Why Nude Hair Is Our Favorite Kind Of Hair

We don't typically give our shampoos and conditioners a ton of thought. Well, let's be honest — we're beauty editors, so we give them a lot more thought than most people. But, still, these two hair-care staples are pretty far down the list of products that make us all googly-eyed. That was before we met Nude. Created by hairstylist and Reverie founder Garrett Markenson — the same beautiful brain behind scalp-health serum Cake and recent R29 Beauty Innovator Award winner Milk styling cream — Nude is his logical next step into the hair-care market. While Cake and Milk have their styling benefits, they focus on caring for the hair and scalp. Nude continues that message of care by providing lightweight nourishment to strands without stripping or drying them out. Says Markenson: "No matter what any purveyor of tonics may say to the contrary, the chief factors that make hair beautiful and luxuriant are hygienic care and stimulation of normal circulation of the blood to the scalp to nourish the hair roots." With that in mind, he formulated Nude with organic ingredients and essential oils that stimulate and cleanse the scalp. At its core is neroli oil, which lends the duo its delicate floral scent. This is rounded out with pink grapefruit, lemon myrtle, bergamot, geranium, jasmine, bourbon vanilla, sandalwood, balsam, cardamom, and patchouli. Besides being one of the best-smelling hair products we've ever had the pleasure of using, Nude also provides the perfect balance of cleansing and conditioning. After we gave it a whirl in the shower, our hair felt smooth and shiny without being weighed down, soft without being fluffy, and, above all else, healthy. Markenson's hair-care motto — "Nothing should be added unless it serves a definite purpose" — is a refreshing take in a world of more-is-more ideology, although that minimalism definitely comes at a premium price. But, based on how good our hair looks, it's a price we're totally willing to pay. Reverie Nude Shampoo and Conditioner, $38 and $40, available at Reverie.