redken – Downtown Magazine

Finding the right hair products can take time, but the first step is being aware of your hair type. There are all different kinds of hair: curly, wavy, straight, frizzy, thick, thin, oily, color-treated, damaged, etc. Buying shampoo is overwhelming because of the amount of options, but to get the best results it is essential to get the kind that is specific for your type of hair.

Along with finding that ideal shampoo, pairing it with the matching conditioner ensures positive results.

It can be a challenge, but luckily Downtown Magazine has narrowed down the choices and picked our top shampoos for each hair type.

Curly

Photo courtesy of Amazon

Curly Sexy Hair by Sexy Hair
Price: Shampoo & conditioner, $39.69 on Amazon

Curly Sexy Hair is the perfect match if your hair is curly and you are looking to enhance those curls. It is made with Sea Algae & Cacay oil and it tames those unmanageable curls by adding shape, definition and bounce for all curl types. Your curls will retain softness and moisture along with smoothing and controlling frizz all day.

Straight

Photo courtesy of Bombeau

Brazilian Keratin Therapy by OGX
Price: Shampoo & Conditioner, $26.61 on Amazon.

OGX has killed the straight hair game with their Brazilian Keratin Therapy shampoo. It is infused with coconut oil, keratin proteins, avocado oil and cocoa butter to make your hair ever straightened. It helps strengthen and soften the hair, along with adding a luminous glow and a beautiful shine.

Color-Treated

Photo courtesy of Amazon

Color Extend Magnetics by Redken
Price: Shampoo & Conditioner, $55.00 on Amazon

Redken’s Color Extend Magnetics is not only a bestseller, but has captivating results. It’s a shampoo for colored hair that is lightweight and gentle sulfate-free. It’s part of the exclusive SMART hair care family, and the new RCT Protein Complex treats hair from the root to the core to the tip, giving all 3 levels the custom nourishment they need.

Volume

Photo courtesy of Moroccan Oil

Extra Volume by Moroccan Oil
Price: Shampoo & Conditioner, $55.00 on Amazon

Moroccan Oil’s products are all so amazing, but their Extra Volume shampoo and conditioner are outstanding for those wishing for more volume. It’s goal is to transform and volumize fine hair from lifeless to lively by antioxidant-rich argan oil and revitalizing nutrients—including linden bud extract that naturally plumps up hair. This product brings body, shine and manageability for healthy-looking hair. It is color safe as well as sulfate-free, phosphate-free and paraben-free.

Frizzy

Photo courtesy of Living Proof

~~Frizz~~ by Living Proof
Price: Shampoo & Conditioner, each $25.00 on Living Proof.

Living Proof’s No Frizz shampoo does wonders for those battling frizz. It weightlessly blocks humidity, smoothes hair texture so strands are polished and frictionless, as well as nourishes and conditions, leaving the hair feeling moisturized. It is formulated for color and chemically treated hair as well as sulfate-free and silicone-free, making it ideal for all frizz-prone hair types.

Oily

Photo courtesy of Amazon

Extraordinary Clay by L’Oreal Paris
Price: Shampoo & Conditioner, $12.48 on Amazon.

For those who struggle with oily roots and dry ends, Extraordinary Clay is the perfect choice. With 3 Refined Clays, it instantly purifies oily roots and hydrates dry lengths in a lightweight fashion for beautifully fresh, flowing hair from root to tip. It is silicone-free and in up to 48 hours the results of purified roots and hydrated ends show.

Damaged

Photo courtesy of Amazon

Repair & Protect by Pantene
Price: Shampoo & Conditioner, $13.99 on Amazon.

Suffer from damaged hair? Pantene’s Repair & Protect is made for damaged, stressed, and overworked hair and is gentle enough for permed or color-treated hair. Its Pro-V formula nourishes hair, fueling it with protecting power against future damage for stronger, healthier, more beautiful hair. Strong hair beats damage.

Sam Villa is one of New York City’s top authorities on haircare. Beyond being the founding partner and namesake of the Sam Villa brand, Sam is the Education Artistic Director for Redken 5th Avenue. His work as a stylist has led him to being a multi-time Stylist Choice Award Winner for Favorite Platform Artist and Educator, in addition to winning Favorite Overall Educator of the Year from the same organization in 2015. In turn, Sam carries the reputation of being the pro that teaches the pros how to do hair.

Last month, Sam Villa unveiled two new products, the Sam Villa Limited Edition Signature Series Light Professional Ionic Blow Dryer and the Sam Villa Limited Edition Signature Series Sleekr Professional Straightening Iron. The blow dryer, priced at $190, is lightweight and includes two rotating concentrator nozzles and a deep bowl diffuser. The straightening iron, priced at $150, includes exclusive rounded plates coated with tourmaline and three heat settings. Both can be purchased via www.samvilla.com.

Downtown spoke with Sam Villa about these new products and plenty more. Sam Villa can be followed on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram.

How does the first blow dryer you ever created compare to the new Signature Series Light Professional Ionic Blow Dryer?

Sam Villa: It’s actually the same dryer. People love it so much we have kept it the same, but occasionally will offer the blow dryer in different colors.

What makes your Signature Series Light Professional Ionic Blow Dryer different from other dryers on the market?

SV: It whispers quietly and weighs less than one pound. The nozzle stays secure on the dryer but stays cool enough to move in different positions for proper air flow and positive ergonomics.

What is the process like of making a blow dryer? What is the most difficult part of it?

SV: For us, the process needed to include what stylists were asking for: light in weight, comfortable in the hand, powerful and hot enough to smooth the hair with incredible shine. Some dryers are so damaging to the hair because of too much heat.

Dryers aside, what are you currently working on?

SV: A 1” Marcel Curling Iron that converts to a curling wand — imagine two irons in one. Professional Marcel curling irons are difficult to find and we wanted to focus on marcel yet with an added feature…a wand!

What do you teach at the Redken Exchange?

SV: My passion is teaching and the Redken Exchange is where learning happens. I teach a Class called “Directors Cut with Sam Villa.” This class focuses on haircutting and longhair dressing and all about adding value behind the chair. This class is about information that they can immediately take back to the salon and immediately apply.

How did the opportunity to teach come about? Was that always something you had wanted to do?

SV: I grew up around sports, either playing or coaching, and I really believe that is where I developed my skills as a teacher. The very day my father — who was a barber — took me to my first hair show to see Vidal Sassoon, I knew then and there that I wanted to be a platform artist. A teacher. And as a teacher, I must never cease to learn.

Is there a professional accomplishment of yours that you are most proud of?

SV: I am most proud of being voted by hairdressers from around the world as four-time Behind The Chair Educator Of The Year. This tells me I am doing and saying the right things.

If you weren’t working with hair, what would you be doing instead?

SV: Coaching a sport at the secondary level, no doubt.

When not busy with work, how do you like to spend your free time?

SV: I love spending time at home and playing a game I love: golf!

Do you have a favorite restaurant in New York?

SV: Cacio E Pepe — all about the cheese bowl and pepper!

Any upcoming events or concerts you have tickets to?

SV: I want to attend the next Summer Olympics. I want tickets…now!

Finally, Sam, any last words for the kids?

SV: Learn, learn, learn as much as you can and as often as you can. Focus on “how you can” vs. “why you can’t.” If I can do this, you can! Success is like chasing a butterfly the more you chase it the more it alludes you. Yet if you focus on the task at hand, success will land softly on your shoulder!