Box braids are one of my favorite protective hairstyles. They’re low-maintenance, give me tremendous length, and offer a much-needed break from using heat tools on my delicate natural hair. I’d say these stylish plaits are an all-around win, except that after a couple months of carefree living, my strands are left in serious need of help in the thickness department. That’s where hair masks come in to save the day.
These handy pots of nutrient-dense goodness are a catchall for any hair problem you might be experiencing that’s causing your tresses to appear more thin than you’d like. My post-braid thinness is mainly perpetuated by the overuse of clarifying shampoo, which I have to use for a few days to get my hair clear of product and scalp debris. Not to mention the weeks of routine hair shedding that’s finally free to fall, a shedding process I can only imagine is akin to that of a husky losing his winter coat. Yes, it’s that intense.
So you get it—hair masks are an absolute must for getting my hair back to its thick, lively self after it has been braided, but they can help also thicken up hair that’s suffering from dehydration, over-styling and more. Here, you’ll find 10 of the best masks out there to help you achieve the thick hair of your dreams. Happy scrolling!
This mask makes my hair feel soft and manageable. The almond oil, aloe butter and shea oil make detangling a lot much easier, so I’m causing less stress fallout, and in turn, my hair looks thicker and healthier.
Apple cider vinegar is one of those miracle products that seems to fix everything, so it’s really no surprise it makes for an excellent hair mask ingredient too. This one by DP Hue employs a coconut oil– and keratin-infused formula, and balances your hair’s PH. Don’t mind the smell.
When I need to stop breakage dead in its tracks, I reach for this mask. It’s packed with good stuff like B vitamins, rose-hip oil, collagen, and more naturally derived ingredients that strengthen the hair and help it recoup that coveted thickness.
Many buzzy ingredients have come out to play recently, but argan oil is one of those OG haircare ingredients I know my hair responds well to. I love that this one is also free of harmful sulfates and parabens.
I can be heavy-handed when it comes to hair masks, so this is a solid option that lets me go hard without the guilt of a high price tag.
I was #influenced to try this when I saw a few beauty pros posting about it on Instagram, and I’m actually happy about it. This mask is both moisturizing and strengthening, and it makes my hair feel super soft and also healthy.
Remember when I said I was heavy-handed? Well, I’m careful to control myself with this one. The price is up there, but this new range by Oribe works wonders on hair that needs an extra injection of moisture.
The first time I ever heard about Olaplex, my then-roommate’s stylist had given it to her to maintain her bleach-blonde hair. Since then, we’ve learned that its restorative properties go well beyond color-treated hair, and it’s been in my treatment rotation for a while now.
I love when a hair product also takes scalp health into account. Although I’ve yet to get my hands on this detoxifying mud with green tea, lactic acid, and vitamin E, it’s high on my to-try list.
Here’s another super-affordable option that helps my hair look like its best, thickest self. I can apply handfuls at a time without worrying about rinsing too much money down the drain. Next, I Spend a Lot of Money on Hair Color—Here Are the 8 Things I Do to Protect It
Welcome to What I Buy From My Own Brand—a special series spotlighting our favorite CEOs and beauty bosses. Here, they’ll provide context regarding what they look for and value while shopping for top-notch beauty products in addition to providing a list of the formulas they purchase from their own brands. Up next, Jessica Alba, founder of The Honest Company and Honest Beauty. Enjoy!
Clean beauty has been a focus of mine since before it became a mainstream term—even when I first launched Honest back in 2012 and no one was really talking about safe ingredients. I have very sensitive skin, and I have allergies, so I knew I wanted to create products that were safe for sensitive skin but actually worked.
My makeup routine always starts with skincare. I really believe that good makeup starts with a great, smooth canvas. I always start with a gentle cleanser, like Honest Beauty Gentle Gel Cleanser ($11), which is great for all skin types. Then I apply our Vitamin C Radiance Serum ($24) for a little glow, followed by our Hydrogel Cream ($17) to lock it all in.
For makeup, I don’t always have a lot of time in the mornings, but I like to tap Magic Beauty Balm ($12) around my eyes, high points, and Cupid’s bow. Lashes are a must for me, so I always curl my lashes and apply Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer ($14). Then I like to do just a little Crème Cheek Blush ($12) on my cheeks and add a lip color. (I love to tap on our Liquid Lipstick, $12, with my finger for a blurry lip-stain look.)
I’ve had so many looks over the years, but now I really love classic, feminine looks that are all about accentuating your natural beauty. I do like to get playful with my makeup sometimes, but I think it’s all about keeping the look balanced. So if I do a more dramatic eye look, I’ll wear a more neutral lip so it’s not too overpowering.
Here are the top 14 products I’d buy from my own brand and why Iove them.
A great mascara really opens your eyes and makes you look more awake (even when you didn’t get enough sleep the night before). Our Honest Beauty one is really the best because it has a primer on one side and mascara on the other. Both work together to build amazing length and lift. It’s also safe for sensitive eyes and won’t flake off throughout the day.
I’m so excited to share this launch with everyone. It’s clean, it’s vegan, and it’s got no synthetic film formers or isododecane. We really wanted to create a variety of shades that work for all skin tones. One of my favorites is the shade BFF, which is a dusty rose. They go on with a shine but dry down matte, and you can wear it all day without reapplying. It’s really buildable so you can wear it as a tint or full color.
For days when I want to go full glam, I love Honest Beauty Liquid Eyeliner. It’s so pigmented and easy to apply with the flexible felt tip. It’s the perfect liner for creating a cat eye.
Daniel Martin, our creative color consultant, helped to create this super-versatile palette. It has a great mix of mattes and shimmers that are perfect for everyday wear. You can create so many different looks with it. I love to do a smudgy cat eye for an easy glam that works day to night.
I think blush really brightens the face and highlights the cheekbones without making it look unnatural. Our Crème Cheek Blush is so easy to apply. You just tap a bit onto the apples of your cheeks with your fingers and blend out. It’s great for when you only have a few minutes to get out the door but still want to look put-together.
I’m never without our Magic Beauty Balm. I bring it everywhere! It has so many uses, from creating a dewy highlight to taming flyways and softening cuticles. We also created a stick form that has mica in it if you want a little more glow.
This oil is the BEST for dry skin. I love how lightweight it is, so it absorbs quickly, but it’s still hydrating and packed with a blend of pure seed and fruit oils, including organic avocado oil, cold-pressed organic chia seed oil, and organic apricot kernel oil.
Our Vitamin C Radiance Serum is my go-to for brightening my skin. I use it right before my moisturizer. It has an amazing blend of artichoke and clover extracts, plus a bit of mica for an instant glow.
When I couldn’t find a clean moisturizer that gave me firmer, smoother skin, I made it. I love the Hydrogel Cream because it’s oil-free with advanced moisture-release technology and two types of hyaluronic acid. There are no synthetic fragrances, and it leaves your skin super hydrated and smooth.
I love the scent of rose water, and this daily cleanser smells heavenly. I use Honest Beauty’s Makeup Remover Wipes to take off my makeup at night, but this cleanser really helps get all the makeup and dirt out of my pores with the help of pink kaolin clay.
Whenever I have a tough day or the kids are driving me up the wall, a bubble bath is all I need to relax. The dreamy lavender scent helps me wind down and clear my mind. It’s also great for the kiddos!
This sweet-almond scent is amazing, and it’s made with naturally derived ingredients. I love that it moisturizes for 24 hours and that I can use it on my kids too.
I’ve dealt with eczema symptoms, dermatitis, and sensitive, patchy skin my whole life. My kids also experience different levels of eczema flare-ups and dry patches. That’s really why I created this line—there aren’t many natural options available to treat eczema without using steroids. This balm is perfect for targeting those flare-ups and dry patches, and we used naturally derived colloidal oatmeal instead of steroids.
Anyone who’s dealt with eczema knows that flare-ups can be caused by any number of things—your environment, diet, or the products you use on a daily basis. This body wash is for anyone with eczema-prone skin to promote good bacteria growth and a healthy skin biome without drying out the skin. It also has naturally derived colloidal oatmeal and is safe for the whole family. Up next: What Versed Founder Katherine Power Would Buy From Her Own Brand
If you’ve ever worn a dress with pockets (which I hope you have), you know that they’re infinitely more comfortable than their pocket-less counterparts. Wearing a dress with pockets actually makes me feel more relaxed, which may sound ridiculous, but sometimes I just don’t know what to do with my hands. (The struggle is real, folks.)
If I were a fashion designer, I’d only design dresses with pockets, but since I’m not, I must seek them out, and I’m letting you in on my latest finds. I scoured Shopbop, Net-a-Porter, Nordstrom, H&M, Zara, and so many e-tailers of different price points in search of the 25 best options. Honestly—this is controversial—but some of them are so good, I’d even want them if they were pocket-less. Keep scrolling to make all of your dresses-with-pockets dreams come true.
The kind of dress you can wear to work and/or on the weekends.
I own this in black, and it’s basically my favorite dress.
I love a puffed sleeve. More sizes available here.
Tent dresses like this were all over the Copenhagen Fashion Week street style scene.
Everything Rosie Assoulin makes is stunning, and this is no exception.
Wear this with a cardigan and knee boots when fall hits.
We all need that perfect little red dress. Bonus points for the addition of pockets.
Who said print mixing had to be hard?
Most of It designer Cecilie Bahnsen’s dresses have pockets, which makes them even more special than we first thought.
I will never be over smocked dresses.
I love every single thing about this Nanushka dress.
This dress is so versatile, the cost per wear is basically $0. More sizes available here.
I’m envisioning this minidress with combat boots for a very 2019 look.
Perfect for that late-summer vacation you have planned.
It wouldn’t be a dress roundup without a Ganni number.
A cool leather dress for under $250? I’ll take it.
J.Crew has perfected the art of the shirtdress.
Remember what I said above about tent dresses?
Hurry, because this sophisticated mini is selling out fast.
Be sure to zoom in on the pretty little chains of colorful flowers.
Dark florals prints are the fall trend for you if you prefer subtlety.
Calling all the pocket-loving minimalists out there.
Navigating the depths of Amazon and its seemingly endless number of product honestly sounds like the last thing in the world any of us want to do. But we have some updates for you that might make you want to take a couple of hours out of your day for some harmless shopping. And no, we’re not talking trinket, organization or skincare shopping—we’re talking chic clothing and accessory shopping on yes, Amazon.
You’re probably familiar with certain clothing brands sold on Amazon like Hanes and, well, is that it? Up until recently, I had assumed the only clothing and accessories items cute enough to buy on Amazon were funky hair accessories and maybe a pack of white tees, but formal dresses and classic denim? Definitely not. But that’s all about to change, so listen up.
It’s been made apparent that as a company Amazon is starting to really prioritize its fashion categories. Personal Shopper by Prime Wardrobe was a major leap for the company but clearly also only the beginning. If you’re a bit skeptical of buying all your trendy pieces on Amazon, I have news for you—some of the most popular clothing brands right now are actually available to shop on the site. We’re talking everything from Ganni to Re/Done, and we’ve got the ultra-chic selection of product below to prove it. It’s officially time for you to stop thinking of the retailer as a place to purchase one-off brands and start taking advantage of the possibility that you could have a brand-new Cinq a Sept cocktail dress at your door next day via Prime. Is shopping via Amazon Fashion the future of this industry? Food for thought. But for now, shop eight chic brands you surely never knew were available at Amazon and prepared to be wowed.
Prepare to see this dress all over fashion week.
The iconic Ganni boot we hope never goes out of style.
This skirt is bound to no one season.
Frilly in all the right ways.
Is this the perfect top to wear with jeans? I think so.
Snatch this one up before summer ends.
Ecru jeans are one denim trend we’re living for this fall.
The cut and wash of these will make you never want to take them off.
Quite a splurge, but if you’ve been looking for leather pants, we highly suggest these.
Zebra is the new leopard.
One can never have too many “vacation” dresses, right?
This color is everything.
Elegant and edgy all at once.
Your go-to jeans and T-shirt look will thank you for these.
Tailored trousers with a twist.
Leave it to Re/Done to make the perfect pair of black jeans.
… and white T-shirt.
Yes, the fit is as good as you’re hoping it will be.
Introducing the perfect party dress.
A date-night top worth every penny.
Buy this now and wear it forever.
This is the perfect color to transition you from summer to fall.
With Tiger Woods looking on, Rafael Nadal passed his first test of this year’s US Open, powering past 2014 champion Marin Cilic 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 to reach a ninth consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal.
