These 23 award-winning hair products are all about shine, volume and repair
Whether you’ve got hair that’s poker-straight or thinning hair prone to breakage, or curls that need taming or edges that need controlling, the list of winners and runners-up in the Glamour Beauty and Wellness Awards 2026 is pretty hard to beat.
A veritable feast of cleansing, conditioning, smoothing and shine-enhancing styling solutions, the only thing you need to do is add to basket as required.
Best shampoo & conditioner for colour-treated hair
Olaplex No4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo & No5 Conditioner
We defy anyone to find a better duo when it comes to caring for coloured hair. You clearly think so, too, with so many of you voting for these creamy, concentrated formulas. The reason they’re so good is down to the brand’s patented bonding actives, which actively work to repair the damage that colouring causes. As well as cleaning, conditioning and detangling, the shampoo helps to stop colour fade from happening, so it’ll help tide you over to your next appointment nicely.
Shortlist:
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo & Conditioner
Redken Acidic Color Gloss Gentle Color Shampoo & Conditioner
Color Wow Color Security Shampoo & Conditioner
Best shampoo & conditioner for curly hair
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Gentle Hydrating Creamy Shampoo & Lightweight Moisture Replenishing Conditioner
Your precious curls and coils need looking after – and no one does it better than Kérastase. This excellent combination adds definition and nourishment to hair, without weighing it down. As well as hydrating and softening strands, it rids your scalp of any heavy product residue, leaving you with a healthy, clean base on which to apply the rest of your styling products.
Shortlist:
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo & Rice Amino + Shea Curl Defining Conditioner
Curlsmith Essential Moisture Shampoo & Conditioner
Pattern Cleansing Shampoo & Medium Conditioner
Best shampoo & conditioner for fine hair
Kérastase Nutritive Bain Satin Hydrating Shampoo & Lait Vital Ultra-Light Detangling Conditioner
Niacinamide and plant proteins are the hero ingredients in this gentle but effective haircare duo, both of which help to restore strength, softness and shine to hair. The conditioning milk is particularly worth a mention for its ability to nourish fine hair weightlessly, meaning it never feels lank or limp after it’s rinsed out.
Shortlist:
Ouai Fine Hair Shampoo & Conditioner
Living Proof Full Shampoo & Conditioner
Philip Kingsley Body Building Weightless Shampoo & Conditioner
Best shampoo & conditioner for thick hair
L’Oréal Paris Elvive Hydra Hyaluronic Moisture Boosting Shampoo & Moisture Locking Conditioner
Finding a shampoo and conditioner that can effectively hydrate coarse and unruly strands is no mean feat, as thick hair is drier and more prone to frizz than other hair types. Because of that, moisture-boosting formulas are essential – and trust L’Oréal Paris to come up with the goods. Like us, you’re big fans of this duo, which is infused with hyaluronic acid for up to 72 hours of hydration and hair that’s smoother, silkier and full of bounce.
Shortlist:
Ouai Thick Hair Shampoo & Conditioner
Cécred Hydrating Shampoo & Moisturizing Deep Conditioner
Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner
Best shampoo & conditioner for damaged hair
Olaplex No4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo & No5 Conditioner
Damaged hair that’s prone to breakages and split ends is genuinely no match for this much-loved shampoo and conditioner. Thanks to game-changing technology that sees it repair broken bonds within the hair structure, regular usage can reduce future breakage by 49% and smooth and soften hair unlike almost anything we’ve tried. No wonder you love it, too.
Shortlist:
Gisou Honey Gloss Ceramide Therapy Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner
K18 Damage Shield pH Protective Shampoo & Conditioner
Typebea R2 Damage Repair Shampoo & R3 Damage Repair Conditioner
Best shampoo & conditioner for Afro hair
Cantu Shea Butter Sulfate-Free Cleansing Cream Shampoo & Hydrating Cream Conditioner
This duo is considered the crème de la crème for curls, coils, waves and kinks. The shampoo is known for giving a deep-down cleanse that nixes product build up; the shea butter-infused cream conditioner is thick, rich and designed to nourish while allowing hair to retain its natural oils.
Shortlist:
Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo & Conditioner
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo & Conditioner
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Length Retention Shampoo & Conditioner
Best leave-in treatment
Aussie SOS Super Serum
Multitasking beauty at its finest, we’re all huge fans of this does-it-all serum. Part damage repair treatment, part styling serum, one pump of this smooths flyaways and frizz, tops up hydration and protects hair against everyday aggressors. Bonus points for the fun texture, too, watch it turn from a serum to a liquid as you apply.
Shortlist:
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
Gisou Honey Infused Leave-In Conditioner
Best hair mask
Philip Kingsley Elasticizer
Consider this a rescue remedy for hair that’s in need of some serious TLC. Whether you’re struggling with parched strands, out-of-control frizz or constant breakages, this intensive conditioning mask aims to restore follicular harmony, as well as elasticity, bounce, shine and softness. Yes, please.
Shortlist:
Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Super Nourishing Coconut & Fig Hair Masque
Amika Dream Routine Overnight Hydration Treatment
Best heat protection
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
A great advertisement for the power of a good heat protectant, this super spray is famed for its ability to deliver the best blow-dry of your life, minus the associated heat-styling damage. It does this by using heat-activated polymer technology that’s light as a feather and won’t weigh your hair down, plus an anti-frizz formula that ensures a glossy, glassy finish every time.
Shortlist:
GHD Bodyguard Heat Protect Spray
Olaplex No9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum
Best dry shampoo
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo
An essential in virtually everyone’s haircare kit, a dry shampoo that absorbs oil without leaving hair powdery and full of residue is tougher to find than you might think. Of course, Living Proof’s dry shampoo is, well, living proof that dry-shampoo dreams do come true. Using patented technology, the formula not only actually cleans the hair, rather than masking the oil, but also leaves it feeling genuinely weightless and like it’s freshly washed.
Shortlist:
Color Wow Insta-Wow Advanced Dry Shampoo
Best smoothing product
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
A double whammy of awards for this does-it-all product, and rightly so. Thanks to its clever anti-frizz complex, frizz doesn’t stand a chance, which means you can rely on a sleek, shiny finish with every use. It’s also worth noting that this formula is humidity’s worst enemy, so stock up for drizzly days or holidays as needed.
Shortlist:
TreSemmé Keratin Smooth Finishing Oil
Pureology Smooth Perfection Smoothing Serum
Cécred Moisture Sealing Lotion
Best shine product
Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray
Looks like we spoke too soon, but hats off to this well-deserved, three-time winner. As well as being impressed by its glossing prowess and its in-built heat protection, you were also wowed by the vinyl-shine finish it imparts to hair. We can’t argue with that.
Shortlist:
Kérastase Gloss Absolu Glaze Drops Hair Oil
L’Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss 5 Minute Lamination
Best volumising product
Bed Head Tigi Queen For A Day Thickening Spray
If you’re looking to create the appearance of thicker, full-bodied hair, you won’t be disappointed with this high street hero. Formulated with palm kernel glycerides to add volume and texture, the addition of film-forming polymers also means long-lasting hold, so your style won’t drop or flop.
Shortlist:
Color Wow Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer
Bumble And Bumble Thickening Go Big Plumping Treatment
Oribe Maximista Thickening Spray
Best texturiser
Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist
Hair stylist to the stars, Sam McKnight really knows how to create products that give us that effortless, lived-in cool vibe. This texture spray not only delivers on all its promises, including volume, hold, definition and shine, but the signature fragrance is addictive and will keep you spritzing long after you’ve sorted your strands.
Shortlist:
Typebea S2 Sea Salt Texture Mist
Best hair oil
Moroccanoil Treatment Original
A long-standing staple in professional kits, this iconic oil does a bit of everything. Packed with antioxidant-rich argan oil, it’s versatile enough to be used as a finishing oil to tame frizz, as a deep-conditioning treatment or as a shine-boosting solution.
Shortlist:
Kérastase Elixir Ultime L’Huile Originale
Best curl cream
Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream
If you’re looking for a product that will restore your curls’ natural shape and bounce, and feel weightless in your hair, then look no further. Enriched with plenty of shea butter, this formula reduces frizz and improves shine, and is ideal for hydrating dry and damaged hair.
Shortlist:
Fenty Hair The Homecurl Curl-Defining Cream
Camille Rose Curl Love Moisture Milk
Best hair gel
Got2b Glued Water Resistant Spiking Gel
Fast drying, strong hold and easy to wash out, this gel is everything you could want in a styler. As well as being water resistant, it’s also free from silicones and is suitable for all hair types. It’s the perfect way to add twists and texture to hair.
Shortlist:
Eco Style Olive Oil Styling Gel
Aveda Be Curly Advanced Coil Definer Gel
Best edge control
Fenty Hair The Controlling Type Hair-Thickening Edge Control Gel
The best product to coax out your edges, smooth your strands and lock your style in all day, this protein-packed control gel is a cut above the rest. Even better, thanks to the brand’s Replenicore-5 complex, which is full of amino acids and antioxidants, it helps repair split ends and integral strand strength while you use it.
Shortlist:
Ebin New York 24 Hour Edge Tamer
Larry King Haircare Flyaway Kit
Best hairspray
L’Oréal Paris Elnett Hairspray
There could only really be one winner when it comes to hairspray. The Grande Dame of the beauty world, this 65-year-old icon is trusted by all those in the know, thanks to its fine but efficient flexible hold, which can be brushed out in seconds. But it’s not just hair stylists who can’t get enough of it, you love it, too, whether it’s adding texture to buns or extra shine to polished ponytails.
Shortlist:
Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray
GHD Perfect Ending Final Fix Hairspray
Best hair colour
L’Oréal Préférence Rich Luminous Fade-Defying Colour
It may not be the sexiest of beauty buys, but it’s definitely one of the most necessary. Whether you want to experiment with balayage or ombré, or opt for full-coverage colour, this is the permanent dye for you. With 40 shades, from ice blonde to jet black, there’s a hue to suit all skin tones and undertones. Plus, the vitamin E-enriched formula and built-in UV filter mean that colour and shine are locked in for up to eight weeks.
Shortlist:
Josh Wood Colour Permanent Colour
Schwarzkopf Live Intense Colour
Best scalp treatment
Kérastase Genesis Anti Hair-Fall Fortifying Serum
Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp, so it’s crucial to find a serum that can nurture and maintain the best scalp environment. This luxuriously textured serum is not just a pleasure to use; it also contains a host of fortifying ingredients. Think edelweiss native cells and ginger root, along with Aminexil, which helps improve fibre resistance, making hair more resilient and less likely to fall or break.
Shortlist:
Hair By Sam McKnight Pure Genius Scalp Restoring Oil
Aveda Scalp Solutions Exfoliating Scalp Treatment
Best hair brush
WetBrush Original Detangler
It’s funny to think that a hairbrush can make such a difference to the look and feel of hair, but it – and more specifically, this brush – really can. As well as detangling hair gently and effectively to prevent damage when hair is at its most fragile, this brush reduces static and frizz to leave hair visibly smoother and more polished.
Shortlist:
La Bonne Brosse No4 The Miracle Detangling Scalp Brush
GHD The Blow Dryer – Radial Brush Size 4
Best hair growth serum
Chāmpo Pitta Growth Serum
Hair thinning or shedding is something that is likely to affect everyone at some stage. Whether it’s due to hormones, medication or stress, hair is one of the first things to suffer if our bodies are out of balance. This serum uses ingredients such as caffeine, tetrapeptides and haritaki extract, which are known to restore scalp health and stimulate hair growth for stronger, more resilient strands. That perhaps goes some way to explaining why it has gone quite so viral with many avid fans.
Shortlist:
Philip Kingsley Density Preserving Scalp Drops
JS Health Vita-Growth Scalp Serum
Model photo shoot crew credits:
Photographer: Ruo Bing Li @robinlirb
Stylist: Herin Choi @herinchoi1
Hair: Kyle Malone @kyledavidmalone
Makeup: Maki Ryoke @makiryoke
Manicure: Yukie Miyakawa @yukie_miyakawa_nails
Models: Alexis Ruby, Anyiang Yak, Baylee Winkel, Kenza Safsaf, Xun Seon @lexpfromthevill @anyiangyak @bayleewinkel @kenzasafsaf @kissthexun
Producer: Petty Cash Production @petty_cash_production
