Are you looking for the best hair products to buy in the USA? Then check out this list to find out the best shampoos, masks, treatments, leave-ins, hair sprays, and more to buy on your trip to the states!
I’ve said, again and again, that the United States is a shopping paradise. Expensive products that are sold in Latin America, Asia, or even Europe can be found for only a couple of bucks in the aisles of US shops. And the price difference? It will make all your spending worth it – even if your currency is not that strong at the moment!
For that reason, I always tell everyone traveling to the USA to create a shopping list and go for it. You can (or dare I say should?) include electronics, home goodies, clothes, and beauty. I already wrote a post about everything worth buying when you are in the states, so if you feel like shopping, don’t forget to check that out!
One thing I don’t see a lot, though, is recommendations for hair products. Yes, we all know about Absolut Repair from Loreal and the infamous Aussie masks, but that’s it. Nothing new. Nothing exciting!
Since I can’t take these recommendations anymore, I created this shopping guide with the best hair products to buy when traveling to the USA. Some suggestions here are affordable, some of them are more on the pricey side, but all of them will make your hair look healthy and shiny.
During your trip, instead of spending hours in stores trying to figure out what you should buy, check this list for suggestions of products that work for your hair type, and you are good to go!
NO TIME TO SHOP? If you have a tight schedule and don't have time to go to stores or if you want to make sure you will get everything on your shopping list, my suggestion is that you shop at Amazon.com. As you can imagine, they have everything you can think of, and delivery is speedy. You can even subscribe to Prime (opt for a free month trial, and you can cancel after that). To make it easier for you, I have already linked every product to Amazon. Pssst: If your hotel charges for online deliveries, you can use the Amazon Locker service – it’s completely free and available in most cities across the country.
BEST HAIR PRODUCTS TO BUY IN THE USA
All products on this list are low-poo friendly, which means they don’t have any petroleum-ish on their ingredients list. So you’ll not find masks full of paraffin that will only make your hair look nice on a superficial level, nope. Only good-quality products with good ingredients!
If you are adept at the no-poo technique, I encourage you to look at the ingredients list of every product here since some of them may contain silicones.
To my knowledge, every product here is cruelty-free, which means they are not tested on animals. However, brands may change their cruelty-free status, and even though I try to keep you updated on the matter, I also encourage you do your own research about this topic.
Shampoo (Oily Hair)
Best affordable: Paul Mitchell Systems Special Tea Tree Shampoo
This shampoo washes away the impurities of day-to-day life while giving your scalp a refreshing feeling and healthy aspect. In addition, the tea tree oil and mint in the formula help balance your natural oils, so your hair looks cleaner for longer!
Best High End: Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo
This shampoo is so strong you should only use it a couple of days of the week. It removes pollution, minerals, and other residues that may leave your hair looking greasy. You can call it a hair detox!
Shampoo (dry hair)
Best Affordable: Shea Moisture Extra Moisture Retention Shampoo
Shea Moisture is one of the best hair care brands to buy in the USA. They have great formulas and affordable products. This shampoo has no sulfates and cleans and repairs hair while also moisturizing the scalp.
Melhor high end: OLAPLEX No. 4 Bond Maintenance™ Shampoo
Another brand that is super popular right now is Olaplex Shampoo No. 4 is moisturizing and not only repairs your hair but also helps with split ends and makes the hair look healthier and shinier each time you use it.
Shampoo (curly hair)
Best Affordable: Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo
This sulfate-free shampoo mixes natural ingredients with shea butter to moisturize your curls. It also has coconut oil and hibiscus flower extract on the ingredients list to help with split ends! Win-win!
Best high-end: Briogeo Curl Charisma™ Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo
This shampoo is made for any type of curls, and it helps moisturize and nourish the hair without stripping your natural oils. It’s sulfate-free, and it also helps define your curls, having shea butter and avocado oil on the ingredients list.
Shampoo bars
Lush Shampoo Bars
If you are a traveler, shampoo bars are a must! You won’t have any problems taking these on your carry, and not only are they lightweight, but they also last for a long time (mine usually last about eight months to a year). Each bar has its purpose, such as deep cleaning, moisturizing, volume, etc.
Dry shampoo
Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo
With jasmine and vanilla notes, this dry shampoo works for all hair types, and it will not only get rid of oil residue but also give you volume! In addition, it becomes clear after use, so it will work for you even if you have dark hair!
Best high-end: Bumble & Bumble Prêt-à-powder
The Prêt-à-powder was the first powder dry shampoo I ever used back in 2013. I liked it because even though it’s white, it doesn’t leave the hair ashy and removes all oil. I would definitely repurchase!
Conditioner (moisturizing)
Best affordable: Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Conditioner
From the amount of Shea Moisture on this list, you can guess that this brand is pretty good, right? This conditioner detangles your hair while giving it some moisture and shine due to its natural ingredients. The formula has shea butter, honey, and lots of oils to help moisturize and nourish at the same time.
Best high end: Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner
How could I talk about the best hair products to buy in the USA and not mention Moroccanoil? Its formula is rich in argan oil and other moisturizing ingredients. It helps not only with detangling but also repair any hair damage. It will give you shiny and soft hair!
Conditioner (nourishing)
Best affordable: Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Rinse-out Conditioner
This conditioner will bring your hair back to life without leaving it heavy or greasy. The main ingredients are Castor Oil and shea butter. Still, it also has some other oils such as coconut and jojoba to make your hair silky and nourished.
Best high-end: Briogeo Be Gentle Be Kind™ Kale + Apple Replenishing Superfood Conditioner
You could easily mistake this conditioner with a juice, which is fitting since it promises to nourish your hair with a shot of kale and apple! It helps to revitalize your hair, giving back its life while also making it soft. The formula is 97% natural.
Conditioner (repair)
Best affordable: Paul Mitchell Super Strong Conditioner
This conditioner repairs and protects your hair, leaving it soft and moisturized. The trademarked Super Strong Complex formula rebuilds the inside of your hair due to its ingredients such as canola, soybean, and cornstarch. As a result, your hair will be stronger for longer!
Best high-end: Oribe Gold Lust Repair and Restore Conditioner
You can call this conditioner the “fountain of youth” for hair. Its formula contains argan oil and passionfruit, along with a bio-restorative complex that is responsible for bringing your hair back to life. It will leave your hair looking refreshed and new.
Co-Wash
Best affordable: As I Am Coconut Cowash Cleansing Conditioner
The best co-wash I’ve ever used. Even though the formula contains coconut and castor oil, your hair looks fresh and soft after washing it. It also helps with detangling and nourishing since it is rich in oils.
There are a lot of good co-washes out there, but nothing compares to the As I Am Coconut Cowash.
Best high-end: DevaCurl No-Poo Original Zero Lather Cleanser
DevaCurl created the no-poo and low-poo terms, so you can bet they know what they’re doing. The brand’s no-poo cleanser leaves hair shiny, soft, and looking fresh due to its grape and mint oil blend.
A quick reminder that DevaCurl changed their package in middle-2021. The old ones were white with green accents, while the new tubes are all green. They also updated the formulas.
Leave-in
Best affordable: It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in
The perfect leave-in you have different hair concerns. It helps with frizz, leaves your hair shiny, bouncy and even nourishes and repairs. The ingredients go from sunflower seed oil, green tea, and even vitamin C. It can also be used as a heat protector (this is literally an all-in-one product).
Best high-end: OUAI Leave-In Conditioner
One of the best leave-ins according to beauty youtubers. It protects your hair from heat damage, leaves it soft, and even helps with that hair that seems never to be tamed.
Best for curly hair: DevaCurl Leave-in Decadence
The best option for curly hair that needs moisture pick-me-up between washes The Decadence leave-in promises to nourish the curls and help with frizz, with a formula that contains avocado oil and aloe vera.
Oils
Best affordable: Shea Moisture Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Hair Serum
The perfect oil if you have curly hair or if you constantly use hairdryers and flat irons. Its formula is rich in nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, so it brings back even the most damaged hair to life.
Best high-end: Verb Ghost Oil
According to the US Sephora, this is one of the best hair products to buy in the USA. The name “Ghost Oil” comes from being super lightweight while still moisturizing and detangling the hair. The formula contains argan oil and bamboo extract.
Bonus: Moroccanoil Treatment Original
I think argan oil wasn’t even a thing before Moroccanoil hit the shelves back in the day, so I cannot not talk about it. The Original Treatment will leave your hair soft, shiny and without frizz, besides making it healthier due to the vitamins in the formula.
Moisturizing Mask
Best affordable: Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Hair Masque
As you can see, I like the Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil line, as I already recommended the conditioner from the same line a couple of paragraphs back. This hair mask will deeply moisturize your hair, and it contains shea butter, honey, and antioxidants that will leave your hair soft and strong!
Best high-end: Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask
Another classic. The “brown-lid mask” will moisturize your hair in only 5 minutes, leaving it soft and nourished due to the Argan Oil in the formula. I still use this one even though its hype died ten years ago.
Bonus: Pacifica Banana Love Deep Intensive Moisture Mask
Among the best hair products to buy in the USA are the Pacifica hair masks! They are (usually) incredibly affordable and contain great natural ingredients, and you can find one for any hair need. In addition, the Banana Love Deep Intensive Moisture contains aloe vera and sunflower seed oil to moisturize and leave your hair feeling super soft!
Nourishing Mask
Best affordable: Pacifica Beauty Pineapple Hydrate Curl Nourishing Hair Mask
This mask will nourish your hair with avocado, coconut oil, and pineapple extract, leaving it healthier and shiny. It also contains rice protein to make your hair stronger, besides other natural ingredients.
Best high-end: Amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask
A nourishing mask that also deeply moisturizes and repairs the hair… wow. It promises a softer and shiny hair for longer, and its formula is free of any sulfates, parabens, or paraffin!
Bonus: Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Masque
If you are after a luxurious hair experience, you have to try the Gold Lust Transformative Masque by Oribe. It has won several prizes due to its formula with jasmine and white tea, and it promises a stronger and softer hair from when you first apply!
Repair Mask
Best affordable: Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein-Strong Treatment
Another Shea Moisture product, this time with more than just honey in the formula, but also proteins and even yogurt! It repairs the hair and minimizes hair loss, and nourishes it due to its oil ingredients. The best choice if you need a powerful hair treatment!
Best high-end: Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
Ranked #1 place on Allure’s Beauty Awards, it’s no surprise that this Briogeo Mask is one of the best hair products to buy in the USA. Besides moisturizing your hair, it also helps with damage due to the 95% natural formula. It contains vitamin B and argan oil.
Bonus: Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3
I don’t know where to place Olaplex No. 3 in this list because it’s half a hair mask and half hair treatment. It strengthens the hair and minimizes air loss due to its advanced technology to treat damage caused by chemical treatments, flat irons, hairdryers, and even the sun! It has more than 1500 reviews on the Sephora website, and it’s a bestseller in the hair category.
Sprays
Flexible: Bumble And Bumble Spray de Mode Flexible Hold Hairspray
This flexible spray will hold your hair in place, and at the same time, leave it soft and bouncy. As a result, your hair will be tamed while still flexible, and you won’t get that “wet hair” spray appearance.
Strong: Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Strong Finish
This spray will keep your hair in place with argan oil in its formula, but it won’t leave it heavy or hard. This formula also helps with frizz and even with humidity, all without leaving your hair sticky.
Texture: IGK Beach Club Texture Spray
This saltless texture spray will give you a beach hair look but better, keeping the volume without making it look dry. It can be used by anyone, even those with dyed hair or treated with any chemicals.
Hair Dryer
Best affordable: Hot Tools Signature Series Salon Turbo Ionic Dryer
Hot Tools accessories are not only affordable, but they will also last you for years, which is why I absolutely adore them. This model uses ion technology to tame your hair frizz while also leaving it shiny, drying it 40% faster than other hair dryers. It has two speeds, six temperatures, and a cold option.
Best high-end: Parlux Power-Light Ionic & Ceramic Hair Dryer, No.385
Although I adore Hot Tools, I have to give it to Parlux for the durability aspect. I have had my 385 hairdryer since 2013, and so far, so good, I never had a problem. It is extremely light and dries my hair fast, which is a match made in heaven when you talk about hair dryers.
It comes with a cost, though, so if you can invest in a Parlux, go for the Hot Tools, and you will be more than happy.
Flat Iron
Best affordable: Conair Infiniti Pro Rainbow Titanium Flat Iron
With plates that protect your hair from heat damage and add shine, this flat iron has 6 different temperatures and will also help tame your frizz. It takes only 30 seconds to get hot, and its plates are longer to help you straighten your hair faster. It can also be used to curl.
Best high-end: GHD Original Styler
Maybe the most famous flat iron in the USA, the GHD is used by every beauty influencer that I watch on YouTube. According to the brand, it has only one temperature setting, which is the perfect temperature to straighten, curl, or even wave your hair. It also promises to eliminate frizz and leave your hair shiny and with a style that will last!
Curling Iron
Best affordable: Hot Tools 24K Gold Curling Iron
I can attest that this product is almost indestructible, and the curls last for hours, even without any hair spray. I bought mine in 2009, and it only died in 2019, after almost 10 years of use! It has several temperature settings, and it’s a classic used by many beauty professionals.
Best high-end: GHD Curve Creative Curl Wand
This curl “wand” has tri-zone technology to make sure your curls will last longer. As with the flat iron from the brand, this curl “wand” also has only one temperature, which is the “perfect one” for lasting, natural-looking curls.
Bonus: INFINITIPRO By Conair Curl Secret
This one was a huge success a couple of years ago, and you can see why: it’s super easy to get perfect curls that last for hours using this tool. You can choose the temperature and the size of your curls, so you can use it to create different looks!
BEST HAIR PRODUCTS TO BUY IN THE USA IN 2021
And here you go: a complete list of the best hair products to buy in the USA! Masks, shampoos, conditioners, oils, and even tools to help you achieve any look!
Now let me know in the comments… did you try any of these? What did you think? Did I miss any product? What do you think?
