The claim: This smoothing oil uses shorea and palm oils to soften and detangle hair, and silicone to help fight frizz. It leaves hair smooth, glossy, and frizz free.
Why we're obsessed: "This stuff is heavenly," says Executive Editor Meghan Rabbitt. "First, it smells AMAZING, and it keeps my hair smelling so great all day -- so much so that when I use it, I don't wear perfume because I want to keep smelling the Kerastase. Second, it makes my hair look and feel like I went to the salon for a professional blowout. And when you consider getting just one blowout usually sets you back somewhere around the $30 to $50 range, it takes the sting out of spending so much on the product."
The claim: This brush-on powder removes dirt and oil and leaves hair soft and healthy-looking. You can use it for a midday touch-up or when you don't want to dry out your scalp with regular shampoo.
Why we're obsessed: "Typically by 5 p.m., my morning-showered hair looks like I've gone days without shampoo due to the fact that I have fine, thin hair," says Senior Associate Editor Anna Jimenez. "This powder instantly soaks up oil and matches my brown hair color so I don't have those telltale 'I was too lazy to shower again' white roots that I get so often with other dry shampoos. It also lasts a long time, which always makes a product splurge-worthy to me. I worship this stuff."
We have a policy here at Total Beauty: The more a product costs, the more it needs to wow us. A $2 lip gloss that's a little sticky? Meh, we can deal. A $30 lip gloss that pulls the same stunt -- sorry, that's just not going to fly.
This is especially true when it comes to salon hair products. We're not ones to shell out tons of cash when we know there's a bargain equivalent at the drugstore. But then there are the products that truly live up to their price tag. The shine serum that leaves our hair amazingly healthy-looking but not greasy. The frizz cream that works even in 90 percent humidity. The dry shampoo that let's us be a little (OK, a lot) lazy.
When it comes to miracle salon hair products like these, we're more than happy to hand over our credit cards. It's worth it when we can consistently have soft, shiny, frizz-free, volumized, healthy, a-ma-zing hair. Bottom line: We're willing to spend if it means better results.
If you're on the fence when it comes to salon hair products, check out this list of our staffs' can't-live-without-'em favorites. We know there are other ways to spend our money, but frankly, who needs another latte or a new pair of shoes when you're having a good hair day every day?
