat iron or use a curling iron. "If you curl your hair around the brush, you will get bouncy waves," she says. "If you let your hair roll off the brush, it will be sleek and straight." For the most versatile size, Pelusi recommends a 1-inch round brush. "Any woman can do something with this tool."
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.
