Thursday, July 11, 2013

Secret Weapon: The Season's New Miracle Hair Oils

Summer, in all its splendor, is not exactly kind to your hair. Sun, saltwater, chlorine, and the occasional sea breeze can leave even the beachiest waves feeling dry and brittle by mid-season. To the rescue: a fleet of new multitasking hair oils designed to restore shine, smooth split ends, and eliminate frizz—leaving your strands glossy but never slick, according to the editorial hairstylist Bob Recine. It was four summers ago, on the beaches of St. Barth’s, that he first tested out his Rodin by Recine Olio Lusso Luxury Hair Oil, a remarkably lightweight blend of eight essential extracts (created in collaboration with fashion stylist Linda Rodin) that absorbs instantly into the hair.

“I found that adding a few drops to wet hair and letting it dry naturally in the sun helped add highlights and give it incredible shine and softness,” he says of the bright yellow gold concoction’s ultra-nourishing effect.

Since then, restorative hair oils have acquired a steady cult following, with dozens of the top beauty companies turning out innovative new formulas of their own in recent months. Oribe’s argan oil–infused Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil shields color from UV damage with antioxidant botanical extracts, for instance, while L’Oréal’s Mythic Oil can be worked through wet or dry strands to ward off humidity-induced frizz.

From left: Oribe’s argan oil–infused Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil; L’Oréal’s Mythic Oil

Hairstylist Guido Palau stocked bottles of Redken’s new Diamond Oil Shatterproof Shine backstage at the fall 2013 shows—slicking it over models’ polished braids (Valentino) or side-parted waves (Prada). “There’s nothing more glamorous than almost wet-looking hair,” he says of using the product to create a saturated, fresh-from-the-shower effect. Off the runway, he advises rubbing a drop between the palms of the hands and passing it over a braid or touching up the tips of a messy ponytail. “It’s a way to get a glossy look without overdoing it,” he says.

Of course, the best new treatment oils also happen to smell great. Inspired by the Japanese geishas who traditionally applied oil to skin and hair to seal in moisture, Tatcha’s Gold Camellia Beauty Oil’s blend of flower, rice and macadamia nut oils smells faintly of fragrant white blooms. Paris-based colorist Christophe Robin’s classic Lavender Oil treatment—so French! so soothing!—keeps highlights in pitch perfect condition with SPF 6, and boasts a unique balm-like texture that melts into a liquid when warmed between the hands.

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