7 hair products my hairdresser says you need

If you’ve been reading here for a while, you know that after years of typical beauty editor hair experimentation, I’ve sworn loyalty to my hairdresser, the Toronto-based Bill Angst. (If the pic below looks familiar, you may have seen him on CityLine—check out a couple of his AMAZING hair makeovers here and here.)

Quite simply, I think he’s the best in the country—and actually, he was doing my hair loooong before I got into this biz. But as a beauty editor, the temptation of free cuts gets hard to resist. After getting burned too many times to count (too-short bangs, lopsided bangs, overly-feathered Farrah Fawcett ‘dos…), I finally vowed that I wouldn’t let ANYONE ELSE touch these tresses. If you’re lucky enough to be one of Bill’s clients, you stick with him for life.

Bill recently launched his website, called Billy’s House of Charm (billangst.com), which you should definitely have a peek at.

You should also check out this article, which I came across while Google-stalking him.

I was especially interested in his product recos—even though the story was done a few years ago—so I thought I’d borrow a few from the list (with my own commentary, of course) for today’s post.

I’m sure he’s since added a few favourites to this list, so next time I go in for a cut, I’ll see if I can get him to spill.

But in the meantime, here are 7 hair products to consider adding to your arsenal:

1. Hotheads Brush

Bill’s favourite brush. It has three types of bristles that work together to distribute hair evenly as you brush; they also direct air to the centre in order to speed up drying time. It also has a heat sensor: the barrel changes colour to allow you to set hair at the optimum temperature. Find them at Delineation in Toronto.

2. Blow dryer with an ionic charge

Ionic hairdryers are not only quieter, but they also WORK way faster than regular dryers. Seriously, I’ll never go back. My personal fave is the T3, but here are some other, lower-priced recos. Tip: for smoothing out the top layer of your hair, use the nozzle. For curly hair, use the diffuser.

3. Carbon Comb

What’s a carbon comb, you say? It’s made of actual carbon and unlike the typical “bendy” combs, doesn’t have any give, so you can really comb firmly through the hair. Some, like FHI’s, have anti-static properties too. Find them at beauty supply stores.

4. Mason Pearson brush

Yes, they’re pricey, but I’ve never once regretted springing for a Mason Pearson brush years ago (on Bill’s recommendation, of course!). The quality just can’t be beat—but don’t use them for blow-drying or they’ll melt! Bill likes the ones that have a combo of boar and nylon bristles. Find them at upscale beauty retailers.

5. Hot Rollers

Hot rollers have sort of fallen out of fashion with the advent of flat iron-created curls lately, but they still have a place in your toolkit. I actually use mine (the Conair Ion Shine set, pictured above) quite a bit—not for creating tight curls, but more for soft waves and achieving a bit of lift and body. Tip: before you put in the rollers, spray each section of hair with hairspray to help the curl set.

6. MOP D-Curl Straightening Balm

This is a leave-in conditioning balm that suits all hair types and won’t weigh hair down. This would be great for summer, when even straight-haired types like me get a bit of frizz. Apply it to damp hair and then blow-dry.

7. MOP Defining Cream

If your hair needs a bit more moisture or control, work this in to damp hair and then blow-dry or let air-dry. Again, it works for all hair types and helps smooth down the hair cuticle. The finish is matte, not shiny.

So now tell me…

Are you using any of these products? Which hair products can’t YOU live without?