amika began in 2007 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, founded by Nir and Shay Kadosh, who were industry outsiders. The name means friend, and the brand describes itself as Brooklyn-born, salon-raised and independently owned. It started as a hair tools brand before refocusing on all hair types and haircare, which explains why the Blowout Babe Thermal Brush still turns up in the lineup. Two things run through everything: sea buckthorn is infused into every formula, and the signature scent opens with pink grapefruit and apricot and ends in vanilla. The first group here is the heart of the hair range. Perk Up Extra Strength Dry Shampoo is the one with the nickname, and the Soulfood nourishing mask and Soulstruck leave in dry hair mask are the deep conditioners. Hydration Intense Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner make a pair, as do The Protector Color Protect + Strengthen Shampoo and Conditioner, while Mirrorball adds shine and Power Hour refreshes curls. Hydro Rush leave-in conditioner is the leave-in step. For the dry shampoo side, the best dry shampoo for every hair color is a helpful map, and conditioners moisturizing enough for dry hair covers the masks.

This group shows how the brand extends past shampoo. The Midnight Mender overnight repair treatment, The Closer instant repair cream, Velveteen Dream smoothing balm and Superfruit Star lightweight oil are the leave-on pieces, and the Reset cleansing oil starts the routine. The Mini Soulfood mask and the Hydro Rush mask are easy ways to try the formulas, and The Protector treatment finishes the color care line. Bust Your Brass is a tone and repair mask, and if brassiness is your concern, the color wheel trick behind purple shampoo explains the logic. The body collection is here too: Big Embrace whipped body butter, Shower Thoughts body wash with AHA and glycerin, and I'm Glistening radiant body oil. What I would skip is using a leave-on cream and a lightweight oil in the same wash if your hair is fine; choose one.

Sets are where amika makes the most sense for someone new. The Signature Saviors Essential Trial Set, the Rescue Team Strengthening Repair Trial Set and the All-Stars Set all work as introductions. For routines, Soft Hair Stars pairs a wash with care, Hydration Hall of Fame gathers the moisture line, Nourish + Shine Legends pairs a mask with a hair oil and Kurated Strength is a strengthening gift set. The Liter Pump Set is for people who already know which formula they love. If you are matching a shampoo to a conditioner, the best shampoo and conditioner pairs for frizzy hair shows how the pairing logic works. A practical test is to open the set that matches the one problem you have today, whether that is dryness, color or strength, and ignore the rest until that problem is solved.

The last group is the most playful. The Amika:aura Hair & Body Mist with vanilla and pink grapefruit brings the signature scent into a spray, and the limited-edition version and the Glowing Places body care and fragrance set follow the same idea. The Wizard Detangling Primer is the problem solver of the group, and Top Gloss shine spray, Plus Size Volume & Body Mousse and Big Hit volumising conditioner cover finish and lift. The Hydro Dream hydration routine trial set is the small starter. In our fashion dreams, she keeps the mist in a bag and the primer by the shower, and her whole routine fits on one shelf. That is how I would shop this group: one scent, one tool for tangles and one finishing spray, then stop. For more on scented hair products, hair perfume as fine fragrance rebuilt for hair is worth a read.

My amika shelf would be Perk Up for the in-between days, The Protector pair for color, a Soulfood mask once a week and The Wizard for tangles. I would keep the mist for last. What I like about the brand is how consistent the story is: friends from Brooklyn, a salon background and one scent you can recognize from across a room.

If you want to keep going, Leonor Greyl Paris Hair Care and OUAI Hair Care and Fragrance pair well with this edit.