People Always Compliment My Hair, Nails, and Scent, so Here Are All My Secrets

I’ve been massaging Mielle’s organic rosemary oil into my scalp before every wash for almost a year now. Sometimes, lI’ll let it marinate for a full day or night or for just a few hours. Suffice it to say, the rave reviews I’d read online and heard from friends and co-workers didn’t let me down. I’ve noticed faster hair growth and a significantly calmer, less flaky scalp. If you’re looking for thicker and healthier hair, spend the $10.

I adore everything from celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak’s line, Rōz, but this treatment oil has truly transformed the lengths of my hair. If you know me, you know that I absolutely love a fabulous pre-shampoo hair treatment, and this yummy melding of botanical oils leaves my hair so much softer and shinier post-wash. I like to leave it in for at least a couple of hours (usually while I sip coffee, work out, eat breakfast, etc.), but if I’m feeling extra motivated, I’ll work it in, slick my hair into a chignon, and wear it all day like I would a styling product. PS: My 76-year-old mom is also in love!

TikTok made me do it! I’m only human, so even as a beauty editor who already has way too many products and gadgets on my hands, I fall victim to the choke hold of BeautyTok. However, I will say that this high-tech scalp-massaging brush is one of my best impulse buys ever. It feels absolutely amazing (I love using it while I binge Netflix at night), and the combination of red light therapy and a handy little portal that can distribute a hair oil or serum while you massage is beyond brilliant.

This dry shampoo is truly revolutionary, and I can’t imagine ever cheating on it now that I’ve found it. It’s a non-aerosol mist that gives you clean-looking hair for a full three days. Plus, the patented OdorBind biotechnology works without leaving any extra buildup, cloying fragrances, or dusty white residue behind. I’ve found the latter to be extra important since going from platinum to red.

If you have fine hair, do yourself a favor and go buy this new volumizing shampoo and the matching conditioner from Amika. As someone who has never had much luck with volumizing shampoos and conditioners, I’ve finally met the formula I’ve been waiting for. Not only does my hair feel noticeably thicker and fluffier (but not in a frizzy, humid-weather type of way), but it also makes my hair so much smoother and glossier. I swear it also recharges my red with more vibrancy.

After I bleached the eff out of my hair for years, developed an intense allergy to said bleach, and ultimately had to pull a complete 180 and dye my hair red last fall, my hair was in a bit of a state. After talking to the best colorists and stylists in the biz, they recommended that I substitute rich and nourishing hair masks in for conditioner whenever I washed my strands. I’ve been experimenting with a handful over the last year, but I always come back to this one from Amika. It’s ultra-hydrating and basically acts like a multivitamin for battered strands.

This daily stem cell peptide treatment from Act+Acre was one of our 2024 Beauty Award winners, so do I really need to go on?! In a nutshell, it’s lightweight and boosted with a plethora of scalp-nourishing and hair growth–stimulating ingredients, and it will, quite quickly, transform thinning hair. I use it on a freshly cleansed scalp after I get out of the shower—before I apply my oil and leave-ins—and before bed on days when I don’t shampoo.

I’ve been a beauty editor for seven years now and still have yet to come across a hair oil I love more than this one. I’m constantly recommending it to friends, family members, and strangers, and it’s truly become one of my ride-or-die beauty staples. I have a few oils in my arsenal that I use for different things, and this is the oil I apply on damp hair after I’ve washed and before I spritz in my leave-in. It’s lightweight and non-greasy (very important for someone with fine hair!), and it makes my hair incredibly smooth and shiny while also delivering an extra dose of handy heat protection.

As I said earlier, I have a collection of oils I use for different purposes. Even though I’m no longer putting my hair throughly monthly bleaching purgatory, the damage was done, and the lengths and ends of my hair are still paying for it. I like to do at least one nice and nourishing thing for my hair daily, and applying a couple of drops of K18’s reparative hair oil has become a nightly ritual before bed. Just make sure you’re aware of how much you apply. A little goes a long way with this stuff, so just a few drops should do the trick.

If you use heat on your hair, pregaming with a heat protectant is absolutely imperative. I’ve tried lots over the years and usually have issues with them leaving my hair greasy or with a feeling of residue on my strands that I just can’t stand. This foaming formula from Kevin Murphy is completely invisible and weightless and seems to be the one exception.

I’m so underwhelmed by the majority of texturizing and volumizing products on the market, and this is coming from someone with extremely fine hair who is basically the ultimate guinea pig. This OG favorite from Oribe never disappoints and makes it look like I have triple the amount of hair than I actually do. Plus, it smells heavenly.

If you’re in the market for a shine treatment, this shimmering mist from Davines is absolutely lovely. It’s featherlight and has never made my oil-prone hair look greasy. Put simply, it will make your hair glow and look incredibly healthy.

I went years before I finally traded in my beloved old blow-dryer that shall not be named. Heavily influenced by the incessant buzz, I ultimately traded it in for Dyson’s famed Supersonic, and I have never second-guessed that decision. It dries faster, it makes my hair look better, and it’s significantly decreased the amount of damage I used to notice with my old model. Trust me—it’s worth the investment.

I feel like this is a hot take, but I pretty much only ever use a wide-tooth comb on my hair. This pretty one from Odele is my fave! Not only does it make detangling and brushing easier, but it also results in so much less shedding and breakage. If you want to see more hair on your head and less in your brush, make the switch. In fact, I’m so emphatic about this that I even bring one with me when I go to get my hair done.

Switching to a pure silk pillowcase is one of the easiest things you can do for your hair health. It keeps my fuzz-prone hair smooth and silky, and my blowouts last longer to boot. Pro tip: Don’t forget to pack one when you travel!

Key fragrance notes: water lily, fig, cassis, orris, iris, jasmine dew, skin musks, vanilla, patchouli, sandalwood

Key fragrance notes: pitaya, sweet orange, fruit gummies, orange flower, jasmine, marigold, patchouli, glazed musks, amber

Key fragrance notes: coriander, orange flower, bay leaf, cumin, patchouli, cedarwood, tonka bean, Peru balsam, cistus absolute

Key fragrance notes: galbanum, cinnamon bark, orris butter, whiskey a go go, angelica root, tobacco leaf, amber, cacao blanc, suede, black musk

Key fragrance notes: freesia, plum, amber, cashmere woods, Madagascar vanilla beans, cistus oil

Everyone needs a fire-engine red polish in their kit, and this one called Incendiaire from Chanel hits the nail on the head.

Previously known as Vamp, this iconic blackish-red is the perfect gothic color when you’re in the mood for something dark. No other dark nail polish really exists for me!

For the minimalists, I absolutely need to introduce you to J.Hannah’s latest polish launch, Milk. A true “your nails but better” situation, it acts like a creamy, sheer filter for your nails, camouflaging any imperfections while still looking pretty naked. That said, if you want a bit more saturation, layer it a few times for a soft and pretty off-white.

One of the main reasons I often get my nails done professionally is that I have zero patience, and nine times out of 10, I end up bumping and messing up my paint job when left to my own devices at home. These brilliant drops, however, totally changed the game for me. Just add a drop or two on top of your topcoat, wait at least 80 seconds, and they’ll be dry to the touch and ready for combat.

I love this glossy topcoat from Chanel, especially since, if I am painting my own nails at home, I’m usually using a vernis from Chanel. It dries relatively quickly, and I swear it keeps my nails looking professionally shiny and chip-resistant for at least a full week.

I was pretty anti-press-on until celebrity manicurist Brittney Boyce told me she was launching her own line, Lost Angels. The nails are very chic and inspired by her own covetable designs, and I immediately wanted the entire drop. Not only do these press-ons apply like a dream and look like you just dropped $200 or more for extensions and professional nail art, but they also do not budge. I’ve never received so many compliments on my nails, and I love that each set comes with nail glue for longer wear and adhesive tabs for shorter wear.

I don’t care how good your actual nails look—raw and raggedy cuticles will always kill the vibe. I’ve dated around, but I always come back to this handy-dandy pen from CND. I keep it on my nightstand so I never forget to apply before bed!

The entire editorial staff at Who What Wear can’t get enough of Soft Services’ incredible bodycare offerings, but this fan-favorite hand cream might be the top contender if we had to choose a team favorite. It’s refillable (which we always love), the packaging will look very chic on your nightstand or vanity, and the epic mix of ingredients (think retinol, provitamin B5, and colloidal oatmeal) will moisturize and fountain of youth–ify your hands. Cough, cough—our hands are where we usually show the first signs of aging.