Jennifer Garner, 51, Shares Her Routine for Healthy Hair
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It’s hard to come across a hair trend these days whose origins can’t be traced back to social media. If you are among the many who are feeling that viral beauty fatigue, actor Jennifer Garner has the answer: Go retro.
“I really loved the look of hair in the ’40s,” Garner tells Bazaar. "[The '40s] was such a rich time in beauty, if you think about a deep matte red lip and the big, cool finger curls. Let’s bring that back.”
The actor has stayed true to her roots when it comes to styling her hair over the years—for the most part. Known for her signature brunette shade with subtle blonde highlights and medium-to-long hair, she stunned many by changing it up with what has now become the hottest haircut of 2023: the bob.
“I thought that I was being original, chopping all my hair off. Then I looked around and realized we were all doing it at the same time,” she says, laughing. “I think I did fall prey to a trend, but that’s okay. It was fun to do, and it was fun to see my colleagues out in the world with their short hair.”
Above all else, she is laser-focused on keeping her hair healthy. As an ambassador for hair care brand Virtue, Garner praises the products’ efficacy and says the partnership has been a natural fit from the get-go. (She even gifts samples often to friends and family to convert them to fans. The verdict: Everyone loves them and wants more). With the brand’s newest launch, the ColorKick Illuminating Mask, she has found the secret to keeping her colored hair nourished—and if you also dye, she knows you’ll love it too.
Here, Bazaar catches up with the actor to talk about how she is using the new hair mask, her must-haves for her beauty and cooking routines, and the beauty advice she hopes to pass on to her daughters.
How do you normally take care of your hair? What’s your everyday hair routine like?
I almost never touch a blow-dryer on my own—truly, almost never. Then you really just need to have the healthiest hair possible. If your hair is healthy, it’ll be shiny, it’ll have volume, it’ll be buoyant. It’ll be all kinds of things. So that’s why Virtue has just always been the easiest, most natural fit for me. Because just alone, the shampoo and conditioner give your hair a whole new vibrancy.
Other than Virtue’s shampoo and conditioner, what else are go-to hair products?
Virtue’s newest launch, the ColorKick Illuminating Mask, has been the key for keeping my hair healthy. I swim for exercise, so my color is not getting harmed by the chlorine, saline, and whatever else is in the pool when I mask. All of a sudden, my hair is less brassy and it is responding differently. It still has the brand’s hero ingredient, Alpha Keratin 60ku, so it’s still healing your hair, which anyone who’s had their hair colored knows is important. It also has things like rice protein, sunflower sprout extract, tara tree fruit extract to help [protect hair] from color distorting and fading, and drying effects of the sun. It also has shea butter, moringa seed, jojoba oil, and sunflower seed wax to nourish and restore hydration.
ColorKick Extended Vibrancy Duo
virtuelabs.com
$91.00
How would you advise someone to use the new mask?
With Virtue’s masks, they work really quickly; it happens as you’re putting it in. It’s already coating your hair as you’re putting it on, so it’s not something you have to stress about. But every now and then, I like to put it on and then get out of the shower, cut my nails, file them, do something, do a mask, do all my face, do something, and then get back in the shower and rinse it all off. You really can just feel how soft and strong your hair is when you’ve done that multitasking.
What’s your biggest hair regret?
I have definitely had regrettable moments on the red carpet. When I was younger especially, I didn’t insert myself and say, “Hang on a second, it just doesn’t feel like me.” I think because I grew up the way I did, it doesn’t take much to make me feel like on a red carpet that I am in a costume. So I’ve never been able to wear something super avant-garde or super, even, asymmetrical.
I was so lucky and was given a star on the Walk of Fame. My hair is in a low bun on one side, and it looks great; it was a great hairstyle. I think it was Renato [Campora], and he did a wonderful job. It just wasn’t me. So I see those pictures and I always just feel like, Oh man, I wish I looked like myself on such a day where I had my whole family with me, and things like that.
What about skin and makeup? How have those routines changed for you over the years?
I am so lucky because I’ve worked for Neutrogena for about 17 years or something—a really long time. So I get to talk to them and learn what is really effective for skin. I know that at my age, it’s hyaluronic acid, it’s retinol, it’s vitamin C. So it’s a combination of those things that I really use. I really use the retinol serum and the retinol eye cream, or I’ll use the hyaluronic acid. And I trade off, because you don’t want to use retinol every night.
Makeup-wise, there are a few things I really love. I really love the Westman Atelier Vital Foundation Stick. There’s so few things that I use and run out of and buy again, just because I don’t really pay that much attention. I have my Virtue and my Neutrogena, but otherwise, it’s whatever [product a makeup artist] has left at my house. But in this case, I really do love that foundation stick.
Switching over to your love of cooking, what is the most important staple in your kitchen?
Well, I have a couple of things that I cannot live without. One of them is this basic olive oil cruet thing that I’ve had from Williams Sonoma forever—I can’t imagine a kitchen without it. You know how you know something so well that you know exactly how much to pour? We love it. Then Reese [Witherspoon] gave me a salt egg; it’s a little egg that you put your Diamond Crystal salt in. It’s traveled with me everywhere. I love it so much and I cannot imagine my kitchen without that salt egg; it is my favorite thing.
What’s your go-to snack for when you have no time to prep anything?
An apple and peanut butter is my favorite go-to snack. My favorite quick meal if I’ve thought ahead (and you have to have thought ahead) is when I’ve marinated some fresh ahi tuna and brown rice.
What do you hope to teach your children—especially your daughters—about beauty?
I love that they look in the mirror and like who they are—that is the most beautiful. The most beautiful thing you can have is a smile on your face, and being willing to smile at strangers is pretty much the happiest thing you can do. So I always just encourage all of my kids, “Look less in the mirror and look more at other people.”
What’s the best piece of beauty advice you’ve ever gotten?
My favorite quote came from dermatologist Doris Day, who I worked with once for Neutrogena. She said, “Nothing looks better in your 50s than sunscreen in your 20s.” Or 30s. Or 40s—you just have to wear sunscreen. So the best advice would be to wear sunscreen, don’t smoke, and smile at people.
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