Launch List: The Best Hair Care Launching in March

Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray ($34)

One of the brand’s best-sellers just got a makeover. In an effort to be more environmentally friendly (an important part of its California heritage), Pureology is relaunching its beloved leave-in with new, more sustainable packaging.

“Being the OGs of clean hair care that performs, it was time for this best-selling product to reflect its California roots with our golden hour sunset packaging and now 100-percent post-recycle materials,” says Nasrin Pak, the brand’s head of digital and content. “We know our customer wants one product that has multiple benefits [this spray has 21]. In an oversaturated sea of bonders, we are going back to our roots with that one reliable leave-in primer that does it all: detangles, heat protects, moisturizes, keeps frizz at bay, adds shine and more, all while preventing breakage.”

Holy Curls 06 Oil Serum ($45)

“Our 06 Oil Serum is silicone-free, vegan and has a unique hybrid formulation,” says brand founder Badria Ahmed. “Historically, oil and serum have very different consistencies. Oil is oil-based; serum is water-based. Serums have smaller molecules that penetrate under the hair shaft, while oils are made up of denser, larger molecules, which reach only the outer cuticles. 

We’ve worked hard over the past two years to bring to market a formula that has stabilized the unique properties of both oil and serum. Made with a blend of lipid-boosting actives, 06 Oil Serum provides the larger molecules that repair and protect the hair’s outer cuticle against environmental factors and prevent moisture loss, while the smaller molecules penetrate deeper into the cortex to replenish and restore lipids, and calm frizz and define unique curl patterns.”

Nioxin Ultimate Power Serum ($50)

In an effort to change the game for hair-loss solutions, Nioxin created this leave-on scalp treatment that is clinically proven to thicken hair and reduce shedding from the first use. One really interesting and key point of difference is explained best by Ingo Riemann, the director of Nioxin’s R&D with 20 years of experience in the industry:

“There are actually olfactory receptors in the hair follicles, and sandalwood can actually activate those receptors,” Riemann says. “This serum has a sandalwood note in it, as well as petals, cedarwood and refreshing bergamot to make it even better. We ran a double-blind placebo-controlled study—this means the panelists didn’t know what they were trying—with 60 consumers (half male, half female) over six weeks, and we saw a significant improvement in hair anchorage, indicating you can keep your hair for longer.”

Canton, MI dermatologist Fatima Fahs, MD says this serum is a game changer for her patients. “Rather than waiting for hair loss to occur during telogen effluvium, I can now empower them to use this to keep their hair in the anagen phase longer. It can also be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. It’s different from minoxidil, which is used for regrowth. This is more preventive—keeping hair on the scalp—but you can also use them both together if you want.”

ARKIVE Headcare The Mastery Hairspray ($20)

The newest addition to British celebrity hairstylist Adam Reed’s chic collection, this liquid, non-aerosol hairspray is a modern take on liquid hairsprays of the past. (No more crunchy, sticky mess). Infused with baobab oil and protein, the super fine mist distributes a style-setting film evenly throughout the hair for lasting hold and shine.

Plus, the scent is divine. “The fragrance is called No One Elsie and is named after my grandmother Elsie, as I spent many years in her greenhouse soaking in the scent of fresh leafy greens,” says Reed. “This warm scent delivers an everyday, hedonistic escape with fresh captivating top notes of tomato leaf and rhubarb entwined with the warmer, headier ones of honeysuckle and redcurrant. This serene starting point overlays an intoxicating, velvety base of palo santo and vetiver.”

Act+Acre Soft Curl System ($86)

For those struggling with dry or lifeless curls, waves or coils, this three-step system is the answer to better hair days. The first step, Curl Cleanse Shampoo (10 ounces), contains 5-percent glycerin to hydrate the scalp as it cleanses for softer, shinier hair. Mix it in your hands with water first to create a lather, and then apply it to your scalp.

Next, the Curl Spray (6.7 ounces) is formulated with hydrating watermelon extract to refresh curls and help keep them soft between washes. And last but not least, the Soft Curl Lotion (6.7 ounces) is made with chia seed and a linseed blend to give curls definition and help tame frizz. All three products are silicone-free, color-safe, free of synthetic fragrances, and pregnancy-safe.

R+Co DALLAS Biotin Thickening Treatment ($38)

The latest addition to the brand’s best-selling DALLAS collection of thickening formulas, this treatment performs best when used with its sister shampoo and conditioner, but also plays nicely with others. Use it like a hair mask, so apply it all over after washing, leave on for five minutes, and then rinse it out. Once dry, there’s a noticeable difference in the way the hair looks and feels: more texture and volume; it feels stronger, too.

In clinical testing, visible results were seen after one use on chemically treated hair: increased thickness and volume of the hair fiber by 1 percent, and reduced split ends and flyaways that lasted through 10 washes. The scent is the brand’s Dark Waves fragrance, which R+Co calls “warm and romantic” (it’s the same one used in dozens of products, including the popular Vicious Hairspray and Balloon Volume Spray).

Moroccanoil Color Care Shampoo and Conditioner ($26 each)

Vegan and sulfate-free, this new duo from Moroccanoil (yes, they have the signature scent) contains the brand’s proprietary ArganID technology to seal the cuticle and lock in hair color. It’s pretty high-tech, but as the brand describes it, “positively charged micro-particles are attracted to the negatively charged hair fiber, infusing the antioxidant powers of argan oil deep into the cortex.”

In clinical testing, 90 percent of users noticed healthy-looking shine after just one use. In addition to locking in vibrant color, it also protects against fading with the help of two key ingredients: antioxidant-rich pomegranate extract and Sun Protection Quat (the sun can wreak havoc on color if the hair isn’t protected).

Dove Love Those Bold Curls Co-Wash ($8)

Part of Dove’s brand-new Love Your Hair collection (there are products for all types, whether you’re curly, wavy, gray, color-treated, long, etc.), this co-wash is for all the curly and coily girls (and guys). The sulfate-free formula uses coconut and Jamaican castor oils to cleanse and nourish hair while creating a protective barrier around the hair fiber to add slip for easier detangling. It also keeps the hair’s natural oils intact and locks in additional moisture for up to 48 hours.

T3 Switch Kits ($300)

It’s been nearly a decade since T3’s OG Twirl and Whirl Trios hit the market, which quickly became a hairstylist favorite, especially on the set of photo shoots and for red-carpet and fashion week appearances. Then they became a mainstay for all of us too—they make it easier than ever to achieve different curl and wave looks with the switch of a barrel.

Now, the brand is relaunching its Trios with a new name and new barrel sizing, plus an improved lock mechanism so switching out the barrels is a more seamless experience. Meet the T3 Switch Kits, which are the brainchild of years of consumer data that’s been studied to optimize the user experience. Choose between the Curl Trio or Wave Trio, depending on your preferred styling choices, or build your own trio with any three barrels from either Kit.

SheaMoisture Anti-Dandruff Leave-In ($15)

A new spin on the apple cider vinegar scalp treatment, this formula also includes salicylic acid and vitamin B3 to help soothe as it also fights frustrating side effects of dandruff, including flaking, itching and irritation. The scent isn’t overpowering like some apple cider vinegar products, but there is the inclusion of synthetic fragrance to help tone it down a little and keep it fresh and clean.

Additionally, for every purchase of its products, SheaMoisture reinvests its profits directly into Black communities and helps create economic opportunities for underserved entrepreneurs and Black business owners.