Products I Actually Use on My Clients and Why You Need Them in Your Routine.
I get asked about products constantly. In the chair at my salon , in my DMs, and at social gatherings. What do you use? What should I buy? Is this one worth it? So here’s the full list. Every product and tool in my station at Moss Salon and why it’s there. I’m Meg Ann Lee, hairstylist, makeup artist, and co-owner of Moss Salon in Eau Claire. I’ve been behind the chair for almost a decade and nothing on this list is here because a brand sent it to me or because it’s trending on TikTok. Everything is here because I’ve used it on real clients with real hair and it performed. That’s the only criteria.
The Tools
My Dom Dom hair rollers are a non-negotiable. I talked about these in my girlhood maxxing post and I meant it. They give volume and body without heat damage and they take minutes. My Bio Ionic curling iron is what I reach for when I need a curl that actually holds and looks natural. The temperature control is precise and it doesn’t fry hair the way a lot of irons do. My Amika hot round brush is my go-to for blowout texture. It gives that salon bouncy finish without needing a round brush and a dryer in two separate hands. And the Wet Brush detangler. Simple. Not glamorous. But it detangles wet hair without ripping through it and I use it on every single client. Sometimes the best tools aren’t the expensive ones.
Texture and Volume
This is where I get the most questions because there are a million texture and volume products out there and most of them do the same thing but not all of them do it the best. I keep three in rotation. Amika texture spray gives grit and hold without making hair feel crunchy or heavy. Verb volume texture spray is lighter and gives more of a soft, lived-in fullness. I reach for one or the other depending on the client’s hair type and the finish we’re going for. And Amika’s humidity spray is a must for heat protection for summer in Wisconsin because our humidity is no joke and this actually keeps styles from falling flat two hours after you leave the salon.
Wash and Treat
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate treatment is in my salon because it works. It strengthens bonds in the hair that have been broken by color, heat, and chemical services. I use it on almost every color client. The Redken Acidic Bonding sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner is what I recommend to clients who want to maintain their color at home without stripping it. Sulfate-free matters but not every sulfate-free shampoo is created equal. This one actually cleans without leaving buildup and it keeps color looking fresh longer.
Styling and Finishing
Amika Flux hairspray is my current go-to for hold that doesn’t feel like hold. It keeps everything in place without that stiff, crunchy, helmet hair situation that makes you afraid to touch your own head. Amika dry shampoo lives in my station for second and third day refreshes. It absorbs oil without leaving that white cast that makes you look like you rolled in baby powder. And Verb curl cream is what I reach for on clients with any kind of wave or curl pattern. It defines without crunch, adds moisture without weight, and lets curls actually move.
The One That’s Not a Hair Product
Amika hair and body fragrance. This one isn’t about performance, it’s about the experience. We sell a LOT of this at Moss and I get it. It smells incredible and it makes your hair and your skin feel like an event. Clients buy it once and come back for it every time. It’s one of those products that technically you don’t need but once you have it you’re not going back.
The Bottom Line
Every product in my salon has to earn its place. I don’t keep things around because of packaging or branding or because everyone else is using it. If it doesn’t work on real people with real hair, it’s gone. This list will change over time because I’m always testing and always learning, but right now this is what’s making the cut. You can check out all my favorites HERE. <3
