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Dear Friends and Readers,
I hope your day is lovely! It’s 95° here in Austin and I’m in my summer uniform: an old Re/Done mini and an Ozma muscle tee (muscles incoming). Writing to you from First Light. I just love it here. I am drinking a hot latte outside! A true Texan I am, taking the heat like a true champ. Looking to fall: what will we do, where will we go, what will we wear? JK, but what is actually happening in fashion? Do you love it? Do you hate it? I want to know!
I have my headphones in, and I’m listening to a song called Passiflora on repeat and trying to plan my life (haha). I most definitely need a soundtrack when looking into the future. Speaking of music, I want to state on record that I’m pretty sure that the brass and woodwind families are the holiest of instruments in heaven. While I’m sure there are instruments there that we can’t even imagine, I’d like to make a case for the saxophone being the most perfect instrument here on earth. I mean is it reeeeally wrong to force an instrument on your children? ;-) Second most perfect: the shakuhachi, which I think he’s playing here during this worship set.
Besides sorting out the next season of life, I’m also here trying to figure out what is actually interesting in fashion this fall. I’ll get back to you on that soon. For now, we still essentially have a whole month left to legally wear white. (That rule is silly if you ask me. White and cream fashion newsletter coming ASAP… maybe I’ll wait until September just to be crazy) I love summer clothing almost as much as winter wares (I mean, who can resist an autumn sweater?) Summer hair is the best though. All the air drying and salt… the way our natural highlights shimmer. Sweat and oil are so much better than any ole hair paste on the market. Just brush your unwashed hair with a mixed-bristle brush, add a little dry shampoo, give it a tousle, and VOILÀ! My favorite dry shampoo by far is the one from Crown Affair. It completely soaks up excess oil and is 100% undetectable. It also smells so beautiful.
If you must wash your hair this month, I’d love to make a few recommendations! Five to be exact. That is what this post is really about! I hope my rambling is endearing and not like one of those recipe sites where you have to scroll for two minutes before you even get to the ingredient list. I just want to make a cake!!
I know that I have mentioned my years and years as a hairstylist in previous newsletters, so I’d like to think that I know a thing or two about shampoo and conditioner! I want to preface this newsletter with one thing though that might be upsetting, but trust me— it’s for the best! I DON’T LOVE CHEAP SHAMPOO! I want to love it! I promise! I just know that in the end it doesn’t love me (or you) back. I have yet to find a drugstore shampoo that doesn’t completely strip your hair of natural and necessary oils or a conditioner that doesn’t leave buildup over time.
I have tried it all from Oribe to Rōz! Barbara Sturm to the most hippie, and yes even Pantene. I did not separate these recs by hair type, but rather what each set of wash and rinse *does* to your hair. These are my honest recommendations and 100% NOT paid ads, so I hope that you find them helpful. There’s a sea of shampoo out there!
Before diving into specific brands, if you're dealing with a flaky scalp, I recommend starting with a naturally derived "cradle cap" baby shampoo before switching to a regular dandruff shampoo. These shampoos typically contain gentle yet highly effective ingredients like undecylenic acid, salicylic acid, and pyrithione zinc. Also, I suggest using a scalp massager when washing your hair. This helps to thoroughly loosen buildup and promotes blood flow to your scalp. Many people don't wash or rinse their hair thoroughly enough. You'll be surprised at how much your hair health can improve with a deeper scrub and longer rinse alone! Finally, always comb your hair or use a wet brush in the shower before you’ve rinsed your conditioner. This is truly the best time to work on those tangles!
Ok, now on to the recommendations!
Soft Hair: The Rich Shampoo and Rich Conditioner from Augustinus Bader. I have a very strange obsession with the smell of raw silk. It’s like a drug to me. There’s something soft and earthy about the rose and geranium scent composition in this line that reminds me of raw silk. The best part about this shampoo and conditioner is how deeply nourishing they are, yet they don’t weigh your hair down.
Hydrated Hair: David Mallett is an incredible stylist, so I never expected anything less than that product-wise. His Hydration line gives the most shine and bounce I have ever come across. You want that effortless chic French Girl Hair? This line is for you. Perfect if you love to blow dry or put your hair up en queue de cheval!
Thick Hair: I usually rotate between two or three sets of shampoo and conditioner, depending on how I want my hair to feel. Over the past couple of months, I’ve noticed significantly less shedding, and my hair feels lush and strong. Within my current lineup is Nécessaire’s Rosemary Hair Duo, which is a protein-rich line that claims to strengthen and prevent breakage. I can confidently say it actually works! I love how clean my hair feels when I use it, and the spa-like scent leaves me feeling all scrubbed up and glowing after every shower.
Silky Hair: Iles Formula is a curly girl’s dream! Frizz is nil with the Signature Haute Performance Shampoo and Conditioner. The Hard Water Shampoo is like a reset button especially if your hair is dull and limp most days. This line is also free of sulfates, silicones, and parabens, so if you’re sensitive to certain ingredients, this line is for you!
Voluminous Hair: Leonor Greyl has been around for decades and is truly one of the most luxurious haircare lines in existence. The Shampooing au Miel is legendary and if you have fine hair, you will thank me for this rec. As cliche as it is for me to say this, I’m going to anyway: the lavender honey scent is DIVINE. Heaven scent. If you’re feeling Flatty Patty in the hair department, this shampoo is for you. Finish with their Condition Naturelle leave-in detangling spray, blow dry, and BOOM! Your hair is heavens high! For dullness, I also recommend a good ole ACV rinse once or twice a month! If you can get over the smell, it truly revives your scalp and hair.
Other notable mentions and future possibilities:
I have also wanted to give New Wash another try. As an early adopter and a longtime fan of Michael Gordon, the founder of both Hairstory and Bumble and bumble, I was excited about the detergent-free cleanser that replaces both shampoo and conditioner. While I love the concept, I find it better suited for winter since my hair tends to get weighed down easily. However, if you have curly hair, this style of shampooing is one of the best ways to care for your curls.
I’m currently being tempted by Apoldine’s Organic Argan Oil Shampoo! How can I resist the packaging!? Also, their Fabulous Organic Vanilla Oil from Madagascar for Face, Body & Hair sounds lovely. I also peruse the Oh My Cream! site now and again and their haircare selection is exciting to me! Oh, and look at this!
photo via The Hair Bros website And finally, if you’re looking for a new style, The Hair Bros inspire me with every Instagram post. They create effortless shapes that aren’t hard to style or take care of. Truly love their work!
If you have any recommendations, please PLEASE post them in the comments! Especially if you do have a great drugstore recommendation, I am all ears!
Have a great week!
I’m eternally thankful for your readership and eternally yours,
Amber
I think you might like a recording from 1993 by The Hilliard Ensemble and Jan Garbarek, soprano and tenor saxophones. It’s called Officium.
Years later they made other albums, one called Officium Novum, and the other called Mnemosyne, but I don’t like either as much as Officium, I find ethereal.
Do you know the damage that Native shampoo did on my sweet little boys’ soft curly hair within one month? It’s crunchy now. 👎