My hair is two feet long – here’s everything I use to keep it healthy and strong

I tend to wash my hair every two days and turn to dry shampoo or slicked-back ponytails when my locks are looking more greasy than shiny. I'll admit that I use a good amount of styling products, so when my hair could use a deep clean, I reach for Ouai's Clarifying Detox Shampoo. 

This clarifying shampoo washes away gel, pomade, dry shampoo and hair spray with ease without totally stripping my hair. I would only suggest using it once or twice a week when your hair is really dirty, but I have yet to find something that gives me a better deep clean.

For best results, lather up this shampoo in your hands before applying it to your scalp. Then let it sit for a few minutes before thoroughly washing it out. I like to follow it up with a hair mask, so I typically use this Ouai shampoo when I'm doing an "everything shower." 

I've tried a bunch of hair masks, but I always find myself coming back to Dae's Monsoon Moisture Mask. This ultra-hydrating treatment is packed with prickly pear seed oil, cactus flower extract and cocoa seed butter to help repair damaged strands while nourishing them. 

I use this mask after I use a clarifying shampoo or on the days when my hair feels particularly dry, and I love how soft and shiny it leaves my mane. It also doesn't hurt that it smells amazing — it's fresh but slightly earthy. I honestly would wear it as a perfume if it were available! The mask itself is on the thicker side, but I haven't found that it weighs my hair down at all.

If you've never tried Dae, it's time. I also really love the brand's styling products and reach for the Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream every time I do a slicked-back bun or ponytail.

The phrase "a little goes a long way" is especially true for Crown Affair's leave-in conditioner. I've been using this creamy leave-in product about every other day for nine months and am only now about to finish the bottle (which is how I justify the pricetag). I use about two to three pumps on wet hair, but most people without long hair will be fine with one to two. Start small, you can always add more as you go.

This leave-in is one of my go-to products all year long, but I use it religiously in the winter when all the moisture is zapped from my hair. It helps to cut down on frizz while also hydrating and adding shine and definition to hair. My hair is naturally wavy, so this gives me a neatly defined look that doesn't crunch. 

While I own about five hair oils that I use on and off, there's only one I'll play favorites with, and it's this one. This is hands-down my favorite, and while it's on the pricier side at $40, it's worth every penny.

This oil is impossibly light and hydrates while adding shine, smoothing and strengthening. I use this oil on wet hair right out of the shower, as well as on my dry hair when my ends are looking parched or when my second-day style could use a boost. This formula is full of moisturizing tsubaki seed oil and meadowfoam oil, which is also a heat protectant that helps to soften hair.

I'll admit that I should be better about getting regular haircuts, because sometimes my strands can look worse for wear. But when I know I don't have a salon appointment up on my calendar (or I've been particularly rough on my hair that week), I use Briogeo's Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment from the brand's popular Don't Despair, Repair collection. 

This powerhouse treatment has been shown to make hair up to 2x stronger after just one use by reinforcing the cuticle and boosting elasticity. With weekly use, it helps rebuild the protein matrix — your strands’ inner scaffolding — to ward off future damage before it starts. It also includes B vitamins that work to improve your texture and amp up shine and body. It's not just TLC — it’s full-on hair rehab in a bottle.

Full disclaimer — protein isn't right for everyone's hair. You'll want to skip this product if your hair is prone to buildup or your current hair routine already includes protein-packed items (you don't want to overdo it).

While I don't color my hair, I do like to give my natural shade a boost with this in-shower conditioning glaze. It gives a boost of shine, adds a temporary tint of color and helps to keep things smooth. 

I use the Golden Blonde shade to pump up the blonde tones in my reddish hair, but Glossy Glaze comes in seven shades, including clear for those who want shine without any added tone. What's nice is this isn't a color treatment you need to commit to — it rinses out in about three washes.

Plus, it couldn't be easier to use; it works a lot like a conditioner where you just massage it in and rinse. You'll want to use Glossy Glaze after your shampoo, but before your conditioner. I'm always blown away by how soft my hair feels after, and I love the subtle tint it gives me — it's like a mini trip to the salon in a bottle.