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My hairstylist likes to tell me that my hair is “good source material.” By that, she means that my hair – long, thick, curly, frizzy, and a total headache for the first 28 years of my life – just needs the right cut, treatment, and products to look really great.
The cut, she handles. The treatment she also administers (Pura Luxe, a customizable, formaldehyde-free smoothing treatment). And the products are from ROZ. The best-performing and best-smelling of any I’ve tried in my three decades as a high-maintenance hair girl, ROZ’s Shampoo and Conditioner, Foundation Mask, Milk Serum, and Hair Oil are my holy grail – and the only hair products I’ve felt compelled to recommend to anyone I know with hair.
I first heard about ROZ via Zoë Brown, TQE’s longtime Launch Digest editor – and my trusted source for finding the best things ~6 months to a year before everyone else knows them – back in 2024. I was convinced to try the brand after reading Nikita Charuza’s Quality Makers interview with founder Mara Roszak last year. And now, I’m here to spread the good word so you, too, can have your best hair ever.
The Road to ROZ
Before founding ROZ, Mara Roszak was a celebrity hair stylist. In fact, she got into the industry at just 15 and quickly made a name for herself with leading talent across film and editorial. In her work – with names like Emma Stone, Olivia Wilde, and Zoe Saldaña, by the way – Roszak began to notice a gap between the products in the market and the way women want to wear their hair. And thus, ROZ was conceived.
Roszak’s approach is centered around drawing out your hair’s natural texture rather than fighting to change it (think best-hair-day air-dried waves, soft and bouncy curls). Her products lean on natural butters, vegetable proteins, and restorative botanicals to accomplish this – and they’re notably free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oils, and the more than 2,700 ingredients restricted by the EU.
Everything about the brand feels considered, from the community of pro hairstylists who rigorously test each product on set and in salons to the forever-recyclable aluminum packaging and the transparency around ROZ’s fragrance (rare in the beauty industry).
Testing, Testing
I first bought ROZ’s Shampoo and Conditioner at a Detox Market. At the time, my hair had a tendency to feel like there was constantly product in it – even freshly washed out of the shower. Some combination of the products I was using and the Santa Monica water was not working for me, so I decided to mix things up and give ROZ a try, as the shampoo is sulfate-free (aka kosher to use with smoothing treatments).
The first thing I noticed was the scent. The brand describes it as having subtle notes of woody vetiver and fresh, rejuvenating citron. That is probably accurate, but as someone rather naïve about scent profiles, I will just say it’s delicious. I’d wear it as a perfume if it were bottled and sold. I was able to gently brush out any knots in the shower after using the conditioner, and then I let my hair air dry.
I don’t know what I was expecting in terms of performance from this shampoo and conditioner – realistically very little, as I’m not sure I’ve ever used a shampoo and conditioner that had a dramatic effect on my hair – but I was floored by the results of these. My scalp felt incredibly clean and free (dramatic, but true) and my hair felt noticeably softer.
As it turns out, my experience is not unique. These products have been clinically studied, and 93% of participants felt their hair was thoroughly cleansed and hair color preserved; 96% experienced smoother softer hair.
Other Favorites to Try
Before switching to ROZ, I had used a conditioning mask as a conditioner, so I was curious to try this one. It’s incredible. I actually typically use this instead of the conditioner – it’s a stronger detangling option and leaves my hair feeling both hydrated and smooth. It’s crazy how well it works yet how light it feels. Magic!
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This is the best hair styling product I’ve ever used. No contest. I massage a few pumps into my hair when it’s still wet, then let it air dry or blow it dry. It’s like a leave-in conditioner that, again, keeps my hair feeling so lightweight. The cherry on top is that you can use it whether your hair is wet or dry – and it serves as a heat protectant.
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I had kind of sworn off hair oils because they often left my hair looking strangely oily in some places, yet still-frizzy in others. Once I had come to trust ROZ implicitly, though, I gave this oil a go. Surprising to no one at this point, it’s not like the other girls. I love using this as a final step to lock in my flyaways with an impressively light touch.
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A Good Hair Day, Everyday
After basically a lifelong struggle with my hair, I am extremely sensitive to the fact that everyone’s hair is different and there’s no one size fits all for anything beauty-related for that matter. All of that is to say: I take hair product recommendations seriously. Probably too seriously if we’re being honest.
ROZ is the best of the best, no question. Everyone who’s stayed at my apartment has sung its praises after using it in my shower; my sister tells me how glossy my hair looks every single time she sees me. It’s all ROZ – seriously.
Get your best hair here.
