Hi guys! How are ya? I hope your day is going well!
As I was showering this morning, an idea popped into my head. I was using my favorite shampoo and conditioner when I remembered an email I received from a blog reader who requested a blog post all about my favorite hair products. And then an idea was born! This blog post will be the first in a short series of posts that touch on beauty, fitness, fashion, travel and blogging-related favorites. Think of it like a much more specific and focused version of Things I’m Loving Friday!
Today we’re kicking things off with some hair talk. My hair is long but very thin. I need all the help I can get when it comes to adding volume and have found some products that I think do a decent job of adding texture and volume to my otherwise rather flat and lifeless hair.
Below you will find some of my favorites!
- Marc Anthony Instantly Thick Shampoo and Conditioner
Marc Anthony Instantly Thick Shampoo and Instantly Thick Conditioner are my all-time favorites. I bought this duo on a whim at Ulta several years ago and haven’t looked back since. It’s the only shampoo and conditioner combo I’ve used that I think makes even the slightest difference in the volume of my hair. It’s not a miracle worker but it is better than any other volumizing shampoos and conditioners I’ve tried (though I did love the Fleurs de Tempes volumizing shampoo sample I received in past Birchbox).
This is, hands down, the best impulse purchase I’ve ever made when it comes to hair care. I bought it solely based on the name because it sounded like the answer to my hair woes… No matter what I do (or how many “healthy trims” I get), my hair never seemed to grow past a certain length until this stuff came into my life. I used it one to two times a week beginning in October last year and a few months later, after my friend Merri commented on the length of my hair, I took a minute to actually notice the length of my hair and was pleasantly surprised. My hair was finally growing! Ever since then, I’ve recommended this stuff to a handful of friends (including Gina!) and everyone has positive things to say about the treatment. It doesn’t work overnight (obviously), but it does work – tons of positive reviews don’t lie! (Tip: It’s actually cheaper at Ulta than it is on Amazon!)
While a hair stylist was doing my hair for a wedding I was in last year, she made a comment about heat protection spray. When I told her I didn’t use any, she went off and told me it was really, really important, especially for someone like me who straightens and curls her hair somewhat regularly. I then reached out to you guys and after a handful of you recommended this affordable spray (and I saw all the positive reviews), I picked up a bottle and have been using it ever since. It’s lightweight and the spray comes out in a mist which I like a lot since I didn’t want to add a product to my hair that might weigh it down. One bottle also lasts for a long time!
- Marc Anthony Instantly Thick Volumizing Foam
I will often run about a quarter-size amount of this foam through my damp hair before styling it. I think it adds a little oomph to my locks and also makes my hair easier to curl since it takes away some of the softness of freshly-washed hair.
- Big Sexy Hair Spray & Play Hairspray
The BEST hairspray!!! I use this hairspray every time I curl my hair and it really does pump up the volume and add some life to my waves. I use it liberally and it never makes my hair look stiff or crunchy. It’s another lightweight find that holds my curls in place and adds a little volume in the process. Tip: l often find it on sale at TJMaxx or Marshalls and it’s cheaper online from Ulta than Amazon.
- Big Sexy Hair Powder Play
My friend Ashley got me hooked on this stuff after I saw her use it to pump up her roots when we were getting ready together one night. A tiny bit goes a long way and it does a great job of adding texture and life to day-old or limp hair. Plus, if you like to fluff up your roots, Powder Play allows you to fluff your hair and helps it stay that way.
- Dry Shampoo
I used to use baby powder to hide greasy roots but after trying dry shampoo, I fell in love and immediately said goodbye to baby powder. It seems like Birchbox understands my love for dry shampoo because I’ve received three different kinds and I’ve loved all of them. I’m not overly picky when it comes to try shampoo (as long as it hides grease and adds a little volume, I’m a happy camper), but the Klorane dry shampoo and Amika Perk Up dry shampoo are two favorites.
Question of the Day
- What are some of your all-time favorite hair products?
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Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored in any way, nor have I worked with any of the above companies in the past. The products above are simply some of my all-time favorites. Affiliate links are included in this post and, as always, I really appreciate your support!
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I have the thickest hair in the world, so I usually go for a shampoo for normal hair. I love Head and Shoulders apple scented shampoo, makes my hair smell so nice! I love love dry shampoo, it’s so handy for in between washes and gives my hair the extra volume it needs! I love the Tousle me softly hairspray by Herbal essences, to give my hair natural waves when I can’t be asked to straighten or curl it 🙂
I thought *I* had the thickest hair in the world! ha. That means that I will not be buying any of Julie’s recommendations 😉 I’m always looking for whatever will add the LEAST volume. I switched to DivaCurl No Poo and One Condition a couple of years ago and will never look back!
I feel you! I always stay away from any product that says “adds volume and thickens” because I have enough as it is aha! I’ve not heard of that shampoo, I’ll have to look for it and try it 🙂
I love the Detox dry shampoo from Drybar. It doesn’t leave white residue and it smells amazing!
I definitely want to try that Hair Growth Treatment! Mine hasn’t grown in the last 4 years! I actually got extensions to cope!! 🙂 🙂
I love all of the Organix Shampoo & Conditioners. They smell nice, feel nice, look nice… the cost just isn’t very nice, but small price to pay to have fewer trips to the salon! Also, my hair dresser and I have a pretty tight relationship, so she is always giving me products to test, so far my absolute favorite and go-to is Marrakesh Oil. It smells awesome and keep your hair, especially the ends, looking super healthy. She always tries to get me try something new – but I just love this product!
I’ve recently started using It’s a 10. I gave up straightening my unruly hair a few months ago & have given it to embracing my waves. This stuff is amazing! I use Bumble & Bumble’s No Frizz on top. Love them both!
I’m giving that Marc Anthony foam a try. I just wasted my money on an argan oil mousse and it’s no bueno. I did get the Fekkai mousse and it’s pretty good but at $20 not something I want to indulge in all the time. Thanks for the peep into your beauty regime!
I live in the high desert where it is super super dry. My hair needs a lot of good moisture to look and feel healthy, so I use Moroccan Oil Shampoo/Conditioner and Treatment. The smell reminds me of being somewhere warm and tropical. 🙂
I received the Amika dry shampoo in my BB a couple months ago and LOVE it! Ended up buying the full size.
Also, I love your idea of this series. I’ve gotten some good fashion/beauty ideas from your blog. Any chance you could include a Birchbox subscription favorites in your series? I started my sub over the summer and have been absolutely loving it.
Love that idea!!! I am slowly beginning to have a collection of favorites and this this is such a fun idea!
I’ll have to check out that hair grow treatment mine always seems to just stop once it gets to a certain length too.
I have very curly hair. My two favorite products right now are the Aveda prep serum for curly hair and then I follow up with Bed Head foxy curls spray. I live in the Charlotte area so the two sprays in the humid months (like 9 out of 12 months) help keep my curls looking like curls and not just a big poof ball.
I need to try that Spray and Play spray! I’m in need of something to add volume to my hair. I have thin hair and while there’s a lot of it it always falls flat!
The best thing I ever did for my long, thin hair was to cut off several inches and add some layering. It’s amazing the difference it makes. Even long layers help give hair some body, especially when you curl it.
thank you thank you! I remembered you mentioning the hair growth stuff a while ago and was meaning to look up what you used and then forgot immediately! ordering it today
Hope you love it!
I’m a curly girl and the Deva products are amazing! Before I started using Deva, about 5 years ago, I had about five products I would use to tame the curls. Now I use their No Poo Shampoo, Lightweight Conditioner and Defining Gel and I’m good to go – frizzless curls every time!
It must be a Julie thing to have thin hair! 😉 Love this post not only because I have the same type of hair but the products you use are affordable and won’t break the bank! As far as a product I use and love…it would have to be L’Oreal’s BOOST IT Blow Out HeatSpray. It definitely adds volume, acts as a heat protectant, and smells nice.
I’m so bad and always just get what’s on sale because I’m so cheap with things like that. New Christmas list items, for sure!
Hey Julie! I too am part of the thin hair club, but over the years I’ve used Kevin Murphy’s anti-gravity right before I blow out my hair and it is the most magical hair product I’ve ever used. It doesn’t feel heavy and absorbs the oil. I find that I don’t have to blow dry my hair for a solid 3 days because it keeps getting better. You should definitely check it out–life changing!
* not blow dry, but I don’t have to wash my hair or use dry shampoo and other products
Totally going to look for this!!
I’m loving Not Your Mother’s Way To Grow Shampoo and Conditioner! My hair is very fine as well and after only a couple weeks it thinker, healthier and growing! <—-so amazing!! I'm not really picky about dry shampoo's either. As long as they absorb any oil and give my hair a little oomph at the roots I'm a happy girl! Thanks for sharing, Julie, and I cannot wait to see the rest of this series!!
Oooh I’ve never heard of this!! Sounds great!
I really want to try that Lee Stafford treatment for hair that doesn’t grow past a certain length! I remember you posting about it awhile back, but at the time, I had my hair shorter so I didn’t need it. Now that I’m trying to grow back out my hair, this stuff would be awesome.
It takes a few months to notice a difference, but I really think it works wonders!
Fun post! I just chopped my hair off… I know everyone loves dry shampoo, but I always just use baby powder when my hair looks greasy and it does the trick (and I have fine hair, so if I go one day without shampooing it, it’s not cute).
Batiste is, by far, the best dry shampoo I’ve ever used. I’m obsessed! It comes in a TON of scents and even has different kinds for blonde and brunette hair. Best part: it’s only about $6!!!
Sounds amazing!!
Dry shampoo is my favorite hair product! I’ve heard good things about Amika too!
I LOVE dry shampoo! I get Tresemme… perfect for sweaty hair and rushing off to class!
Loved this post – going to Ulta this week to stock up – thanks!!
I think I’m totally going to buy the big sexy hair powder play! I was in a wedding recently and the ladies doing our hair used it and I thought it was great! Love discovering new hair products. Thanks for sharing!
I bought the Lee Stafford treatment after your recommendation and I love it too. I feel like it does add a bit of volume as well plus it makes my scalp feel healthier. And Ulta always has a $3.50 off coupon which works for this item so it makes it even cheaper!
What curling iron do you use? Your curls always look so pretty! I also have thin hair and no curling iron I’ve tried will hold a curl on me
Thank you! I use a curling iron by Hot Tools (I think it’s the 1 1/2 inch barrel?)
I’m old school and I’m sticking to my baby powder! I have found that dry shampoo (the spray kind) doesn’t have the same effect as I want. If you are looking for a powder, I love the kind at LUSH.
Other favs: Aveda volume shampoo and the phomollient.
I have the thickest hair known to man. Everyone always comments on it. Both my parents had thick hair when they were young (my dad’s hair started thinning right after high school, and my mom’s started thinning after having children). I’m not a guy, and kids are nowhere on the horizon, so it’ll probably stay thick for years to come. I recently discovered Moroccan Argan Oil, along with Moroccan Oil Crème Shampoo and Conditioner by OGX, which has given my hair such shine and softness. I’m a convert, especially after using Herbal Essences for years (it started to dry out my hair and scalp).
Fun post idea! My go-to shampoo and conditioner is Biolage. It works so well and smells amazing!
I need that treatment for hair that never grows. My hair was so long in 8th grade and then i dont know what happened. I get trims but nevwr cut a large amount off and definitely want it to get longer of possible.
I have thin hair as well that only got worse after having kids. I don’t know of any good products because I am 6 months into trying not to use any heat or styling products (just shampoo and conditioner). What has helped so far: The Wet Brush- I know it’s terrible to brush your hair wet but due to my job I really have no choice, this brush has really cut down on breakage. For dry hair I have been using a boar bristle brush which has also helped to add volume. I have also started taking biotin and gelatin which have started to show positive results after 2 months.
I swear by biotin. My mom started using it when her hair thinned out during breast cancer treatment, now it’s super full and thick again and my naturally thin hair benefits from it too! Also great for growing stronger nails.
I swear by dry shampoo and some old school Aussie hairspray. Of course, I get a keratin straightening treatment in my hair, so have to look for sulfate-free and sodium chloride-free shampoo, which gets pricey. But otherwise I stick to the basics. Fun post!
I’ve been trying to use more natural products lately, but I think I need to give that dry shampoo a try for days I have to go immediately to work after working out. I like Nature’s Gate and Everyday Coconut for shampoo though they definitely don’t help with voluminizing hair (I have th same problems as you). They just smell nice.
I have both super thick & super fast growing hair, so I won’t be needing most of your favorites 😉 I only had long hair for a couple of years in high school/college & that was enough forever. Ha. When I cut it off the first time (9 inches), it was all grown back within about 6 months & then I cut it off for good my sophomore year of college. I’ve worn some form of a pixie ever since then. Guess I’m lucky, but sometimes the thickness can be a major pain since it’s often so heavy it won’t stay styled…
Ok – I’m like you, I don’t use any products on my hair. I know it’s TERRIBLE, but I’ve just never used anything or found anything that I thought really made a difference other than smelling good. But I know I HAVE to start using a heat protector, so I’m going to give a few of these a try! I also love how affordable they all are, I’m not the kind of girl that can invest hundreds of dollars in hair, these are definitely realistic for being on a budget! Thanks!
Your heat spray is my deep conditioner. My beloved hairdresser once lectured me about the importance of a deep conditioning treatment every week or so. I’m on my second jar of alba botanica hawaiian deep conditioning minute mask (cocoa butter/intense recovery for damaged hair). I pick it up at Whole Foods for about $8 and it lasts for months. I look forward to my weekly deep conditioning. This stuff smells amazing and leaves my hair soft, shiny, and smooth. Love.
http://www.albabotanica.com/hair/conditioners/cocoa-butter-minute-mask.html
dry shampoo is my favorite product– my hair gets greasy so fast, blah! I still haven’t found one that I’m in looove with, but I’m going to keep searching! ha
I could not live without Big Sexy Hair Weatherproof. As soon as there is the tiniest bit of humidity in the air, my hair goes fluffy. All my little flyaways fluff up and I hate it. Weatherproof helps a lot. It isn’t perfect, but it makes my hair SO much better.
I also always use It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product. It’s amazing. It always makes my hair feel so soft and smooth. It keeps if from getting crazy tangles throughout the day, too. So worth the money.
I’ve never heard of their weatherproof product! I definitely could’ve used that in Florida!!!
I need that shampoo! I struggle so much with thin hair, its a drag!
The natural nut butters that you can make right there, the sushi section is my FAVORITE and of course all of the ezikiel options!!! Pick mee I love whole foods, maybe I’ll pick up a pumpkin for halloween 🙂
Love this post!!! Thanks for sharing. Interested to try some of these. My two hair favs are Tonic lotion spray from bumble and bumble and Morraccan Oil!!
Love this idea! Looking forward to the series.
I was in my brother’s wedding a couple of weeks ago and the guy that did our hair used the “Powder Play” on me. It worked wonders and he highly recommended it. I’ve been looking for it at Marshalls (I try to be a thrifty shopper), but after your recommendation, I might break down and order it via amazon! Thanks 🙂
I haven’t tried any of these! They sound pretty good though. I need a spray that will instantly give me the curls you do. They make that, right? 🙂
I swear by Sebastian Shaper Plus!
I also have fine hair so this post is perfect for me! Big Sexy hairspray has been my family’s go to forever! It’s simply the best. My Mom and I (she has fine hair too) have been using this new shampoo and conditioner called Fibre Force. My mom’s hair stylist recommended it to us. My mom’s hair hasn’t ever been as long as it is now, so it definitely works. My hair has also been growing faster than normal so I truly believe in it. Thanks for the great recommendations. I’m going to look into a few things you mentioned on this post.
John Frieda anti-frizz serum is a lifesaver! I can’t go a shower without it! It’s great on damp hair, or a bit goes a long way to tame frizz/flyaways once your hair is dry.
I love love love love LOOOOVE “Its a 10.” They have this awesome leave in spray conditioner that was basically my life saver this summer. Kept my hair from drying out with all those fun (but sooo not hair friendly) activities.
Love these types of posts! I’m such a hair and beauty junkie. I love talking products. Right now my favs are Big and Sexy hairspray (I use it to add volume and texture to my flat, fine hair). I also like Chi thermal heat protectant spray and Ion clarifying shampoo, which I could not live without. My hair tends to get very greasy near the roots and this shampoo is a life saver. It’s made such a difference for me.
I love this post! I struggle with thin hair and am looking for a solution to that thin hair appearance. I’ll have to give a few of these products a try!
Thank you for this! My hair is of a similar texture and thickness to yours and I’m always looking for products to help keep it full of life and thickness. Thank you thank you thank you!
I can’t wait to see what else you come up with in this series!
Love these types of posts! I’m such a hair and beauty junkie. I love talking products. Right now my favs are Big and Sexy hairspray