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5 Celebrity Stylists Share Their One Must-Have Hair Product

By Marissa DeSantis

If you’re anything like me, you had every intention to create (and stick to) a comprehensive beauty routine during the pandemic. After all, having more time at home than ever before does seem like the perfect opportunity to tackle a 13-step nightly skincare routine or a hair regimen that would make your stylist proud. But a year down the line, and let’s be honest, just washing your hair is a major accomplishment.

If you spent more time binge-watching Bridgerton than applying hair masks or oils (or even brushing your hair, we’re not here to judge), allow the pros to help. Ahead, we asked five celebrity stylists to share their one must-have product so you can achieve your best hair with the least amount of effort possible.

The stylist: Irinel de León
The product: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Featherlight Styling Cream

The how-to: “I have curly hair, and this works wonders on my curls and anyone else’s that I’ve used it on,” says the Mane Addicts stylist, who counts Chrissy Teigen and Hailey Bieber among her clients. “Apply a quarter size on very wet hair in two-inch sections by raking it through and shaking the strands,” León advises.

“Feel free to scrunch each section after application to activate the natural texture, but make sure you’re hearing your curls scrunch,” she says, noting this is the secret to frizz-free curls and waves. “If you don’t hear it scrunch, add some water with a spray bottle, then squeeze the moisture out with a micro-fiber towel or cotton t-shirt and diffuse on low-speed heat or let air dry. I promise these steps will make the biggest difference in your routine.”

The stylist: Jacob Rozenberg
The product: K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask

The how-to: K18 is a new favorite for all my clients, particularly those who are color-treated or anyone who heat styles,” says Rozenberg, who works with models like Irina Shayk and Karlie Kloss. “You put it on clean, damp hair and leave it on for four minutes before you blow-dry,” Rozenberg adds of how easy the damage-repairing product is.

“It delivers amino acids right to the center cortex of your hair, literally turning back the clock on damage,” he explains of how it works. “The more you use it, the healthier your hair gets.”

The stylist: Kiki Heitkotter
The product: Christophe Robin Purifying Scalp Scrub With Sea Salt

The how-to: “Just like the skin on our face and body, our scalps can be prone to product build-up, dead skin cells, and occasional breakouts,” explains Heitkotter. “We need to cleanse and exfoliate the scalp, just like you cleanse and exfoliate your face.” Heitkotter, who works with Molly Sims and Busy Philipps, has added the Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub to her routine.

“I typically use it every three to four shampoos, sectioning my hair in two to three-inch partings and placing some of the scrub along the parting. As I rub it into my scalp, I make sure to emulsify it with water for easier distribution. I leave it in for a couple of minutes and rinse off thoroughly. It makes a noticeable difference for how my scalp—and even my hair—feels.”

The stylist: Kylee Heath
The product: Crown Affair The Towel

The how-to: “My personal at-home go-to is the Crown Affair Hair Towel,” says Heath of the microfiber towel. “It works so well to absorb water and stays on super-well,” she adds of the quick-drying option that also helps to prevent hair breakage and frizz. “I love to brush my hair right out of the shower, apply Oribe Matte Waves, and then wear the hair towel as long as possible,” recommends Heath, whose clients include Laura Dern and Nicole Kidman. “Sometimes I keep the towel on for over an hour, but even in five minutes, so much water is absorbed!”

The stylist: Andrew Fitzsimons
The product: NatureLab. Tokyo Perfect Shine Clarifying Scalp Scrub

The how-to: “One of the focuses of quarantine has been on taking better care of your hair—particularly as so many people weren’t able to see their stylists as regularly (if at all!),” says Fitzsimons, who works with the Kardashians. “Scalp scrubs help remove product buildup, excess oils, dirt, and dead skin cells that can accumulate at the root of your hair,” he explains, adding that he’s been using NatureLab. Tokyo and encouraging his clients to do the same. “It uses sugar granules instead of the traditional salt as the exfoliant, so it’s gentler on your hair. This product is also interesting because it lathers up almost like shampoo, so you’re able to get a really thorough clean. ”