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Do Jonathan Van Ness's Hair Products Work on All Hair Types?

We Tried JVN Hair on 3 Different Hair Types to See If It Works For Everyone

Apr 7 2022

As an avid "Queer Eye" viewer, when JVN Hair launched in the United States last summer I was absolutely dying to get my hands on it — and to get the products onto my hair ASAP. Thankfully, gorgeous Jonathan Van Ness finally brought his hotly anticipated haircare line to the UK last month — and it's been flying off the shelves ever since.

The hero ingredient of this haircare range is a little thing called hemisqualane, a plant-derived form of squalane with half-size ("hemi") molecules that can penetrate the hair to improve its condition over time. It's an alternative to smoothing silicones, which can build up on our hair, weigh it down, and dull its colour.

As well as products that are great for your hair, JVN has also made sure that their brand's sustainability credentials are in check. The brand is a member of 1% For the Planet, meaning a portion of sales is donated to organisations that work to protect the environment. The ingredients are vegan and sustainably sourced, and all of the packaging is 100 percent recyclable. We love to see it.

One of the key points about the range that Van Ness stressed was that they wanted everybody to be able to use the products — with a focus on hair concern rather than hair type. The range is therefore based around the idea that, in his experience behind the salon chair, people's hair generally needs more of one of three things: moisture, repair, or volume.

So to see how well the range performs on that front, I enlisted the help of POPSUGAR Editor Tori Crowther and Associate Editor Kara Kia in order to test the range on three different hair types (straight, loose ringlets, and 4A-4B curls) with very different needs. Several hair washes later, these are our standout favourites from the range.

JVN Hair is available to shop now at Space NK, both in stores and online

Image Source: Lucy Abbersteen

JVN Hair Complete Pre-Wash Scalp Oil

Described by JVN at the brand's UK launch event as "like Windex for your scalp", the lightweight Complete Pre-Wash Scalp Oil (£24) helps to clarify and nourish without leaving any greasy residue in its wake. It also works well for those with thinning hair by helping to reduce breakage. Pop it on your scalp for 15 minutes before you wash your hair, and you're golden.

Lucy says: This is a super-fluid formula that's not at all heavy or greasy feeling, and it really delivers on its promise of not leaving any residue behind. I don't struggle with a dry scalp very often, but I definitely haven't experienced any flakiness after using this little bottle before I wash my hair. A great hair-routine staple.

Tori says: Applying oil to my roots preshampooing isn't something I did in my routine prior to trying this product, but I've noticed such a huge difference in my scalp since. I've started applying this to my roots a couple of hours before washing my hair that evening (WFH perks) along with a hair mask on the ends, and I've definitely noticed a huge difference in how shiny my hair is. I was initially worried that it would make my scalp greasy but didn't find that at all.

Kara says: Although I don't have a dry scalp, occasionally oiling my scalp before shampooing is a staple in my routine (as it is for many people with Afro or multitextured hair). I found that JVN's Pre-Wash Scalp Oil was super moisturising and lightweight, leaving my curls a bit silkier at the root. Also, if you love getting braids done, this product is great for applying on your partings and around your hairline to soothe any irritation from the synthetic Kanekalon braiding hair and offers some extra protection for your edges.

Image Source: JVN Hair

JVN Hair Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo

With a formula that contains caffeine to encourage growth, the Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo (£16) really gives fine or limp hair life and is gentle enough for everyday use. Like everything in the range, it's also safe to use on coloured hair. At the brand's UK launch event, JVN himself said that he wanted to create a volumising shampoo that would also work for wavy and curly hair types that need a root lift — because so many on the market leave them feeling dry and strawlike.

Lucy says: This one struck a chord with me as usually I'd avoid volumising shampoos like the plague. But this didn't strip my hair of moisture and is genuinely the only volumising shampoo in existence that I've used more than once. I really notice a difference in my curls' volume after washing with this one — no flat, weighed-down roots in sight.

Tori says: I agree with Lucy on this one. I generally avoid anything volumising (even though my flat AF hair needs it), but this really gave my hair that root boost it needed without compromising on hydration.

Kara says: Wish I had more to say on this product, but volume is not something I need for my hair type.

Image Source: JVN Hair

JVN Hair Nurture Hydrating Shampoo

Formulated for anybody whose strands are lacking moisture, the Nurture Hydrating Shampoo (£16) is packed with aloe-leaf juice and panthenol to boost shine and moisture. It's designed to be super smoothing, but of course without the inclusion of any silicones.

Lucy says: I loved the scent of this one, which has a relaxing, home-spa-like vibe — if it was down to me, all of the products would smell like it! But it also creates a really impressive amount of lather considering that it's a sulphate-free formula (sulphate is responsible for the foam we all love). I will say that it's not the most hydrating shampoo I've ever tried, but most importantly it doesn't leave my hair feeling stripped after washing. I've tended to alternate between this and the Embody shampoo.

Tori says: Adore the scent. JVN spoke about scent being one of the most difficult aspects for formulation, but they absolutely nailed it. Whilst I wouldn't class my hair type as "frizzy", I definitely experience frizz and didn't find this helped manage that as much as other formulas I've tried, but with the right styling products, I didn't find it was a problem.

Kara says: I cosign Tori and Lucy, the scent is divine. It smells like I was just at a professional salon. Absolutely no fruitiness (I can't stand my Afro hair smelling like coconuts), the scent is more of a gentle perfume but quite mild. With the formulation, wow, my hair loved this product. It has a great lather with an impressive amount of slip that makes detangling in the shower super easy! Usually I have to wait for the conditioner to detangle, but the deep moisturising effect of the JVN shampoo was enough to unravel all my knots.

Image Source: JVN Hair

JVN Hair Nurture Hydrating Conditioner

Another member of the range's moisturising trio, the Nurture Hydrating Conditioner (£16) is loaded with amino acids and camellia-seed oil to really infuse parched hair with moisture. It's scented with the same delicious combo as the shampoo: a mix of lemon, blackcurrant, vanilla, and sandalwood.

Lucy says: This is easily one of my favourite products from the range. It has a great amount of slip, making in-shower detangling a painless process, and moisturises really well without weighing my hair down at all (very important when you have finer hair and a looser curl pattern like me). I also love the Nurture Deep Moisture Mask (£24), another weightless moisturising buy.

Tori says: I have an expensive habit of never using regular conditioner and heading straight for hair masks. For this reason, this conditioner initially didn't feel thick enough for me, but then I checked myself and remembered it's not a mask. A little goes a long way for my long hair, and it's super easy to work through all my ends. The main reason I love this product though is the scent again. Scent is easily the most important aspect of the haircare I use (sorry, not sorry), and I cannot get enough of this one.

Kara says: Because of my hair type, I barely use conditioner and go straight for deep conditioners. But I love the JVN conditioner, especially as a cowash. Cowashing isn't for everyone, but I love using this product on days when my hair needs a little hydration boost but it's not quite ready for a shampoo. The scent, of course, is divine, and the slip is perfect for gentle detangling.

Image Source: JVN Hair

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JVN Hair Complete Instant Recovery Serum

By now you've probably seen the videos illustrating just how well the Complete Instant Recovery Serum (£24) protects bread against the heat of a toaster and proving just how vital good heat protection is in your haircare regimen. Shielding your hair from temperatures of up to 230°C, it also works to reduce split ends thanks to repairing niacinamide and strengthening lemon protein.

Lucy says: Another brilliantly lightweight product that leaves my curls feeling nice and soft and works well when layered with other styling products like the Air Dry Cream (more on that one later). As I've been on it with my haircuts recently I can't comment on how well it repairs split ends, but it did leave my hair nice and soft. Being totally honest, the scent isn't my favourite, but I'm more than happy to ignore that fact in favour of good heat protection.

Tori says: Admittedly I wasn't sold on this product. Ultimately I didn't feel like it gave enough instant results to become a staple in my routine. I also prefer spray heat protector as I find it's easier to evenly distribute the product in my midlengths and ends. Basically, it comes down to me and my laziness.

Kara says: I rarely ever use heat on my hair so I can't give an in-depth review of this product. I do however like using it as a base to layer other curl-defining products on top. Although it's not a product I would reach for often, my curls did respond really well to the formulation and felt buttery soft.

Image Source: JVN Hair

JVN Hair Complete Air Dry Cream

The Complete Air Dry Cream (£21) is a texture enhancer, meaning it will really intensify your hair's natural state, whether you have barely-there waves or the tightest of coils. It shields against humidity and UV damage and offers a real hit of nourishment with extracts of linseed and chia seed, as well as our star player hemisqualane.

Lucy says: Although it has a light, flexible hold and is buildable, it doesn't give me that strong hold like a gel or mousse might, so bear in mind that you may need to build up a fair bit of this if it's all you're using on your curls. But, again, it's not a heavy formula (I think the thing that's impressed me most about this range is how lightweight all of the products are!), and it smooths and defines well and has absolutely no crunch to it whatsoever.

Tori says: Sadly, the Air Dry Cream wasn't for me, but that's mostly because I don't really have a frizzy or curly hair texture, as the brand notes this product is ideal for. Without reading the instructions at first (bad beauty editor points), I took it quite literally as something to whack on before letting my hair air-dry, which did nothing for my flat, straight hair. However, using it as a prestyler before doing some heatless waves helped with defining my waves. All in all, this product is a great one for "frizzy, wavy, curly or coily" textures, as the brand promises, but not for my straight hair.

Kara says: A beautiful product to give an extra layer of silkiness to my curls. It minimises frizz, and I love that it is so lightweight, but it doesn't live up to what I expect of a finishing product. My curls and coils need a formulation with a bit more hold so that the antifrizz effect lasts throughout the day.

Image Source: JVN Hair

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