These Shampoo-Conditioner Combos Are the Antidote to Bad Hair Days

You know how Ramona Singer can totally change her hairstyle — even go bobbed and bleachy blonde — and it looks better with every photo you see of her? I am not Ramona Singer. My hair proves it.

Despite a bathroom packed with every hairspray, dry shampoo, and styling creme you could name, the only time my tresses approach Real Housewives-level gorgeous is the one day a month when I put my hair in the hands of a pro for a cut, color, and blowout session. Turns out, though, the reason I can't recreate the look after I leave the salon isn't because the styling products I've been using have failed me. 

“Great hair actually starts in the shower,” says Fae Norris, of L.A.'s Neighborhood Salon. “It seems simple, but choosing the right shampoo and conditioner, paired with the right cut, is where hair goes from good to great.” And she should know, having styled literally thousands of L.A.’s most gorgeous women. “I see a lot of clients with flaky scalps, brittle hair, brassy tones and unmanageable frizz — and for most, the cause and solution starts and ends with the shampoo and conditioner they use.”  

So we asked Norris to share the tried-and-true shampoo-and-conditioner combos, for dry hair, frizz, dandruff ... whatever bad behavior your hair is exhibiting. 

Why Norris loves it: “Just like the name implies, this combination is gentle. I actually recommend it as a safe bet for most any hair type and texture and have seen it solve a lot of problems. It gets hair super clean without stripping or feeling weighed down. It also has a great scent with no alcohol, parabens, or silicones. So if you’re looking to combat dryness due to color or the sun, with a hair texture ranging from straight to curly or thick to fine, this is one to check out."

Why Norris loves it: “This combo is like a gentle detox for your hair and scalp. Great ingredients leave even the finest, flattest, oiliest hair super clean with tons of volume. Hair stays clean longer and repels against oil so it doesn’t need to be a daily battle. It’s also safe for color and chemically-treated hair and is sulfate and silicone-free."

Why Norris loves it: “Why DevaCurl No-Poo for curly hair? This stuff does work. Full stop. It’s lather free, doesn’t strip and leaves hair clean, super soft and delivers awesome, bouncy curls. Condition One rocks because it works for all textures of curls. Fine, frizzy, course, corkscrew, waves, flat, fro. All will feel soft, hydrated, bouncy, moisturized, and tangle free. These two paired together is almost like a movement more than just a shampoo and conditioner combo."

Why Norris loves it: “This combo is a personal favorite even though I don’t have fine or thinning hair. It not only thickens but leaves the hair really clean, soft, nourished, and feeling healthy. It actually encourages hair growth, blood circulation, and prevents hair loss. This is a go-to for most anyone looking for thicker locks. It’s a bit pricy but amazing stuff."

"The Plumping Rinse is a perfect complement to the Wash and I suggest using them together. You’ll get the full benefits of the thickening and nourishing without the slightest bit of hair being weighed down. It reverses damage, works at the follicle level, and encourages growth. A great choice for those growing their hair out. And the awesome scent? I learned a new word to describe it: redolent." 

Why Norris loves it: “A lot of shampoos created to treat scalps conditions don’t always deliver the look. This one does. It effectively serves as an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial while also soothing and calming dermatitis and psoriasis. An excellent choice for sensitive scalps and those with allergies, it leaves hair feeling and looking better than any other scalp shampoo on the market. Be aware, though, that while it will strip flakes, it may also strip color. Best for those who don’t color treat."

"The word that comes to mind to describe the Miracle Conditioner is “miracle.” They got it right. Really gentle on the scalp and helps take the ratchiest of hair back to the picture of health. Açai oil is the magic sauce and produces great shine and wonderful moisturizing. This one can be used with color-treated hair and is particularly good for those with parched locks.”