I Tried Abbey Yung's 11-Step Hair Method For Less Than $80 And My Hair Has Never Looked Better

If you’ve ever fallen down a haircare rabbit hole on YouTube or Instagram, you’ve probably come across Abbey's smooth, shiny blowouts and insanely detailed product breakdowns. Her YouTube channel is full of deep dives, reviews, and tutorials, and her Amazon storefront makes it easy to find everything she actually uses.

I’ve always struggled to figure out the right order to apply hair products, especially with my coarse, thick, somewhat wavy, color-treated hair. One product alone has never done the trick for me, and no matter how many serums or sprays I tried, my hair never had that "sleek" look.

So, I decided to try the full 11-step routine Abbey recommends, drugstore dupes and all, and see what it would do. I pulled it off for under $80, and I've found that my hair is smoother, shinier, and I can go much longer between washes. Abbey frequently shares all of her go-to product picks for each step of her routine, including some high-end favorites, but I personally stuck to the most affordable options, because let’s be honest, with 11 steps, I wanted the most bang for my buck.

Let’s break it down, step by step.

Evie's product selections are curated by the editorial team. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely love.

Step 1: Pre-Shampoo Bond Repair Treatment

Goal: Strengthen & repair hair before cleansing

Abbey's Affordable Pick: L’Oréal EverPure Bond Repair Treatment – $9.97

Apply at least 10 minutes before washing, once or twice a week, to improve elasticity and reduce breakage. And a but important note on bond repair products: Abbey loves a bond‑building routine, but she's also clear that these products aren't for everyone. These are best for those with chemically treated, heat‑damaged, or fragile hair. As she explains in this video, adding a bond repair treatment will likely have some benefits (especially if you ever plan to color your hair or use heat styling more frequently), but if you don't love how the treatment makes your hair feel, just skip it.

Step 2: Pre-Shampoo Oil Treatment (Optional)

Goal: Hydrate and detangle pre-wash

Abbey's Affordable Pick: OGX Coconut Miracle Oil – $7.48

Apply oil generously to mid-lengths and ends 20+ minutes before washing, but skip this step on days you use a post-wash bond treatment (see Step 7). Notably, Abbey doesn't put oil on her scalp. She says if you have a very dry or flaky scalp, oil could help, but otherwise it's not necessary. You can get her more detailed thoughts on using hair oils here.

Step 3: Clarifying Shampoo

Goal: Reset scalp and remove buildup

Abbey's Affordable Pick: Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Shampoo – $3.97

This is like your reset button to clear the buildup and let your products absorb better. It's probably only needed once a week unless your hair is very oily.

Step 4: Non-Clarifying Shampoo

Goal: Gently cleanse between your clarifying days

Abbey's Affordable Pick: Garnier Hair Filler Shampoo – $6.97

This affordable, protein-rich shampoo supports bond repair and can be used as frequently as your hair needs it. If you deal with scalp issues, Abbey also recommends rotating in a medicated shampoo like Head & Shoulders.

Step 5: In-Shower Bond Repair Treatment

Goal: After shampooing, deeply repair and fortify strands

Abbey's Affordable Pick: OGX Bond Protein Repair – $6.97

Apply post-shampoo, once a week.

Step 6: Conditioning (Pick 1–2 Per Wash)

After shampooing and repairing bonds, choose a conditioning product for hydration every time you wash your hair

Gloss: L’Oréal Elvive Wonder Water – $10.97

Conditioner: Dove Bond Strength Conditioner – $5 at Target & Walmart

Mask: Pantene Miracle Rescue Mask – $10.32

Budget Tip: Pick 2 of these to combine or have on rotation. Abbey says that if your hair is particularly dry, feel free to use both products during the same shower, like gloss + conditioner.

Step 7: Post-Wash Bond Repair (Optional)

You can skip this step to stay under budget since bond repair has already been covered in Step 5, but depending on your hair's needs (if it's particularly damaged or if you're frequently using heat and styling tools), Abbey's recommendation from Living Proof could be worth the $42 splurge.

If you do choose to use it, she recommends only using it once or twice a week after washing and towel-drying your hair, then waiting 10 minutes before you apply any other products.

Step 8: Leave-In + Heat Protectant

Goal: Detangle and shield from heat

Abbey's Affordable Pick: Tresemmé Protecting Heat Spray – $6.99 at Target & Walmart

A tried-and-true classic that gets the job done for cheap. Apply liberally after every wash if you're blow-drying or using hot tools.

Step 9: Styling Products (Optional)

Goal: Add volume, texture, or hold

Abbey's Affordable Pick: Tresemmé Dry Texture Spray – $6.99

Note, though, that this step is completely optional and depends on your specific hair needs.

Step 10: Style Sealers

To lock everything in and add smoothness and shine

Abbey's Affordable Pick: Dove Intensive Repair 10 in 1 Serum – $9.29

Use this as your final step to seal everything in.

Step 11: Between-Wash Care (Optional)

Use Abbey's recs only as needed between washes:

When your hair feels dry or tangled, use a Conditioning Oil: Use your leftover OGX Coconut Miracle Oil from Step 2

When your hair feels greasy, use a Dry Shampoo: Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak – $5.00

If you're using hot styling tools between washes, use a Heat Protectant: Moroccan Oil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant – $32.00

Abbey's method might look intimidating, but whether you follow all 11 steps or just the essentials, you’re building a routine backed by science and strategy. What I love most is that you can tailor it to your hair’s specific needs, skip steps when you’re short on time, and still see results.