Launch List: The Best Hair Care Launching in October

Hundreds of products come across our desks every month, but not all of them deliver on their claims or live up to the hype. (Not everything that goes viral on TikTok is a miracle worker.) This is our exclusive curation of the best-in-class hair-care products receiving rave reviews from our team and hitting shelves right now.

AQUIS FLIP Hair-Drying Tool ($50)

Trade in your traditional bath towel for this high-tech, hair-friendly one, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Powered by patented AQUITEX technology, which uses uniquely woven, quick-wicking channels to dry hair without the frizz-inducing friction you get with a standard towel, it actually strengthens hair as it dries it (this was also proven in clinical studies).

The fabric and design makes it comfortable to wear and easy to use: It doesn’t leave a mark around my hairline because it’s not too tight (like some other hair towels I’ve tried) and you don’t have to worry about it being too small because there’s a flexible loop-and-tuck design to lock your twisted towel in place. Plus, how cool is it that the antimicrobial microfiber fabric for each FLIP is made with six recycled water bottles?

Nécessaire The Scalp Serum ($58)

For those experiencing thinning hair or hair loss, or a dry, irritated scalp, this daily scalp treatment is a must-try. The watery, oil-free serum is made with a 5-percent biomimetic peptide blend of five peptides at concentrations that have been clinically proven to help visibly minimize thinning and support new hair growth, as well as seven different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid for a mega boost of hydration. Green tea extract helps soothe itchiness, too, and if you’ve ever experienced an itchy scalp, you know it’s the worst!

There’s also no alcohol, silicones or synthetic fragrance in the ingredient lineup, and it’s safe for color-treated and keratin-treated hair. If you use it every day as suggested, one bottle should last you two months: Just part your hair into sections and apply the dropper directly on your scalp and then massage it in.

In a clinical perception study (participants also used the brands shampoo and conditioner), 80 percent of people said their hair looked thicker, 84 percent said their hair looked fuller and 88 percent said their hair looked healthier.

Innersense Organic Beauty Bright Balance Hairbath and Conditioner ($30 and $32)

A gentle and effective cleanser and toner for those with blonde or gray hair that’s become brassy or yellowish in between salon appointments, this vegan purple shampoo (the conditioner is purple too and silicone-free, which I love) works on all hair types and textures. It’s chock-full of nourishing ingredients like apple extract and rice syrup that help draw moisture into the hair, and monoi oil, which creates a smoothing, protective effect on the hair (it also lends to the addictive, fruity-floral scent).

“We wanted to formulate a collection specifically to nourish and tone gray, blonde and bleached hair without silicones or other common cosmetic ingredients that build up over time and compromise overall hair health,” says Greg Starkman, brand founder. “We are always looking for cleaner, healthier solutions using certified-organic ingredients to keep hair healthy and balanced.”

Leaf + Flower CBD Instant Curl Defining Cream ($34)

Finding a good curl cream can involve a lot of trial and error, but have you ever tried one with CBD? Developed by hairstylists, this alcohol-free cream gives waves and curls just the right amount of definition and hold (and a ton of moisture) without weighing them down with a crunchy, stiff or sticky residue.

The secret lies in the brand’s plant-based bio-adhesive properties that improve the hydration within individual curl bonds, and you really do notice better bounce and less frizz. The CBD comes into play in the brand’s proprietary CBD Corrective Complex that combines CBD with other key cannabinoids (CBC and CBG; combining them makes them more effective) to help bring homeostasis to the scalp and strengthen hair follicles. In the end, you’re getting so much more than a curl cream!

Geologie Smoothing Hair Co-Wash ($38)

As we move into the colder weather months and our hair gets drier (the case for many of us, but not all), hydration is essential. This low-foam formula (it’s sulfate-free) cleanses and conditions both the hair and scalp simultaneously without stripping it of its natural moisturizing oils. The conditioning benefits come courtesy of strengthening avocado oil, moisturizing squalane and fatty acid–rich coconut oil, which dry hair and a dry scalp will soak right up.

The brand suggests using it only twice a week, and letting it sit in your hair for a minute or two before rinsing it out (and remember to really rinse it out well!). There’s also a cooling version that’s great for oilier hair types and has a minty scent and creates a tingly feeling on the scalp, if that suits you better.

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