Love Is in the Hair: Jonathan Van Ness Spills The Tea On His Top JVN Hair Products

We get curious with Jonathan Van Ness as he talks about his favorite JVN Hair products and pre-wedding hair care tips.
Jonathan Van Ness and three of his hair products from JVN Hair
Photo: Jonathan Van Ness/JVN Hair
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by
Lauren Whalley
lauren whalley headshot
Lauren Whalley
Fashion Editor, Beauty & Inclusivity
  • Lauren writes and edits articles for The Knot Worldwide, with a specialty in fashion, beauty and size inclusivity.
  • Prior to The Knot Worldwide, Lauren worked in wedding editorial for Brides, Style Me Pretty and Enaura Bridal.
  • Lauren studied public relations and advertising at the University of Central Florida.
Updated Jul 24, 2023

Do you ever find yourself watching Netflix's Queer Eye and being utterly captivated by the fabulousness that is Jonathan Van Ness? My hand is raised. I've been a fan of JVN ever since they first graced my television screen with their infectious personality and hair transformation skills that've helped change lives, not only by giving people incredible hair and beauty makeovers but also by teaching them the importance of self-care, confidence and feeling fabulous, honey! So, you can imagine how excited I was to sit down and talk to him about all things wedding hair.

Along with their successes as an Emmy-nominated television personality, comedian, New York Times best-selling author, podcaster and hairstylist, Van Ness launched their hair line, JVN Hair in 2021, filled with products perfect for your pre-wedding and day-of hair care routine. "Really making a luxury haircare line that punches so far above its value was my goal," says Van Ness. "I used to overdraft my checking account to get high-end haircare that, as it turns out, wasn't even that amazing of a formula. I knew we could make better formulas for less money with a degendered inclusive ethos that celebrates all beauty!" Not only does the brand shatter the glass ceiling when it comes to inclusivity, but sustainability is at the top of mind too. "Simultaneously, we have been able to prioritize glass and aluminum packaging to ease our plastic dependence and create a sustainable Hemisqualane out of fermented sugarcane. I'm so proud of what we created."

Being recently wed himself, I tapped into some of Van Ness's favorite hair products and tips for to-be-weds who want to start a pre-wedding hair routine. So be sure to keep reading and pick up our latest Planning issue of The Knot magazine on newsstands now or via subscription at the link below.

Shop JVN's Faves: JVN Hair Products for Wedding-Ready Hair

By embracing your unique beauty and taking care of yourself, you are setting yourself up to embrace a confident and joyful you on your wedding day. JVN's hair products not only perform beautifully but also embody his message of self-care, beauty diversity and loving yourself. "I hope that people feel joyful, grateful, and most importantly, confident in their beauty," says Van Ness.

JVN's products are designed to pamper yourself and encourage us all to celebrate the diversity of our hair and recognize that beauty is showing up as you are. Now, let's get into a few of Van Ness's favorite JVN Hair products:

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1. For Overall Hair Health: JVN Shampoo and Conditioner Collections

Hydrating shampoo from JVN
Photo: Sephora

JVN Hair includes three types of shampoos and conditioners, the one you use depends on your hair type. "We formulate hair goals at JVN," Van Ness says. "If you want bigger hair, Embody would be for you. For softer and smoother hair, try our Nurture collection, and if your hair is breaking or fragile, try the Undamage line. If you have multiple goals in there, you could mix and match."

Price at time of publish: $21 per bottle

2. For Scalp Health: JVN Hair Pre-Wash Scalp Oil

Pre-wash scalp oil from JVN
Photo: Sephora

Scalp care can sometimes be overlooked in hair product lines, but at JVN Hair, it's essential. "Healthy hair starts with the scalp, and the Pre-Wash Scalp Oil creates a healthy and soothed scalp; no flakes or scalp irritation on your wedding day," Van Ness tells me. "It also strengthens hair and promotes hair growth, so if you are trying to get some extra inches for your wedding day, a pre-poo treatment like Pre-Wash Scalp Oil is a huge help to start a few months before the wedding."

Price at time of publish: $29

3. For Body and Fullness: JVN Hair Embody Volumizing Foam

Volumizing foam from JVN
Photo: Sephora

Can you really ever have too much volume? Well, if you're searching for it, JVN Hair has just what you're looking for. "If you want bigger hair on your big day, our foam is amazing," Van Ness tells me. "It uses Marshmallow Root Extract, Biotin, and a plant-based Volumizing Boosting Enhancer to pump up your body and volume."

Price at time of publish: $29

4. For Frizz and Heat Protection: JVN Hair Blowout Styling Milk

Blowout styling milk from JVN
Photo: Sephora

No matter how you style your hair on your wedding day, a heat protector is essential. It's even better when it's a multi-tasker like the Hair Blowout Styling Milk. "If your hair is prone to frizz or doesn't keep its style, this one's for you!" explains Van Ness. "It locks in heat-style memory for 48 hours, so your wedding style won't let you down! It repels frizz and seals in heat style on all hair types. Fine-density hair can use half a pump to one pump; very thick hair density can use two pumps and up."

Price at time of publish: $29

5. For Frizz and Heat Protection: JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Styling Cream

Air dry styling cream from JVN
Photo: Sephora

Frizzy hair? We don't know her. "For your short hair or wavy, curly, coily folks, the Air Dry Cream gives the most beautiful shine, bounce, and touchable hold," Van Ness says. "For any natural hair texture style, Air Dry Cream will bring out the definition, smoothness and bounce in all hair types."

Price at time of publish: $26

JVN on Hair Care and Self-Care Before Your Wedding

How can we uplift soon-to-be-weds who weren't encouraged to be interested in beauty and self-care growing up because of their gender?

"We need to decouple beauty and self-care from our socially constructed "gender binary." Many women do not care about traditional beauty, and many men do. It's more important to understand that beauty and self-care can be related to volunteering, therapy, yoga, walking, or anything else that is beauty-related. We are all interested in beauty and self-care, whether we were encouraged to or not."

What tips do you have for couples who want to kickstart their pre-wedding hair routine?

"Pre-Wash Scalp Oil is a great way to improve the scalp and overall hair quality. Also, set aside time to understand how to work with your hair a year or so before your big day so you can explore your hair's range and potential options for the big day."

What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to embrace their natural hair texture?

"We can always achieve different textures through styling, but how well they maintain is the question; typically, the closer you style your hair to its natural state, the longer the style will last. If that's important to you, keep experimenting to find different ways to wear your natural hair. It's a journey for anyone learning their natural hair, trial and error is definitely a part of it."

What are your favorite wedding hairstyle trends at the moment?

"I always love timeless style," says Van Ness. "Especially for wedding hair, which, when done trend-forward, can look very dated very fast. Really, when deciding on a hairstyle, it should be about what looks best on my hair and what will align with my vision and wardrobe choices, not trends. Also, be mindful of hair color, especially for long hair. It can take a few months to perfect something, or even longer to grow out your natural color, so be mindful of timing."

Do you have a "secret" hair care tip you can share with us?

"Sleeping with your hair up on top of your head in a silk scrunchie and no tension on your hairlines will make your hair less tangly and more manageable."

You are an incredible advocate for self-care, and, as we all know, planning a wedding can be stressful. How can couples practice self-care leading up to the big day?

"Make sure to schedule your downtime. Relaxing and self-care can fall by the wayside anyway, but especially when busy. Weekends or nights can be a good time to say no to extra social events so you can center yourself more."

Where to Buy JVN Hair Products

JVN Hair can be purchased at JVNHair.com or exclusively at Sephora. So, why not treat yourself? Each time you reach for one of these products, you'll be reminded of the importance of self-care and embracing your own unique beauty, whether you're prepping for your wedding day or every day. Because, as JVN would say, "You are strong, you're a Kelly Clarkson song; you got this!"

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