Shop the Drugstore with Celebrity Hair Stylist Gregory Russell
Whatever happened to, “lather, rinse, repeat?” Now it’s more like “lather, rinse, condition, mask, heat protect, mousse, serum, hair spray.” And that adds up. Gregory Russell, a celebrity hair stylist whose clients include Chloe Grace Moretz, Miranda Kerr, Christina Hendricks, Karlie Kloss and Demi Moore, confirms our belief that you don’t have to spend a fortune to look red-carpet ready. He has some tips for the most effective brands and products to look for when you’re on a budget. We gave him our $50 drugstore shopping challenge, and here’s how he spent that money:
L’Oreal Paris Hair Expertise EverPure Smooth Shampoo Sulfate-Free, $5.89: There’s been a consumer backlash about sulfates in beauty products because they can be stripping to hair and skin. “[Shampoos without sulfates] are awesome for people who have colored hair. It’s really gentle,” Russell says. He gave kudos to L’Oreal for making an affordable version.
Related: Shop the Drugstore with Daniel Martin
Sonia Kashuk Small Hair Brush, $12.59: Brushes are a hair stylist’s most important weapon, but you don’t need to spend $150 on a Mason Pearson. “Sonia Kashuk makes an amazing multi-bristle brush that’s almost exactly the same as a Mason Pearson brush,” Russell says. “She also does a round brush and a flat brush; I actually keep the flat brush in my kit all the time.” He also recommends any drugstore ceramic round brush for frizzy hair—it’ll leave your hair smooth post-blow dry.
Sally Hershberger Supreme Lift Root Spray, $11.99: Women want pumped up hair, and Russell loves volume sprays to help achieve this. “They’re really easy. You can spray it evenly through your hair and it’s a bit more weightless [than mousse],” he said. Sally Hershberger owns a high-end salon in New York City, but she makes an accessible line of hair care products that stylists, including Russell, love.
Related: 10 Fancy Drugstore Finds
Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo, $4.99: Dry shampoo is a great multi-tasker. “You can use a dry shampoo as a texture spray and also obviously for those women who have oily scalps,” Russell said. “If you put it on the roots immediately after a blowout, you’re going to have more long-term results with your style, as well as volume.”
L’Oreal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray, $12.99:This hair spray can be found in many a kit backstage at runway shows and in celeb dressing rooms alike. It’s a classic—and also affordable.
Total spent: $48.45
