Photographed by: Bethany Vargas; Fashion Stylist: Kyle Luu; Hair: Ruby Howes; Makeup: Kennedy; Manicure: Analysse Hernandez; Set Design: Heath Mattioli; DP (Motion only): Grant Bell; Production: PENNY; Writer: Kirbie JohnsonSave this storySave this story
“That time I got bangs…” “The summer I stopped straightening my hair…” “When I used to be a blonde…” Our hair is so much a part of our identity that we can describe entire chunks of our lives by the way it looked at the time. We have childhood memories wrapped up in hair-care routines, big or little. And we spend no small part of each day doing something with our hair, whether that’s blow-drying or diffusing, scrunching or combing, or maybe just putting it in and out, in and out, and in and out of a ponytail.
And that something should get you predictable—and predictably gorgeous—results. When we say that our Allure Best of Beauty Hair winners are the best static-tamers and shine-boosters in existence, what we mean is: We have tested these on straight, wavy, and curly hair, and we have spent the better part of a year blow-drying, diffusing, and air-drying to make sure our winners perform consistently and mind-blowingly well.
We can confidently say that these 47 hair-care products are the most incredible we’ve found for healthy-looking shine, polished blow-outs, and bouncy curls. They have the power to transform your routine—and your hair—into the absolute best version of exactly what you want your hair to be, whatever your life looks like right now.
Scroll to discover our 47 Allure Best of Beauty Hair winners.
Best of Beauty Awards 2026: Hair Care
Shop your favorite category or keep scrolling for the year's very best shampoos, curl creams, and dry shampoos.
See our winners:LargeChevron
- Best Shampoo & Conditioners
- Best Hair Treatments
- Best Scalp Scrubs
- Best Scalp Treatment
- Best Leave-In Conditioners
- Best Detangler
- Best Hair Mask
- Best Hair-Styling Products
- Best At-Home Hair Color & Dye
Best Shampoo & Conditioners
Best Shampoo & Conditioner for Fine Hair: Dr. Groot Scalp Revitalizing Solution Hair Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
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Best Fine Hair Shampoo & Conditoner
Dr. Groot Scalp Revitalizing Solution Hair Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Why it won: A conditioner that’s meant to be used on the scalp (right after shampooing) doesn’t exactly sound like a match for fine hair. But Dr. Groot Scalp Revitalizing Solution Hair Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner are both infused with ingredients like salicylic acid that expertly remove oil and product residue. It’s a gentle reset that keeps roots and lengths from being weighed down. This classic K-beauty duo has long been beloved for giving limp hair new life, thickening strands from roots to ends with amino acids, soothing scalps with calming botanical extracts (ginseng, rosemary, Centella asiatica), and making frizz a thing of the past with hair-smoothing, shine-boosting panthenol. It’s a balanced approach to fine hair—at once deep-cleaning and moisturizing, thickening and smoothing—that’s made this shampoo and conditioner a staple for our editors whose straight and curly hair naturally looks a bit flat and meh, not that you’d ever know it.
Tester feedback from commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann
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"I'm blessed with a pretty unproblematic scalp, but I've always had an issue with frizz, dryness, shine…pretty much every other hair complaint in the book. I used to just accept that silkiness wasn't in the cards for me, but this Dr. Groot duo made me eat my words. Even without blow-drying, my air-dried curls just behave differently when I use this shampoo and conditioner. Paired with a quick pass of my Dyson (and no post-shower products, mind you), I'm living out my flippy, shiny, blowout dreams." —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce market editor
Best Shampoo & Conditioner for Dry Hair: Maria Nila Head & Hair Heal Soothing Shampoo and Conditioner
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Best Dry Hair Shampoo & Conditioner
Maria Nila Head & Hair Heal Soothing Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon (Shampoo)
Amazon (Conditioner)
Why It Won: A breath of fresh air (in cute peach bottles, we may add), Maria Nila Head & Hair Heal Soothing Shampoo and Conditioner makes roots and lengths feel super clean, smells as light and cheery as wildflowers, with aloe vera that drenches parched hair in the moisture it needs to look springy, smooth, and shiny. It’s easy to spread through curls, won’t strip color, and offers sweet relief for tight, itchy scalps with antifungal piroctone olamine, whether flakes are caused by irritation, dryness, or actual dandruff.
Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto
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"My scalp has been giving me a little bit of trouble lately, probably because I’ve been washing my hair daily after working out. It’s been a little drier than usual and it definitely feels like it needs more hydration. This shampoo and conditioner duo is gentle enough for everyday use, and the floral scent makes for a nice spa-like shower experience, though I find it doesn’t linger too long." —Alessandra Foresto, managing editor
Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Color-Treated Hair: Biolage Professional Hair Spa Color Last Shampoo and Conditioner
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Best Color-Treated Hair Shampoo & Conditioner
Biolage Professional Hair Spa Color Last Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Because we want to wash away sweat, oil, and hairspray—not our highlights—Biolage Professional Hair Spa Color Last Shampoo and Conditioner gently cleanses and coddles, so it won’t strip or dull color. Its nourishing ingredients like soybean oil are designed to eke an extra month out of any dye job (now if only it could touch up our roots, too), and the silky shampoo and buttery conditioner add so much shine that icy blondes, rich brunettes, and any other color you can get from a box or a bottle look as vibrant as when you left the salon.
Tester feedback from global head of talent Alison Ward Frank
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"I will spend money on Biolage for color protection. I've been coloring my hair the last 25 years of my life for gray and for highlights, and Biolage, by far, really protects the color, prolongs it, and takes out the brassiness. Together, the shampoo and conditioner easily extend the need to get my hair colored by a week." —Alison Ward Frank, global head of talent
Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Damaged Hair: Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo and Conditioner
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Best Damaged Hair Shampoo & Conditioner
Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Why It Won: Whether your hair has been dried out by bleach, frayed from heat-styling, or is naturally prone to breakage, Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo and Conditioner help smooth over past damage and reinforce strands with a moisturizing, strengthening peptide mix with ceramides and proteins. It coaxes the split ends and static-y hair that you do have to lie smoother without weighing it down, and lends a newfound shine and healthy-looking volume. As if that wasn’t enough, its namesake rosemary soothes irritated scalps and gives the shampoo and conditioner an herbaceous scent that’s the polar opposite of so many shampoos’ sweet, fruity fragrances—a welcome change in our showers.
Tester feedback from senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor
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"I’ll do anything to stretch the time between hair-washing days, so by the time I finally shampoo, it’s weighty with oil, styling products, and layers and layers of dry shampoo. This Nécessaire duo makes cleansing my hair less arduous: The shampoo creates a rich lather that thoroughly removes buildup (I like to massage it slowly into my scalp), while the conditioner has enough slip to quickly and easily detangle my long strands. The end result is smooth, soft, hydrated hair that feels bouncy and lightweight. It’s also worth noting how good the dark green bottles look in my shower niche. They skip the pumps and bulky packaging so they can sit among my other products without cluttering the small space. A twistable cap dispenses the decadent formulas with just a soft squeeze." —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Curly Hair: Olaplex No. 4Curl Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Shampoo and No. 5Curl Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner
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Best Curly Hair Shampoo & Conditioner
Olaplex No. 4Curl Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Shampoo and No. 5Curl Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner
Ulta Beauty (Shampoo)
Ulta Beauty (Conditioner)
Olaplex (Duo)
Senior shopping director Shanna Shipin uses Olaplex No. 4Curl Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Shampoo and No. 5Curl Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner.
Shanna Shipin
Why It Won: Super-hydrating and easy to work through curls, Olaplex No. 4Curl Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Shampoo and No. 5Curl Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Conditioner have made an absolute science out of softening, strengthening, and frizz-proofing our hair. And when we say they’ve got it down to science, we do mean that literally because these brightly scented formulas (fragranced with crisp sugared mint and grapefruit) don’t leave anything to chance. A positively charged moisturizing complex (with hyaluronic acid) sticks to negatively charged areas of damage, sealing the cuticle, drawing in moisture, and keeping humidity out so our curls don’t crimp up. Other ingredients work to restore hair’s own disulfide bonds (which can be broken in damaged hair) for stronger, more defined curls and coils, while more low-tech natural oils (avocado and sunflower) add next-level moisture, softness, and shine.
Tester feedback from senior shopping director Shanna Shipin
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"The shampoo lathers so easily (I usually double-wash my hair, but I don't feel the need to with this), and the conditioner really adds slip to detangle my hair in the shower. I know how to kick up frizz if I want to (like over-tousle my hair or blast my diffuser on high heat while cupping my curls), and the frizz would be far worse without this shampoo and conditioner. I even love the gel (it's a light hold, which is good for my hair type), and of course, the Olaplex oil is a mainstay for me. It's so great when I go in to de-clump and break a gel cast, plus the fragrance is so light and pleasant." —Shanna Shipin, senior shopping director
Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Dandruff: Head & Shoulders Sulfate-Free Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner
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Best Dandruff Shampoo & Conditioner
Head & Shoulders Sulfate-Free Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon (Shampoo)
Target (Conditioner)
Why It Won: Treating flaky scalps doesn’t have to be so clinical—but at the same time, we want a treatment to work. That’s where Head & Shoulders Sulfate-Free Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner come in. The duo balances scalps by tackling major causes of flakiness (yeast and irritation) with 1% pyrithione zinc, a skin-calming antifungal that’s one of the most effective ingredients out there for stopping dandruff. Head & Shoulders is the OG pyrithione zinc shampoo and conditioner, and this version is made with shea butter for a moisturizing formula that won’t strip hair while it treats, works for any texture, and adds the shine you want from your shampoo and conditioner, while keeping both flakes and oiliness at bay.
Tester feedback from social media manager Bianca Richards
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"Head & Shoulders is one of those classic brands that will always find its rightful place in my shower. Whether it's for me or my boyfriend, the Head & Shoulders Sulfate-Free Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner duo is one of the very few pairs that prevent dandruff while not causing scalp irritation. Compared to others I've tried, these are the most gentle formulas in their lineup, and they even give my strands a bit of hydration and shine after a fresh blowout." —Bianca Richards, social media manager
Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Coily Hair: Cécred Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner
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Best Coily Hair Shampoo & Conditioner
Cécred Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner
Shop (Shampoo)
Shop (Conditioner)
Ulta Beauty (Shampoo)
Ulta Beauty (Conditioner)
Why It Won: This velvety shampoo and buttery conditioner have tons of slip, not to mention the sexiest fragrance—clean and warm at the same time, with musk, oud, sandalwood, and jasmine. Cécred Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner isn’t just easy to spread through coils—which it most certainly is—but it’s also a relaxing ritual in its own right. The hydrolyzed keratin, which contains honey, fills in microscopic cracks in strands, an African oil blend brings on the shine, and cationic hyaluronic acid sticks to areas of damage, working overtime to hydrate hair exactly where it needs it most. All these details mean curls are left nourished and bouncy, and even our shower looks better; we love how the bottles look like mini sculptural works of art.
Tester feedback from creative director Amber Venerable
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"The oud scent will always make me happy, but in addition to that, this shampoo and conditioner combo leaves my hair feeling so soft and refreshed. A little shampoo also goes a long way, it lathers easily, and cleanses beautifully." —Amber Venerable, creative director
Best Clarifying Shampoo: Ouai Detox Shampoo
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Best Clarifying Shampoo
Ouai Detox Shampoo
Amazon
Why It Won: You thought clarifying shampoos were…what? Clinical, harsh, drying? Ouai Detox Shampoo is the opposite, which makes it super-refreshing in more ways than one. The deep clean that it gives (from tried-and-true apple cider vinegar) comes with the kind of smoothing, shine-boosting benefits (from glycerin) you’d want in any great shampoo. The light rose scent is relaxing, the peach-colored gel suds quickly and significantly (it’s like shampoo commercial-level foam), and the formula balances scalps, removing product buildup that can weigh down roots or make them look oily, while also soothing dry, flaky, itchy skin.
Tester feedback from designer Briana Rengifo
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"I go way back with this shampoo. I've been using it for a couple of years on and off, and I always run back because it's one of my favorites for deep-cleaning. Plus, it smells amazing—in and out of the shower." —Briana Rengifo, designer
Best Hair Treatment
Best Treatment for Thinning Hair: Women’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Unscented Foam
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Best Thinning Hair Treatment
Women’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Unscented Foam
Amazon (2-Pack)
Why It Won: Whether or not a product can really treat thinning hair shouldn’t be up for debate. If you’re using something with the goal of fuller, thicker hair, then you should have the best chance possible of getting fuller, thicker hair. That’s where Women’s Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Unscented Foam comes in: It contains minoxidil, the only FDA-approved topical drug for hair growth, in the highest concentration you can get without a prescription, and the data speaks for itself. This foam has been shown to regrow hair for more than 80% of the women using it, yielding visible results (less obvious sparse patches, noticeably denser hair) after four months of daily use. Minoxidil extends hair’s growth cycle past what would otherwise occur if left to its own devices, and the ingredient has been shown to boost hair density by up to 38%. And in more good news, all that science doesn’t feel icky in your hair. This easy-to-spread foam is light and fast-absorbing, so you can style your hair as usual after putting it on without looking greasy.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Madison San Miguel
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“The growth process is slow, so it requires some patience before you see results. I've noticed new hair at my temples in just three months of using Rogaine each morning. Although there's a pill option that you could get by prescription, I find that over-the-counter, topical solutions are cheaper, easier, and more targeted. These come in foam and liquid formulas. I've used both and found them equally effective and easy to include in my routine. Depending on your lifestyle and preference, the foam is less drippy, offers more of a controlled application, and gave me peace of mind when it came to potential transfer. The 'dread shed' is also real, but worth the results I've seen so far!” —Madison San Miguel, commerce editor
Best Scalp Scrub
Best Scalp Scrub: Rōz Salt Scalp Scrub
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Best Scalp Scrub
ROZ Salt Scalp Scrub
Amazon
Social director Kassidy Silva uses the Rōz Salt Scalp Scrub in the shower, and then dries and styles her hair.
Kassidy Silva
Why It Won: Apricot-colored salt crystals artfully sitting atop a rich cream make this look more like a body scrub than a scalp treatment, but the second you start massaging Rōz Salt Scalp Scrub into roots, you totally get it, because wow, does that feel good! The cream lathers into a slightly gritty, cleansing scrub you can work through like shampoo—and it makes hair shiny, soft, and flake-free while feeling completely heavenly.
Tester feedback from social director Kassidy Silva
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"The Rōz Salt Scalp Scrub has become a nonnegotiable part of my weekly scalp reset. With psoriasis, I have a meticulous routine to keep the flakes at bay and always start with this scrub, even while traveling. Now, don’t let the thick granules fool you, they melt into your scalp with a gentle massage and transform into a rich, foamy lather as you add water. After every wash, my scalp feels clean, refreshed, and satisfyingly tingly. Plus, the bright citrus and herbaceous scent gives my Everything Shower an extra dose of spa-like luxury." —Kassidy Silva, social director
Best Scalp Treatment
Best Scalp Treatment: Ref AHA Scalp Detox Treatment
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Best Scalp Treatment
REF AHA Scalp Detox Treatment
Ref
Why It Won: The task of balancing scalps—whether your goal is calming itchiness, alleviating dryness, or no longer feeling embarrassed by flakes (which you shouldn’t!)—is downright pampering with Ref AHA Scalp Detox Treatment. A blend of gentle alpha hydroxy acids and calming, albeit hard-to-pronounce, compounds (procapil, scalposine, zanthalene) treats itch, dandruff, and whisks away grime and product buildup. A mint-adjacent compound called frescolat feels cooling and invigorating, and the nubby applicator makes for a soothing five-minute head massage.
Tester feedback from senior news editor James Manso
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"This treatment combines two of my personal passions—exfoliation and scalp health. A lot of products claim to be skin care for your scalp, but the gel-like texture of this feels so stimulating, and it gets bonus points for the scrubby component on the cap. It combines ease of use with a feel-good factor and lifts away build-up like no other." —James Manso, senior news editor
Best Leave-In Conditioners
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Straight Hair: Davines Love Smoothing Lightweight Milk
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Best Straight Hair Leave-In Conditioner
Davines Love Smoothing Lightweight Milk
Amazon
Beauty director Sarah Kinonen mists the Davines Love Smoothing Lightweight Milk into her hair.
Sarah Kinonen
Why It Won: Everything about this spritz is light and dreamy. There’s the lilac color of the lotion, the delicate fresh-laundry scent, and the breezy way Davines Love Smoothing Lightweight Milk calms static, treating strands with castor and lavender oils and apple extract that calm flyaways and boost hydration and shine without weighing down hair. You get silky, soft, glassy strands that smell as incredible as they look.
Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen
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"I recently refreshed my bright-blonde highlights for summer, and while I love the look of them (shout-out to Jules at Jenna Perry Salon!), they ~feel~ a bit dry these days. While that’s pretty normal for my fine, flat hair, I don’t love the damage. That’s why, no matter how many times a week I wash my hair (confession: it’s usually just once), I ~always~ use a leave-in conditioner every night after my shower. This one from Davines has a superlight texture, a mist delivery system for easy application, and smells sooo fresh, like a just-washed load of laundry. After towel-drying, I spritz it in—from my mids to ends—then brush it out and hop into bed. Come morning, depending on how much I tossed and turned the night before, my hair is usually soft, smooth, and still smells amazing." —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
Best Leave-In Conditioner for Curly Hair: Pattern Repair360 Leave-In Foam
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Best Curly Hair Leave-In Conditioner
Pattern Repair360 Leave-In Foam
Amazon
Why It Won: A leave-in foam? Groundbreaking. But actually… Softening and strengthening, Pattern Repair360 Leave-In Foam’s amino acids, proteins, and oils (argan and castor) are whipped into a delightfully frothy, silky mousse that moisturizes without any heaviness or buildup. Two to four pumps, raked into any curl type (from loose waves to coils), help bulk up damaged spots and prevent new breakage for hair that’s frizz-free, without a split end in sight.
Tester feedback from senior manager of analytics & audience development Monica Perry
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"Tracee Ellis Ross's foam is great for setting twists and keeping them soft, shiny, and frizz-free for a few days with no touch-ups needed." —Monica Perry, senior manager, analytics & audience development
Best Detangler
Best Detangler for Curly Hair: Cécred Detangling Spray
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Best Curly Hair Detangler
Cécred Detangling Spray
Ulta Beauty
Creative producer Sydney Malone sprays the Cécred Detangling Spray into her hair—and then brushes it out.
Sydney Malone
Why It Won: This fine mist has just the right amount of slip to make the task of detangling faster and less painful, both figuratively and literally. Our comb glides through knots so smoothly with Cécred Detangling Spray that we don’t wince once, so we can rest easy knowing that we’re not tearing our hair as we go. This spray smooths the cuticle and coats hair in protective moisture from honey and ceramides, and smells absolutely amazing—a little spicy and totally sexy.
Tester feedback from editor in chief Jessica Cruel
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"I know this will sound like I am blowing smoke up Beyoncé's bum, but Cécred Detangling Spray is the second-best thing that the brand has launched (after the Restoring Hair & Edge Drops, of course). My favorite way to use it is before I wash my hair. I use it to detangle two-week-old curls and loosen product buildup. It smells like a fine fragrance, and with one pass I can get the wide-tooth comb through my hair. Also, I swear there are less strands in my trash can on washday." —Jessica Cruel, editor in chief
Best Hair Mask
Best Hydrating Hair Mask: Pureology Smooth Gloss Treatment Mask
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Best Hydrating Hair Mask
Pureology Smooth Gloss Treatment Mask
Amazon
Commerce editor Sarah Han shows the texture of the Pureology Smooth Gloss Treatment Mask.
Sarah Han
Why It Won: What would we do without this near-magical pink pot in our shower? Our hair would look a lot different, for starters…but thank goodness we never have to imagine a world full of flyaways because Pureology Smooth Gloss Treatment Mask has things under control. Light and creamy as panna cotta, this vanilla-scented treatment transforms dry hair until it's practically unrecognizable, thanks to its softening, smoothing, and shine-boosting amino acids that pull a delicate balancing act, moisturizing while forming a kind of protective veil that keeps frizz-inducing humidity out.
Tester feedback from content director Sophia Panych
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"The first time I used this mask, I could not believe how silky and shiny it left my hair, smoothing the halo of fuzz around my strands, and making my months-old highlights glitter under the lights. Now, I always keep a jar in my shower." —Sophia Panych, content director
Best Strengthening Hair Mask: Ouai Bond Repair Balm
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Best Strengthening Hair Mask
Ouai Bond Repair Balm
Amazon
Senior director of creative programming and development Natalie Campbell with the Ouai Bond Repair Balm.
Natalie Campbell
Why It Won: Three minutes. That’s how long it takes to microwave a bag of popcorn, make a pot of pour-over coffee (fancy!), and now, thanks to Ouai Bond Repair Balm, to completely turn around dry, damaged hair (even fancier!). This jasmine-scented, Vaseline-lookalike is rich and hydrating, with lipids and hyaluronic acid, and it makes our hair softer and healthier-looking than we thought possible. And we love getting to feel so accomplished in less than five minutes.
Tester feedback from senior director of creative programming and development Natalie Campbell
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"My hair tends to skew frizzy and is prone to breakage due to my recent highlights. After using this in-shower treatment, it's become a staple in my washday routine. I noticed a difference in my hair’s consistency after the first wash, and continuous improvement in its strength after multiple washes. This treatment really gives my naturally wavy hair a smoother look and feel and lessens the need for other styling products. I'm already on my third bottle!" —Natalie Campbell, senior director, creative programming and development
Best Glossing Mask: Redken Acidic Color Gloss Gloss-in-Mask
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Best Glossing Mask
Redken Acidic Color Gloss Gloss-in-Mask
Amazon
Why It Won: Glossy, reflective, and any other synonym you can think of for the word “shine”—as in, when did my hair get so crazy shiny?! When you started using Redken Acidic Color Gloss Gloss-in-Mask, that’s when. This lightweight, hydrating lotion makes hair unbelievably radiant after just one minute of applying it in the shower. The “acidic” thing has to do with the mask’s pH balance (and the fact that it contains vinegar to remove product residue that could otherwise dull your hair), but don’t worry, this is not a harsh treatment by any means. It softens and conditions, while boosting brilliance, gleam, dazzle, glitz, and all the other words you could use to describe the glossiest hair ever.
Tester feedback from executive beauty director Jenny Bailly
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"One dollop and one minute gets my hair so silky that my comb practically falls right through it. And whether I heat-style or air-dry my dry, color-treated hair remains softer than it has any right to be." —Jenny Bailly, executive beauty director
Best Hair-Styling Products
Best Hair Gel: Pattern Palo Santo Curl Gel
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Best Hair Gel
Pattern Palo Santo Curl Gel
Shop
Ulta Beauty
Sephora
Creative development manager Lauren Alberti applies the Pattern Palo Santo Curl Gel.
Lauren Alberti
Why It Won: Why It Won: Our requirements for a great curl gel: It has to be easy to use while we’re sectioning and styling our hair, and it has to defrizz and give lasting definition, without shrinkage, stiffness, crunchiness, or flakes. Pattern Palo Santo Curl Gel passed with flying colors, and then some. The creamy styler has the right amount of glide, shine, and soft hold to give flexible definition, while its mix of aloe with coconut and cacay nut oils feels instantly hydrating. The subtle Palo Santo scent (named for the tree that’s often used for incense) is spicy, woody, and, unsurprisingly, relaxing.
Tester feedback from senior manager of analytics & audience development Monica Perry
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"This Pattern gel is great for curl definition, and it's super-moisturizing. The squeezable bottle is easy to use as you're trying to section hair. My barometer for whether or not the gel worked: Did it defrizz and define? Was it easy to use? Was there a lot of shrinkage? Yes, yes, and nope!" —Monica Perry, senior manager, analytics & audience development
Best Dry Shampoo Powder: Fenty Hair The Imposter Invisi-Boost Volumizing Dry Shampoo
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Best Dry Shampoo Powder
Fenty Hair The Imposter Invisi-Boost Volumizing Dry Shampoo
Shop
Sephora
Why It Won: The lilac tint, the volumizing grip, the oil-absorbing starches…Fenty Hair The Imposter Invisi-Boost Volumizing Dry Shampoo leaves roots looking deceptively clean, smelling as fresh as a daisy (or rather, warm and amber-y), and you get a quick shot of volume to boot. It’s so refreshing, and the added fullness is so pretty, that it feels less like a rushed-morning timesaver, and more like a bona fide styling step.
Tester feedback from beauty director Sarah Kinonen
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“Because my bright blonde highlights are a bit grown out, my thin, fine hair has become super-prone to oiliness at the roots and temples. (That could also be because I wash my hair only once or twice a week, but I digress…) In an effort to prevent the unintentionally slick look, I love dusting this Fenty dry shamoo powder into day three or four hair. Just a sprinkle tapped directly into (and under) my roots absorbs grease, and a quick massage gives my flat hair a freshly clean, lifted look, granting me one more day without needing to wash." —Sarah Kinonen, beauty director
Best Dry Shampoo Spray: Color Wow Insta-Wow Advanced Dry Shampoo
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Best Dry Shampoo Spray
Color Wow Insta-Wow Advanced Dry Shampoo
Amazon
Senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor mists the Color Wow Insta-Wow Advanced Dry Shampoo into her hair.
Jess Marie Calaor
Why It Won: This rice starch-powered mist takes its Insta title seriously (dissolving oil and sopping it up all at once) to make roots look believably clean again without any product-y feel, and you would never know you waited an extra day or two (or three or four) to wash your hair. Color Wow Insta-Wow Advanced Dry Shampoo does need to be blended into hair, especially darker shades, but you just need to spend a few seconds shaking or brushing it out. Wow, right?
Tester feedback from senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor
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"I have dark hair, and while this dry shampoo sprays on white, it disappears as I massage it into my roots with minimal effort. It instantly soaks up excess oil and brings the bounce back to my waves. Plus, it leaves my hair smelling bright and fresh and not like I just sprayed something on to hide the fact that I haven't washed it in a few days." —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
Best Volumizer: LolaVie Peptide Plumping Volume Spray
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Best Hair Volumizer
LolaVie Peptide Plumping Volume Spray
Amazon
Senior staff writer Elizabeth Gulino applies the LolaVie Peptide Plumping Volume Spray.
Elizabeth Gulino
Why It Won: Whether your hair is naturally fine or thinning, a few mists of LolaVie Peptide Plumping Volume Spray give roots a lift and add soft body all over as you blow-dry (this volumizer was designed to be used with heat stylers). It conditions as it works, so hair also feels softer, too, and your newfound volume lasts until bedtime. You might even get another full day out of it (woo-hoo!).
Tester feedback from senior staff writer Elizabeth Gulino
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"My blowouts have been exponentially better since I added LolaVie's Peptide Plumping Volume Spray into my routine. I have a lot of hair that gets weighed down, which ends up leaving my top half pretty flat, but thanks to this spray, my roots no longer look deflated and sad after a blow-dry. A major plus is that the scent is nice and not overpowering." —Elizabeth Gulino, senior staff writer
Best Texturizer: Framesi For-Me Bring Me to the Beach Salt Spray 223
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Best Hair Texturizer
Framesi For-Me Bring Me to the Beach Salt Spray 223
Amazon
Senior director of creative programming and development Natalie Campbell uses Framesi For-Me Bring Me to the Beach Salt Spray 223.
Natalie Campbell
Why It Won: Windswept volume, tousled texture—the surfer waves we get from Framesi For-Me Bring Me to the Beach Salt Spray 223 are full, frizz-free, and surprisingly soft. This fine mist excels where some other texturizing sprays often fall short because of the clever addition of conditioning ingredients (seaweed extract and glycerin). It hydrates and tames flyaways while shaping hair with magnesium salts, so you get touchable, undulating body (nothing stiff or crunchy) with a light aquatic scent that’s a subtle nod to a day in the ocean.
Tester feedback from senior director of creative programming and development Natalie Campbell
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"The Framesi 223 Spray brings the feeling and power of salt water in a bottle! The smell encapsulates a perfect beach day with a scent like fresh ocean air. And then, the product itself delivers. I have thick hair and a lot of salt sprays will not stay in my hair throughout the day. This mist creates the perfect I-just-got-out-of-the-ocean wave and lasts all day and into the next. Now, I keep grabbing the bottle to whip up an easy hairdo that lasts." —Natalie Campbell, senior director, creative programming and development
Best Curl Enhancer: Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Soufflé
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Best Curl Enhancer
Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Soufflé
Amazon
Why It Won: Why It Won: Moisture? Check. Shine? Check. Flexible definition? Check, check, check. Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Soufflé is everything we want from a curl enhancer, serving up touchable yet long-lasting hold and stopping static in its tracks. More than just a styler, the gel also deeply nourishes with plant oils (from avocado and babassu) and antioxidant linseed.
Tester feedback from social media manager Bianca Richards
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"The Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Soufflé is perhaps one of the oldest products in my curl routine, so much so that it's baked into my boyfriend's hair routine, too! When it comes to finding the right styling products for my curls, I'm particular about texture, and applying a jelly-like consistency like this soufflé on wet strands creates a strong base for defining my curls before going in with a much thicker product. It sets the foundation for keeping my curls defined with flexible hold. It's a versatile pick to use with another product or by itself, and it's suitable for all types of curl." —Bianca Richards, social media manager
Best Wave Enhancer: Odele Air Dry Styler
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Best Wave Enhancer
Odele Air Dry Styler
Amazon
Former Best of Beauty editorial assistant Edward Horgan applies the Odele Air Dry Styler.
Edward Horgan
Why It Won: A time-saving styling product, Odele Air Dry Styler is an entire hairstyling routine in one laid-back step: The gel-like serum lets naturally straight, wavy, and curly hair air-dry more smoothly, with a slightly mussed texture, and zero frizz—without so much as plugging in a curling iron. And there you have it: You've got polished, wavy hair and 20 minutes of your morning back. If you’re looking for us, we’ll be having another cup of coffee.
Tester feedback from former senior commerce editor Sarah Felbin
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"I am simply obsessed. Odele Air Dry Styler is a clear gel that goes on completely invisible—no dried, crunchy feeling—and it makes my waves look amazing. I got tons of compliments after using it!" —Sarah Felbin, former senior commerce editor
Best Finishing Oil: &Honey Deep Moist Hair Oil
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Best Finishing Oil
&Honey Deep Moist Hair Oil
Yesstyle
Olive Young
StyleVana
Managing editor Alessandra Foresto applies the &Honey Deep Moist Hair Oil.
Alessandra Foresto
Why It Won: Dry hair drinks up this hair oil, hydrating and camouflaging frazzled ends, parched lengths, and damage from years of bleach and heat-styling more easily than you can say “hydrolyzed honey protein—the ingredient working overtime to do all of the above. &Honey Deep Moist Hair Oil adds tons of moisture and slip to thirsty hair (with three types of honey as well as dimethicone and palm oil), and leaves a glossy shine to boot.
Tester feedback from managing editor Alessandra Foresto
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"I first became a fan of this hair oil after hitting Don Quijote in Japan (IYKYK!) almost two years ago and seeing absolutely everyone putting this in their shopping basket. After testing more than 50 hair oils during the Best of Beauty process, I kept comparing each and every single one to this favorite. There was no contest! There's simply no better hair oil in the market in my view. The formula is superlight, so it doesn't weigh down my hair, but it does tame frizz and flyaways immediately. It gives my thick and wavy black hair instant shine without feeling greasy or oily. Even on days when I've been a little heavy-handed, running a brush through my hair will do the trick to distribute the product. Through the six or so months of testing finishing oils for the awards, I took note of how often I got compliments on how shiny my hair looked only when I had applied this oil as the last step in my routine. I even answered a few questions about what fragrance I was wearing—it was the very light rose scent in this oil! And you can't beat the price for the size of the bottle." —Alessandra Foresto, managing editor
Best Heat Protector: Wella Professionals Ultimate Repair 5-in-1 Protective Leave-In
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Best Heat Protector
Wella Professionals Ultimate Repair 5-in-1 Protective Leave-In
Amazon
Why It Won: If heat-styling didn't cause split ends, dullness, and breakage, well, we probably wouldn't need to use hot tools so often. Wella Professionals Ultimate Repair 5-in-1 Protective Leave-In creates a buffer between hair and blow-dryers, flatirons, and curling irons to help ward off new damage. And it's something of an overachiever, repairing past (hot-tool) trauma (with omega-9 fatty acids) and smoothing strands so styling isn't just gentler, it's also easier and faster.
Tester feedback from senior manager of anaytics & audience development Monica Perry
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"This luxe, milky leave-in hydrated my 4A curls and protected them from the 275-degree heat of my blow-dryer brush. Its travel-friendly size also makes it a great option for touching up your blowout mid-trip." —Monica Perry, senior manager, analytics & audience development
Best Frizz Smoother: Kérastase Gloss Absolu Anti-Frizz Glaze Milk
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Best Frizz Smoother
Kerastase Gloss Absolu Anti-Frizz Glaze Milk
Amazon
Allure Beauty Box content manager Hannah Brower uses Kérastase Gloss Absolu Anti-Frizz Glaze Milk.
Hannah Brower
Why It Won: A rose is a rose is…shiny, soft hair? In Kérastase Gloss Absolu Anti-Frizz Glaze Milk, yes, absolutely. With wild rose and hyaluronic acid, this creamy spray conditions and smooths, and lets you blow-dry without having to wrestle with stray strands. You get glossy, healthy-looking hair that’s happily frizz-free and stays that way.
Tester feedback from Allure Beauty Box content manager Hannah Brower
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"I have thin, color-treated hair that's also damaged, so finding styling products that address all of those concerns is always a challenge. The Kérastase Glaze Milk moisturizes, tames frizz, and keeps my hair bouncy without weighing it down—plus, it doubles as a heat protectant. I apply a few pumps before blow-drying, and it leaves my hair silky, smooth, and soft every time. I've been searching for a product like this, and it completely delivers." —Hannah Brower, content manager, Allure Beauty Box
Best Blowout Styler: R+Co Bleu Essential Air Dry/Blow Dry Crème
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Best Blowout Styler
R+Co Bleu Essential Air Dry/Blow Dry Crème
Amazon
Why It Won: What are you going to do with all your newfound spare time in the morning? It’s a question you might want to start mulling over when you meet the sleek blue bottle that is R+Co Bleu Essential Air Dry/Blow Dry Crème. We never thought a small, sweetly scented dollop of lotion could do so much for our hair. But rake this through damp lengths, and you might as well tuck your round brush back in the drawer because even rough-dried hair looks impressively and expensively (we’re talking triple-digit, dye job-level!) glossy and smooth. It makes air-dried hair look that much healthier and shinier, too.
Tester feedback from former Best of Beauty editorial assistant ElleAnna Revell
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"I have very fine, wavy hair that tends to get greasy and weighed down when I apply any sort of product. I used to throw a little oil on my ends and call it a day, but this is my new favorite finisher. I use it after washing as an air-dry cream, and my hair naturally dries soft, silky, and with a little added volume." —ElleAnna Revel, former Best of Beauty editorial assistant
Best Smoothing Wand: Dae Cactus Fruit 3-In-1 Styling Cream + Taming Wand
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Best Smoothing Wand
Dae Cactus Fruit 3-In-1 Styling Cream + Taming Wand
Amazon
Allure Beauty Box content manager Hannah Brower uses Dae Cactus Fruit 3-In-1 Styling Cream + Taming Wand.
Hannah Brower
Why It Won: Getting all those little flyaways, whether they’re around your roots or down the length of your hair, to lay flat doesn’t necessarily require an arsenal of products. Inside Dae Cactus Fruit 3-In-1 Styling Cream + Taming Wand’s watermelon-pink tube is a chunky spoolie brush (like an oversized mascara wand) and a white styling cream that tamps down static as fast as you can run the brush over it. The smell is sweet and fruity (sugary vanilla mixed with tart citrus—fun!), and the formula blends imperceptibly into any hair color, including dark hair. It's got enough hold to keep rogue strands at bay for hours, for smoother ponytails, cleaner parts, more polished blow-outs, or air-dried hair that just looks a little more ‘done.’
Tester feedback from Allure Beauty Box content manager Hannah Brower
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"In the most humble way, my slicked-back game is serious. It's my go-to style because it never lets me, my fine hair, or the compliments down. I give a lot of the credit to the Dae Cactus Fruit 3-In-1 Styling Cream + Taming Wand. I use my La Bonne Brosse boar bristle brush to create the perfect sleek base, then finish with the styling wand to smooth down flyaways. It keeps everything in place all day, and it's compact enough to toss in my bag for touch-ups wherever my slicked-back hair takes me." —Hannah Brower, content manager, Allure Beauty Box
Best Curl Cream: Rizos Curls 6-in-1 Styling Cream
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Best Curl Cream
Rizos Curls 6-in-1 Styling Cream
Shop
Ulta Beauty
Commerce production assistant Hailey Roy uses Rizos Curls 6-in-1 Styling Cream.
Hailey Roy
Why It Won: This curl-defining cream works so well, delivering the perfect amount of hold to shape curls and smooth, without any crunch or crispiness, that it’s our new one-and-done product. Rizos Curls 6-in-1 Styling Cream expertly handles all the heavy lifting in the hair department—adding airy volume and boosting shine for springy, glossy curls, whether we air-dry or use a diffuser. Its bright yet warm scent (yuzu, mango, and amber) is relaxing in the morning, and the formula doubles as a heat protectant and helps prevent breakage, sealing in moisture with mango butter, filling in holes with plant proteins, and hydrating with rose water and hyaluronic acid, hence the “6-in-1” claim. But, hey, when our curls look this good, who’s counting?
Tester feedback from commerce production assistant Hailey Roy
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"There are two kinds of curly girls: those who prefer defined ringlets, and those who opt for luscious volume. I’m the latter. So when it comes to leave-in conditioners, my curls crave something lightweight enough to let them do their thing. What I love about the Rizos 6-in-1 is that, yes, it graciously allows my hair to billow, but it still keeps frizz in check. And on the rare occasion when I want more definition, applying a little extra product gets the job done with ease. And the scent gives decadent mango—the perfect fragrance for summer." —Hailey Roy, commerce production assistant
Best Hairspray: Tresemmé A-List Collection Workable Hairspray
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Best Hairspray
Tresemmé A-List Collection Workable Hairspray
Amazon
Why It Won: The clever bottle has not one, but two nozzles, so you can choose between light and strong hold (basically, more or less hairspray per spritz) depending on which way you twist the cap. With light hold, Tresemmé A-List Collection Workable Hairspray does an excellent job of smoothing and preventing movement; with strong hold, it locks styles into place. And even if you go full tilt, you won’t get any of that dreaded hairspray crunchiness.
Tester feedback from senior copy manager Leslie Lipton
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"Tresemmé A-List Collection Workable Hairspray is a really excellent drugstore hairspray! The hold is soft, yet strong, like a good, reliable friend. Plus, it works with you, helps you shine, and isn't flaky, also like a BFF (see where I'm going with this?). And you just can't beat the price." —Leslie Lipton, senior copy manager
Best Mousse for Straight and Wavy Hair: Chris McMillan The Mousse
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Best Mousse for Straight and Wavy Hair
Chris McMillan The Mousse
Shop
Sephora
Senior shopping director Shanna Shipin applies the Chris McMillan The Mousse to her hair—and then diffuses it.
Shanna Shipin
Why It Won: “It’s just so good!” “There’s no frizz!” “I adore it!” These were some of the rave reviews from editors who tested—and quickly became obsessed with—Chris McMillan The Mousse. A dollop of the airy foam quickly expands and grows in the palm of your hand, like those toys that get big in water only so much better because it’s hinting at the kind of soft, gorgeous volume you’ll get from raking and scrunching this through your hair. It builds the sexiest body with all the right curves and bounce.
Tester feedback from senior shopping director Shanna Shipin
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"Hello, one and done! This product is your gel, your curl cream, your finishing product…all in one. It's truly been a game-changer for me, replacing all my products. I shake it up, then release a larger-than-a-golfball-size amount and apply it all over. I tend to use it while my hair is slightly towel-dried, then again in the middle of my diffusing session, when it's about 40% dry. I love that it truly delivers on its promise of volumized, bouncy curls—full stop. It tames a bit of frizz, it defines my coils, and adds some necessary lift at my roots and mid-section. I've never received so many compliments on my hair." —Shanna Shipin, senior shopping director
Best Mousse for Curly Hair: Lottabody Wrap Me Foaming Mousse
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Best Mousse for Curly Hair
Lottabody Wrap Me Foaming Mousse
Amazon
Why It Won: It’s no wonder this airy mousse has won two years running: Give the bottle a pump, and Lottabody Wrap Me Foaming Mousse transforms from a sparkling-blue watery liquid (which is what you see inside the clear bottle) into a foam that’s as light as the froth on a really good cappuccino. It’s easy to spread through curls, can be used on wet or dry hair, and delivers the perfect mix of hold and softness, defining every coil, adding shine and bouncy volume, and excelling where so many other mousses fall short. Instead of leaving hair dry or stiff, this formula, with coconut and shea oils, keeps curls feeling hydrated and soft. It also happens to smell amazing: creamy, beachy, and coconut-y.
Tester feedback from creative director Amber Venerable
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"Lottabody is a triple threat because it leaves my hair feeling moisturized, which is a feat for foams when they dry, it leaves my hair so slick and ready for the perfect sculpted wrap or slick-back, plus it smells amazing to boot!" —Amber Venerable, creative director
Best Pomade: Fatboy Perfect Putty
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Best Pomade
Fatboy Perfect Putty
Amazon
Why It Won: Make a Venn diagram of short hair that’s polished, cool, and sculpted, and smack dab in the middle is Fatboy Perfect Putty. The matte, waxy balm lets you manipulate short cuts: It’s got just the right amount of grit and grip to add hold and a bit of lived-in, piece-y texture (with help from kaolin clay and beeswax). The slightly tacky texture is easy to work through hair, tamps down flyaways, and even though it’s got a matte finish, it won’t actually dull or dry out strands. It’s more about canceling out oiliness at the roots and adding hold without looking obviously shiny.
Tester feedback from social director Kassidy Silva
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"My husband and I have never fought over a beauty product until I brought home Fatboy’s Perfect Putty. It’s got great grip to help hold your style, no matter the length: I’ve used it from pixie to bixie to bob. And the matte finish lets you easily style day two without needing a wash." —Kassidy Silva, social director
Best Twisting Cream: Donna's Recipe Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair Cream
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Best Twisting Cream
Donna's Recipe Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair Cream
Amazon
Commerce production assistant Hailey Roy applies the Donna’s Recipe Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair Cream.
Hailey Roy
Why It Won: Sweet as pie with almost as much butter, but this time, it’s of the hair-loving, curl-softening variety. Made with all the yummy ingredients of an actual pie (sweet potatoes, vanilla, and cinnamon), along with mango and shea butters, Donna's Recipe Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair Cream treats coils to lots of frizz-smoothing, damage-preventing moisture, while the rich cream gives a soft, flexible hold to twist-outs that last for days. Plus, opening this jar is pure nostalgia with its sugary-spicy scent that’s reminiscent of an actual slice of pie. And, in keeping with the decadent theme, maple sap and sweet almond oil add extra hydration to condition and help prevent breakage. It’s easy as pie, and every bit as comforting.
Tester feedback from editor in chief Jessica Cruel
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"My biggest pet peeve is a twisting cream that has an overpowering scent. There are too many tropical fruits in the hair aisle! So I was skeptical when I first opened this sweet potato hair cream. Would it be sickly sweet and cloying? Not at all. It's actually very light and comforting. But the thing that keeps me going back again and again is the definition that it gives. Unlike gel, there is no crunchy cast or flaky bits. It leaves my coils soft and elongated for almost two weeks." —Jessica Cruel, editor in chief
Best At-Home Hair Color & Dye
Best Permanent Hair Color: eSalon Custom Hair Color Set
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Best Permanent Hair Color
eSalon Custom Hair Color Set
Amazon
Why It Won: You take a hair color quiz, upload a recent photo, and then actual, real, live colorists (not AI!) will creablend a custom blend for you, and handpick your application directions (choosing from 150 possible steps) based on the look you're after. The colorists are also available to field questions while you're mixing in the developer, say, or painting the color onto your hair. eSalon Custom Hair Color Set takes a lot of the guesswork out of at-home hair color, letting you achieve more professional-looking results on your own. And we're so grateful not to be staring at a wall full of chestnut browns and walnuts, trying to pick the best shade for our hair.
Tester feedback from contributor Liana Schaffner
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"It basically makes DIY at-home hair color foolproof—the beauty equivalent of a soufflé recipe that won't collapse below sea level.” —Liana Schaffner, contributor
Best Semi-Permanent Hair Color: Overtone Color Depositing Treatment Mask
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Best Semi-Permanent Hair Color
Overtone Color Depositing Treatment Mask
Amazon
Why It Won: This might be the easiest way to mix things up with your hair color: Overtone Color Depositing Treatment Mask is a semipermanent dye and conditioning hair mask in one. The glossy shades are designed to give a subtle color shift to brunettes or a more noticeable transformation to lighter or bleached hair, and come in natural-looking tones (Espresso Brown, Golden Brown, Auburn Brown) and more playful ones (Blue Lagoon, Smoky Lavender, Raspberry Pink). The application process—basically, put it on and rinse it out—is a lot like how you’d apply any hair mask (there's no mixing or brushing required). The results fade gradually over the course of two to three weeks, at which point you can reapply, go back to your original color, or try out a different tone: brunette with hints of rose, vivid violet, more than 30 in all. The range has an especially nuanced, artful assortment of colorful shades (there are multiple purples, for example, including silvery, smoky, pastel, and bright, to give you a feeling for the range here). Plus, each is infused with coconut, rosemary leaf, and jojoba oils to add shine and moisture, along with your new color.
Tester feedback from designer Briana Rengifo
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"One of the easiest hair dyes to use! I keep this on rotation as one of my favorites since it’s quick to apply and doesn't stain my neck or tub. And because it's a conditioner, it always leaves my hair soft, silky—and a totally new shade depending on my mood." —Briana Rengifo, designer
Best Semi-Permanent Hair Color for Grays: No Gray Quick Color Shampoo
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Best Semi-Permanent Hair Color for Grays
No Gray Quick Color Shampoo
Amazon
Why It Won: A shampoo…that covers grays…and the color lasts… Sounds too good to be true, right? That’s what we thought until we tried No Gray Quick Color Shampoo, which is really a hybrid of permanent hair dye and shampoo. (We’re not playing about the permanent hair dye part. You’re supposed to wear gloves on both hands when you use it. And even though it goes on dry hair, our testers liked applying it in the shower to avoid staining anything in their bathroom.) The bottle has a dual-chamber pump. One squirt, which is all you need for an application, dispenses your chosen color of dye from one side of the pump and a white lotion from the other, which is the developer (a standard hair-coloring step). It’s a little more involved than shampooing. You mix the two formulas in your hands, massage through dry hair, then rinse after 5 to 10 minutes, but it’s simpler than a lot of other at-home dyes for grays, which usually involve a mixing bowl, a special applicator, and are often only root touch-ups. So, if you’re game to use permanent color in the shower, know that our (no longer graying) testers were amazed at how well this covered their grays without changing the rest of their hair color. As one editor says, “I die for this. I was so, so happy.”
Tester feedback from senior manager of analytics & audience development Monica Perry
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"Once I started noticing grays coming in, I wanted to try the least damaging dye possible since I no longer chemically treat or style my natural hair. This vegan, ammonia-free, nonirritating shampoo has a dual chamber that dispenses a creamy cleanser strong enough to remove two days' worth of gel alongside a liquid dye that conceals every gray in just five minutes. The results last between two to three months depending on how often I wash my hair, but it’s been the easiest and healthiest option for the early stages of graying." —Monica Perry, senior manager, analytics & audience development
Best Hair Gloss: Kristin Ess Hair Signature Gloss
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Best Hair Gloss
Kristin Ess Hair Signature Gloss
Amazon
Why It Won: Whether your hair is dark or light, straight or curly, barely highlighted or bleached within an inch of its life, Kristin Ess Hair Signature Gloss makes even damaged or dry strands look shiny and healthy again. There’s a clear gloss, which can be used on any hair color without changing the shade, or 13 other shade-specific options (icy ash, golden blonde, rich auburn, dark chocolate brown) to brighten or tone your current look. The in-shower application process is super-easy (wet hair, mix bottles one and two, apply all over, wait about 20 minutes, then shampoo and condition) and the luminous results speak for themselves.
Tester feedback from senior beauty editor Jesa Marie Calaor
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"On days when my hair looks frizzy and dull, and I’m not ready for a true cut and refresh at a salon, I reach for this treatment in Crystal Quartz (the brand’s clear formula). In just 20 minutes, it revives shine and restores bounce, giving my hair a fresh-from-the-salon look for under $20!" —Jesa Marie Calaor, senior beauty editor
Best Root Coverage: Madison Reed The Great Cover Up Root Touch Up & Brow Filler
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Best Root Coverage
Madison Reed The Great Cover Up Root Touch Up & Brow Filler
Amazon
Executive beauty director Jenny Bailly applies the Madison Reed The Great Cover Up Root Touch Up & Brow Filler.
Jenny Bailly
Why It Won: If you're dealing with outgrown roots, are just starting to notice a few silvery strands, or have enough that you can no longer get away with plucking them, Madison Reed The Great Cover Up Root Touch-Up & Brow Filler hides grays in between color appointments—or in lieu of them. The grippy powder quickly (and temporarily) covers grays, as if you were painting eye shadow onto them, but it's got staying power. The color (which comes in six shades of blonde, brunette, red, and black) doesn't sweat off during workouts, run down your face if you're caught in the rain, or even rub off on your pillow while you're sleeping.
Tester feedback from executive beauty director Jenny Bailly
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"I’m doing the quiet silver thing but sometimes, in between balayage appointments (hi, Abby Haliti!), it starts to get a little loud. On those days (or weeks), I reach for this palette in Cascata + Pinoli-Blonde. The two shades blend to match my own multi-hued color and soften roots that have gone too gunmetal for my taste. And the coverup always lasts until my next shampoo." —Jenny Bailly, executive beauty director
Written by Elizabeth Siegel
How does Allure choose the best hair-care products for Best of Beauty?
Each year, Allure editors test a wide range of shampoos, conditioners, masks, stylers, oils, and scalp treatments on different hair types and textures. We evaluate how well each product performs over time, from moisture retention to frizz control, curl definition, shine, and manageability. Our winners are chosen based on real-world results, not marketing claims.
Are Best of Beauty hair-care winners safe for color-treated or damaged hair?
Yes, many of the winning formulas are sulfate-free, color-safe, or designed to repair and strengthen damaged strands. You’ll find bond-building treatments, deep-conditioning masks, and gentle cleansers that help maintain vibrancy, reduce breakage, and support chemically processed or over-styled hair.
Do these products work for all hair types and textures?
The hair-care winners include options tested on straight, wavy, curly, coily, and textured hair. Whether you’re looking for frizz control in humidity, volume for fine hair, moisture for dry curls, or scalp-soothing treatments, we’ve included picks that serve a wide range of needs and styling goals.
Are there affordable or salon-quality hair-care products in the Best of Beauty awards?
Yes, the winners include both budget-friendly drugstore staples and salon-level luxury treatments. We highlight standout formulas regardless of price point. For more options, check our Steals Winners and Splurges Winners lists, which feature top-tier finds across all beauty categories.
What kinds of hair-care products are included in the Best of Beauty awards?
This category features everything from clarifying shampoos and hydrating conditioners to curl creams, heat protectants, serums, scalp scrubs, and leave-in treatments. Each winner is selected for its ability to address common concerns like dryness, breakage, dullness, frizz, and buildup, across various hair types and lifestyles.
Like what you see from Allure's Best of Beauty Awards?
