30 must-have hair products that made the cut in the GLAMOUR Beauty Power List Awards 2022
When it comes to hair products, this is one category where it feels like there is SO much choice. There is a tool, shampoo, treatment, mask, and brush for everything. And unlike skincare, it can be difficult to know whether you’re getting the best results, and sometimes even what results you’re looking for.
That’s where the GLAMOUR Beauty Power List Awards 2022 come in. With 30 hair product categories and a shortlist that already has the seal of approval from our expert panel, such as award-winning hairstylist Charlotte Mensah, and beauty entrepreneur Winnie Awa, you know the winners are going to be worth the buy.
Introducing the winning (and shortlisted) best-in-class hair products – from essentials such as dry shampoo and curl cream, to special treatments such as scalp serum and at-home glosses, you’re sure to find some haircare gems in this epic list…
We asked, our panel nominated, you voted and now we’ve awarded. Check out the rest of the GLAMOUR Beauty Power List Award Winners 2022.
Best hair dryer
The Dyson Supersonic continues to be unmatched. It dries hair in no time, is sleek and ergonomic in design and is incredibly quiet. It’s not just a fantastic hair dryer, though, it also has attachments to solve all of your hair-styling woes. The dryer comes with a diffuser, flyaway attachment, styling concentrator, gentle air attachment, and wide-tooth comb fitting – all housed in a sleek case.
Shortlist:
Best hot brush
Dyson wins your vote on tech yet again, thanks to the innovative attachments on this multi-styler. One of the favourites (earning it a top spot in this category) is the hot brush fitting. Designed to expertly smooth frizz-prone hair, it evenly distributes hot air flow to minimise damage.
Shortlist:
Best hair straightener
GHD Platinum+ Hair Straightener, £219
Like to play it straight? GHD’s first smart styler allows you to get maximum styling power with as little heat and colour damage as possible. The plates glide through hair without any horrible snagging, allowing you to create waves as well as straightening your lengths. Plus, it comes in four cute colours.
Shortlist:
Best hair curlers
Babyliss 9000 Cordless Curling Tong, £180
Curling on the go just got easier and fancier. This cordless tong allows you to create red carpet-worthy curls whether you’re at home, on the bus or at your desk, thanks to its smart cordless technology and heat-protective case.
Shortlist:
Best shampoo & conditioner for colour-treated hair
Olaplex No4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, £28 & No5 Conditioner, £28
It makes sense that, for colour-treated hair, Olaplex comes out on top. After all, the technology was designed to make blondes brighter, brunettes richer and other shades more vibrant. It works by repairing the bonds in the hair using its patented ingredient (get ready for the scientific mouthful) Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate. The result is less-damaged and ultimately healthy looking hair and colour.
Shortlist:
Davines Nounou Shampoo, £19.50 & Conditioner, £21
Bleach London Pearlescent Shampoo, £6.25 & Conditioner, £6.25
Best shampoo & conditioner for curly hair
Aveda Nutriplenish Deep Moisture Shampoo, £22, and Conditioner, £25.20
This shampoo and conditioner set’s ability to deeply hydrate the hair makes it a winner for people with curly hair. The inclusion of ingredients such as pomegranate oil, coconut oil and mango butter make it a nourishing treat for the hair.
Shortlist:
Trepadora Curl Therapy Goji Berry Mint Reviving Hair Rinse, £10 & Quinoa Repair Deep Conditioner, £25
Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo, £24 & Conditioner, £24
Best shampoo & conditioner for fine hair
Kérastase Volumifique Bain Volume Shampoo, £19.35 & Gelée Volume Thickening Effect Gel Treatment, £26.75
Kérastase always comes through, especially for the fine haired among us. The formula leaves hair feeling featherlight, creates a visible thickening effect and gives instant volume. The conditioner hydrates the hair from lengths to ends without feeling heavy or weighed-down.
Shortlist:
L'Oréal Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic Moisture Boosting Shampoo, £5.99 & Moisture Locking Conditioner, £5.99
Garnier Ultimate Blends Moisturising Hair Food Aloe Vera & Coconut Shampoo, £6 & Conditioner, £6.99
Best shampoo & conditioner for thick hair
Ouai Thick Hair Shampoo, £24 & Conditioner, £24
Every wash and styling session can feel like a mission if you have thick hair, but Ouai makes light work of it with these shampoo and conditioner award-winners. They nourish hair while getting rid of product build-up with ease and never dry out lengths.
Shortlist:
As I Am Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo, £11.95 & Conditioner, £11.95
Camille Rose Sweet Ginger Cleansing Rinse, £10.95 & Moroccan Pear Conditioning Custard, £14.15
Best shampoo & conditioner for dry/damaged hair
Olaplex No4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, £28 & No5 Conditioner, £28
When it’s a double winner, you know it’s good! Due to the smart patented-bonding science, Olaplex is a first-class treatment for treating dry and damaged hair, especially when the shampoo, conditioner and mask are used as a system. What’s more, the formulas are vegan and cruelty-free, too.
Shortlist:
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo, £33 & Conditioner, £33
Nylah Strength & Shine Shampoo Cream, £15.68 & Super Botanicals Conditioner, £15.68
Best shampoo & conditioner for Afro hair
Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Shampoo, £25.95 & Conditioner, £27
This Aveda shampoo and conditioner set does exactly what it promises – remedies even the driest of hair stands. Formulated with buriti oil, pomegranate and palm-derived conditioners, you can count on it to deeply nourish your hair. Plus, it smells incredible too.
Shortlist:
Afrocenchix Swish Sulphate-Free Shampoo, £16 & Swirl Silicone-Free Conditioner, £16
Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo, £16.80 & Conditioner, £18.20
KeraCare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo, £5.25 & Detangling Conditioning Mist, £7.50
Best co-wash
As I Am Coconut CoWash, £11.99
There’s a reason this co-wash is so highly rated by its users – it cleanses, but never strips; deeply nourishes, but never weighs hair down. This cleansing cream gently removes build-up from your scalp, but leaves ends feeling hydrated and lightweight.
Shortlist:
Briogeo Be Gentle, Be Kind Avocado + Quinoa Co-Wash, £27
Best leave-in treatment
Moroccanoil All In One Leave-In Conditioner, £23.95
If you often find yourself getting a little lazy about your haircare routine, but still want to use products to help care for it, then an all-in-one is where it’s at. The Moroccanoil All In One Leave-In Conditioner is easy to use, protects against thermal damage, hydrates hair, and it smells absolutely dreamy!
Shortlist:
Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair, £23.20
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioning Spray, £22.50
Best mask
Olaplex No8 Bond Intense Moisture Mask, £28
A reparative mask like no other! This weekly treatment will leave hair feeling healthy, shiny and moisturised. Say goodbye to damage, frizz-prone and broken hair. This highly concentrated mask works by using the brand’s patented bond builder to repair extreme damage within the hair strands.
Shortlist:
Aveda Botanical Repair Intensive Strengthening Masque: Rich, £36
Best haircare bar
Garnier Ultimate Blends Shampoo Bar, £7.99
Leave behind every preconception you have about haircare bars, because this one is different. Nothing about this will make your hair feel dry or not-quite-fully clean. It lathers well, cleans hair just as well as your regular shampoo and is packed full of hydrating ingredients. But, the best part is that it contains zero plastic, lasts up to two months and is 100% vegan.
Shortlist:
WeDo/Professional No Plastic Shampoo Moisture & Shine Bar for Normal or Damaged Hair, £10.47
Ethique The Guardian Conditioner, £12.99
The Afro Hair & Skin Co Nurture Gentle Cleansing Shampoo Bar, £11.95
Best heat/UV protection
TreSemmé Heat Defence Care & Protect Spray, £5.99
If you’re a fan of heat styling, defence spray is one of the most important steps in your haircare routine. This one is loved for its ability to get the job done really well and leaves hair smelling nice – all at a decent price.
Shortlist:
Bumble And Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer, £27
Best dry shampoo
Batiste Dry Shampoo Original, £3.25
When it comes to dry shampoo, it seems you can’t beat the affordable classic, Batiste. It expertly leaves roots feeling and looking fresh with just a few spritzes.
Shortlist:
Klorane Dry Shampoo With Oat Milk, £9.99
Best smoothing product
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, £26
This product really lives up to its ‘supernatural’ name, thanks to its abilities to smooth frizz and add incredible shine. If a salon-worthy blow-dry at home is what you’re looking for, this product truly delivers, earning it top spot in the smoothing product category.
Shortlist:
John Frieda Frizz Ease All-In-1 Original Serum, £7.99
Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In Conditioning Spray, £22.50
Best shine product
L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths 8 Second Wonder Water, £9.99
A viral hit on TikTok, this Wonder Water made many of us rethink everything we knew about conditioning treatments. Using Lamellar Water Technology, this water treatment has the ability to add amazing shine in just eight seconds, which is why it’s a GLAMOUR Beauty Power List winner for the second year in a row.
Shortlist:
Color Wow Extra Mist-ical Shine Spray, £26
Best volumiser
Color Wow Raise The Root Thicken + Lift Spray, £19.50
If you’ve got flat hair, then you’ll know the struggle of adding volume to your roots all too well. These products made it a doddle – especially this root spray. Simply spritz into dry or damp hair, style as usual and marvel at the root bounce.
Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray, £25.20
Best texturiser
This is a great all-rounder texture spray, whether you’re looking to add a little more oomph to your tonged curls or just add some movement. Unlike a lot of texture sprays, this one doesn’t give any of the crunchy feeling.
Shortlist:
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray, £45
Larry King Velvet Texture Clay, £22
Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist, £25
Best blow-dry cream
Bumble And Bumble All-Style Blow Dry, £27
This blow-dry cream has it all: protects from heat damage, makes styles last longer, gives shine and reduces frizz. What more could you want? Judging by your votes, not much!
Shortlist:
Shu Uemura Netsu Design Blow Dry Cream, £24.69
Best hair oil
Kérastase Elixir Ultime L’Huile Originale, £38
It’s not an iconic hair oil for nothing, this Kérastase number is unlike any other. It hydrates curls without weighing them down, adds shine without looking greasy, and smells amazing without being overpowering. Plus, the bottle lasts forever.
Shortlist:
Bread Hair-Oil Everyday Gloss, £22
Best curl cream
Aveda Nutriplenish Daily Moisturizing Treatment, £31.50
This Aveda treatment is a favourite because of its ability to deeply nourish strands, define curls and reduce split ends. Curly and Afro hair will drink up the botanical oil-packed formula.
Shortlist:
Best hair gel
Schwarzkopf Got2b Glued Water Resistant Spiking Glue, £5
Loved for being a reliable multi-styling product that can hold various styles all day long. Although it has incredible staying power, the gel does wash out easily, so you don’t need to worry about shampooing multiple times to remove it.
Shortlist:
Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Soufflé, £23
Best edge control
Schwarzkopf Got2b Glued 4 Brows & Edges, £5
Known for its epic staying power and ability to lay edges, keep brows in check and smooth out flyaways, it’s fast become a favourite among beauty enthusiasts. Finally you don’t need both a toothbrush and gel or a hair spray with this does-it-all product.
Shortlist:
Best hairspray
L’Oréal Paris Elnett Shine Dull Hair Strong Hold Hairspray, £6.70
It’s iconic for a reason! Sometimes you just can’t beat an old favourite – and when it comes to hairspray, that’s definitely the case. This one keeps pretty much any style in its place whilst never feeling overly crunchy or sticky. It also adds a little bit of extra shine to finish off your hair.
Shortlist:
Schwarzkopf Got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Spray, £4.49
Best at-home permanent hair dye
Garnier Nutrisse Deeply Nourishing Permanent Colour, £6.50
When it comes to at-home hair colour, things can go wrong very quickly, which is why you need a product you can count on. This one always comes out on top for being easy to use, having great coverage (even to touch up on those pesky greys), giving a gorgeous shine boost, and coming in a wide variety of shades, so that you get your ideal match every time.
Shortlist:
Josh Wood Colour Permanent Colour, £14
Best temp colour product
Bleach London Super Cool Colour, £6.50
We’ve all had moments of impulse and decided to dye our hair a vibrant hue after seeing it on TikTok or on our favourite celeb. Bleach London makes this creative outlet even easier with its array of 25 semi-permanent shades to choose from — ranging from tangerine dream to green juice.
Shortlist:
Wella Professionals Color Fresh Mask, £15.75
Best gloss
Kérastase Chroma Absolu Soin Acide Chroma Gloss, £36
Glosses are a great way to add oomph to your hair colour and salon-worthy shine, all with little effort. Taking top spot for this category is the Kérastase Chroma Gloss. It works on any hair type and colour by wrapping each strand in its lightweight formula to leave an intense shine, making hair feel healthier and appear more vibrant.
Shortlist:
Best scalp product
The Ordinary Hair Care Multi-Peptide Serum For Hair Density, £15.80
This treatment is designed to build hair density to make roots appear fuller and thicker, and it’s become a firm favourite among beauty enthusiasts. The formula contains a peptide complex that promises to support healthy hair and make it appear more dense. The texture is ultra-lightweight, so it doesn’t weigh hair down or make it feel or look greasy. Apply a few drops daily to a dry scalp before bed and massage in, then leave it to work its magic overnight.
Shortlist:
Centred En-Root Scalp Treatment, £36
The Inkey List Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment, £14.99
