25 must-have hair products that made the cut in the GLAMOUR Beauty Power List Awards 2023
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Our hair is strongly connected to positive self-esteem. And yet we put our strands through a lot – which is precisely why the hair products we reach for need to help counteract any damage from colour, heat styling and general wear and tear.
Whether you want to add shine, volume or bounce, you can guarantee that there’ll be any number of shampoos, serums and treatments up for the job. But finding ‘the one’ for your specific hair type and concern isn’t always easy and the search for the best haircare products can be slow and expensive.
That’s where the GLAMOUR Beauty Power List Awards 2023 come in. With 25 hair product categories and a shortlist that has been curated by some of the biggest names in the industry – think iconic hairstylist Sam McKnight, celebrity favourite Dimitris Giannetos and multidisciplinary creative Mikai McDermott – you know the winners are going to be nothing short of life changing.
From the everyday essentials to once-weekly hero treatments and new-gen bond builders, scroll down to discover the haircare formulas that are so consistently good, they got your vote…
Best shampoo & conditioner for colour-treated hair
It’s not surprising to learn that Olaplex, the science-backed brand that repairs broken bonds caused by bleach, comes out on top for colour-treated hair. With its patented molecule, this mane-changing duo is a clear winner for strengthening strands and bathing hair in moisture for more vibrant, longer-lasting colour.
Shortlist:
Redken Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo, £20.90, & Conditioner, £23
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo & Conditioner, £45.70
Provoke Blonde Rehab Bond Repair Strengthening Shampoo No2, £5 & No3 Conditioner, £5
Best shampoo & conditioner for curly hair
This power couple from Shea Moisture deeply cleans and moisturises hair with a kind-to-curls formula that is loaded with certified organic and natural ingredients, such as coconut oil, silk protein and neem oil. Curls look bouncier after use and hair feels softer – double tick!
Shortlist:
Aveda Be Curly Shampoo, £21.50 & Conditioner, £25.50
Pattern Cleansing Shampoo, £20 & Medium Conditioner, £25
Bouclème Curl Cleanser, £17 & Curl Conditioner, £19
Best shampoo & conditioner for fine hair
Give fine hair plenty of oomph with Kérastase’s Volumifique range. The creamy shampoo adds airy volume at the root, making hair appear fuller and thicker. Follow with the Gelée conditioner that locks in moisture and boosts shine without weighing wispy strands down.
Shortlist:
Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo & Conditioner, £44
L’Oréal Elvive Hydra Moisture Boosting Shampoo With Hyaluronic Acid, £7 & Hydra 8 Second Wonder Water, £11.99
Philip Kingsley Body Building Weightless Shampoo, £24 & Conditioner, £24
Best shampoo & conditioner for thick hair
If you have thick hair, you’ll know that hair wash day is a big event. To make it less of a chore and more enjoyable, invest in this creamy gel shampoo from Kérastase, which lightly lathers up to clean hair while boosting moisture. Pair with the conditioner for seriously silky results.
Shortlist:
Ouai Thick Hair Shampoo & Conditioner, £44
Function Of Beauty Wavy Hair Shampoo & Conditioner, £24
Davines OI Shampoo, £22.75 & Conditioner, £23.75
Best shampoo & conditioner for dry/damaged hair
Olaplex wins again with its beloved shampoo and conditioner that together hydrate and strengthen strands while repairing shattered bonds with its clever patented bond-building technology. A winning combo for dry and damaged hair, this dream duo delivers real results.
Shortlist:
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo & Conditioner, £48.20
Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner, £66
Virtue Recovery Shampoo, £38 & Conditioner, £40
Best shampoo & conditioner for Afro hair
This luxe shampoo removes product build-up without stripping type 3 and type 4 curls of their natural oils, thanks to gentle ingredients like matcha green tea and aloe vera. Combine with the brand’s conditioner to replenish moisture and protect hair from breakage.
Shortlist:
Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo & Conditioner, £26 each
Airfro PHiT Protein Hit Wash n’ Go With Flaxseed & Rice, £20.59
Pantene Gold Series Moisture Boost Shampoo, £5.99 & Conditioner, £5.99
Best leave-in treatment
This 98% naturally derived lightweight leave-in conditioner visibly improves the appearance of damaged hair and split ends with a nourishing formula rich in soy, macadamia oil and quinoa proteins. Oh, and it detangles, too, preventing further damage from trying to work a comb through knots.
Shortlist:
Revlon Professional Equave Instant Detangling Conditioner, £17.20
Act + Acre Cold Pressed Stem Cell Serum, £76
Andrew Fitzsimons Repair Leave-In Conditioner For Damaged Hair, £11.50
Best hair mask
You only need to try this mask once to understand why it’s a winner – the mane-changing formula deeply hydrates and conditions hair with its rich blend of argan oil, shea butter and raw virgin coconut from Bali. Expect silky-soft, glossy results and hair that smells like holiday.
Shortlist:
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, £30
Wella Professionals Fusion Mask, £19.25
Hair By Sam McKnight Deeper Love Intense Treatment Mask, £22
Best haircare bar
Not all shampoo bars are created equal. Garnier’s choice of three are a cut above the rest, cleansing hair just as well as your regular shampoo with plant-based ingredients that either soften, hydrate or strengthen strands. With zero plastic waste and up to two months’ usage, they’re eco-friendly too.
Shortlist:
Aussie Koality Moisture Solid Shampoo Bar, £9.99
The Afro Hair & Skin Co Nurture Gentle Cleansing Shampoo Bar, £11.95
Aveda Shampure Nurturing Shampoo Bar, £14
Best heat protection
Recommended by pro session stylists, this heat-activated shine-booster from Color Wow seals strands to block out frizz-inducing humidity for silky smooth results that will last until your next wash. To use, mist onto damp hair before blow-drying.
Shortlist:
Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Thermal Protection, £26.85
John Frieda Frizz Ease Heat Defeat Protecting Spray, £6.99
GHD Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray, £18.95
Best dry shampoo
When it comes to dry shampoo, you simply cannot beat this affordable classic from Batiste. Rice starch absorbs oil and bulks up flat roots for refreshed second-, third- and fourth-day hair. Simply shake the bottle and spray onto roots whenever your hair needs a pick-me-up.
Shortlist:
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo, £38
Hair By Sam McKnight Lazy Girl Dry Shampoo, £22
Bouclème Foaming Dry Shampoo, £20
Best smoothing product
Frizzy and unruly hair types need products that add moisture to smooth strands. Our go-to product of choice? Moroccanoil’s Smoothing Lotion, which is jam-packed with moisturising ingredients, including argan oil, vitamin E and essential fatty acids. A two-in-one, it also protects hair from humidity.
Shortlist:
Color Wow Pop & Lock High Gloss Shellac, £19.50
John Frieda Frizz Ease All-In-1 Original Serum, £7.99
Davines OI All In One Milk, £23.50
Best shine product
A liquid conditioner that transforms hair in just eight seconds? Sign us up! Powered by lamellar technology (essentially a blend of amino acids and proteins that targets damage), this Wonder Water from L’Oréal Paris delivers exceptionally glossy results – which is why it is a GLAMOUR Beauty Power List winner for the third year in a row.
Shortlist:
Color Wow Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray, £26
Glaze Super Gloss Sheer Glow, £16
Best volumiser
Like glowing skin, voluminous hair ranks high on many of our beauty wish lists. Enter Tigi’s thickening spray with its body-boosting formula that adds a lot of root lift and bounce to even the most limp strands. Spray onto damp hair and blow-dry for a fuller-looking mane in an instant.
Shortlist:
Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer, £24
Amika Un.Done Volume And Matte Texture Spray, £26
Larry King My Nanna’s Mousse, £22
Best texturiser
Get year-round tousled beach waves with the OG salt spray from Bumble And Bumble. As the name implies, the winning formula is laced with sea salt to add volume and a sun-dried texture to fine hair. In addition, moisturising seaweed and kelp extracts step in to prevent strands from drying out.
Shortlist:
Charles Worthington Thicker & Fuller Texture Spray, £8.99
Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist, £27
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, £45
Best blow-dry product
One bottle of Color Wow’s Dream Coat Supernatural Spray sells every 12 seconds worldwide – so it’s easy to see why this product has won a second time in these Awards. The clever formula, which is activated by heat, blocks out humidity so there’s no danger of the weather ruining the sleek hairstyle you worked so hard to achieve. Consider this your shortcut to glass-like hair.
Shortlist:
Kérastase Nectar Thermique, £25.50
Redken Big Blowout Heat Protecting Blowout Jelly, £24.70
Best hair oil
Moroccanoil is a regular fixture in many of our haircare routines, whether as a styling product or an intensive hair-healing treatment. But if the original feels too heavy, turn your head to the Moroccanoil Treatment Light. The featherweight formula absorbs quickly, nourishing hair with its argan oil blend to detangle, restore shine and hydrate.
Shortlist:
Indē Wild Champi Hair Oil, £29
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil, £35
Best curl cream
Looking for a product that defines curls but with zero crunch? Meet Ouai’s Curl Crème. The luxe formula, which is silicone free, combines linseed and chia seed with coconut oil and babassu oil to soften strands and shape curls without weighing them down.
Shortlist:
Only Curls Hydrating Curl Creme, £16
Camille Rose Curl Maker, £16.99
Best hair gel
This standout hair gel from Schwarzkopf is a brilliant all-rounder that can be used to tame flyaways, smooth baby hairs and lay edges. Offering maximum hold, your style will stay put all day (and night) – no flakes, no stickiness and no residue.
Shortlist:
L’Oréal Paris Studio Line Invisi’Hold Extra Strength Gel, £3.75
Eco Style Olive Oil Professional Styling Gel, £3.99
Aunt Jackie’s Don’t Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel, £9.19
Best edge control
Famous on TikTok, Schwarzkopf’s Got2Be wand brushes brows into place for a feathered, laminated look that seriously will not budge. Its incredible staying power also makes this invisible gel a winner for shaping and laying edges. A true multitasker.
Shortlist:
RedOne Cobra Aqua Hair Wax Full Force, £3.54
Best hairspray
When it comes to hairspray, in L’Oréal Paris we trust. Holding styles since 1960, when Elnett was born, the brand has gone on to develop many more iconic formulas, including this extra-strength iteration that offers next-level hold with zero stiffness, stickiness or scent.
Shortlist:
Schwarzkopf Got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Hairspray, £5.50
Oribe Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray, £45
TreSemmé Firm Hold Hairspray, £5.99
Best at-home permanent hair dye
Colouring hair at home can be nerve-wracking, which is why you need a good-quality dye for a next-to-natural finish. Enter L’Oréal Paris Préférence Permanent Haircolour. Available in over 20 shades, the pigment-rich hair dye delivers full coverage and unbeatable shine for salon-worthy results at-home.
Shortlist:
Garnier Nutrisse Crème Deeply Nourishing Permanent Hair Colour, £8
Bleach London No Bleach Bleach, £8
Clairol Nice’n Easy Crème Permanent Natural Looking Colour, £6.89
Best temporary colour product
Keep locks in tip-top shape while you temporarily switch up your look. Moroccanoil’s Color Depositing Mask hits the sweet spot between a salon-style gloss and a deep-conditioning mask that helps to repair frazzled cuticles. Available in an array of on-trend shades, experiment with Bordeaux (a deep crimson brown), Rose Gold (a soft pastel pink) or Platinum (a cool grey).
Shortlist:
Bleach London Super Cool Colour, £6.50
Crazy Color Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream, £5.95
Best scalp product
Formulated with salicylic acid, this Exfoliating Scalp Treatment from Aveda gently sloughs away product build-up, surface pollution and dead skin cells to reveal a healthier, happier scalp that allows hair follicles to breathe. It also has a lovely cooling sensation on contact.
Shortlist:
Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Blend Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil, £8.20
Act + Acre Cold Pressed Scalp Detox, £42
Centred En-Root Scalp Oil, £36
Best bond builder
The take-home treatment that hairstylists rave about, Olaplex’s No3 Hair Perfector became an overnight internet sensation when Kim Kardashian credited it with saving her strands after dyeing her hair platinum blonde. It is powered by the brand’s patented bond-building technology – use as a leave-in, overnight mask on both virgin and coloured hair, or as a 10-minute pre-wash treatment. Expect to be blown away by its transformative results.
Shortlist:
Philip Kingsley Bond Builder Restructuring Treatment, £29
L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Leave-In Serum, £14.99
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, £70
Photographer: Mateusz Sitek
Stylist: Michelle Duguid
Makeup: Marco Antonio
Hair: Craig Marsden
Manicure: Metta Francis
Models: Fallon Havanna @ Select London, Carmen Garitano @ PRM, Isabella Moore @ Milk Management
Beauty Director: Camilla Kay
Design Director: Dennis Lye
Visuals Director: Dalia Nassimi
