Beauty

March 2, 2025

Get That Gloss: 5 Haircare Essentials for Effortless Shine

Let’s face it, winter is hard on your hair.

All winter long the cold weather, wind, dryness and indoor heat cause breakage and frizz. It can feel like a never ending battle. And you’re probably wondering how you can regain the shine of summer. Well, imagine this. You add a couple of easy products into your haircare routine – and each day it’s like you’ve just left the salon.

With these 5 haircare essentials, you’ll regain all your shine and gloss this spring.

So, say hello to glassy hair 😍 and goodbye winter frizz.

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Get That Gloss: 5 Haircare Essentials for Effortless Shine

1. The Restorative Cleaner – Start Fresh Every Wash

First things first, a good haircare routine always starts with your shampoo. Not all shampoos are created equal and when it comes to adding gloss and shine to your parched hair – picking the right shampoo makes a big difference. You want a shampoo that does more than just wash away oil. Your shampoo should start at the root and core of your hair to gently cleanse and restore.

Why It Works: The right shampoo does more than just wash your hair. It rejuvenates and strengthens your hair while also locking in moisture for added shine.

Our Pick: Gold Lust Repair and Restore Shampoo

2. The Moisturizing Conditioner – Your Shampoos Right Hand

Don’t overlook this step. It’s important to pick a conditioner that works with your shampoo to repair and restore your hair. You need to pick a conditioner that helps reduce split ends, smooths your cuticles and moisturizes without weighing down your hair. Look for lightweight and ultra-hydrating. We always recommend picking a shampoo and conditioner duo that have been designed to work together.

Why It Works: A good conditioner should repair your split ends, smooth your cuticles and be ultra-hydrating without weighing down your hair. You want a conditioner that repairs and protects your hair.

Our Pick: Gold Lust Repair and Restore Conditioner

3. The ‘In Case of Emergencies’ Hair Mask

Sometimes the damage of winter is too great – and you need to call in the right mask to help truly restore and hydrate your hair. When this happens, look for a hair mask that works hard to repair your hair, while also locking in moisture. Masks with honey and hydrating hyaluronic acid should always be your first pick. Opt for a mask that’s lightweight – similar to your conditioner, you don’t want to weigh your hair down or cause it to look oily.

Why It Works: Hair masks are an easy way to restore shine and repair damage from home. They can repair and restore your hair, protect against heat and lock in moisture for glossy, glass hair.

Our Pick: Gisou Honey Gloss Hydrating Hair Mask or Gold Lust Transformative Hair Mask

4. The Secret Weapon Serum

To achieve truly effortless shine this spring, try adding a repairing hair oil to your routine. Sometimes you just need to tame flyaways and reign in your split ends – and a hair oil can do just that. It’s important to pick a product that’s going to do more than just weigh down your flyways. Your hair oil should repair bonds, protect against heat and enhance hair shine.

Why It Works: A good hair oil can help smooth the cuticle layer and reflect the light more evenly, creating an immediate and visible shine. They should also help seal in moisture that will prevent dryness in the future.

Our Pick: Kérastase Première Repairing High Shine Oil or Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil

5. Spray Your Way to Glassy Hair

The last step in your shiny haircare routine is to fight frizz and flyaways. You want to find a product that will fight humidity and leave your hair feeling smoother and shinier. As always, it’s better if it also helps protect your hair against heat.

Why It Works: Picking an anti-frizz product that helps fight humidity is one of the fastest ways to achieve glassy hair this spring. Humidity is going to quickly cause your hair to look frizzy – so fighting this is key.

Our Pick: Color Wow Anti-Frizz Treatment

Glassy hair doesn’t have to be complicated! Even in the winter it’s possible to achieve effortless shine, you just need the right products. It’s also important to attend regular hair appointments. One of the best ways to get that gloss is at the salon. Regular trims and treatments will help protect your hair all year long.

Ready to elevate your haircare routine? Add these glossy hair products to your daily routine to see glossy and shiny hair all year long.

If you’re ready for the hair transformation you’ve been dreaming of – book an appointment with our founder Christina. Join our ‘No Bad Hair Days’ mission for 2025.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram for your daily dose of hair inspiration and follow Christina to see what a hairstylist and mother of 3 gets up to in New York City.

Chatting With Our Clients: Hair Extension Tips

What’s it *really* like having hair extensions?

We’re the experts, and we love hair extensions. We can answer your questions about the logistics of hair extensions, and we can share the pros and cons of various techniques, but it’s our clients who can share what it’s really like to have our hair extensions.

So today we’re starting a new series where we ask our girls about their experiences, styling techniques, and favorite products.

Meet Laura Galebe! Laura started coming to us for hair extensions a couple of months ago. She was looking for length and volume and she wanted hair extensions that looked natural and wouldn’t feel heavy throughout the day.

How do you like our hair extension technique?

“I really love the I-tip extensions because they can be individually placed strategically around your head, allowing for more personalized styling. Whether you want more volume or length in specific areas, this method makes it possible to target those spots, giving a natural and customized look that blends seamlessly with your own hair.”

Laura’s had other hair extensions in the past, so we wanted to see how our technique compared to what she’s used to.

How is it different from the tape-ins you’ve previously worn?

“Unlike tape-ins, which can limit how you wear your hair, I-tips offer much more flexibility. With I-tip extensions, it’s easier to put your hair up without worrying about the tapes showing. They are super lightweight and evenly distributed, reducing tension on the scalp and giving a more comfortable, long-lasting wear.”

What do you love the most about our technique & brand of hair extensions?

“What I appreciate most about your technique is how safe it is for my natural thin hair. The installation doesn’t require glue or heat, which keeps my hair healthier in the long run. Plus, your brand of extensions being 100% human hair is a huge benefit because it ensures the most natural appearance and feel. The extensions also match my natural hair color perfectly, making the overall look more cohesive and effortless.”

Lastly, we wanted to know about her styling tips!

Name one hot tool & product you can’t live without.

“Mini straightener from Baby Liss & product I would have to say Kristin Ess Dry Shampoo.”

If you want to see more photos of how Laura styles her hair extensions, make sure to follow her on Instagram or TikTok! She’s your Glow Up BFF sharing the best of life in New York City.

What is your favorite hot tool & product, if you can pick one?

“My all-time favorite hair tool is the Bio Ionic 1.25 ceramic curling iron. It creates the perfect beach wave for your hair because it has a longer barrel than what a regular curling iron has.

One of my favorite products to use is any type of texture spray to give those curls some volume & shape. The one I use and love the most is the Amika un.done volume and texture spray!”

What’s your number one styling tip for extensions?

“My best styling tip would be to always use heat protection when doing your hair and to always alternate your curls until you get to the top and last section when curling.”

If you want to see how Jordyn styles her extensions on a day-to-day basis, make sure to follow her on Instagram and TikTok. We love her glamour nights in New York and travel inspiration.

Lastly, meet our beautiful client Carson Light. We asked Carson to share with us how extensions have changed her life! We also wanted to know how she styles them and what products she can’t live without.

How have our hair extensions changed your life?

“They make me feel so much more confident. I love that every day I can just wake up and feel beautiful and feminine! They completely elevate my confidence every single day. I’m obsessed with them.”

Do you find them easy to style and manage?

“Yes! I don’t even feel them. I feel like styling is so much easier because your hair just looks good no matter what! They also look good air-dried.”

What do you love most about wearing our hair extensions?

“I have so much fun styling them in different ways! I just LOVE having them & they are basically invisible.”

If you can name one hot tool & product you can’t live without, what would they be?

“Oooooh. My hot tool is definitely my clamp curling iron from Hot Tools, which is 10 years old 😂. The product would be Fekkai full-blown volume texture spray!”

If you want to see how Caarson styles her extensions around New York, make sure to follow her on Instagram. We love watching her life in the city!

Do you want our clients to answer your hair extension questions? Head over to our Instagram (@oliviachristensensalon) to ask us your questions, and we’ll keep this series going. In the meantime, shop their favorite products and book your consultation appointment with our founder, Christina!

Upgrade Your Fall Hair Care Routine With These Tips

Autumn is here and it’s bringing with it cooler weather, falling leaves, and pumpkin spice. We love fall in the city, and along with everything we love about this new season, it also brings new challenges for your hair. Fall and winter can cause problems for our hair, such as dry scalp, split ends, and even duller-looking hair!

Today we’re going to take a fresh look into your shower and bathroom, to make sure that the products and routine you’re following are aligned with what your body and hair need this season. Together we’ll build the perfect fall hair care routine.

Upgrade Your Fall Hair Care Routine With These Tips

1. Book a Trim

Kick off the fall season with a trim! We often hear that people feel the same way about booking a trim as they do about going to the dentist, but with Olivia Christensen extensions, you don’t have to worry about losing any length this fall.

Summer sun exposure, chlorine, and saltwater can rough up our hair cuticles. Getting an end-of-season trim can help leave your hair healthier and ready to tackle cooler weather.

2. Treat Your Hair to a Deep Conditioning

Fall tends to be a lot dryer than summer, so one of the best ways you can rehydrate your hair for the season is with a deep conditioning treatment.

When deep conditioning your hair with i-tip extensions, you need to take extra care, otherwise, the extensions can slip. We recommend:

Avoiding the bond/attachment points: when applying the deep conditioner, focus on the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. You should never apply the product directly to the i-tip bonds (where the extensions are attached) because oils and heavy conditioners can weaken the adhesive or cause slippage.
Use a Sulfate-Free and extension-safe conditioner: make sure to choose products that are safe for your extensions. When in doubt – always ask your stylist what products they recommend.
Detangle carefully: after applying the treatment, gently detangle your hair using a wide-tooth comb. Be mindful of your i-tip bonds and avoid pulling or tugging.
Rinse well: make sure to rinse out all of the product to prevent any residue that could cause buildup or tangling.
Dry carefully: pay your hair dry gently with a towel and avoid excessive rubbing. When blow drying, use low heat.

However, you can always book a deep conditioning treatment on the day of your regularly scheduled maintenance appointment. This would be a great time to get a conditioning treatment and trim for the fall season.

3. Use Protective Hairstyles

Chunky braids, buns, and hair accessories can actually help protect your hair during windy, rainy, and cold fall days.

Tucking your hair and loose ends away can help protect your hair from further damage in the elements. We recently shared a post with our favorite fall hairstyles and accessories. If you need inspiration for your hair this autumn, read this post next.

4. Use a Clarifying Shampoo (Sparingly)

Summer can leave your scalp with a lot of build-up, and a clarifying shampoo can be just the reset you need as you move into fall. Clarifying shampoos are designed to remove product buildup, oils, and impurities, which can be helpful for both your natural hair and the extensions. However, they can also be harsh and potentially dry out your hair and the extensions if used too frequently.

That’s why we only recommend using a clarifying shampoo sparingly (no more than once per month, or once per every two months).

As always, remember that you need to avoid using the product on your bonds themselves, choose sulfate-free shampoos and rinse well.

5. Upgrade Your Pillowcase

Upgrading to a silk pillowcase is one easy way to take better care of your hair this fall. We always recommend that our clients use silk or satin pillowcases. Silk pillowcases help alleviate friction and damage to your hair while you sleep! And they’re also great for your skin.

While fall is one of our favorite seasons in the city, it can be more challenging for your hair. As the leaves change, so does the nature of your hair and its needs. That’s why transitioning from a summer to a fall hair care routine can make all of the difference.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can fall back in love with your hair this autumn, book a consultation with us today to learn more about the extensions that we offer. Extensions aren’t all about length, we also love them for volume and confidence! Because hair really is everything.

Book a consultation with us today.