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According to New York City hairstylist Heather Adessa, you may be able to find salon products in the drugstore including Sebastian and Rusk, which she says are both great hairsprays for any type of hair. Additionally, she says, many brands available exclusively at your local pharmacy offer salon-quality results, minus the hefty price tag. To help you find your ideal formula, Adessa and a trio of hair product experts offer their top picks for the best brands.
Pantene
As a gal with thick hair that tends to get unruly and dry at the ends, author of “Practical Glamour,” Constance Dunn loves specialty products from the salon but says she’s completely comfortable grabbing a bottle of Pantene off the drugstore shelf because of its consistent, quality results. “Provided I pick the right formula for my hair type, the product will smell great, cleanse my hair without stripping it, and leave it soft and conditioned without ever feeling greasy or weighed down," she says. The brand has eight collections to address virtually every hair type and styling challenge.
L'Oreal
Adessa’s top drugstore brand is L’Oreal, which offers a full range of care, coloring and styling products. In addition to mens’ and kids’ formulas, the haircare product line includes a Pure, Sleek, Strong and Pro series, to address your hair’s specific concerns. Adessa says she’s a fan of the brand’s Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold hairspray, with a superfine micro-diffuser sprayer that delivers brushable hold, and a shiny finish.
Paul Mitchell
Dallas stylist and salon owner Johnny Rodriguez says his favorite brand that’s easy to find at drugstores and supermarkets is Paul Mitchell. He says its a good, basic haircare line that is not harsh on the hair. The brand offers 15 formulations in its line, including the popular Tea Tree and Awapuhi Wild Ginger collections. Rodriguez says he finds Paul Mitchell products effective on all hair types but recommends supplementing with salon products to address challenging hair concerns such as damage from frequent coloring, when necessary, for best results.
TRESemmé
Salomon Valverde of Osgood-O’Neil Salon in Dallas says TRESemmé is his favorite among drugstore brands because the brand was recently reformulated with input from salon professionals. The pros who designed the products also give tips and how-tos for using them on the brand’s website. There are 11 lines within the TRESemmé collection, including a natural line and formulations for heat styling, anti-breakage, curl care, color maintenance, climate control and restoration.
