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From styling treatments to straightening complexes and deep conditioners, it seems the great keratin tide has swept over every hair product category on the market today.

With the protein appearing in such a diverse range of items, it can be confusing to decipher what exactly it is that keratin does, and for which hair type it’s best suited. For instance, are keratin-branded hair care products just for those who have had keratin-containing treatments? And some consumers are even concerned about the ingredient’s safety, since it’s found in countless straightener formulas containing controversial actives, like formaldehyde, that can damage hair.

MORE: BB Cream For… Your Hair?

Experts say that you can relax: Keratin has been around for a long time, and its function is only one of protection. “Keratin reinforces your hair,” YouBeauty Cosmetic Chemistry Expert Ni’Kita Wilson. “It’s a protein that forms a film on hair strands, creating a scaffolding-like structure that’s suitable for all hair types,” she adds.

So whether fine, thick, normal or chemically-treated, your hair can benefit from the temporary barrier keratin creates between strands and your environment. It’s the other ingredients in the formula that determine whether or not a product will work best for you.

MORE: Get The Facts About Color-Safe Shampoo

At the drugstore, keratin is taking center stage in a spate of new launches. Pantene Advanced Keratin Repair Split End Fuser and 60 Second Therapy Ampoules (each $14.99) are both highly concentrated treatments that focus on frayed strands and dryness. Tresemmé has incorporated the protein into its Keratin Smooth Shampoo, Smoothing Serum and Heat Protection Spray ($5-$10) to specifically target damage-induced frizz for a sleeker finish.

In prestige boutiques, keratin is joining more elegant ingredients. AG Reconstruct Intense Anti-Breakage Mask ($24) blends silk proteins and shea butter with keratin and panthenol to intensely hydrate hair in need of reconstruction. KeratinPerfect 30-Day Brazilian Hair Smoothing System Essentials Collection ($95) houses two shampoos, a conditioner, smoothing treatments and a daily spray that fuses the protein to rough spots where natural keratin has been depleted for a faster blowdry and style. Meanwhile, Phyto has cleverly added hydrolyzed keratin to Phytovolume Actif Maximizing Volume Spray ($28) for fine, limp hair to physically build girth and texture around strands.

QUIZ: How Healthy Does Your Hair Look?

Keratin is one trend that doesn’t seem to be fading anytime soon—but count this as one of the rare crazes that’s totally worth the hype.

Looking to add a new addition to your beauty and skincare arsenal? Instead of heading out to the store or ordering a new product online, try whipping up one of these luxurious beauty treats. Body scrubs, face masks, bath salts, oils—these easy, surprisingly inexpensive, DIY beauty treatments are filled with nutrient-packed ingredients and are great alternatives to splurging on the expensive stuff.

Still looking for the perfect Mother’s Day Gift? Package one of these homemade blends in a simple, sealable jar with a string of baker’s twine for a present that’s both thoughtful and totally useful.

MORE: More DIY Beauty Recipes

DIY Beauty: Scrubs, Masks and Oils

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Coffee Body Scrub

What it does:

An instant pick-me-up that provides a jolt while softening and hydrating skin

How to make it:

Combine equal parts ground coffee and granulated sugar. Add vegetable glycerin (available at natural foods stores such as Whole Foods) or olive oil until you reach desired consistency. Add two tablespoons of ground cinnamon and a few drops of vanilla extract or essential oil, and stir to blend.

Lavender Bath Salts

What it does:

Soothes tired muscles and minds

How to make it:

Mix together two cups of Epsom salt with one cup of sea salt in a bowl. Add several drops of your favorite lavender essential oil and blend until salts are infused. Sprinkle some dried lavender throughout for color and texture, and then spoon the mixture into a jar or muslin drawstring bag.

MORE: Surprising Way to Soothe Sore Muscles

Yogurt and Honey Face Mask

What it does:

Exfoliates and brightens complexion

How to make it:

Stir together equal parts honey and yogurt (one tablespoon each is enough for one mask). Sprinkle a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon, which work to plump skin and boost circulation, into the blend. Transfer mask to a jar and add a homemade label with instructions, such as: “Leave on for about five minutes before rinsing off for smoother, glowing skin.”

MORE: Yogurt Curl Stretcher Recipe

Vanilla Brown Sugar Body Scrub

What it does:

Sloughs dead skin cells and smoothes rough areas such as knees and elbows

How to make it:

Stir two cups of brown sugar and one cup of granulated sugar together until there are no clumps. Add about a cup (depending on your preferred consistency) of almond oil and one tablespoon of pure vanilla extract. Mix until smooth. Transfer to a sealable glass container.

QUIZ: Get Your Softest Body Skin Possible

Peppermint Foot Scrub

What it does:

Energizes and softens overworked feet

How to make it:

Add a cup of granulated sugar to a bowl. Slowly pour some coconut oil (warmed in the microwave) until you reach your desired consistency. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil or extract, and transfer to a jar.

MORE: What’s Your Foot Type?

Orange Lemon Salt Scrub

What it does:

Softens and exfoliates while citrus oils give a boost

How to make it:

Mix two cups of Epsom salt with one cup of olive oil. Add fresh lemon and orange zest for fragrance and color.

 MORE: Favorite Whipped Shea Butter Recipe

Rose Bath Oil

What it does:

Hydrates skin and relaxes

How to make it:

Heat a cup of coconut oil in the microwave for about 30 seconds or until it loses its buttery texture. Slowly stir in rose water (available at most health food stores) until the blend is softly scented. Add fresh rose petals, and decant the blend into a corked bottle.

MORE: Curly Mixology: Rosewater & Glycerin Hair Spritz

 

Orange Sugar Lip Scrub

What it does:

Softens chapped or peeling lips

How to make it:

Combine two teaspoons of sugar with a few drops of vitamin E oil (available at drugstores). Add two teaspoons of coconut oil and a few drops of fresh squeezed orange juice (preferably with pulp) until you reach a slightly grainy consistency. Package in a small tin with instructions, such as: “Massage blend over lips, then remove with a damp cloth.”

GALLERY:Cult Beauty Products

Peppermint Body Oil

What it does:

Wakes up skin while drenching it with moisture

How to make it:

Shake together a half cup each of coconut, jojoba and grape seed oil. Add a few drops of peppermint essential oil, and decant into an airtight jar.

MORE: DIY Flaxseed Hair Gel

No one’s going to deny that it feels good to take care of ourselves and look pretty, but a lot of us are guilty of too much time in front of the mirror. In fact, one survey found we spend nearly three years primping and preening over the course of our lifetime. Three years. Sheesh.

Why do we do this to ourselves? Blame it on the old “grass is always greener on the other side,” says Nick Arrojo, owner of Arrojo Studio in New York City.

“The number one beauty mistake follows a similar principle,” he says. Women want things that are unrealistic to achieve, and we tend to go overboard trying to get there. The focus should be enhancing our natural beauty, not fighting it, Arrojo explains.

And that starts with simplicity.

So if bounding out of bed each morning to fight with your hair and perform a litany of beauty chores is not exactly your idea of a fun way to start the day (hey, we’d much rather spend more time snoozing), then you’re in luck. Our experts have broken out their best advice on how to simplify your routine. Here’s how:

10 Timesaving Beauty Tips

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1. Clear out the clutter

“Many women have too many products, which makes the beauty routine difficult,” says Jemma Kidd, makeup artist and founder of her namesake beauty brand. So toss any old or expired products, along with anything you haven’t worn in the last month (powder blue eye shadow, we’re talking to you). Then clean all of your brushes, sponges, tweezers and lash curlers, and sharpen eye and lip pencils. When you’ve tossed more than you’ve kept, reward yourself with one (just one) new lip or eye color so you don’t get stuck in a style rut, advises Kidd.

QUIZ: Your Best Lip Color

 

2. Put down the tweezers

Not only is it a time sucker, but over-plucking ages women significantly, according to Jeanine B. Downie, M.D., YouBeauty Dermatology Expert. “It’s also impossible to grow your eyebrows back in later,” she adds, conjuring up images of old ladies with wispy, thin brows. Treat yourself to a professional brow shaping a few times a year, and you’ll save yourself the time of trying to wrangle your own brows into a desired shape. On your own, only pluck the most obvious strays, such as between your brows.

3. Skinny down the eyeshadow

If you are sorting through a hodgepodge of colors each morning, you have too many eyeshadows, says Andrea Pomerantz Lustig, longtime beauty editor and author of the beauty book “How To Look Expensive.” Instead, stick with two palettes: a classic black/grey/pearl and a brown/bronze/taupe. “I like to whittle a women’s beauty choices down to the essentials because it’s easier to know what to use when you have fewer choices.”

4. Ditch the false lashes

False eyelashes are an absolute no-no, says Downie. Not only do they take forever to put on correctly, but they’ll rip out your own eyelashes. For most people it can take two to 10 years for lashes to regrow—if at all. Instead, Downie advises using the prescription lash-grower Latisse consistently to shave time off your morning routine in the long run. “You will use less mascara overtime,” she says. “And, longer lashes make everyone look younger.”

MORE: NaturallyCurly Hairstyle Gallery

5. Eliminate toners

You know those expensive toners that cosmetic counters are always pushing? Forget about ‘em. “Toners are not necessary in my opinion,” says Downie. It’s just one more step in our skin care routine that we can do without.

MORE: What Kind of Curly Haircut Can I Have?

6. Go with a “two for” one moisture

To simplify body care, use a razor that has built-in skin conditioners, like the Gilette Venus ProSkin that includes a gel bar made with body butter. Lustig also recommends using old hair conditioner on your body after cleansing in the shower. “It’s a great way to get rid of it, and even though you rinse it out, it will work on your body.” Scented moisturizers also eliminate the need for a separate fragrance.

MORE:Celebrity Hairstyle Ideas for Brunettes

7. Do double-duty with mascara

To save time, your mascara wand can double as an eyebrow pencil, says Downie. “If you want to make your eyebrows a little heavier, just use the excess mascara from the wand and fill in your eyebrows before you dash out of the house.” Reclaim space in your makeup drawer: bonus!

MORE: Five Best Haircuts: The Pixie

8. Get sassy with your hair

Shorter hair can be easier to style, advises Arrojo. But don’t assume that means a pixie or a crop. “Razor-cut layered bobs are super-easy to manage, and you can style them smooth or messy in five minutes, without having to pick up a blow dryer,” he explains. “Remember, shorter hair actually gives you more creative and versatile styling options –with long hair, you either wear it up, or you wear it down.”

MORE: Avoiding a Bad Curly Haircut

9. Go two-toned

Ombré hair colors, aside from being all the rage, are actually a great way to extend the life of color-treated hair, says Arrojo. “Because ombré fades from dark to light, it has a melting effect that requires less upkeep than traditional highlights.” To get the most bang for your coloring buck, opt for subtle variations of dark to light brown, using caramels and chestnut, perhaps with a hint of red for added depth and dimension, he recommends.

10. Use a lighter nail polish

The best way to minimize time between manicures is to stick with clear pink on your fingers, says Lustig, because it doesn’t show chips. Instead, have more fun with color on your toes. “I cant tell you how many awful chipped nails I see on the subway!” she explained. “Better to wear no polish at all than chipped polish.”

GALLERY: Non-Toxic Nail Polish Guide

MORE:9 Coily Cleansing Conditioners Under $20

Good old-fashioned H₂0 is one of your body’s most basic and vital needs. “It’s in our cells and in our blood and in all of the tissues in-between,” says Barbara Rolls, Ph.D., professor of Nutritional Sciences at Pennsylvania State University and a thirst expert.

Proper hydration helps our digestive system run smoothly, keeps our cells young and helps our immune system fight infection. So it would make sense that the more you guzzle, the healthier you’ll be, inside and out, right? Not exactly, says Rolls. “For most of us, fluid balance is not a problem.” In other words, you’re getting enough water already, sans that fancy water bottle glued to your hand. It’s time to get real about water—read on to get the facts, not fiction.

Define…Water

Experts stress that we need to broaden what we think of as water.  “Many people think that the only way to hydrate is with plain drinking water, but that’s just not true,” says Keith Ayoob, R.D., associate clinical professor of pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

Currently, the National Institute of Medicine recommends that women get 2.7 liters (about nine cups) of water per day. But the suggested sources go beyond glasses of clear water. All beverages, including water, as well as moisture in foods like fruit, vegetables, lean meat and soups count.

“When you think about it, both coffee and soup—even soda—are mostly water,” says Ayoob. “Any type of fluid goes toward your daily quota.”

8×8 Reality

But what about the 8 x 8 rule (drink eight glasses of eight ounces of plain water per day, on top of everything else)? There’s no scientific evidence backing that recommendation.

A Dartmouth physiologist named Heinz Valtin conducted a comprehensive search for the origin of this widely repeated statement and published his findings in the American Journal of Physiology in 2002.

Not only did he conclude that there was no evidence to suggest that healthy adults needed to drink large amounts of water, but he also found a possible reason for the long purported myth: a misinterpreted National Resource Council suggestion from 1945.

The original text stated: “A suitable allowance of water for adults is 2.5 liters daily in most circumstances. An ordinary standard for diverse persons is one milliliter for each calorie of food. Most of this quantity is contained in prepared foods.”

He suggested that the last sentence was possibly ignored and the statement as a whole interpreted as you must drink eight glasses (2.5 liters) of water each day.

Thirst ≠ Dehydration

Contrary to the popular myth, just because you’re thirsty doesn’t mean you’re already dehydrated. Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in, but many people feel thirsty before they reach this deficit, says Rolls.

Two possible reasons for this disconnect: dry mouth and salty foods (more water is needed to dilute salt in the blood, so your thirst center sends an alert possibly causing you to feel thirsty). One small study followed young men around for a day, recording hydration markers in the blood and when they felt thirsty.  Researchers found that the men felt thirsty before any actual fluid deficits occurred in their bodies.

Goat’s Milk

Like many a smart working woman in Kingston, Jamaica, the hustling-bustling capital city, Michelle Yap-McKay pooh-poohed goats’ milk, dismissing it as a common beverage consumed only by the people living in the rural parts of the country where goats roamed free. Even if the grannies and aunties of the villages touted goats’ milk as an elixir for tight, glowing skin and overall good health, it was definitely not on Yap-McKay’s list.

But then one day, the rigors of the corporate world caught up with her.

“I was getting physically exhausted and sicker spiritually, and I didn’t know what to do,” she says. An herbalist recommended she drink goats’ milk, and very quickly, Yap-McKay realized her grandmother had always been right.

MORE: Nordic Secrets For Natural Beauty

“My skin was softer, clearer, like the layers of old skin had been peeled off and my baby skin was coming out,” she says. In addition to drinking it, Yap-McKay—who also credits goats’ milk for the improvement in her overall well-being—discovered that the fat in it contains high amounts of alpha hydroxy acids (AHA), in particular lactic acid, which sloughs off dead cells when applied topically, “in order to reveal absolutely new skin underneath and lighten and brighten the complexion.” Goats’ milk is also packed with vitamin A, which repairs damaged skin tissue, she says, and minerals such as selenium, which can guard against the effects of the sun.

Today, Yap-McKay is a self-confessed goats’ milk convert and the creator of Ital Blends, a brand of soaps and skincare products that seek to leverage the many benefits of goats’ milk and further enhance its properties by blending the milk with a range of different kinds of plants and herbs that are found in the cool Blue Mountains region of Jamaica where she now lives.

Tropical Plants

She is also one of a small but growing number of Caribbean beauticians, scientists and entrepreneurs who are pioneering a movement to bring back the many natural treasures that the region abounds with and shed light on the cornucopia of plants, leaves, fruits and flowers of the islands that, although a staple part of health and wellness in the past, have been overshadowed in the region’s recent history.

MORE: Three Must-Have Caribbean Beauty Brands

The islands of the Caribbean weren’t always the resort-laden, tourist havens that they are today. These islands have literally been built up from nothing, and for years, their residents just had to make do with whatever was around them. The list is long, and includes the likes of aloe, sorrel (a variant of the hibiscus flower), papaya, prickly pear cactus, licorice and castor oil seeds, to name a few. These and many others can be found throughout the Caribbean, and in the past were used as health, beauty and nutrition staples by generations of island residents simply because, like the sea that surrounds them, they were just there.

Through the years, poverty, economic duress and distance from the mainland have all posed multiple challenges to development in the Caribbean, but so too has the weather, in particular the blinding heat of the tropical sun. It’s almost a blessing that nature has been so bountiful and that plants like the miraculous aloe, whose leaves contain a gel that is simply bursting with nutrients, enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and minerals, and which calms and cools the skin and protects it against the sun, should abound in the Caribbean. The succulent inner layer of the aloe leaf, which Caribbean folk cut out and consume either as juice or as is, is also full of polysaccharides that help enhance the immune system by enabling cells to weed out the toxins and retain nutrients.

MORE: 7 Habits That’ll Give You Great Skin

Beauty Benefits

Generations of Caribbean men and women have also used aloe for smoothening out their hair. They have fashioned softening and hydrating face packs out of the papaya fruit, which contains, among other ingredients, lycopene (which protects the skin against UV damage), lutein and enzymes that soothe the skin, and used the leaves of the quaco-bush in lieu of soap for its cleansing properties and as a cure for the common cold.

Aching and sore feet have been relieved with Pepper Elder leaves, which have cooling properties similar to menthol, and the prickly pear cactus, a relative of aloe that contains a rare form of antioxidant known to lower blood sugar levels, has also been used to scrub out sand from between toes and fingers, since it contains lignin that when released, takes on a soap-like consistency.

We hear it daily here at NaturallyCurly: the number one reason women love their curls is hands down the versatility. The option to wear our curls tight or loose, in an afro or a twist out, curly or straight. Yes we said straight. If your heart so desires, we support the decision to wear your hair straight too, just make sure you are choosing a method that is safe for you and your strands.

Chemical hair straightening treatments, such as the Japanese (which permanently straightens) and Brazilian (which eradicates frizz and loosens curls for up to six months) treatments, haven taken a lot of heat because they rely on ingredients such as sodium hydroxide (called lye)—a corrosive active ingredient also found in many household detergents—and formaldehyde. The former rearranges the DNA makeup and pH levels of natural kinks while the latter helps bind keratin (a naturally-occurring protein) to hair. Both have been linked to cancer and lung damage. And, over the long run, continually relaxing hair with these methods can even lead to alopecia, a condition in which hair follicles become damaged beyond repair and fall out, never to grow back.

“Disulfide bonds are the strongest bonds in hair,” says Melissa Harvey, a New York-based consulting trichologist (hair scientist) with hair growth company Bio Follicle. “They can only be broken by a radical chemical swell.”

MORE: Formaldehyde-Free Straightening Treatments

Since the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a hazard warning in 2011 for salon employees and owners performing these types of straightening treatments, product manufacturers have raced back to their labs in search of newer, healthier straightening formulas. Zerran RealLisse uses a completely edible—yes, edible!—combination of wheat, corn and oat proteins to smooth hair for two to four months. Though the professional system is used in high-end salons including the Fred Segal Salon in Santa Monica, C.A, the company has also created a line of shampoos and conditioners with similar ingredients to help clients maintain their straight strands right at home. Farouk Systems’ Chi Enviro American Smoothing Treatment is another pro-straightening alternative that propels proven strengthening ingredients including amino acids, proteins, silk fibers and pearl into the hair’s cuticle to rearrange unruly hair strands for as long as four months. And the Anevolve Control Zero Straightening System, which grows out after one to four months, relies on sodium sulfite (a food-grade preservative) instead of formaldehyde to break down the natural bonds in curls.

MORE: FDA Deems Brazilian Blowout Hazardous

What is a BB Cream?

Just when you thought the BB cream craze had reached its height, the popular flaw-blurring technology has now jumped the aisle into hair care. But what does that mean for your strands?

By combining treatment and styling ingredients together in one product in the same way that facial BB creams combine skincare with makeup, you can tackle hair health and texture quickly, thanks to bottles packed with multiple benefits.

“It’s similar to what stylists term ‘cocktailing’ different products together in order to apply one customized balm,” says San Diego stylist and salon owner Jet Rhys. However, some of the more sophisticated ingredients in these new high-tech balms are now coming straight from skincare.

MORE: BB Cream—The Skincare Product That Does It All

BB Cream Products

KeratinPerfect Hair BB 3-in-1 Multi Action Hair Beauty Balm ($28) contains apple stem cell extract to fight hair aging; nano-keratin proteins to strengthen; and oils of argan, apricot kernel and almond to moisturize and add gloss. Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Blonde Beauty Balm ($28) uses vitamin C, lemon, chamomile and honey to hydrate and add body, shine and brilliance to buttery hair colors. The line’s proprietary caviar extract infuses Omega-3 fatty acids into hair to boost elasticity. No word yet on a brunette or redhead version.

Other products are claiming a grand-slam list of benefits, of which 10 seems to be the magic number.

Pantene says when creating the Ultimate 10 BB Crème ($5), the company “looked to the skincare benefits of the BB cream and optimized the right level of ingredients for a product that not only feels good on the hair, but also delivers a flawless finish.” Try this balm for repair, heat protection, frizz control, shine, softening and fly-away-taming benefits, among others.

MORE: Are CC Creams Actually Different From BB Creams?

And It’s A 10 Hair Care just introduced the leave-in Miracle Silk Smoothing Balm ($20), which claims 10 benefits including straightening, cutting down on drying time, detangling, prolonging your blowout and weightless hair hold, all in one fell swoop.

Some may say the BB hair creams are just marketing jazz, but we’re all for anything that saves time, money and space on our ever-crowded bathroom counter.

Any woman who colors her hair knows that it often feels like a full-time job.

Whether you’re adding highlights in your 20s or channeling your inner red head in your 30s, the every-six-week appointments needed for hair color maintenance are a serious responsibility, and cost a pretty penny to boot.

Things get even trickier as your hair starts to gray—which happens sooner for some than others. Silver strands can take hold anywhere from our 20s to our 60s—and your chance of going gray increases 10-20 percent every decade after 30 years, according to the Library of Congress.

If you choose to continue coloring, you’ll probably find that you have to hit the salon or the drug store even more often to keep ahead of those grays.

Embracing Natural Color

While color is always an option, we love seeing women who embrace their naturally graying hair.  It’s a movement that’s gained traction over that past few years, as more high profile women are embracing their silver streaks. Think: Helen Mirren, Jamie Lee Curtis, Meryl Streep (in “The Devil Wears Prada”) and Blythe Danner.

The only problem with embracing your gorgeous grays? The process of getting there—growing out your hair color from partially gray to totally gray. As your hair grows out and changes color, you’ll be confronted with two-tone hair that’s half gray, half colored.

MORE: The Science Behind Going Gray

We asked celebrity hair colorist Rita Hazan—she of Jennifer Lopez and Katy Perry fame—for some advice about how to make the transition easier, and, uh, more attractive.

Good news: Hazan says avoiding two-tone hair is tough, but not impossible. “There’s a technique I use which is helpful: Stop coloring everything else besides the hairline and the part. It will take a long time for the back to grow out and when you start growing out the top, use my Root Concealer to blend in your color.” You can ask your colorist to try this same technique and apply it at home if you do your own color.

Try a Glaze

Gray strands also change your overall hair texture—it typically becomes coarser. Combat this with heavier conditioning products, and add an anti-frizz serum to your routine. Gray is also prone to yellowing or brassiness. Try a DIY hair gloss like Rita Hazan Foaming Gloss or Frederic Fekkai Salon Glaze, or ask your colorist for an in-salon gloss to combat it.

Hazan also suggests getting a chic haircut and wearing enough makeup to compensate for the lack of color in your hair. “This way you won’t look washed out, but chic and youthful.”

GALLERY: Stars Who Went Gray

Just think of the money (and time!) you’ll save.

We highly recommend using it on a sexy beach vacation—just remember to pack a hat!

Ammonia in Hair Color

Professional, permanent coloring products and their DIY counterparts often rely on ammonia, a noxious chemical compound that opens the hair cuticle so that the new, desired shade can penetrate thoroughly. While effective, its harsh nature sometimes causes irritation and a burning sensation that makes a color appointment seem like torture to some. But even if you’re not prone to allergic reactions, the tinting process is still a major cause of dull, frizzy strands. “Ammonia can weaken hair and make it dull by stripping the outer layer of each shaft,” says Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D, a Washington, D.C., dermatologist.

To soften the blow, L’Oréal Professionnel debuted INOA (which stands for Innovation No Ammonia) in 2011. It was a game-changing alternative to traditional coloring products, thanks to its use of an odorless chemical, monoethanolamine (or MEA), to open the hair shaft. While groundbreaking, the gentler version had certain limitations—being able to darken strands only one shade, not to lighten or conceal grays. Since then, L’Oréal chemists have discovered a way to boost the efficacy of MEA, giving ammonia-averse consumers more options and a wider color palette. This new technology, appearing for the first time in an at-home color, is in Garnier (which is owned by L’Oréal) Olia at-home color line. It incorporates MEA and an oil gel (dubbed Oleogel) that coats and conditions the outer layer of hair strands to preserve strength.

MORE: A Healthier Way to Highlight

Monoethanolamine (MEA)

According to the company, Olia—which includes 24 shades and is infused with fragrant, flower-based oils—can lift color up to three levels. “It’s an exciting option that delivers softer, shinier, healthier-looking hair,” says Kyle White, a New York-based celebrity colorist with Garnier who has used the line on his clients. “Think of it this way: If ammonia is sugar, MEA is Stevia.”

In addition to ammonia, some companies have also eliminated PPD (also known as PTD)—petroleum-derived dyes commonly used in hair color pigments that can cause severe allergic reactions—from their formulas. Instead, they use plant- or vegetable-based versions to tint hair. Though less effective (the pigment, more like a rinse, lasts only six or seven shampoos, as opposed to four to six weeks with a semi-permanent dye), they are a health-conscious option for men and women simply looking to mask grays. Aubrey Organics Color Me Natural is one such brand that conceals silvery roots on dark brown strands. Lush Henna Hair Dyes come in four shades to gently cover grays sprouting on redheads and brunettes while conditioning and imparting shine. “Plant-based dyes are healthier for the hair,” says Melissa Harvey, a New York-based consulting trichologist (hair scientist) with hair growth company Bio Follicle. “But since they go deeper into the cuticle with each application, it does make it difficult for anyone looking to go lighter.”

If you’re new to the no ‘poo haircare method, or you just don’t have time to wash, condition, deep condition, and leave-in condition your hair, then you might be looking for a boost of encouragement to get you through the day. “Much like Little House on the Prairie, Sunday night is hair washing night,” YouBeauty senior editor, Courtney Dunlop, recently bemoaned on Twitter.

MORE: All About the No Shampoo Method

It’s a sentiment that’s spawned a burgeoning industry of dry shampoo, named for the product’s seemingly miraculous ability to refresh hair without the need for water. Harried women everywhere are rejoicing, as more skip their daily sudsing ritual in favor of more sleep, more free time, more sanity and in our case, healthier curls.

“Dry shampoo beats the old-time trick of using baby powder because aerosols and nozzles better direct application,” says San Diego celebrity stylist and salon owner, Jet Rhys.

QUIZ: How Healthy Is Your Hair, Really?

Options range the gamut with budget versions that include oil-absorbing particles and basic scents while pricier picks employ micronized powders for greater volume and extras like tea tree oil to prevent dandruff. Higher end options also offer elegant fragrance blends that mimic shampoo-fresh hair, adds Rhys.

To apply dry shampoo, bend forward and work in sections holding the spray several inches from hair and directing the nozzle towards the scalp. Next massage roots with fingertips to build volume and to spread the formula through strands, instructs Rhys.

However you use it, dry shampoo is one of those hero products that you’ll likely wonder how you ever did without. Check out the best picks of the crop in the gallery.

Top Dry Shampoos

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Best Volume

Sachajuan Volume Powder, $32

Dirt and oils that accumulate on the scalp between shampoos can leave hair limp and lifeless. This powder-based aerosol spray builds volume at the roots and dries with a matte finish. Spray four inches from scalp and shake excess powder out.

MORE: The Dish on Dry Shampoos

Best Overall

René Furterer Naturia Dry Shampoo, $8

Among dry shampoo aficionados, René Furterer remains a perpetual cult favorite. Rice and cornstarch powders freshen the scalp while clay and silica absorb oil and dirt. Even better, it doesn’t leave a white residue behind. Essential oils of peppermint, caraway and basil invigorate and scent the scalp.

MORE: We Try the Hottest Hair Oils 

 

Best For Colored Hair

Kenra Platinum Dry Shampoo, $15

If you spend big bucks on maintaining your color, invest in a dry shampoo that offers UV protection against fading. Kenra’s version includes rice starch to absorb grease and impurities, and a mango melon fragrance to refresh hair.

MORE: The Best Hair Color for Your Skin 

Best For Texture

Oribe Hair Care Dry Texturizing Spray, $39

Sexy hair is touchable—so über-stylist Oribe designed his texturizing spray with movement in mind. Patented polymers absorb oil to build body, while extracts of sunflower seed, ginger root, mango kiwi and passionflower add shine and manageability. It’s also a great texturizer to give strands a piecey look and hold them in place for updo styling.

MORE: DIY Sea Salt for Beachy Waves

 

Best For Dark Hair

Alterna Bamboo Style Cleanse Extend Translucent Dry Shampoo, $26

Powders and sprays can speckle dark tresses with dandruff-looking patches of white flakes. Alterna’s translucent formula sprays on completely clear, no matter the hair color. The fresh green fragrance of bamboo leaf, water lily and musk adds a veil of scent that exudes cleanliness.

MORE: The Secret to Natural-Looking Color

 

Best For Fine Hair

Pure NV BKT Rescue Dry Shampoo, $25

Dry shampoo particles can weigh baby fine hair down. This keratin-infused formula uses finely ground minerals and natural wax dissolvers to cleanse and hydrate weightlessly. Hold can 10 inches away and mist lightly all over hair, then brush out. A quick, once-over finishing shot of the blow dryer adds extra perk to fine strands.

Best To Cover Grays

Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder, $19-$35 each

Bumble and Bumble’s iconic hair powder comes in full coverage shades that mask gray roots. Since the formula requires a slightly oily surface to adhere, use a light application of pomade or wax at the root if applying on freshly washed and dried hair. (And if your hair is dirty, you’re good to go!) Hold can 10 inches from hair and spray as needed, allow to dry, and shake out any excess with fingers. Use a towel to cover shoulders if your hair is dark or if you’re wearing light clothing.

MORE: DIY Sea Salt for Beachy Waves

 

Best For Travel

Stila Hair Refresher, $28

For gals on the go, nothing beats the portability of a traditional powder; there’s no worrying about carry-on size limitations or an aerosol going off unexpectedly. Stila’s version comes in two scents: a vanilla-amber Crème Bouquet or green tea-touched Jade Blossom.

Best Budget Buy

Suave Professionals Keratin Infusion Dry Shampoo, $4

For generations, there weren’t many drugstore options in the dry shampoo category, though savvier technology has since made headway. Suave Professionals combines a grease-blasting aerosol spray with the shine and hydration of keratin at a bargain bin price.

 

Editors’ Choice

Arrojo ReFINISH Dry Shampoo, $22

The Type 2 NaturallyCurly Editors chose Arrojo’s dry shampoo in the 2013 annual Editors’ Choice awards. We find that it doesn’t leave any white or powdery residue on our Type 2 wavies.

Best for Beginners

Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray, $15

No need to worry about applying incorrectly, just point and shoot: the nozzle design of Oscar Blandi’s dry shampoo cleverly controls product for direct contact on the scalp, where oil absorption is most needed. Lemon verbena makes for a stimulating scent and wheat proteins combine with vitamin E to strengthen strands.

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