We Asked a Hollywood A-List Hairstylist Some of His Top Hair Tips and Tricks
Sadaf Razi is Adore Beauty's Senior Beauty Editor.
She's a former fashion editor (who worked at various glossy mags) and stylist-turned digital beauty and lifestyle writer. She has been in the lifestyle/media industry for over 10 years and her work has also been featured on international covers like Elle France and Vanity Fair Mexico.
Some of her fave Adore Beauty products include Cicaplast B5, CeraVe Cleansing Oil and Lancôme Renergie Triple Serum.
When you’re offered the chance to ask a celebrity hairstylist who has styled the manes of celebrities like Jennifer Garner, Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron their expert hair tips, you jump at the chance.
So when red carpet hairstylist and Creative Director at Virtue Labs Adir Abergel recently visited Australia, we seized the moment to ask all our burning hair questions.
From the go-to Virtue products behind Jennifer Garner’s impossibly bouncy locks to the top hair tips and tricks he’s learned throughout his career.
And as a fan of Virtue haircare myself, I couldn’t resist asking for his ultimate product recommendations—because if it’s good enough for Hollywood’s finest, then you best believe I want it in my strands too.
Some of your celebrity clients include Jennifer Garner, Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart, Reese Witherspoon and Charlize Theron (to name a few) and now you’re the creative director of Virtue Labs.
Why this brand? What makes Virtue so special?
AA: Virtue is truly revolutionary in the haircare industry.
It is the first and only biotech hair care company to reverse damage using our proprietary Alpha Keratin 60ku®, a reparative protein that’s 100% bio-identical to the keratin that makes up our hair.
It is clinically proven to repair damage and strengthen all hair types and textures by restoring each individual strand to its most resilient, healthiest state. As a result, hair is softer, shinier, hydrated, and more manageable, as well as less prone to breakage.
It's humbling for me to create products that I know will deliver on what they promise and give people healthier hair.
Jennifer Garner’s hair is the epitome of healthy, glossy perfection. How do you achieve and maintain her signature shine and bouncy volume?
AA: Healthy hair is something that you have to keep working on especially for Jennifer who is constantly using heat when shooting her films and campaigns.
Healthy hair starts with a daily routine and Jen alternates between Virtue Full Shampoo & Conditioner and Virtue Flourish products.
She also does a weekly mask to insure extra hydration.
Recently, we launched Damage Reverse Serum which is our most powerful hair healer and Jen uses it daily before she styles her hair.
Regular haircuts are a must, and I tell all my clients to try and air-dry their hair as much as possible before they start their blowouts.
Seasonal shifts and colour treatments can take a toll on hair, making it tricky to maintain that fresh, healthy look year-round. What are your top expert tips and must-have products for keeping hair strong, nourished, and vibrant through every change?
AA: I recommend doing a weekly hair mask no matter the season.
In the winter, hair can get very dry from temperature changes. Being cold outside and then going into heated rooms can affect the quality of your hair.
If you blow dry and colour your hair like so many of us do, I recommend sleeping on a silk pillowcase. It has so many hair benefits.
Keeping hair healthy is also about using the right products for your texture because everyone’s hair is different. For example, if you have fine hair that gets oily you may have to wash your hair daily and you may have to use conditioner from mid shaft to ends.
If your hair is dry with texture, you might have to wash your hair twice a week and use a conditioner closer to the roots because you don’t produce enough natural oils.
Most people have a combination of both and should probably shampoo three times a week and use a conditioner from mid shaft to ends so you don’t weigh down the hair.
Best way to shampoo your hair?
AA: I like to emulsify first in my hands and then apply.
With years of experience working with some of the most famous manes in the industry, you’ve undoubtedly picked up a wealth of knowledge. What are three hair tips or game-changing hacks you swear by for maintaining healthy strands?
AA:
1. Always keep a pin nearby! You never know when you can use it to throw up your hair!
2. Use paper towels to squeeze the moisture out of the hair before starting a style and use a blow dryer on medium heat rather than high heat to minimise damage.
3. Make time for regular hair masks. My favourite is VIRTUE's Restorative Treatment Mask and in just three minutes in the shower it will completely transform your hair.
Hair trends evolve constantly—what’s one classic styling technique you think will never go out of style, and what’s an emerging trend that excites you right now?
AA: The classic bob!
It’s a style that’s always evolving from Louise Brooks bob in the 1920’s to the French girl cool bob that is being reinvented as a major trend in 2025.
There are so many variations that will keep this classic look in a timeless style forever.
A favourite hack that everyone should know is how to build a little bit of volume to the front parts of your hair because movement makes hair feel sexier.
The trend that I’m most excited for is the fearlessness factor...
As I travel around the world and look around the streets I’ve seen the younger generation not being afraid to play with the placement of colour to accentuate their haircuts.
What’s one piece of hairstyling advice or technique you wish everyone knew—something that could make a big difference in their daily routine?
AA: If you're short on time, just do the top sections of your hair.
A good hair day can have an impact on how you feel overall.
When your hair looks shiny and fresh, it can make your whole vibe feel more polished.
Five minutes of styling and you will a huge difference in the glow, not only in your hair, but also in your skin because when your hair is shiny, your skin looks more youthful too.
What are your top 3 Virtue products and why?
1. VIRTUE Restorative Treatment Mask 150ml- To rehab, restore, and hydrate hair. I recommend all my clients use it especially before a red-carpet event. It’s like no other mask on the market.
2. VIRTUE Recovery Shampoo 60ml and VIRTUE Recovery Conditioner 200ml - This is one of our most powerful duos and a fan favourite! It deposits our bio-identical protein, Alpha Keratin 60ku®, directly onto the hair to fill in cracks in the cuticle. With each use, the protein repairs strands distressed by the daily damage of heat, environmental aggressors, and styling, as well as chemicals and colour treatments.
3. VIRTUE Healing Oil 50ml - I use it for every single style I create either as a foundation product when hair is damp or as a beautiful finisher on dry hair. It has an extremely lightweight, non-greasy formula that completely melts into hair for a reflective, healthy finish. Plus the scent is amazing!
Finally, reflecting on your journey, from assisting legendary stylist Arthur Johns to becoming a leading figure in the beauty industry, what advice would you offer to aspiring hairstylists aiming to make their mark today?
AA: Being successful is not something that happens overnight; you have to show up daily, be prepared, know your references, and always have a great attitude.
It's incredibly important to give love, to connect, and to be present with every single person because everyone has a road to getting somewhere. And don’t underestimate the power of mentorship in your journey.
Read more on some of our Virtue haircare faves below:
