14 Products a Veteran Beauty Writer Swears by for Her Thinning Hair

My current favoritehair wash,the Kerastase Densifique Bodifying Shampoo, contains the samehyaluronic acidthat hydrates and plumps the skin. It has a similar effect on my hair. It’s also got a complex called Intra-Cylane that, intriguingly, was inspired by a chemical process used in glassmaking. It appears to fill in surface gaps on and thicken individual strands of hair. My method is to always shampoo with a quick first lathering, focusing on my scalp, followed by a second lathering I leave on for two to three minutes.

As anyone contending with frizz is profoundly aware, a goodconditioneris essential. I’ve found one with added styling power: the Kerastase Fondant Densité Conditioner — a partner to the abovementioned Kerastaseshampoo, containing that same hyaluronic acid-Intra-Cylane formula. Now all conditioners have a smoothing effect, but this one, for me, raises the ante on sleekness. I apply it all over, leave it in for a few minutes, then rinse it out with lukewarm water.

The otherconditionerin my arsenal: A gorgeously creamy hair mask so potent, I leave it on only for the minimum recommended time: five minutes. (I focus on the ends, but even when it migrates toward the roots, I find that isn’t overkill, since my hair is dry to begin with, as frizzy hair often is.) Key ingredients in theKenra RestorativeReconstructor are shaft-fortifying amino acids, coconut oil for smoothing, and a guar derivative for fighting static, along withlactic acidand AHA-like glucanolactone — which allow the other ingredients to penetrate.

This is thedry shampoothat tends to work best for my fine-frizzy texture. The green and brown algae in this concoction controloil production, while tapioca starch (yes, tapioca, the pudding ingredient) minimizes greasiness, argan oil tackles frizz, and vinegar appears to prevent the white-ish residue left by somedry shampoos.Post-gym, I spray it on, massage it into my scalp, and zip it through my hair.

Ahair maskin spritz form? That doesn’t get rinsed out? The contradiction in term that is the Moroccan Gold Series Truffle Leave-in Mask consists of a uniquely clingy frothy-creamy-liquid foam that instantly melts into my hair. Key ingredient: black truffle extract, rich in protective and strengthening amino acids, essential fatty acids, antioxidants, and minerals. On non-shampoodays, I spray tiny amounts onto my palms, lightly work them onto my hair, and then apply the straightening iron. Result? The heat not only seals in bounce and shine, but brings out the mask’s mesmerizing iris-patchouli scent.

The first of several styling products that go on my post-towel-dried hair is the wondrousMoroccanoilRoot Boost — a foamy spray containing nourishing argan kernel oil. Just a few spritzes seem to physically impel each strand upwards from the root. And then there’s the lingering woody-smoky amber scent; that’s a reference to Morocco, home to both arganoiland the world’s most exquisite amber fragrance sources.

Next comes mousse, for added volume and structure. To my delight, theanti-frizz, anti-bleh L’Oreal Air Dry It Ruffled Body Mousse isolates and texturizes each individual strand of hair. Again, all I use is the merest smidgeon, which I sparingly rake in with my fingers. And I’m in respectful awe of the low price.

I let the volumizer and mousse sit on my hair undisturbed until it’s about one-thirddry. Then I turn my self-gripping hair rollers (which eliminate the need for hair-dentingclips). These get positioned on the crown and sides of my head. Now here’s the trick: For a subtle lift, right from the roots, I go for the narrow-diameter 20mm (.79 inch) Urbhome Small Hair Rollers. Depending on the weather,air-dryingtime is anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.

Hair dryersnever worked for me during all those years when I vainly attempted to blow-dry my then-long hair straight. Now, my rolled-up short hair air-dries quickly, but I use the high-velocity Gamma+ Italia Gold Aria Hair Dryer — with its spinning air flow — to speed drying time for those small rollers I mentioned just above. It’s also that rarity amonghair dryers, with an On-Off ionics option. Off, it volumizes and adds body; switched to On mode, it smooths and adds extra shine.

During my previous long-hair years — make that decades —I never used ahairbrush.The merest touch of bristles on my head created matted frizz. But then I discovered the Extreme Vented Brush, which turned me into a convert. The bristles, farther apart than usual, make it especially useful as a gentledetanglerfor the thinned-out hair — whether wet or dry — around my forehead. It’s also an essential overall smoother for my now-sleek hairdo. Developed exclusively for Yves Durif, this brush is handmade in Italy of anti-static rubber resin and strong and tensile carbon fiber. So it’s tough and heat-resistant. While it’s genius for working in shampoo, conditioner, or masques, what I value most about thisbrushare its root-lifting powers.

The single most essential item in my hairstyling routine? It’s my GHD Platinum+ Professional Performance 1” Styler, which Yves Durif recommended (and uses himself at his salon). Not only does it heat up at record speed (20 seconds), not only does the outer casingnotget hot (so no finger burns), but it’s also a smart tool. If I insert a big chunk of hair, it revs up its power output to maintain its optimal 365°F temperature. That means less overall ironing time and minimal hair pulling. Durif’s assessment: “It’s gentle but very effective.” For me, the silky shine, smoothness, and movability lasts for several days if I turn to ahair rollertrick my colorist, Marie Sigismondi, at the Warren Tricomi Salon, taught me: To maximize volume and bounce, I warm up each about-to-be-rolled section of hair with theiron, and then leave the rollers in place until my hair cools down.

And now for the hairoil and serumportion of this article. The Medford, Oregon, dermatologist Laurel Naversen Geraghty (who had a past life as a beauty writer and editor) says “hair oils and serums can coat individual hair strands to add temporary shine and smoothness.” That’s their main function. Oils are notorious for weighing hair down, so I use the merest smidgeons, which I warm between my palms. Since they’re essential for my bob, I rotate among three different ones, each with its own charms, starting with the Moroccanoil Treatment Light. According to hair-care lore, the amber-scented Moroccanoil Treatment was the pacesetting argan and flax seed oil hair shiner and smoother that started the whole hair oil movement. The Light version is perfect for my fine hair, shining it up and making short shrift of flyaways without producing the dreaded flattening effect.

Tons of terrificshine serumsare out there. But maybe thanks to its microencapsulated black truffle extract, the Moroccan Gold Series Truffle Serum is the one that leaves my hair most noticeably silky. Plus, imbued with longlasting iris-patchoulifragrance, this serum is almost a hair perfume. It even leaves a luscious scent residue on my wooly winterbeaniecap.

So many high-octane hair products today have advanced lab ingredients and obscure botanicals. And then there’s the 90-year-old Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, containing old-fashioned lanolin and mineral, castor seed, vegetable, and corn oils. Legend has it that Arden herself (who owned a thoroughbred racing stable in Kentucky’s Bluegrass Country) invented thisointment–it’s really more of an ointment than a cream — for her horses’ legs. Humans use it for soothing and smoothingchapped and dry skinareas. The heaviest of my three smoother-shiners, it’s best used sparingly on my hair. I stroke a fingertip-ful all over my hair for extra manageability and shine. And any extra on my fingertips gets rubbed ontomy lips. As for the piercing medicinal aroma, I find it alluring in a comforting way.