Kristin Ess Answered Some of Your Biggest Hair Questions (and Just Launched 25 New Products)

In a sea of haircare brands, it’s hard to stand out, but Kristin Ess’ robust line of products has quickly become a go-to for many of our best-coiffed (and most discerning) friends. Think: Salon quality formulas and elevated packaging that you’ll be happy to see in your shower—all at Target prices. 

As of this morning, she’s added 25 new products to her line—including a curl collection, five new shades of hair gloss and a titanium 2-inch curling iron that gives you the perfect barely-there bend she’s known for creating on her celebrity clients. And in celebration of the new launches, we hopped on the phone with her to answer some of your biggest hair questions.

“You can do this in three ways. To get more volume without using any heat, I like to do something called a fun bun, which is similar to a chignon that sits on top of your head. Keep the bun in for a couple hours to add subtle waves to your ponytail. You can also take a 1-inch or 1 1/4-inch curling iron and wrap a few pieces of your ponytail around it to give it a bit of bend. And last but not least, if you’re looking for the fastest solution, I recommend a few, quick spritzes of texturizing powder throughout the tail,” explains Ess.

According to Ess: “Yes, hot water encourages the cuticle to open, which can make it more prone to frizz, while cold water encourages it to close, which makes it smoother and shiner. And if the idea of washing your hair with cold water sounds awful to you, fill a spray bottle up with cold water and mist it liberally over your hair to get a similar effect.”