After Hair Loss, Plenty
of Volume, Wave, and Shine
She quit her high-stress marketing job after, among other issues, her hair started falling out. But Dianna Cohen, founder of the much-obsessed-over clean hair-care brand Crown Affair, turned that negative experience inside out (just look at her hair now!) and created a bestselling collection of hair essentials in the process. “I didn’t realize how important my hair was to me from an identity perspective until it started falling out from the amount of stress I was under,” says Cohen. “I needed to make a big change—so I made it, and then took a more holistic approach to my hair.”
She started Crown Affair when she couldn’t find clean hair care that worked for her, in terms of efficacy or luxury. “I wanted to make something that wasn’t only about styling or masking a hair issue,” she says. “It needed to feel totally luxe and deliver nourishing ingredients that would work for every hair type and texture. The idea is to support hair health overall.”
A classic boar-bristle brush, a detangling wide-tooth comb, a silkifying hair oil, and a generously sized, quick-drying microfiber hair towel. Together they make the most gorgeous gift or starter kit ever.
Today, there’s much more, from a genius dry shampoo to the softest, most beautifully scented conditioner; Cohen’s hair and her business are thriving. “I don’t like the term ‘good’ or ‘bad hair day,’” she says. “I don’t want to be associated with an unachievable beauty standard of perfection—it discourages people from embracing the elements of hair texture that make it uniquely beautiful, like frizz, curls, or kinks, and it has nothing to do with the health of your hair.”
Everyone has good hair, maintains Cohen: “Like meditation, journaling, or nutrition, if you’re consistent with a routine and you use high-quality products, you’ll be in a good place.” Below, her tips for the ultimate clean hair routine.
1. The Little Things Add Up
Use silk or microfiber accessories that go easy on your hair, keep heat settings on your tools low, and wet your hair before you go into chlorine. “All the little extra steps add up to really improving the overall health of your hair,” says Cohen.
“Your hair is most vulnerable to breakage and frizz when it’s wet, because it swells,” says Cohen. Unlike cotton towels, which can be rough on hair, the soft weave of a microfiber towel helps your hair dry much faster and also much softer and smoother. “After I get out of the shower, I leave this on for 20 to 30 minutes,” she says.
2. Layer Hair Care Like Skin Care
“Layer leave-in conditioner and hair oil just as you would moisturizer and face oil,” says Cohen. “Some days my hair is feeling really dry, so I smooth in a drop of hair oil for shine and body, and a spritz of leave-in conditioner for texture. Sometimes it’s not as dry and I’ll just use a touch of leave-in.”
OILS
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Shine and Body
Crown Affair The Set goop, $220SHOP NOW -
Ultrahydrating
Augustinus Bader The Hair Oil goop, $50SHOP NOW
LEAVE-INS
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Tames Frizz and Flyaways
Rahua Hydration Detangler + UV Barrier goop, $34SHOP NOW -
Smoothing and Softening
Grown Alchemist Smoothing Hair Treatment goop, $49SHOP NOW
3. Brush Your Hair—a Lot
“Brush for a full two to three minutes—it’s one of my favorite rituals to keep my hair soft and smooth,” says Cohen. “I also comb my hair in the shower—it makes a big difference in terms of detangling.”
4. Best Dry Shampoo Trick Ever
Cohen sprinkles in dry shampoo, then brushes her hair—right before bed. “I brush my hair to move the natural healthy oils from my scalp out to my ends,” she says. “The oils separate the hair, leaving it looking oily and a bit stringy, but it settles after about 15 minutes, and then, the next morning, I wake up with gorgeous, healthy-looking hair.”
5. Treat Weekly
“I love to do a mask on the weekends,” says Cohen. “I take my time and let it soak in for about 30 minutes to leave my hair shiny and silky.”
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Nourishing Mask
Crown Affair The Renewal Mask goop, $58SHOP NOW -
Silkifying Preshampoo Treatment
goop Beauty GOOPGLOW Restore + Shine Hair Serum goop, $48/$44 with subscriptionSHOP NOW
6. Watch What You Eat
“Your hair is a reflection of your well-being, so lean into it and listen to your body,” says Cohen, who stays hydrated and eats fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids to support her overall hair health. “I can definitely see a difference in my hair when I do,” she says. There are high-quality fish oil capsules in every goop vitamin protocol—an easy way to get in those omega-3s.
7. Wash Only as Often as Necessary
Cohen washes her hair only once or twice a week in the mornings, giving her hair the day to air-dry. “I take my time rinsing, shampooing, and conditioning,” says Cohen. “My rituals in the morning set the tone for the day.”
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Exfoliate and Soften
goop Beauty G.Tox Himalayan Salt Scalp Scrub Shampoo goop, $45/$38 with subscriptionSHOP NOW -
Nourish for Shine
Crown Affair The Ritual Shampoo goop, $36SHOP NOW
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Everyday Conditioner
Crown Affair The Ritual Conditioner goop, $38SHOP NOW
8. Have Your Stylist Cut Dry
“I show up for haircuts with my natural hair texture and have it dry-cut,” she says. “It’s a game changer.”
