October is spooky for many reasons, with Halloween [1] being the most obvious. Less apparent is the stress that comes with it that can wreak havoc on both your hair and your scalp. You're likely knee-deep into the school year, planning for Halloween [2] festivities, and adjusting to the newly cooled-down weather. Luckily, the start of this month kicks off a wave of damn good hair products [3] to get you through.
On this list, you'll find a heat-protecting spray that will fend off the damage you do to your hair as you test out Halloween beauty looks [4], an emollient conditioner that will restore the moisture that the drier weather has zapped from your hair [5] and scalp [6], and a dry shampoo for days you just don't have time to wash your hair.
Check out our editors' picks for the best new hair products launching this October, ahead.
Lush Candy Rain Conditioner
"The Lush Candy Rain Conditioner [7] ($10) smells sort of like zesty Swedish Fish candy. (Yes, you read that right.) I'm not typically a fan of sugary scents, which is why I hesitated to try it. But it was its mix of moisturising milks (including coconut, Brazil nut, and macadamia nut) and oils that made me want to soak my hair in it."
"I finger-combed the off-white cream through my hair and left it in as I shaved my legs before washing it out. Not only did my ends feel moisturised once I rinsed, it was also softer, shinier, and frizz-free post-air dry." — Jesa Calaor, assistant editor, Beauty.
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo
"This might repulse you, but I'm not worried about my dry shampoo leaving traces of white residue on my hair — I just want it to work on days-old grease. And the Ouai Super Dry Shampoo [8] ($24) isn't messing around: it contains a blend of rice starch and volcanic minerals to sop up even the dirtiest oils from my hair, while resetting my style in the most natural-looking way possible. It leaves behind a veil of white, yes, but an extra 20 minutes of sleep is worth it in my eyes." — Kelsey Castañon, senior beauty editor
Living Proof Perfect hair Day Heat Styling Spray
"I don't heat style my hair too often because when I do, I feel an overwhelming amount of guilt that I'm damageing my hair. The new Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Heat Styling Spray [9] ($28) makes me feel like I'm protecting my hair a little better during the process. Unlike other heat protectant sprays that leave hair feeling heavy or stiff, this one dispenses a soft mist that coats hair to leave it feeling smoother. Now, when I blowdry my hair and curl it after, I'm not left with the typical frizz that I was used to and I'm pretty sure it's helping my style last a little longer." — Jessica Harrington, associate editor, Makeup.com
Revive and Shine Rejuvenating Dry Oil Mist
"Pressing down the Ouidad Revive and Shine Rejuvenating Dry Oil Mist [10]'s ($28) pump dispenses a fine mist that you would never guess was loaded with five different moisturising oils. A few spritzes of this spray instantly restores the shine back to my version of next-day hair, and seals the stressed ends of my waves." — JMC
The One Atelier Fekkai
"I would tell you I love the The Pure Shampoo [11] ($32) and The Pure Conditioner [12] ($32) merely for its clean, fresh-from-the-salon scent, but that wouldn't be fair to the products' efficacy. So, the second best thing is that it also leaves hair silky and detangled without needing to brush it in the shower (and did I mention it smells good?)." — KC