28 Cheap Things That'll Help Make Your Hair Better Than Ever

These products might just get you out of your next ~ hairy ~ situation. You're welcome.

1. A hydrating argan oil hair mask to refresh your dry or damaged hair and give you an excuse to spend your Friday night at home.

Amazon, amazon.com

Have you noticed your ends splitting or breaking off throughout the day? I'm going through that right now but simply don't have time to schedule a haircut. What's someone to do? OH, right — use this hair mask! Its sole purpose is to repair, store, and strengthen weak, damaged, and over-processed hair, which in turn will help prevent more bad hair days.

Promising review: "My hair is very thin and curly. The ends are damaged from heat and color, causing my hair to look even more unruly. I do oil treatments once a week and only wash my hair two to three times a week but NOTHING has made my hair feel like this product does. There is an immediate difference as soon as this product touches my hair. It leaves my hair feeling so silky, even after I rinse it out and dry my hair." —Maegan W.

Get it from Amazon for $12.95.

2. Batiste dry shampoo that'll make your dirty hair appear fresh, clean, and bouncy on those days you've slept through your alarm and there's zero time to wash your bed head.

Amazon, amazon.com

The real MVP of a bad hair day? Batiste dry shampoo. If you're running late and your day-old hair seems somewhat salvageable, don't fight it. Spray some of this miracle product to refresh your hair and get going!

Promising review: "I absolutely love this product! I have dark hair and all other dry shampoos leave me looking like a grandma. This one actually controls my super-greasy hair. I usually have a lot of trouble with the bangs, but this one works perfectly." —Hannah

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $6.20+ (available in three sizes).

3. A microfiber towel you can use to fight frizz from the moment you step out of the shower and rely on to stay in place while you run around your house doing other things.

Amazon, Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed

Promising review: "I have thick, naturally curly hair and my hair usually takes forever to dry. This towel helps my hair to dry about twice as fast! Getting out of the shower, I wrap my hair in this towel while I get dressed and I no longer have to worry about my hair completely drenching my shirt as soon as i take it out of the towel. It really dries it to a manageable level of dryness in just a minute or two." —AubriSnowe

Get it from Amazon for $17.84+ (available in eight styles).

Check out our review of the Aquis hair towel!

4. A Wet Brush Pro Detangle Hair Brush with over 5K five-star reviews on Amazon, so you'll feel really confident those painful, knot-filled mornings will be a thing of the past.

amazon.com, Amazon

The Wet Brush Pro Detangle Hair Brush is beloved on Amazon, with 3,877 customer reviews and a 4.5-star rating that can't be messed with. It goes without saying that this tool will help you kickstart your day the right way by removing the knots from hair without causing you any pain. Note: Make sure to choose the brushes that have Prime shipping, as customers have received fake ones when choosing other options.

Promising review: "This brush is frigging magic. I would have never considered purchasing this if I had seen it in a store, the bristles are very 'flimsy' and I would have assumed it would do nothing to my super thick, curly, coarse (currently bleach-damaged) long hair that turns into a cavewoman wig by the end of one day. The great reviews persuaded me to give it a try. SO happy with the results! The brush is very gentle and I see very little hair on the brush even after going through the worst of rats nests. It is simply amazing. I was so tired of brushing my hair, I was actually considering chopping it off. So happy I tried this brush first!! If you are on the fence, order this sucker! It is a game-changer!" —Jen Downey

Get it from Amazon for $8.05+ (available in 15 colors).

5. A set of hair clips that'll transform a failed updo into something super chic you'd imagine Kate Middleton or Meghan Markle sporting.

Amazon

I have SO many mornings where I fiddle with my hair, twisting and turning it, putting up, taking it down, all for naught. It's on these days that the only solution is to throw my hair in a bun and MOVE ON. But thanks to these minimalist hair clips I can now transform my last-ditch hair effort into something a bit more composed — classy, even! The set comes with 15 different designs, so you're sure to find a favorite.

Promising review: "I wasn't expecting a lot because of how cheap these were, but they are so cute! They don't look cheap, and you get a lot of options. I love that there is a silver and gold version of each. Would definitely recommend!" —Amazon Customer

Get a 15-piece set from Amazon for $9.99.

6. Or a set of 100 no-crease hair ties, which will make sure you can put your hair up in a last-minute ponytail comfortably, without worrying about looking messy when you take it out.

Amazon, amazon.com

And because there are SO many in this set, you'll never find yourself without a hair tie again! I have tons of these ribbon-like elastics and love them for putting together a last-minute sporty look. Opt for one of the more colorful options to add a little pizazz to your pony.

Promising review: "I love these hair ties because the colors and fun designs dress up my ponytail and they hold my hair secure without causing the usual ponytail 'sore area on your head.' They come in mostly solid colors with a few patterns sprinkled in here and there. The material on most of the ties is slightly pearlescent and a very rich color with a lot of stretch to it." —Alice

Get them from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in six styles).

7. A leave-in conditioner from Love Beauty and Planet that'll not only have your hair feeling silky and smooth, but'll also make it smell like freshly picked lavender.

lovebeautyandplanet / Via instagram.com

Promising review: "I like this product very much! It has a very faint but clean smell. It isn't too oily or runny. I used about five squirts for my shoulder-length thick hair. It worked very well my hair was not frizzy and felt very silky. I would recommend this. " —a customer

Get it from Walmart for $6.94.

8. Or trendy oversized hair clips that are all the rage right now and will make your slept-on hair actually seem quite put together.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "I had been looking around for acrylic hair clips and this set was the best assortment of colors for the lowest price. The actual clip itself is very sturdy and holds well in hair. You really can't go wrong with these clips!" —Emily S.

Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in three styles).

9. A teasing comb and brush in one you can totally keep in your bag and do some damage control when you get to the office. Get ready for some va-va-volume!

amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "I love this little brush! I only just learned such a thing existed and had been using a teasing comb. This does much better with creating volume at the top of my head (I have very fine hair) without tearing my hear and frizzing it. With fine hair, it's especially important to have these gentle bristles. I highly recommend this brush for anybody wishing to create volume or height in their hair. And a very good price too!" —M. Montour

Get it from Amazon for $9.97 (available in five colors).

10. Volumizing texture powder from Big Sexy Hair to help you add a little ~umph~ to your locks when, despite all your best efforts, they're looking a bit flat.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "I've always had thick hair and a lot of volume, but since I moved to Miami my hair keeps going down, thanks to the weather and humidity. I decided to try this product, and really, this is amazing. The bottle is small, but you only need a little bit to add volume to your hair, I even put too much (and still it was so small that I thought it wouldn’t be enough) that I had to wash my hair to take it off because my hair was TOO thick and too voluminous !! I’m amazed." —Camille De Armas

Get it from Amazon for $16.95.

11. A treatment that'll prep your hair before you have it colored again to assure your locks stay vibrant after you've spent your hard earned dollars on getting it dyed.

Amazon

Promising review: "I tried this on the advice of my hairstylist because my color was not taking well and faded within days of application. You use this product within 24 hours of coloring your hair. Shampoo as usual then pour the crystals from the packet into your hand. Add warm water and apply to your hair. INSTANTLY you will feel change happening. I could actually feel GUNK coming off my hair. Make sure every strand is coated and leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and then color your hair. I would recommend processing your color for less time. I did my usual 35 minutes and the result was very dark, intense color (dark purple-y brown). The result was, my hair was shinier, more bouncy and so much softer. The color took better and lasted much longer. I love this and will use it every time I color my hair." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $3.70.

12. Ouai wave spray you can spritz right onto your wet hair for chic, beachy waves even in the middle of winter.

theouai / Via instagram.com, Sephora

I would put my life on the line for Jen Atkin's magic Ouai wave spray. I have naturally wavy/curly hair and most mornings I run my sleepy head under my shower faucet, use some bobby pins to pin some pieces of hair back, then spray this all over before I head out the door. It's a miracle product.

Promising review: "I actually use this product as a hairspray rather than a texture spray. I curl my hair and spray this all over and it keeps my curls in tact without it being weighed down, feeling dry/crunchy, etc. You can't even feel the product in your hair it's so weightless! Gives your hair a nice shine as well. I have thin hair so my curls typically fall flat but with this my curls just look like effortless beachy curls-LOVE!" —Purrdykitty

Get it from Sephora for $12+ (available in 1.7 or 5 oz).

13. L'Oreal Paris Magic Root Cover Up, so – if it's something that bothers you – you'll never panic about finding a rogue gray hair again.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "This stuff is amazing! Like magic! Thought I’d give it a try as I usually use the powder with brush to cover up my grays in between colors, but this stuff... omg! Sprays right on and looks so dang natural! Try and get your fingers out of the way as it is a tad hard to wash off but not too bad. Or wear some vinyl latex gloves like I did 'til you get used to it! I thought this stuff would rub off on my pillowcase too, but it doesn’t!! And I used a lot! Even over gelled hair for my slick back look cuz when I wear my hair up, I get lots of gray there above my ear. I just can’t say enough about this stuff. Worked like magic and I felt beautiful! Covering up grays in between is a cinch!" —Lisa98

Get it from Amazon for $7.38+ (also available in packs of two and in eight shades).

14. A hair repair serum that'll help get rid of frizz while also hydrating and adding shine to your mane. Added bonus? You'll feel like you're performing a fancy spa treatment on yourself for a fraction of the cost.

amazon.com, Amazon

This serum includes Vitamin E, aloe vera, and argan oil and works on both curly and straight hair.

Promising review: "I found this product through a Buzzfeed article for those with frizzy hair and THIS PRODUCT DID NOT DISAPPOINT PEOPLE! I put this serum through the ringer; I got this to stand up to Bay Area fog AND the nasty, humid heat wave we got a couple weeks ago. No frizz, no extra curls. Nothing! On top of that, it made my hair super glossy. I'm very impressed. Heads up though, a little goes a long way. One pump is enough to cover my hair and I have medium length hair. Also, it can make your hair look oily if you use too much. I do have oily hair so working on my ends first then working to my roots works for me." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (also available in packs of two and four).

15. Garnier Fructis Style Curl Renew Reactivating Milk Spray to bring your slept-on curls back to life without weighing them down or loading them up with unnecessary gunk.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "I used to use curling mousse, including Fructis product, but there is no looking back. I threw out the remainder of my curling mousses bc this is so darn fantastic! If I could give it 10 stars I would. My hair naturally has a very slight wave and is fine, but not thin. Once my hair has air dried some after washing, I spray this stuff in my hair, making sure that it's all over and under and throughout. AND IT JUST CURLS. I don't have to scrunch for the next 3 hours and get only satisfactory results. It curls on its own and it stays. If you don't wash your hair every day, it usually looks even better the next day. Sometimes I comb it out and the gently re-wet to get to the level of curl I want, but the fullness and waviness of the combed hair is a great look too." —Martha R. Dienst

Get it from Amazon for $3.42+ (also available in packs of two and three).

16. Satin pillowcases that'll not only help reduce frizz in your hair and prevent breakage, but they'll also assist in retaining moisturize from your face. AND they come in a ton of stylish colors. What more could you want?

Amazon, amazon.com

My colleague Elizabeth Lilly has this pillowcase and is a fan. Here's what she had to say about it:

"Yes, these will give you similar results to silk pillowcases, just without the hard-to-wash factor. I have a set of these in 'Dark Gray' and adore them. I even pack them when I go on vacation so I know my hair will be smoother, despite whatever hotel pillowcase situation I may be dealing with. At home, I have several sets of pillowcases and rotate them out weekly (at least). I can tell a difference in the level of frizz in my hair between when I sleep on these or cotton pillowcases. Also when you sleep on these, you don't wake up with lines on your face... as a side/stomach sleeper, I'm forever waking up with lines on my face from cotton pillowcases!!!"

Get them from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four sizes and 14 colors).

17. Living Proof's 5-in-1 styling product to pretty much guarantee a perfect hair day each time you use it — it's basically magic.

livingproofinc / Via instagram.com

Living Proof has done it again with their PhD (Perfect hair Day) 5-in-1 styling treatment. Created to protect hair from humidity, reviewers say it works wonders on thick hair. It's safe for all hair types, is silicone-free, and can be used on colored and chemically treated hair. Sign. me. up.

Promising review: "I have medium length fine hair. I only have to use a nickel-sized dollop to give my hair volume! It has a pleasant smell also." —SherryA

Get it from Walmart for $13.18+ (available in 2 or 4 oz).

Check out our full review of Living Proof 5-in-1 here (#8)!

18. A purple shampoo you'll actually be able to rely on to keep your beautiful blonde bob just that — BLONDE. It's also great for anyone with a super light tinted 'do.

fanola / Via instagram.com, instagram.com

Promising review: "This is the best blonde toner out there. I have used so many expensive purple shampoos, and this is far the best of all. Not only does it remove any and all brass from my hair, but it is PH balanced, unlike other color depositing toners out there. It's great for damaged, frizzy hair. I have a lot of tones and contrast in my hair, so I do not leave it in very long." —KKol

Get it from Amazon for $12.69+ (available in three sizes and as a mask).

Check out our full review of Fanola No Yellow shampoo here.

19. A nourishing coconut milk oil mist from OGX to make your hair smell like it just took a week off to go on a trip to Hawaii while also making it shine, feel super soft, and banishing flyaways.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "I loooooooooooooove this stuff. It's definitely hydrating to my hair, but mostly, it adds a great buttery coconut scent that I smell throughout the day and makes me happy! I have pretty dry, long straight hair that is pretty low maintenance, this stuff is just an extra kick to help it get through the day and in between washes." —bumblebecky

Get it from Amazon for $5.92.

20. Or a collagen coating protein hair mask for anyone who just spent their entire summer unintentionally damaging their locks in the sun or has an obsession with their straightener.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "This stuff really works! I tried to go blonde about a year ago and burnt my hair to a crisp. It was like rubber bands when it was wet. I thought I'd have to shave my head. I cut about 8 inches off and keep it trimmed but it still feels horrible. I can't wear it straight, so I have to use a curling wand every day to hide the damage. This stuff brought my hair back to life. My hair was so soft. It wasn't frizzy after it air dried like it normally is. I highly recommend this product. I will definitely be repurchasing." —Kim Sam Jennings

Get it from Amazon for $7.50.

21. A hair scalp massager that'll quickly become your favorite shower accessory. Use it to exfoliate and deep clean your scalp while applying your shampoo — it's a game changer.

Amazon, amazon.com

I have one of these babies and it really is wonderful. Not only does it make me feel like I'm really getting in there while I'm washing my hair, but it also recreates that feeling you get when your hairdresser massages your head while washing it. Ugh, so good.

Promising review: "Love this product! About five days before I received it I dyed my hair at home. As some of you may know who do the same, it’s difficult to get the hair dye out of your scalp. I scrubbed my hair for days with my fingers and it seemed like everything was gone because the water ran clear. When I received the product I was excited so I am immediately jumped in the shower to use it. To my surprise a ton of hair dye that was stuck on my head came off. Not only that, but my scalp feels breathable and clean. Definitely not greasy 24 hours later like regular shampooing would do for me. I would recommend this product." —Lisa Agro

Get it from Amazon for $6.98+ (available in three colors).

22. A Remington curling wand, perfect for anyone who has been too nervous to try and master this hot tool and doesn't want to commit to a product they're *not sure* they're going to get a lot of use out of. Spoiler: you will!

AnaMaria Glavan / BuzzFeed, Amazon

Promising review: "Where has this product been all my life? I have very straight hair and thought it was unable to hold a curl. Usually my hair would lose the curl within an hour or two, leaving a chunky hairsprayed mess. With this product, my hair holds the curl all day and more-or-less the next day as well, and only requires a light misting of flexible hairspray. This is probably because it has several heat settings and most cheap curlers do not heat as hot as this one does. I use the highest setting (400-something degrees), set it with flexible hold hairspray and it works great. I now curl my hair all the time, at least once a week." —Blaire

Get it from Amazon for $24.92 (available in two sizes).

Check out our full review of the Remington Pearl Ceramic Conical Curling Wand here.

23. Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo to help you remove all the build-up your hair will inevitably garner after constant use of shampoos, conditioners, and styling products. Can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "Great product! This shampoo removed months/years of product build-up in my hair that I didn't even know I had. After just one wash, my hair felt lighter, finer, more voluminous, and I needed fewer styling products to achieve the same results. But be careful not to use this too often as it can dry out your hair. I have long, dark fine hair and I use this about once every 2 weeks, or once every 4-5 washes." —Kat

Get it from Amazon for $5.28+ (also available in packs of 2 and 3 and in 6 or 12 oz).

24. Or coconut oil and ylang ylang infused shampoo and conditioner, designed to repair your split ends and leave your hair smelling oh-so-sweet. Don't be alarmed if people on the street want to sniff your curls.

lovebeautyandplanet / Via instagram.com

Promising review: "I use the shampoo on my roots only and the conditioner all over and it's amazing how soft my hair is even though I blow dry it every time!! My hair is coarse and wavy and has always been difficult to tame, but this stuff is a miracle-worker. Also, I've never had more compliments on how nice my hair smells, so that's great too! I can't imagine ever switching to another shampoo and conditioner." —lovemyhair0508

Get them from Walmart: both shampoo and conditioner for $6.94 each

25. Twist flex rods you can use in place of your curling iron when your hair seems to be begging for a break from the heat.

amazon.com

Promising review: "I have been using this type of roller for quite some time, as I have thin hair. I am always looking for products that create at least the illusion of thicker hair. The problem I found with other brands was that they cracked or the ends popped off and I was always buying more. These are great! Durable and do EXACTLY what I wanted. I am now a big fan. I will not have to replace them as the quality is very good. I highly recommend!" —terra

Get a set of 30 from Amazon for $7.99.

26. A one minute hair mask that'll make you feel like you ordered an extra serving of your favorite brunch order for your luscious locks.

Amazon

Promising review: "I was skeptical at first but got it as an add-on item. I absolutely love it!! My hair is super silky the next day and when I brush my hair there are no knots at all. I tend to wash my hair at night and not brush it until the next morning. My hair feels and looks so much healthier. I started using it in place of regular conditioner." —J powell

Get it from Amazon for $2.97+ (available in two sizes and six scents).

27. Thickening shampoo and conditioner from Avalon Organics you'll be happy you added into your shower line-up after just one use. It's free of harsh preservatives and will gently clean your hair. Delightful!

avalonorganics / Via instagram.com

Promising review: "I am very pleased with this shampoo. My hair is extremely fine and straight, I also have very sensitive skin, and I have had difficulty finding a shampoo that did not irritate my scalp or make my hair oily or flat. I bought this shampoo because it was recommended for restoring hair loss and adding thickness/ volume. So far my hair looks better and my scalp feels wonderful. Now when I put my hair up in a bun it is much fuller and holds better with fewer bobby pins. I plan on getting some for my father as he has the same hair/skin as I do and I think he will love it." —Amy

Get them from Amazon: shampoo for $6.53 and conditioner for $6.82

28. And the Revlon One-Step Hair Dryer & Volumizer Hot Air Brush your friends have likely all been raving about for months now because it is a life-changing beauty tool that won't even leave your wallet empty!

amazon.com, Amazon

This week alone three of my friends have bought this brush and it was all my mom requested for Mother's Day this year. It's becoming a must-have for anyone who loves a blowout but doesn't have the patience to go get one or lacks the skills to get it done nicely themselves — seriously it has over 7K five-star reviews on Amazon! I'm currently waiting for mine to arrive because, OBVIOUSLY, I had to get one for myself!

Promising review: "This is truly the greatest thing since sliced bread!! I've put off buying something like this for years, but finally I gave in with a great deal of trepidation. I shouldn't have waited so long! I mean it cut my hair drying time in HALF and it's SO super easy to use. My hair looks so much better than when I round brush it with a regular hair dryer bc the oval shape gives me better angles to use. If I could go back I'd probably save a year of my life using this instead!!! It's that good. The design of the on-off switch is ingenious, so easy to use. You can use this with one hand! Miracles happen, clearly. You will not regret buying this." —sewgr8nct

Get it from Amazon for $47 (available in black and mint).

You, actually enjoying brushing your hair now that it's as flawless as a Disney princess':

The Walt Disney Company

Some reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Need more for your mane? We’ve got products to give you the silkiest hair ever, solutions for dry or damaged hair, and incredible products for short hair. Or check out all of our beauty content for even more great stuff for your hair, skin, and more.

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Allison Krausman / BuzzFeed