JVN Hair Care: Essential Insights on Johnathan Van Ness’ Products

Jonathan Van Ness has captured the hearts of viewers as the hair and grooming expert on Netflix’s award-winning show “Queer Eye” since 2018. Earlier this year, they introduced their highly anticipated hair care line, JVN. (Van Ness identifies as nonbinary and uses they/he/she pronouns, as disclosed in a 2021 interview with Cosmopolitan.) Designed for all hair types, the JVN brand embodies Van Ness’ philosophy of self-celebration, focusing on enhancing and nourishing everyone’s hair to foster confidence. This line promises to cater to the diverse needs of various hair types, ensuring that everyone can find a product that resonates with their unique hair care journey.

To evaluate the effectiveness of JVN products, we enlisted eight editors with various hair types — from straight to 4A curls, thick to thin, and dry to oily, including color-treated and natural hair. Over two weeks, each editor switched their hair care routine to exclusively use JVN products, focusing on the brand’s best-selling items and essential staples. Each participant tested a shampoo and conditioner, along with the popular JVN Complete Air Dry Cream, and had the option to include the Pre-Wash Scalp Oil and Complete Conditioning Mist tailored to their specific hair and scalp needs. Continue reading to discover which JVN products our team believes are truly worth considering.

Among the products we evaluated, the Complete Air Dry Cream stood out, solidifying its reputation as the brand’s top seller. Social coordinator Sarai Thompson shared that this leave-in cream is her “favorite out of all the products,” particularly for her 3C/4A curls. She expressed enthusiasm, noting, “[It] gave me hope that I could attempt doing wash-and-gos,” a routine she typically avoids due to her hair’s tendency to become “dry, frizzy, and hard to manage.” With the Air Dry Cream, her hair remained moisturized and manageable — a benefit echoed by all participants with diverse hair types. The product effectively defined curls while smoothing straight hair. Testers quickly learned that a small amount sufficed; most initially used too much but adjusted to a more economical application, ensuring that the generous tube would last longer. A dime-sized amount proved adequate even for my waist-length hair.

The cream provides a gentle hold, enhancing your hair’s natural texture and facilitating heatless styles like braids or buns, without the stiff feeling often associated with gels or mousses. “It’s light and buildable, and for my thin waves, it helped keep things non-frizzy, even in 90-plus-degree heat in New York City,” remarked senior lifestyle editor Rachel Lubitz. Senior editor Chelsea Stone, who has 3A curls, described the cream as a “solid styler.” While it didn’t define her curls as much as some curl-specific products, she appreciated how it tamed frizz and added shine without any crunchiness, making it a versatile option for those seeking a balance between definition and manageability.

I also experimented with the cream by applying a small dab, massaging it between my fingers, and then smoothing it over the top of my hair to tame flyaways on my second-day hair. This method effectively helped in slicking down the flyaways without leaving any noticeable product residue at the roots.

“It provides humidity protection and smoothes all hair types without crunchiness or flakes,” explains Joseph Singh, the senior manager of global product strategy and marketing for JVN. “The formula features our hero ingredient, hemisqualane, known for enhancing hair health and strength over time, along with moringa seed oil to impart softness, shine, and luster, and chia seed extract to elevate hair’s natural texture.” This unique combination of ingredients not only improves the hair’s appearance but also its overall health, making it a standout option in the hair care market.

As the focus on scalp care intensifies, JVN addresses this need with the Pre-Wash Scalp Oil. This product is formulated with nourishing ingredients like hemisqualane, rosemary extract, and bisabolol, all of which work synergistically to “hydrate and cleanse the scalp” while promoting “stronger, shinier, longer, and healthier-looking hair.” This innovative approach to scalp treatment highlights the brand’s commitment to comprehensive hair care, ensuring that the scalp receives the attention it deserves for optimal hair growth and health.

For associate editor Lindsey Smith, the scalp oil was a “game-changer product.” She confessed, “Like most people, I’m guilty of ignoring my scalp — but it needs love too! In summer, I get a super-itchy and dry scalp, and using this has soothed it so much.” This revelation emphasizes the importance of scalp health in overall hair care, showcasing how JVN’s Pre-Wash Scalp Oil can be a solution for common scalp issues that many people face.

I discovered that the pre-wash oil also addressed my dandruff-prone scalp, which I recently learned is actually an issue related to an oily scalp rather than dryness. Similar to how using an oil cleanser on the face can help balance the skin and prevent overproduction of natural oils, treating an oily scalp with an oil-based product can alleviate itching and flaking. I carefully applied the oil section by section, using the dropper for targeted application on my scalp, then massaged it in with a fine-toothed scalp brush. Allowing it to sit before washing my hair became an essential part of my routine. “The hardest part about [the Scalp Oil] is letting it sit for 15 minutes, but it’s totally worth it — my scalp has never felt better,” Smith agrees, emphasizing the transformative effect of this product.

Thompson, who regularly incorporates scalp oil treatments into her routine, praised JVN’s scalp oil for its ease of application, stating, “my scalp felt hydrated and revitalized, and the smell was amazing!” She also noted an improvement in hair manageability, saying, “I noticed my hair was easy to part and manipulate for my natural hairstyles, likely because the pre-wash oil prevented my scalp from becoming dehydrated.” This highlights how JVN’s products not only benefit the scalp but also enhance the overall styling experience.

JVN offers a tailored selection of three shampoos and conditioners, each addressing different hair concerns. Options include the Nurture Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, Embody Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner, and Undamage Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner. These products are conveniently sold separately, allowing users to either stick to a single line or mix and match according to their hair’s unique needs. Furthermore, JVN’s website features a practical hair quiz to assist consumers in identifying the best products for their specific hair type and concerns. Senior digital content strategist Stephanie Griffin noted, “With so many product offerings on their website, I didn’t know which product was ‘right’ for me, so [the quiz] made the process quick and easy.” Based on her results, she selected the Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner to enhance the thickness and volume of her naturally straight, thin hair.

After testing the products, Griffin found the conditioner particularly effective at detangling her hair in the shower, sharing that this “says a lot, because I usually have to brush my hair while conditioning due to its tangly and difficult nature after it starts to air-dry.” She appreciated that both the shampoo and conditioner were crafted with clean, color-safe ingredients, which is essential for her as she colors her blond hair every three to four months and seeks products that maintain her hair’s brightness between appointments. “I can’t really say for sure if my hair looks more volumized or fuller than before, but it definitely feels clean and did not strip my color at all,” she remarked. “That being said, one of the primary ingredients in the conditioner is biotin, so I believe that with consistent use over a longer period, my hair could actually appear thicker — only time will tell! In the meantime, the prices are incredibly affordable, and I would definitely repurchase both products.”

Lubitz, who also tested the Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner, reported a significant improvement for her thin, curly hair. “After just one use, I noticed my hair was softer and much more voluminous throughout the day,” she noted. “It actually made my thin, curly hair feel thick. The shampoo is light enough that I didn’t experience any buildup issues even the next day, and the conditioner was sufficiently lightweight not to weigh down my curls.” This feedback reinforces the effectiveness of JVN products for those with similar hair types seeking volume and softness.

Across the board, testers consistently experienced enhanced softness with the different shampoos and conditioners, largely attributed to the inclusion of hemisqualane in all products (and throughout JVN’s entire line). This key ingredient is derived from sugarcane through a biofermentation process and serves as an alternative to silicone. While silicone isn’t harmful, it can lead to buildup over time. Hemisqualane aids in strengthening and adding shine to the hair. TikTok strategist Hannah Lauson, who has dry, wavy hair, noted her struggle to find shampoos that don’t exacerbate dryness. However, the JVN Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner “actually left my hair feeling soft,” she remarked, adding, “plus, it smells so good!”

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