Top 9 Products for Dry, Damaged Hair

Dry, damaged hair tends to be coarse and sometimes curly. The secret to adding moisture to dry or damaged hair is deep conditioning. Try products rich in vitamins that are cream-based. Here, we rundown the best products on the market, tried and tested among the beauty industry's top stylists and beauty editors.

1. Best (Pricey) Shampoo for Dry Hair: Kerastase Bain de Force

Kerastase is hands-down the best shampoo on the market, however, you will pay a price for perfection. Bain de Force is a vitamin-infused shampoo created for parched, dry hair. According to InStyle Magazine, which named it a 'Best Buy' two years running, Bain de Force contains a 'bond mender' that strengthens weakened hair.

Runner up: Bain Satin which contains cationic polymers that targets damaged hair and cuts down on frizz.

2. Best Hair Mask: Kerastase Masquintense

Ultra-rich and packed with moisturizing proteins, Kerastase Masquintense is known to give salon results. The deep conditioner detangles quickly, softens and won't weigh hair down. A must for coarse, dry hair.

3. Best Repair Cream: J.F.Lazartigue Vita-Cream with Milk Proteins

Applied after shampooing to the driest parts of your hair, this protein-enriched conditioner uses Vitamin F and lacteal (milk) proteins to rebuild, detangle and protect dry hair.

4. Best Thirst Quencher: Phyto Phytosesame Express Hydrating Conditioner

Another fabulous conditioner to be used after shampooing, Phyto Phytosesame Express Hydrating Conditioner softens and detangles the coarsest hair. It's about the same price as the better known (and hyped) Kerastase products.

5. Another Great Conditioner: Redken All Soft Heavy Cream

Another fabulous salon conditioner, Redken All Soft Heavy Cream won't weigh hair down or leave residue as it moisturizes and detangles. This deep conditioner is great for de-frizzing.

6. Best Inexpensive Conditioner: Herbal Essences Replenishing Conditioner

Bought at any drugstor, you'll find Herbal Essences Replenishing Conditioner will give you salon-quality softness for a fraction of the price.

7. Best Straightening/Anti-Frizz Product: Kerastase Oleo Relax Serum

Dry, coarse hair tends to be curly hair. To get stick-straight blow-outs, stylists use Kerastase Oleo Relax Serum on wet hair before blowdrying. The protein-enriched conditioners bind to each strand while straightening them to a high shine.

Another fabulous de-frizzer: Phytodefrisant Hair Relaxing Balm, a great lightweight choice that won't leave hair greasy.

8. Best Shine Serum: Kerastase Nutritive Vernis Nutri-Sculpt Ultra-Shine Top Coat

It's a fight to get dry hair looking silky and soft. Finish off a blow dry with Kerastase Nutritive Vernis Nutri-Sculpt Ultra-Shine Top Coat. The glistening micro-droplets give blow-dried hair dimension but won't weight down hair.

Another great bet is Kerastase Nutritive Serum Nutri-sculpt Lustrous Repair, which is silicone-based and lightweight.

9. Best Rejuvenating Oil: Philip B.

Bring dry locks back to life with Philip B. Rejuvenating Oil. These oils penetrate deep within the hair shaft to restore needed oils to damaged strands.

Great inexpensive option: V05 Hot Oil Shower Works. You can get this deep conditioner from your local drugstore.

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Top 5 Hairbrushes

Every stylist knows the best hairbrushes have boar bristle. But for the best results, you'll want a brush that has BOTH synthetic (nylon) bristles AND boar bristles. The mix creates the perfect brush: The boar bristles are gentle, while the synthetic bristles help hair dry faster. A good brush helps create shine by distributing oils from your scalp evenly over hair. It acts as a detangler and it won't harm the scalp or tug at strands.

Here we rundown the top 5 hairbrushes on the market today.

1. Best Basic Bush: Sephora

Sephora's basic, handcrafted paddle brush is perfect for normal to fine hair. We love that it has a mix of boar and synthetic bristles, won't snag hair and won't fall apart in a year's time. At less than $50, it's worth the price.

A good brush is an investment. You may spend more than $20 on one, but it will last many, many years with care. To wash hairbrushes, soak them in a warm bath with a few squirts of a clarifying or baby shampoo, then rinse with hot water.

2. Best Round Brush: Spornette

Named the best beauty buy in InStyle Magazine's best beauty buy issue three years in a row, Spornette is the round brush of choice for discerning stylists. Stylist Stuart Townsend said in Elle that he chooses Spornette brushes because they offer a smooth blowout without tugging at the scalp.

Spornette's round brushes give hair body and bounce so you don't need a curling iron or even flat iron. Try the ceramic brush for even more curl and body.

3. Best Paddle Brush Hands Down : Mason Person

Not everyone can afford the $68-$130 price tag, but Mason Pearson is THE brush to have is you can afford it. The boar bristles are known for their gentleness, while the synethic bristles wound into the brush help dry hair faster. A perennial favorite among stylists, this brand of brush has made it onto many of InStyle's best buy lists over the years.

4. Best Inexpensive Paddle Brush: Denman

Don't want to pay the price for a Mason Pearson, but don't want to scrimp on quality? Your best bet is Denman's Medium Cushion Brush with Natural Boar Bristles. Another brand favorite of stylists, Denman's brushes are both high quality and affordable (about $18-$24). This particular brush works particularly well on all types and lengths and is a great detangler.

5. Best Brand Recognition Round Brush: Frederic Fekkai

The big names in haircare (think of Jessica Simpson's stylist, Ken Paves), know there's profit in their celebrity name. You'll find all sorts of products out on the market from celebrity stylists. While it makes sense that these guys know quality, we can't give a thumbs up to everything. We do, however, give two thumbs up to Frederic Fekkai's boar bristle and nylon round brush, which is perfect for creating curls or taming them.

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Top 5 Products To Combat Hair Frizzies

f you suffer from flyaway frizzies you know how hard it is to find great products to help combat them. We've done the research & found the 5 best products on the market today.

#1: Best shampoo & conditioner for frizzy hair Kerastase has the best products in our opinion for curly hair. Their Nutritive Bain Elasto-Curl Shampoo is praised by beauty experts for its intense moisturizing properties. It will soften coarse, curly hair while enhancing your natural curl without letting it get frizzy on you.

For conditioners, go the Kerastase route again, with its Nutritive Masquintense conditioner:

#2. Best hair-styling cream Creams are a must for calming flyaways while boosting shine. We love Ojon Conditioning Finishing Paste. This product works great on dry hair. Simply rub a bit between your hands then palm over your curly hair.

#3. Best shine serums for curly hair Smooth frizz & flyaways with a great shine serum. A great less-expensive project (about $6) is Neutrogena Triple Moisture Healing Shine Serum:

A medium-price gloss to try is Bumble & Bumble 'DeFrizz'

A great-but-pricey gloss is Rene Furterer Spray Gloss:

#4. Best relaxing balms Another great way to tame coarse, flyaway hair is to use a relaxing balm. You'll love these lightweight textures that won't leave hair feeling greasy:

PhytoDefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm. This relaxing balm is considered a must-have in every stylist's kit, according to InStyle magazine's 'Best Beauty Buys' 2006 issue.

We also like KMS Flat-Out Relaxing Balm

#5. Best styling gel for curly hair The pros say Senscience Smooth Gelee ($13, call 800-626-3684) is perfect for taming coarse, curly hair. It's also great when blow-drying or ironing hair straight. You'll find it won't make hair stiff, a bad effect of using many gels.

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Top 6 Blow Dryers

Standing in the aisle looking for a new hair dryer can be daunting. Unless you have a Consumer Reports guide in your hand (we don't know if they review blow dryers) how to tell which ones are best? Actually, all you need to remember is a few brands that are all-time favorites: Conair for inexpensive dryers & Tourmaline for pricier picks. Here's the rundown on the best dryers on the market from cheap to steep.

1. Best Inexpensive Blow-Dryer: Conair Ion Shine 1875

According to InStyle Magazine's best beauty buy issue, Conair dryers are the next best thing to a professional dryer. So if you are standing in the aisle, head for Conair, especially this Ion Shine 1875 version (about $21.95). InStule calls it 'strong, hot, powerful and cheap.' Sold! Comes with attachments & several settings. We just love the bright color.

2. Best High-Powered Blow-Dryer: Supersolano

At $125, it's not cheap. But it is the overwhelming pick of professionals who love it because it can straighten even the thickest, curliest hair. You'll love its washable filter, multiple heat settings & power.

3. Best Ionic Blow Dryer: Bio Ionic

We won't go into the technical reasons ionic dryers work so well, but trust us that ionic dryers work about 40 percent faster than regular dryers, leaving hair silky & glossy. But the time saved does come at a price: about $175.

Another great choice:T3 Tourmaline Ionic Blow Dryer

4. Best (Inexpensive) Ionic Blow Dryer: Conair Infiniti Professional Ionic Styler

Can't afford the fancy ionic dryers like the T3? No problem. Stylists claim this drugstore version dries hair faster than non-ionic versions & makes hair shiny. Cost: $36.95-$48.95.

Buy Direct

5. Best Inexpensive Travel Dryer: Conair Travel Ionic Dryer

Again, Conair is the best inexpensive brand on the market. This ionic dryer is small & fits perfectly in any suitcase.

6. Best High-Powered Travel Dryer: T3 Tourmaline Overnight Travel Dryer

Lightweight & efficient, this travel dryer is the choice of stylists who travel. The handle folds & it has dual voltage for traveling overseas.

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The 14 Beat New Perfumes--A list of the hottest new scents for spring & summer

Every season a new rash of fragrances hit the market. So which ones are worth the bucks? I've read the magazines, sniffed the perfumes & given them a test run & these are the 14 best new (and not so new) fragrances for spring & summer.

Added bonus: Read on to the bottom to get an expert tip on how to make fragrance last without fumigating everyone on the elevator.

1. Elizabeth W Magnilia Eau de Perfum The minute I smelled this fragrance in Anthropologie, I knew I had to buy it. Light & airy, it smelled of romantic summer nights in the Old South. And the price was just right: $28. Ingredients: White magnolia petals deepened with saffron and sandalwood and mingled with Riviera mimosa and gardenia.
2. Acqua di Parma's Blu Mediterraneo Celebrities are huge fans of this gorgeous perfume from Acqua di Parma. And it's no wonder why. The notes of mandarin & bergamot keep this sweet, floral fragrance crisp, but not syrupy. Pricey, but worth it at $98.
3. Bulgari Blu Notte THis latest fragrance from Bulgari was meant to be worn after dark. Blue Notte's blend of galanga, iris & dark chocolate embodies 'refined seduction, along with the mystery of the night,' according to the company.$48.
4. Stila Midnight Bloom Another perfume perfect for the night, Stila's new Midnight Bloom is a mix of sweet fig, sandalwood & golden amber that 'mesmerizes under the moonlight, leaving you spinning.' OK. Anyway, it's $50. Not bad at all. And testers at Allure magazine gave it high marks claiming it smells like spring.
5. Thierry Mugler Violet, Peony & Lily ($60 each) Thierry Mugler Angel is a legendary fragrance, but if its rich, gourmand notes are too bold for your taste, try one of his 3 lighter Angels that recently fell to earth. There's Violet ,Lily, & Peony. Their bottles are as gorgeous as the original.
6. Gap Scent Editions perfume oils Customized fragrances aren't just for the rich anymore. At Gap, you can mix & match 12 single-note aromas to come up with your perfect scent. 'People have always been interested in personalized scents,' says Rochelle Bloom of the Fragrance Foundation to InStyle magazine. 'They used to be elitist, but now scents are available to everyone.'
7. Moschino Couture In an InStyle Magazine interview, actress Mena Suvari said her signature scent is this one. "I've always been drawn to fragrances that are musky & spicy," she says. "I've been wearing Moschino Couture for a year, and it's amazing. I've only met like, two people who even know what it is. But whenever I wear it people always come straight out and ask, 'What are you wearing?' I love that." You'll love how affordable this perfume is.
8. Pink by NanadabaryIf Madonna is more your icon, you might want to check out one of the fragrances she wears. Pink is a warm Oriental scent featuring nutmeg, coriander & bourbon vanilla notes. Another pricey perfume at $125.
9. Gucci Envy Me Want to make a fashion statement with your perfume? Try this new fragrance from Gucci. Housed in a logo-adorned bottle, this peony-and-pomegranate scent looks just as fresh as it smells.
10. Hermes Un Jardin Sur le Nil To formulate the company's new fragrance, Hermes' perfumer, Jean-Claude Ellena turned to the understated glamour of the souks in the city of Aswan, along the Nile. The result is a blend of notes found on the riverbanks of the Nile, green mango, lotus blossoms & cassia tree leaves. $125.
11. Island Michael KorsInspired by Kors' travels to exotic, beachy locales, Island 'is transports you with one spray,' says the designer. His new fragrance blends honeysuckle, Chinese kiwi & Bulgarian rose to create a light but sophisticated impression.
12. Flowerbomb from Viktor & Rolf Dutch designers Viktor & Rolf are known for their clothes designed for fashion intellectuals who want to be noticed. Now there's a fragrance to match their clothes. Flowerbomb is potent, powerful & rose heavy.
13. Santa Maria Novella's perfumes The best perfume is the Melograno Acqua di Colonia. It's fresh & glamorous.
14. Guerlain L’Heure BleuThe perfect hint of Bergamot & vanilla. $52.

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