Kristin Ess is a hair care brand I discovered at Target. The line delivers fantastic results while managing to be affordable and accessible. Kristin Ess has 22 years experience as a hairstylist and colorist and created this line with the intention of having an affordable collection of luxury products. I would say she succeeded. I started with the Sea Salt Air Dry Spray as I’m addicted to all texture sprays. Details per Kristin Ess:
Where do I even start with this one? This is a brand new kind of sea salt spray. First of all, can we talk about the spray? SO OBSESSED! It has a super-fine, constant mist which ensures a more even application than your average pump applicator. Second, the feeling! No salty, crunchy, chalky texture, just soft-grit that stays touchable and soft. Btw, the difference between this one and my Soft Shine Beach Wave Spray is this one goes on wet/damp hair and the other one is for finishing so it goes on dry hair.
Our proprietary strengthening complex designed to “zip-up” split ends while targeting weak areas of the hair, smoothing the appearance of damaged cuticles and helping to protect hair from environmental stressors and color fade.
I love the continuous mist that comes from this can. It’s so much more of an even application than you get from a pump mist. This texture spray has sea salt but I love that it’s alcohol free which makes it less drying. Sea salt sprays can make my hair dry and it gets frizzier as the day goes on, I find they also get flatter by the end of the day as well compared to polymer wave sprays. The textured waves don’t stay as well with a pure sea salt spray. I love the volume that comes with a sea salt spray plus this one is not crunchy at all, you just get soft volume. This one has a bit of the polymers as well so it lasts better than a typical plain salt only spray.
You apply this one to damp hair straight out of the shower so it’s waves as the easiest level because you air dry. It’s got a light fragrance nothing too strong. The best part is it’s only $10. Overall this one adds good volume and medium waves with no crunchy feel. It does frizz out a bit for me and it’s not my all time favorite wave spray but it’s pretty decent.
The Style Reviving Dry Shampoo is phenomenal. Details per Kristin Ess:
My favorite thing about this dry shampoo is the amount of powder that it deposits onto the hair. The hair feels freshly clean when I use this, and if you ever over-do it with a shine product, this can be layered on top to soak up a little bit of the excess.
I’m quite a dry shampoo snob. This one ticks all the boxes for me. Affordable. Invisible. Not too heavy or powdery. No really strong perfume scent. It also manages to be really silky which I’m totally in love with. It’s not too drying or heavy feeling in the hair and it makes my hair soft and silky. I’m totally obsessed with it plus it’s a steal for $14. Easily recommend this and will repurchase.
The new scalp line was intriguing to me so I grabbed three things. The Instant Exfoliating Scalp Scrub is to be used as a pre-shampoo weekly treatment. Details per Kristin Ess:
Why is it that we go the extra mile for our skin but not our scalp? This non-drying scrub removes flakes, product build-up, excess sebum, and hard water deposits from the scalp, giving you a cleaner canvas through gentle exfoliation. I formulated this with a sugar complex to keep natural moisture intact.
Directions
- Wet your hair. Use the pointed tip to part your hair and apply scrub directly on the scalp.
- Gently massage the scrub in small circles.*
- Rinse well. Then follow with shampoo and conditioner.
*Don’t use if your scalp has cracks or open sores… it won’t feel good.
This has a very thick oily scrub texture. It’s like a really thick body scrub you can squeeze from a tube. Rub this into your scalp on damp hair while in the shower. Rinse well after massaging. It manages to balance my scalp and make it feel less oily plus it gives a renewed clean feeling to my hair overall. Make sure you rinse well. Once or twice I left a spot and ended up with a greasy mess. I never noticed until I did the texture shot that this has a blue kind of iridescent mica in it. This also has no added fragrance which I love.
My only complaint is the skinny nozzle. This stuff is so thick and it’s hard to squeeze out of the tube. I literally have to do it sitting down with two hands. I don’t know how you would do it one handed. Granted I have really weak wrists and hands due to my arthritis and it’s hard for me to open a jar. But I’ve heard a lot of other people say it was hard for them to squeeze out too. Minus that it’s a really stellar product. This is a weekly treatment and it should last a while.
I then follow this with the Purifying Micellar Shampoo. Details per Kristin Ess:
It’s hard to contain my excitement over this one! I love how the micellar water gently washes away impurities while leaving your natural moisture intact. And I’m obsessed with the rich lather and how it never makes your scalp feel dry. You can use this on the finest, thinnest hair or the thickest, curliest hair and get the same perfect results.
Directions
- Wet your hair, then create partings with the pointed tip and apply shampoo directly to scalp.
- Massage it in to create a rich lather. Add a little water if needed.
- Work shampoo through the middle and ends as you rinse it out. Repeat if necessary.
This shampoo has such a nice easy thin texture. It’s got a fun twist nozzle so you never drop the cap. I have no problems squeezing this one out of the tube. It’s SLS free, has no dyes and no fragrance. It’s quite literally perfect. It cleans really well yet so gently. My hair is soft, clean and never stripped when I use this. This is a gentle shampoo so you need to use a build up remover now and then with this.
I love that this has chamomile, pea & rice protein, sage, aloe, eucalyptus, coconut fruit extract, sunflower & avocado oils and mango see butter. I’m totally obsessed with it. Easily one of my favorite Kristin Ess products. For $12 you have to try it.
The Daily Scalp + Hair Mask is also really good. Details per Kristin Ess:
I wanted to create a mask for the scalp that wouldn’t leave your roots looking and feeling oily. This multi-tasking mask uses natural minerals and botanical oils to calm and rebalance the scalp + smooth damaged cuticles. Side note: Don’t worry about heaviness — this whipped mask is light enough for daily use.
This has such a nice buttery texture. No silicones or heavy slippery polymer feel. This is my favorite kind of hair mask. One that gives amazing hydration without weighing the hair down. I never get oily using this mask. I could actually use it as a conditioner. It’s got oat kernel flour, sweet almond oil, sunflower & avocado oils, mango seed butter and chamomile like the shampoo. This is thick but it doesn’t feel heavy on the hair. It has the same nozzle squeeze tube as the Scalp Scrub but it’s a tad less thick so I had less trouble getting it out. It does take me two hands to squeeze it out. I absolutely adore this mask and will repurchase. It feels luxury yet is only $14.
Winter Wheat Signature Hair Gloss is the ultimate dream item I’ve been looking for. Details per Kristin Ess:
I always recommend that my clients come to get glossed and toned between salon visits to extend the life of their color. I’m finally able to give them, and you, something that is easy to use at home. This in-shower treatment deep conditions hair, instantly boosts vibrancy and shine, while neutralizing warmth to color treated or natural light blonde hair. It will help you keep your color looking fresh, shiny and healthy between appointments.
SELECTING YOUR SHADE:
Choose this color if you have light blonde hair
and want to neutralize or tone down warmth.
I’ve been coloring my hair since I was fifteen. Right around when I went from dirty blonde to brunette naturally. I always felt like me as a blonde though I did love to dabble in those deep brunettes now and then. This is a temporary toning gloss you apply in the shower. Or you can dampen your hair, apply and then get in the shower like I did. It reduces brassiness like nothing else I have tried plus adds a glossy shine. I hate purple shampoos because they’re not really that effective and they can leave my hair purple.
This was the most effective thing I’ve tried at actually removing the orange tones without any purple hue. It’s a miracle product. I just bought two more. Sadly this shade is out of stock at Target but hopefully more is coming. I need more before my two boxes are gone. I will easily repurchase this again (and already have repurchased). If you dye your hair blonde this is a must.
Overall I really loved this Kristin Ess line. It feels luxury and is affordable. My favorites are the Dry Shampoo, Micellar Shampoo, Scalp Mask and Hair Gloss. I love that the line is cruelty free, safe for colored hair and free of sulfates and silicones.
