In my nearly twelve-year blogging career, I’ve had the good fortune to have my hair looked after by the most illustrious experts in the business, but my most long-lasting relationship has been with Original & Mineral, also known as O&M, and their incredible, effective
My commitment to high maintenance red hair color and the subsequent cycle of damage recovery is no secret, so it should come as no surprise that when it comes to my hair, I live a strictly sulfate-free lifestyle. The Global Creative Director for Original & Mineral, Janelle Chaplin, is responsible for the best red color I’ve had for the past five years and leaving that relationship has been one of the most challenging experiences to replicate now that I’ve moved. Especially for red, which is a notoriously difficult color to maintain due to the pigment’s molecule size, I cannot effusively recommend O&M’s color products enough.
I’m both incredibly particular about the products I use, especially on my hair, and oddly lazy about ordering things online. I prefer to see, touch, and smell in person, not to mention the thrill of instant gratification. Religiously booking appointments for a color refresh at the salon ensured that I always had access to restocking my favorites, but it wasn’t until Sephora started carrying O&M products as part of their clean beauty initiative that I finally feel like I have near-seamless access to my favorite haircare again.
Because Original & Mineral is a premium brand, it can be overwhelming to select which products to try first. I’ve put together a list of my favorites, no matter your hair type. PS if you’re in the UK, you can find O&M on Net-a-Porter!
My Top Four Original & Mineral Products
Surf Bomb Sea Spray ($27.90)
I've tried as many sea salt sprays as I could get my hands on, but they all left my hair feeling dried out and crunchy. Surf Bomb was the first salt spray that made me finally understand the effect that made every beauty editor since the dawn of time sing its praises. If you've ever wanted effortless waves without the crisp & crunch, Surf Bomb is the way to go.
Original Detox Shampoo ($30.90)
Everything we've been told about clarifying shampoos tells us that they will strip our hair of natural oils and totally dry out our strands, which is typically true, but not with O&M's Original Detox shampoo. Like Surf Bomb, this is the only product in this category that I've tried that didn't completely dry my hair out but also removes product buildup including silicones and dry shampoo residue.
Atonic Thickening Spritz ($29.90)
As a southern woman, I can speak with authority on big hair and one of my favorite products to give me the big hair of my dreams is Atonic Thickening Spritz. Ask any NYC beauty editor with a soft spot for volume and she'll back me up. This has long been a hidden gem simply because O&M doesn't have the marketing budget of the Big Brands.
Seven Day Miracle Moisture Mask ($35.90)
Because of my aforementioned commitment to maintaining my red hair color, my hair understandably became dry & damaged. Seven Day Miracle is without a doubt my most repurchased O&M product not only because of how it restored moisture back into my fried ends but because it somehow managed to do so weightlessly. I've used it as both a once-weekly treatment and my regular conditioner, and I happily recommend both methods.
If you’ve tried anything from O&M, please tell me about it in the comments below. If you can, I highly recommend visiting their NYC salon, as the experience is truly indulgent and the clientele is unbelievably cool.
