InStyle's Guide To Stronger, Healthier Hair With Clean Haircare

At some point in life, every woman has had a bad haircut. Except, maybe, for Tiffany Masterson, whose skincare line focusing on clean ingredients, Drunk Elephant, is one of the fastest-growing brands on the planet. Ever since they were kids, Masterson has had the good fortune of getting her hair cut by celebrity stylist Chris McMillan (the famed creator of Jennifer Aniston’s “Rachel” ’do from Friends). Growing up, they would go on family holidays together because their mothers were close. “Chris, who’s five years older than me, began cutting my hair when I was 12 years old,” Masterson recalls.

The Drunk Elephant founder was already considering doing haircare shortly after launching her brand in 2013, while McMillan, who also tends to the tresses of Michelle Williams and Cameron Diaz, had always wanted to partner with his friend. So Masterson and her mane man put their ideas in motion. “Chris said, ‘Let’s do a product range that allows your hair to be what it is and removes all the stuff we don’t want on our strands or scalp,’” she says. “He knows hair and I know skin, and scalp is skin, so it made sense for us to come together and develop a line that addresses both.”

McMillan had another key goal in mind: shift the popular perception of what quality haircare is. “It’s frustrating that people have become okay with using mediocre products just because they’re created by a big social-media star,” says the stylist. “Don’t get me wrong. There are some good product lines out there by famous hairstylists—good in that the formulas work. But they’re filled with ingredients that aren’t great for your hair or scalp. I knew we could make products that not only perform well but are truly, honestly healthy.”

Their labour of love took two years to develop and features a shampoo, conditioner, detangling spray and scalp scrub, all of which are free of anything Masterson deems potentially sensitising or inflammatory to skin.

The duo aren’t the first to apply the philosophies of clean beauty to haircare. Since their inception, brands such as Christophe Robin, Kevin Murphy and Aveda have been focused on replacing chemical ingredients with natural alternatives. But as Drunk Elephant with its cult following launches its collection this month, it seems haircare is about to become cleaner than ever.

From powerful plant substitutes to the potentially harmful ingredients you should avoid, here’s your guide to cleaner haircare.

Say No To...

The experts suggest steering clear of these additives for stronger, longer lengths.

Sulfates: Also found in household cleaners, sulfates are what give shampoo their lather. But if you want your glossy colour treatment to last, it’s best to avoid them. “Sulfates are very strong detergents that attack and strip hair colour,” says hairstylist and brand founder Kevin Murphy.

Alcohol: “Alcohols are often included in formulations because they evaporate quickly thus decreasing products’ drying time,” says colour artisan Christophe Robin. “But, in fact, they prevent beneficial nutrients from penetrating strands and the scalp.”

Parabens: These petrochemicals—often listed as butylparaben, propylparaben and methylparaben—act as preservatives to increase the shelf life of a product. “However, they are one of the leading chemicals that can cause skin irritation and contact dermatitis,” says Diana D’Amore, product brand manager at Original & Mineral.

Silicones: “They might give the impression of soft, shiny strands in the short term, but these nasty ingredients are harmful in the long run,” says Robin. Silicones coat strands in a thin waterproof seal, disturb the pH balance and affect colour by fading the hair fibre.

The New Way To Wash

In simpler times, hair washing included two steps, however today, there are a few more to consider. Although routines should differ depending on hair type and environment, if your strands are brittle or lightened with bleach, applying a pre-wash treatment can help protect from breakage caused during cleansing.

A scalp scrub should be introduced once a fortnight, particularly if you’re a regular user of dry shampoo and styling products. Shampoo and condition as needed.

If you use hot tools to dry or style your hair, a leave-in treatment with added heat protection is a must.