4 Products to Quench Thirsty Hair

Jan 25th 2012 at 7:22PM by Wendy Rose Gould

I moved to the desert (Phoenix, precisely) from Indianapolis roughly a year and a half ago. Since then, my thick, frizz-prone hair has rejoiced over the lack of humidity.

At first, I considered the ultra dry climate a gift from the beauty gods --well deserved after my 20+ years of fighting fly aways. I even recall gushing about my new-and-improved desert mane during my first Phoenix hair cut (and my hair dresser telling me about clients who refused to move away from Phoenix because they finally got their hair under control). But some things, friends, are too good to last.

While the lack of humidity was a godsend at first, I quickly realized that no moisture in the air meant no moisture in my hair. And when my hair started breaking -- a haircastrophe I was not familiar with -- I knew it was time to change my hair care routine.

The winter months are especially dry in Phoenix, just like they are in states with a zero cacti population. So, no matter where you dwell, I'm sure your hair will benefit from my coveted list of hair products outlined below. I consider them wonderful, magical products that are absolutely vital to my hair's health.

Jonathan IB Revitalizer Treatment Spray
If you're battling brittle hair, Jonathan's IB Revitalizer Treatment Spray ($28) will ensure you win the fight. You're supposed to spray it and leave it on overnight, which is fine, but I usually spray it on in the afternoon and then let it set until later in the evening (about 3 to 5 hours) and it still works wonders. It applies as a fine, oily mist over hair and then as time passes it absorbs into the shaft. By the time I'm ready to wash, it looks like I haven't shampoo'd my hair in about 2 weeks. Afterward, though, my hair looks, feels and smells incredible.

Privé Concept Vert Rejuvenating Pure Shampoo & Conditioner
Okay, so this is a little bit of a splurge at $28 for each, but once you try this eco-friendly product you'll realize that price is actually a steal. Both are sulfate/ paraben-free and are enriched with pure organic extracts. The product dispenses like mousse to create a super rich, foamy lather, helping it distribute evenly throughout your hair. It smells amazing and a tiny bit goes a long way. P.S. Scarlett Johansson, the Olsen Twins and Nicole Kidman are mega fans.

BLOWLUX Masque
This one's more of a once every-other-week or once a month product. The amazing BLOWLUX masque retails for $55 and is one of the best deep conditioners I've used in a really, really long time. It has the texture and appearance of Crisco (gross, I know): dense, fatty and silky. My hair looks very happy for days after using this one. It's also sulfate/paraben free and uses natural ingredients, silk amino acids, wheat protein and premium organic argan oil. It really helped with my dry, split ends and breakage.

It's a 10 Miracle Styling Serum
Whether I'm rocking super straight hair, textured tresses or curly ringlets, I always, always, always follow up with an anti-frizz, shine serum. It helps to lock in moisture, lock out the elements/smog/irritants, tames fly aways and gives my hair a glossy sheen. I've tried plenty of styling serums in my day, from $3 "meh" bottles to $75 bottles not worth their packaging costs. My favorite ever -- and one of the most revered in the beauty world -- is It's a 10 Miracle Styling Serum ($18.50). It has that salon-quality smell, a super light, non-greasy formula and a little goes a long way.