Shopping·7 min read

I Tried Emma Stone’s Go-To Leave-In Conditioner and My Hair Has Never Looked Better

ROZ Hair
Design: theSkimm | Photos: ROZ Hair, Margo Ghertner
May 15, 2024

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As I’ve gotten deeper into my twenties, my hair-care routine has become more and more low-maintenance, with less of a focus on heat styling. My mid-length 1b texture airdries as a wave, but as the week goes on, it either maintains a loose bend or becomes straight. Because of this, I’ve been on the hunt for products that not only nourish my fine yet dense hair, but also support its air-drying process. Almost a year ago, a new product showed up on my feed from celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak — she’s responsible for Emma Stone’s stunning award-season hair. I was immediately intrigued so I bought ROZ Hair’s Milk Serum shortly thereafter. Here’s why I’ve been committed to it every week for the last nine months…

ROZ Hair’s Milk Serum

Yes, I can attest that this serum actually is a do-it-all product, with the name perfectly describing the texture. It’s milky and slippery with a jellylike texture that softly hydrates my ends. You can use it as a leave-in conditioner to air-dry, as a blow-dry cream, or as a detangler. I also use it as needed throughout the week on dry hair. If my ends are feeling dehydrated or I need to smooth any fly-aways, I apply half a pump to one pump, as needed.

To apply post-wash, I towel dry my hair with a microfiber towel and use a wet brush to detangle (more on these tools later). Then, I apply two to three pumps to my mid-lengths and ends. The result: soft, touchable, shiny waves every single time with little effort. Not only do customers (myself included) rave about its clean, laundry-esque scent, but ROZ Hair’s genius blend of ingredients is also worth highlighting. This product contains hyaluronic acid, a popular hydrating skincare ingredient, along with red algae to “provide a smooth slip” and protect against damage, and panthenol for seamless brushing. TLDR, it’s the one hair-care product I officially cannot live without.

Why I swear by this…

  • Hair health. My hair feels so healthy using this product. My ends look and feel soft, hydrated, touchable, and shiny with minimal split ends. I do get a cut every four to six months and try to steer clear of heat, but I do end up touching a straightener a couple times a week.

  • Functionality. Because of my busy routine, I love that this product serves multiple purposes so I don’t have to load my hair up with a bunch of different products. It detangles effectively and provides a solid foundation for air-dry and heat-styling. And if you’re a beginner at doing your hair at home, this is a great product to start with.

  • Lasting power. I’ve had my 100 milliliter bottle for nine months and I’m still nowhere near done with it. This product definitely lasts even though it’s more of a splurge.

  • Scent. I’m obsessed with this scent. It’s hard to describe, but if you love clean scents or the smell of warm laundry, these products are for you.

Sidenotes…

  • Price. $52 is steep for a leave-in-conditioner. But I justify it because I’ve had my original bottle for almost a year, using about four pumps a week, with lots of product to spare. If you’re unsure about spending that much on the full size, the brand has a variety of discovery sets to choose from, along with a $29 travel size.

Use it with…

ROZ Hair

ROZ Hair’s Foundation Shampoo…

This shampoo is a new favorite for me because it provides a deep clean without stripping my hair. It has coconut-based surfactants to remove build-up, but in a way that’s gentle. I like to do a double cleanse with this shampoo and again, it’s in ROZ Hair’s classic clean scent. It’s cruelty-, silicone-, paraben-, gluten-, triclosan-, and SLS-free. ($39, ROZ Hair)

Buy it
Sephora

Amika’s cult-favorite Soulfood mask…

This mask is a tried-and-true favorite for me. Every time I use it, my hair has extra shine and hydration that it usually doesn’t have on its own. Plus, I love that this one works on all hair types and textures. At times, I like to use it instead of my conditioner. ($19+, Sephora)

Buy it
Sephora

Crown Affair’s viral hair towel…

This viral hair towel is loved by everyone (Doja Cat even wore it on the way to the Met Gala). It’s a microfiber towel that has an elastic loop built-in at the nape of the neck so you can easily tie your hair up. I notice that after keeping it on for five minutes, most excess water is removed and my hair has less frizz. I also love that it’s gentle on hair. ($45, Sephora)

Buy it
LolaVie

The best wet brush from LolaVie…

I recently tried this for our Good for You Awards, and while it didn’t win a team-wide award, it is a new staple in my routine. This brush gently detangles stubborn knots and provides a clean part. I also love that the handle is coated in rubber for a secure grip. ($15, Ulta)

Buy it
ROZ Hair

ROZ Hair’s Root Lift Spray…

This is a new product from the brand that I love for any at-home blowouts. It’s a lightweight spray you can add into your roots for volume. Whenever I use it, I never feel a sticky residue left behind. ($42, ROZ Hair)

Buy it
ROZ Hair

ROZ Hair’s Santa Lucia Styling Oil…

This oil smells exactly like the Milk Serum and I love to add it to my hair on days where it’s extra-dry or I want some added heat protection. This comes in a mini size, too. ($45, ROZ Hair)

Buy it

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