*Photo by Roberto Nickson
Keep your holidays simple and give the gift of luscious locks to everyone on your list. Look no further for your guide to smoothing, de-tangling and volumizing winners categorized below to make shopping for your family, friends, workmates and neighbors a cinch. From scrumptious shampoo sets to smart styling, anyone with a mane with thank you for your thoughtful offering, because who doesn’t love a good hair day?
The Color Queen
Whether she’s a beauty school dropout, or just can’t make up her mind, we all know someone who is constantly changing up their hair color and has been every shade under the sun. Chemically processed hair needs extra TLC, especially if it has undergone dramatic changes. Thankfully, these color queens are in luck; Leonor Greyl’s Highlighted Hair Treatment will be the perfect pick-me-up for the new year. The high-end French brand delivers four targeted products to nourish and rebuild damaged hair. It’s no surprise the kit features Huile de Leonor Greyl, a pre-shampoo oil treatment to coat hair with the help of natural botanical oils, keeping color vibrant and adding incredible shine. It’s gained a cult following in all corners of the globe and doubles as a UVA/B hair protector, a must-have in your ski slopes tote or beach bag. Shampooing Sublime Meches and Crème de Soin a l’Amarante, specifically designed for highlighted hair, give locks the richness of quinoa protein, ceramides and amaranth, strengthening and smoothing each hair fiber. Lastly, Serum de Soie Sublimateur, a protective styling serum is applied to wet or dry hair to detangle and smooth using silk proteins and vegetal oils. The fragrance of Leonar Greyl is welcomed and delights with high-end, floral notes.
Available: Lenonor Greyl
The Glam Gal
She’s posh and informed and likely has a standing salon appointment to keep her locks looking fresh. This blow-out babe’s dream gift is none other than The Dry Bar’s Glitter Gang, a collection of professional quality styling products plus Drybar’s signature blow-dryer (the buttercup) and full pint brush. The buttercup blow-dyer wrapped in gorgeous glitter uses ionic technology to control frizz and increase shine using two specialized nozzles for customized flow. The brand promises it dries 20% faster than other professional dryers and is lightweight and easy to use. The full pint brush has a 1.75″ vented ceramic barrel, allowing for maximum heat and airflow to lock in volume and curl for long lasting styles. The perfect blowout can be maintained for days thanks to the set’s volumizing Triple Sec 3-in-1 Texture Spray and Detox Dry Shampoo. Both styling products have refined scents with notes of vanilla, coconut and sandalwood. Your glam gal can add extra pops of sparkle wherever she goes with the set’s no-tug glitter hair ties and glitter, flexible hold spritzer spray (Hello NYE parties!).
Available: Sephora
The BFF
Your best friend and partner in crime deserves it all and Amika’s 6 piece Smooth Criminal Set has you covered. Polished Perfection Straightening Brush is the love child of your favorite straightener + styling brush and creates smooth hair and a stress-free morning routine. The heated brush uses double negative ion technology to heat hair from the inside out. The set also includes Amika styling favorites for your bestie to enjoy; The Shield Anti-Humidity Spray, Soulfood Nourishing Mask, The Wizard Detangling Primer, Perk Up Dry Shampoo and Un.Done Volume and Matte Texture Spray. Every Amika product smells divine, leaving a lingering scent of warm vanilla, citrus and clove and includes key ingredient, sea buckthorn berry, a free-radical fighting powerhouse. Your lucky friend will be set well into 2019 with everything she needs to detangle, nourish, style and maintain a sleek and soft look, coast-to-coast.
Available: Sephora
The World Traveler
Let’s face it, not all hotel amenities are created equal and sometimes the shower selection at a far-away inn can be downright cringeworthy. Do your traveling friends a favor and add Rahua’s Jetsetter Kit into their carry-on bag. Formulated using the beauty secret of Amazonian women, Omega 9 rich rahua oil derived from a tree nut found in the rainforest strengthens and nourishes the hair, to bond and repair while smoothing hair’s cuticle. The Jetsetter pack comes with two options of shampoo and conditioners; Rahua Classic Shampoo, Classic Conditioner, Voluminous Shampoo and Voluminous Conditioner. The classic collection has an earthy, woodsy scent thanks to palo santo oil while the voluminous duo has an invigorating aroma of lavender, eucalyptus and rosemary. The brand’s exclusive oil is extracted with care, using the same method done for centuries by the indigenous women of the Quechua-Shuar tribes.
Available: Sephora
The Curly Sue
Natural curls are gorgeous, but bounce can also bring frizz and dryness. If you know a curly girl then you know they’re constantly on the hunt for a smoothing solution to keep their ringlets looking refined. Enter T’zikal’s Curl Project featuring the brand’s Deep Hydrating Shampoo, Deep Moisture Conditioning Cream, Curl Defining Serum and Smooth Styling Wax. T’zikal (pronounced tee-zee-cal), is derived from the Mayan word meaning sanctified or blessed. T’sikal describes the 500-year old process Central-American rainforest communities use to gather their hero ingredient, ojon oil, used throughout the line. Your senses will be transported into a peaceful rainforest with the shampoo and conditioner’s natural scent of ylang-ylang and bergamot. You’ll continue to reach for these products once you experience the moisture and shine they bring daily. Once hair is damp, a small amount of Curl Defining Serum can be applied, focusing on the ends and damaged areas to help lock in moisture, without leaving a heavy feeling or residue buildup. As a final step, Smooth Styling Wax cab be applied to smooth your style, whether curly, straight or styled down or pulled up.
Available: Amazon
The Luxury Lover
Celebs and non-celebs who love luxury put their manes in the hands on stylist Philip B. who love his pure botanical products. Since the charming Mr. B can’t be in all places at one time, get her this 3 piece Russian Amber Imperial Collection to use at home. Good for all hair types, the kit contains Peppermint Avocado Shampoo for deep shine and bounce, Russian Amber Shampoo for protection and to keep hair full and sexy, and Russian Amber Conditioner containing L-amino acids to leave hair soft and gleaming. Hellooo Beverly Hills Hair!
Available: SpaceNK
The Busy Bee
Between night school, a full-time job and running carpool twice a week, this pal of yours is on the move and to be perfectly honest, doesn’t have time to wash her hair every day. All she really wants is dry shampoo and with Living Proof’s All I Want is Dry Shampoo set, dry shampoo she shall get. This cute kit comes with full and travel size bottles of Perfect Hair Days Dry Shampoo, a time-release formula that absorbs oil, sweat and order. Living Proof uses science and technology (from MIT even!) to solve hair woes, meaning their dry shampoo doesn’t just cover up oil, but actually cleans hair; resulting in a mop that looks, feels and smells clean and fresh. It will work on all hair colors without worry of a powdery build up and saves time and hassle between washes.
Available: Sephora
The Go-To Gift
It’s always smart to have a gift or two on hand that you know anyone will love, especially since winter brings dry and brittle hair to all. Every year it’s a scramble when last minute holiday gift exchanges pop up at your family or work parties. Do yourself a favor and pick up a couple sets of Moroccan Oil Ultimate Moisture now to have on hand. There’s no doubt it will be the most sought-after item in this year’s gift exchange lineup. Nestled in a beautiful keepsake tin lies Moisture Repair Shampoo, Moisture Repair Conditioner, Moroccan Oil Treatment, and a Moroccan Oil Hand Cream. A holy grail product for many, the Moroccan Oil Treatment is an argan and linseed infused treasure used on damp or dry hair for added shine, smoothness and strength. Also infused with argan, Moisture Repair Shampoo and Conditioner leave hair feeling rich with the help of moisturizing avacodo oil and vitamin E. The entire collection is scented with the iconic calming, woodsy fragrance Moroccan Oil is known for and can be appreciated by both women and men alike.
Available: Sephora
The Smart Blonde
Whether she’s got a full head of blonde or blonde highlights, she’ll thank you for getting her this Klorane Chamomile Blond Highlights Kit. Made in France using gentle ingredients these products containing chamomile and honey will lighten, brighten and give those highlights a lift. The 4 piece set contains shampoo, conditioner, sun lightening spray, and for non-shampoo days, their award winning dry shampoo made with oat milk.
Available: Klorane
The Mini Lover
She appreciates mini sized products that fit easily into her gym bag, handbag or overnight tote, and she wants an easy hair care routine. She’ll love the Healthy Sexy Hair Moisture Mini Trio. For just 10 bucks you’ll make her smile with easy-to-travel-with refillable bottles filled with shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioner. Great stocking stuffer too!
Available: Ulta
The Man in Your Life
We’ve yet to meet a man who doesn’t love a scalp treatment, or really, anyone for that matter! Whether you’re shopping for your sweetheart, dad, brother or friend, Tea Tree by Paul Mitchell’s Celebrate Joy Kit hits the spot with a minty-fresh tingle. The set includes Tea Tree Special Shampoo and Conditioner and Tea Tree Firm Hold Gel. The perfect companion for a morning shower, natural tea tree oil, peppermint and lavender invigorate the scalp for a cool, clean feeling. Even the minimalistic man will appreciate the salon-like shampoo and conditioner treatment and easy styling gel for a simplified grooming regime.
Available: Ulta
