Launch List: The Best Hair Care Launching in April

BaubleBar Mini Custom Hair Brush ($42)

We’ve all jumped on the BaubleBar bandwagon at one point or another—personalized jewelry makes the best gifts—and now the brand is entering the hair-care space with customized brushes. Inspired by its best-selling phone cases (the puffed-up letters are a crowd-pleaser), the brushes are water-resistant and made with nylon and silicone bristles to both detangle and style.

You can pick your base color from seven options, including black, tan, red, pink, lavender, light blue and neon yellow. The customization allows up to nine characters (you can have fun with it too, like doing MRS. for a bridal gift, etc.). The brushes are in high demand, so you’ll have to wait a couple months for yours to arrive (plan ahead for summer occasions), but the cuteness factor will be worth it!

K18 Molecular Repair Hair Oil ($65)

If you have yet to try K18’s viral (and incredible) Hair Mask—it’s also a two-time NewBeauty Award winner—click add to cart ASAP. But there’s a new kid on the block that’s also worth a try if hair oils are part of your routine. Or, maybe you’ve never tried a hair oil. If that’s the case, this is a good place to start. Not only is it silicone-free and essentially weightless (it feels like nothing in the hair), but it also works on all hair types to repair damage and reduce frizz for a smoother finish.

It uses the brand’s famous molecular repair technology (the K18PEPTIDE) to penetrate the hair, reverse damage and make the hair stronger and smoother. In clinical testing, it provided 24-hour frizz control, a 104-percent increase in shine, a 78-percent reduction in split ends, and 450-degree heat protection. Apply on towel-dried hair before styling, or on dry hair as a last step (use one to three drops depending on your length and texture).

Flawless by Gabrielle Union 5 Butter Miracle Leave-in Conditioner ($11)

In 2017, actress Gabrielle Union teamed up with her longtime hairstylist and best friend Larry Sims to launch Flawless, which was known best for its 5 Butter Masque. The brand took a little hiatus, but now it’s back with several new formulas, including this silicone-free leave-in conditioner version of 5 Butter, which is a detangling and moisturizing dream for all types of curls and coils.

Apply it all over wet or damp hair and comb it through to make sure the five-butter blend—bacuri, shea, cupuacu, murumuru and mango butters—is evenly distributed. Then just style as usual (no rinsing necessary)!

The Beachwaver Co. Blow Brush 4-in-1 Hair Dryer Set ($189)

Our 2023 Award Winner for “Best Blowdry Brush,” this multitasking tool isn’t out just yet, but you can sign up on the waitlist now (and trust me, it’s worth the wait). There are four attachments that all click in and out of one base: the Oval Nozzle blowdryer gets any remaining excess water out of the hair before styling; the Diffuser is great for defining curls and reducing frizz; the Round Brush has a ceramic barrel that smooths the hair as it dries it; and the Soft Smoothing Brush is best for those who want a sleeker look.

Both of the brushes use ionic technology for frizz-fighting power and feature nylon bristles. There are also three heat and two speed settings to suit all hair types and textures.

SOURSE Hair Grow Bites ($15 for a 15-day supply/30 pieces)

The “snackable wellness” company cofounded by actress Sarah Hyland has a new vitamin-infused chocolate in the lineup. If you’re like me and you love your sweets, these supplements are such a fun way to get a tiny dose of chocolate (it’s Fair Trade, vegan and gluten-free) alongside folate, inositol and biotin to help strengthen weak or brittle hair and encourage new growth. (They’re also great for nail health.)

“I personally take these because I take a medication that makes my hair thin, and since I started taking these, my hair and nails have never been healthier,” says Hyland, noting that there are only 20 calories and 2 grams of sugar per serving. Her hairstylist of 10-plus years, Ryan Richman, says it’s been amazing to see the difference in Hyland’s length and texture. In other exciting news, the brand just launched at Sephora, and the new Hair Bites will be exclusive to the retailer.

Oribe Serene Scalp Oil Control Dry Shampoo Powder ($46)

After the news of benzene being found in many popular dry shampoos (Oribe’s beloved formula tested safe), more people have been turning to powders instead of aerosols. Use it the same way you would a spray: Apply it in sections and let it sit for a couple minutes before massaging it through with your fingers or brush. It may take a couple tries to determine how much comes out with each sprinkle.

This formula is made for those with an oily scalp, as its specialty starch blend (rice, corn and tapioca) and kaolin clay deliver maximum oil absorption without causing irritation. This is thanks to the addition of mango leaf extract, which cleanses and purifies the scalp and hair as it also helps maintain a healthy scalp microbiome. In true Oribe fashion, it smells amazing, too.

IGK Good Behavior Ultra Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner ($64)

A little goes a long way with this silicone-free smoothing shampoo and conditioner that I consider a summer staple if you’re prone to frizzy hair in humid weather (the worst!). It contains seven different oils—coconut, avocado, moringa seed, broccoli seed, caryodendron orinocense seed, hippophae rhamnoides seed, and schinziophyton rautanenii kernel—that work together to moisturize and soften dry hair, as well as smooth frizz.

In the brand’s testing, hair was five times smoother after just one use of both the shampoo and conditioner. The secret to the smoothing action is a water-activated technology that the brand says helps block frizz before it forms.

Neuma Neu Repair Leave-In Treatment ($33)

Neuma has a brand-new look (I’m loving the modern, clean aesthetic compared to what it looked like before) and a new leave-in treatment. “Our California company is based on plants, people and performance—that’s our ethos,” says Tim Abney, global director of education for Cosway Beauty Brands (Neuma’s parent company). “These new bottles are 100-percent recyclable, and for every one bottle sold, we’re planting one tree, and this will be an ongoing initiative.” The products are also vegan and gluten-free, and don’t contain any synthetic fragrances (this one smells citrusy and earthy).

I’m loving the Neu Repair Leave-In, which nourishes the hair with plant collagen and sea kelp, but not to the point where the hair is over-proteinized. It seals the cuticle and helps protect the hair against damage, from both heat-styling and environmental aggressors.

Drybar Final Call Frizz & Static Control Mist ($29)

Come spring and summertime, I need all the frizz-fighting help I can get. My hair turns into a different version of itself and grows two sizes bigger when I step outside and the humidity levels are high—don’t even get me started if it’s raining. This spray acts an invisible shield against frizz in the summer and static in the winter (also an issue for me) to keep hair smooth in any situation.

How does it work? According to the brand, sunflower seed and jojoba oils create a water-resistant barrier around each hair fiber. The formula also includes UV protection, so if you’re outside without a hat in the harsh rays, your hair won’t get totally fried (sun damage is also really harsh on color). And, it comes in two scents: Blanc (coconut, amber and vanilla; the same as Triple Sec) and Coconut Colada.

Wella Professionals ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue (Starting at $35)

Based on stats from Kline & Company, studies show that 57 percent of women believe the top cause of their hair damage is coloring their hair, and as a color-focused brand, Wella Professionals felt compelled to enter the hair-repair category. A leave-in spray that repairs damage in 90 seconds, it combines alphahydroxy acid and bio-identical omega-9 fatty acid to transform the hair inside and out. 

The spray comes in two sizes: the 1-ounce size is $35 (and very travel-friendly) and the larger, 3.2-ounce size is $95 and considered more of a professional size for salon-use. In the brand’s clinical testing, the spray resulted in 99-percent less breakage, serious shine and hair that was 12 times smoother than before the treatment. Apply 10 to 20 pumps (depending on hair length and texture) to clean, towel-dried hair, comb through and leave on for 90 seconds before using hot tools or styling.