Who doesn’t love thinking of a life in which money was no object? We’d get weekly massages, have a personal trainer, and we’d hit the salon for professional stylings before each date night.
Sadly, money is an object, but that doesn’t mean million dollar hair is out of our reach. We rounded up some of the most incredibly effective, budget-friendly hair products. Step aside, spendy salon products. The bargain bin’s in town — and leaving our hair enviably bouncy, wavy, and super shiny.
Instead of a $200 clear gloss, try: The Good Stuff’s No-Rinse Conditioner, $8
Rather than follow your shampoo with a conditioner and then rinse, The Good Stuff’s line of six conditioners is designed to go on hair after you’ve stepped out of the shower — leaving on “the good stuff” that leaves hair super-moisturized. It also cuts shower time in half, since you’re not dilly-dallying in the steam waiting for a product to penetrate the shaft.
“I can say with full confidence that my hair has never looked as shiny or felt as soft as it does when I use The Good Stuff,” writes Zoe Weiner at Well + Good.”Whether I’m blow drying it straight or letting my natural curls run wild, I can easily run my hands through my hair without them getting caught in knots or accidentally breaking off strands of dry hair. Plus, it’s not greasy and doesn’t require any other styling products or smoothing serums—it’s a one-and-done situation, which means that even more time is saved in my a.m. routine.”
Hey, it’s spring, and you want some pep in your step. Whether your a natural redhead or a bottle job, the Extreme Red deep treatment will have you feeling less Betty Rubble, and more Jessica Rabbit.
“I use Overtone Color-Depositing Conditioner in the shower — allowing me to avoid the hair salon while keeping my hair vibrant and conditioned,” suggests Starr Chen at Insider. “It’s my favorite product to recommend to folks who have dyed their hair in the past — especially if they do a solid color. The company’s customer support is really helpful as far as choosing which colors will work best on your hair and helping guide you to your desired outcome.”
If your hair is seriously damaged, check out this hair repair system loved by “pretty much any and every hair care expert,” writes Kyle Kerchaert at Insider. After an ill-advised run-in with a $10 bottle of purple hair dye, her hair was a wreck. “Olaplex restored the color and helped seal my damaged ends, which saved me from having to drop $400+ for an emergency color-correction and deep conditioning treatment at a salon.”
This cheapie, devotees proclaim, will give you “rich girl hair.” A few bucks and a few minutes leaves your strands smoother, softer, and deliciously hydrated. “It’s more concentrated than your normal conditioner and pretty gloopy, so it adheres to your hair while you’re awkwardly standing in the shower letting it work its magic….Afterward, my hair always feels soft, looks significantly smoother and has a nice, healthy-looking sheen.”
This dry shampoo gives your good hair days an extension. The natural charcoal formula absorbs excess oil and leaves behind citrus-scented locks — luxurious!
Some of us love our spendy salt sprays from Sephora, but when rent’s due, scoop up this option, advises Heather Braga. “When I run out of Ouai Wave Spray (god bless Jen Atkin), I use this one. I used it for years before Ouai and it’s great if you already have wavy hair, since it decreases frizz.” —Heather Braga
Instead of $30 hair growing vitamins try: Peppermint oil for $10.95
Mix peppermint oil into jojoba oil or your or your conditioner, and leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, then rinse to help stimulate hair growth and increase thickness. For those with sensitive scamps, peppermint’s naturally antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory qualities can help with dryness and itching. “Once I started using this, the growth, thickness, and moisture became endless.” writes ndyer13.
It washes away the buildup on your scalp from styling products (hello, dry shampoo), which boosts volume and allows hair follicles to breathe (and grow!) freely. Plus, the gentle formula won’t strip your scalp of natural oils or leave it irritated.
“This gets rid of all your product build up, great if you hate washing your hair and love dry shampoo. You can use it every few washes! Just make sure to use a super-moisturizing conditioner or mask afterward.” —Maitland Quitmeyer
Beauty is now in the eyes of all who behold you.
