Want the Hair of Your Dreams? Head to Walmart
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Luxury hair care usually carries a hefty price tag, yet many people are willing to shell out the big bucks to get their best strands. But you might not need to save your pennies for the newest celebrity stylist line to hit the market.
Ken Paves is known for being the right-hand man of some of the most in-demand women in the world: Victoria Beckham, Eva Longoria, and the Simpson sisters — Jessica and Ashlee. For the past 17 years, Ken has transformed women and has made it his mission to make women feel beautiful in their own skin.
He brings that mantra to his hair care collection, You Are Beautiful. The name gives a nod to his book, You Are Beautiful, which was released last year. He partnered with Stila and Jane Cosmetics owner, Lynn Tilton, on the hair lineup that includes dry shampoo, conditioning masks, and everything in between. And with prices between $14 to $19, it's a steal, considering most of these expert lines can hit upwards of $38 to $70 for just shampoo and conditioner.
The formulas do not skimp on quality, however. Everything is paraben- and sulfate-free (meaning it won't harm your scalp) and made with 100-percent essential oils to hydrate and soften the hair (I counted 18 oils and eight extracts in one product alone!). To clarify, some of the products do contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA), which can often be confused with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. But unlike SLS, SLSA is typically nonirritating for all hair types and scalps — even the sensitive ones — and doesn't damage strands.
I got to try products from You Are Beautiful before they launched this month, and the entire process was lavish! I felt relaxed thanks to the aromatic experience created by the oils (a similar scent to Aveda's goods), and I left the appointment with silky strands. Keep reading to learn the tricks that Ken spouted out during our time in his chair. Plus, I've rounded up a few of our favorite products from the new launch to get your next drugstore shopping spree started!
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His decision to sell at Walmart:
"I want all women to have the tools to feel beautiful, regardless of their budget," said Paves. He worked with the chemists behind brands like Alterna and Pureology to create high-quality hair care at an affordable price. Plus, he's had some fun memories from the mass chain store. "Once, I had Jennifer Lopez drop me off at a Walmart after a show to meet up with my family," he recounted.
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Detangling Thermal Protectant Spray
You Are Beautiful's Detangling Thermal Protectant Spray ($17) smooths the hair cuticle while keeping it safe from heat exposure. Ken told us it's made with sweet blue lupin, a plant that has been proven to help protect hair color, smooth damaged ends, penetrate the cuticle to strengthen it, and condition without causing buildup.
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Women use products incorrectly:
"Women tend to use products incorrectly," says Paves. His advice? Stop conditioning at the root of your hair. It might be tempting, but it's not necessary or helpful for your hair.
Focus shampoo only at the scalp, not your ends, since the ends tend to be drier than the rest of your hair. And try to skip washing your hair for as long as possible. "Water erodes mountains!" proclaims Ken — so imagine what it does to your mane. (And color!)
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Nourish and Hydrate Shampoo
My hair is extremely dry from coloring and heat styling — as well as using products that tend to contain alcohol in them. (I'm looking at you, dry shampoo.) Yet my scalp can get oily after a day or two, so I need products that can help alleviate both issues.
The Nourish and Hydrate Shampoo ($13) helps with the dry factor; it gently cleanses without stripping strands and moisturizes the mane while cleansing it of buildup.
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How to achieve perfect waves:
According to Paves, to get the perfect wave, it's all about where you place the iron. "If the iron is too close to the root of the hair, you end up [getting curls that look] old-fashioned." Instead, focus the iron lower on the hair cuticle to create sexier Kate Moss texture. You can alternate the way you curl, but try to create an "S" wave.
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Thick Conditioning Mask
After washing the hair with Nourish and Hydrate Shampoo, the Thick Conditioning Mask ($18) was applied to the hair for five minutes at the sink, then rinsed thoroughly. I attribute this mask to the reason why I didn't have to wash my hair for four days, because it helps balance the pH level of the scalp — mine tends to be on the oily side. My hair held its silky texture and shine for almost the entire workweek.
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Relaxing Balm
Before the blowout, Paves applied his Relaxing Balm ($17) to the hair to keep the waves glossy instead of frizzy. Tea extracts help protect the hair with antioxidants, while also creating an intoxicating aromatherapy session.
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