Lather, rinse, repeat…. & so much more! Let’s dive into the rise of haircare & our top picks for elevating your routine
We’ve all heard of skincare as self-care, but what about haircare? It’s been on the rise and only set to grow further, with more and more haircare products making their way onto our bathroom shelves.* And with good reason!
Looking after your hair can help with self-confidence and be a relaxing part of your beauty routine or everything shower. Whether you’re trying out a new style or letting your waves, curls or coils be the centre of attention, when your hair is in good condition it can help you feel good as well as look your best.
The more you get to know your locks, the easier it is to work out what your hair goals are. And with haircare formulas as sophisticated as skincare, there’s plenty of products out there to help you reach your goals.
Here’s our round-up of the best haircare products for an ultimate wash-day routine. Plus, our top tips for taking care of your hair.
Shampoo
It’s hard to beat the feeling of freshly washed hair, and the key to getting your wash day off to the best start is a great quality shampoo.
Just like in your skincare routine, you may wish to double cleanse with your shampoo – one round to get out surface-level dirt and a second round to deeply cleanse and remove any last trace of greasiness.
Whichever shampoo you choose, simply massage it into your scalp and down the lengths of your hair until it forms a lather, then rinse it out.
If you’re wondering how often you should wash your hair, we’ve got all the answers here from a top trichologist.
Whether you’re looking for a shampoo to help with dry hair, or the best shampoo for coloured hair, here are some of our favourites.
Best shampoo for dry hair
Try: REDKEN All Soft Shampoo For Dry Hair, With Argan Oil
• Size: 300ml
Smooth strands are all yours! Enriched with argan oil, this hydrating and hair softening shampoo instantly detangles and replenishes moisture, making it the perfect option for rescuing dry, brittle hair.
Best shampoo for coloured hair
Try: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo for Coloured or Highlighted Hair
• Size: 250ml
This caring shampoo is enriched with red peony and a UV filter to help protect coloured or highlighted hair. The silky formula nourishes hair fibres while the light reflecting system brings out the vibrance and radiance of your colour.
Best shampoo for coily hair
Try: Function of Beauty Custom Coily Hair Shampoo
• Size: 325ml
• Vegan**
• PETA-approved cruelty-free
92% naturally-derived, this gentle foaming shampoo has been specifically formulated for coily hair and contains flaxseed oil to help moisturise your scalp while caring for strands. Customise this shampoo base further to help reach your hair goals by mixing in up to three of Function of Beauty’s 10 Hair Goal Booster Shots. For coily hair, try mixing in Deep Condition, Curl Definition, and Strengthen Hair Goals.
Scalp care
Scalp care is just as important as strand care when it comes to taking care of your locks. Using a scalp scrub once a week can help to get rid of dead skin cells and promote a healthy-feeling scalp environment. You could also try a scalp brush to help massage in your products evenly and help improve circulation. Here are some of our top scalp care picks.
Best moisturising scalp scrub
Try: OUAI Scalp & Body Scrub St Barts
• Size: 250g
Scalp need a OUAI-cation? This deep-cleansing, sugar scrub exfoliates product buildup from your scalp and smooths out dry skin, all while nourishing and moisturising. Plus, its limited-edition St. Barts scent is a one-OUAI trip to the tropics.
Best premium scalp scrub
Try: AVEDA Scalp Solutions Exfoliating Scalp Treatment
• Size: 150ml
• Vegan**
• PETA-certified cruelty-free
If you haven’t discovered the wonder of AVEDA hair products yet, now’s your chance. This skincare-inspired liquid gel exfoliant instantly removes oil, product buildup and surface pollution without disrupting the scalp’s barrier. Salicylic acid and glucosamine work together to exfoliate while instantly creating a cooling sensation.
Best muti-tasking scalp brush
Try: Manta Original Healthy Hair & Scalp Brush
• Use on wet or dry hair
• Suitable for all hair types & extensions wearers
This innovative 4-in-1 brush detangles, exfoliates, massages and helps evenly distribute treatments and shampoo. As gentle as running your fingers through your hair, its flexible design creates less tension on every strand for minimum breakage while gently exfoliating your scalp for maximum shine. It also works wonders at styling ponytails, buns and waves.
Hair masks
Whether your hair is parched, damaged or just in need of some TLC, a hair mask can work wonders at adding that moisture and shine back into your locks. There are plenty to choose from depending on your hair concerns or goals. Here are some you might like.
Best hair mask for dry hair
Try: Garnier Ultimate Blends Hair Food Banana 3-in-1 Dry Hair Mask Treatment
• Size: 400ml
• Vegan**
• Cruelty Free International-approved
Feed dry hair the nourishment it craves with this indulgent multi-use mask. Enriched with vitamins C, E and F along with shea butter and natural oils, you can use it on wet hair as an extra step before your conditioner, or apply it to the ends of your hair and leave on for long-lasting moisture.
Best hair mask for glossy hair
Try: TYPEBEA G4 Hydra-Gloss Treatment Mask
Deliver instant shine to thirsty locks with this hydrating treatment mask. The does-it-all formula contains a perfect blend of ceramides, argan oil, shea butter and hyaluronic acid to help strengthen, and moisturise strands for a glossy, mega-watt shine in minutes.
Best hair mask for curly hair
Try: Flora & Curl Rose Water Molasses Moisture Mask
• Size: 300ml
Say hello to a new level of hydration for your curls. Powered by the natural richness of raw sugar molasses and honey, this intensive hair treatment rescues dry and damaged curls, leaving them feeling soft and smooth. The addition of marshmallow root extract helps detangle knots to add extra slip and a silky shine.
Leave-in conditioner, hair treatments & serums
While your regular conditioner should do a great job of keeping strands soft and smooth, sometimes your hair may need some extra care. That’s the time to go in with something like a leave-in conditioner, treatment or targeted serum. Here are some of our favourites.
Best leave-in conditioner
Try: OUAI Leave In Conditioner
• Size: 140ml
A true OUAI icon, this leave-in conditioner comes in a handy mist format that’s easy to spray onto hair after washing.It reduces frizz and flyaways, leaving hair smooth and silky with the added bonus of providing heat protection, ready for styling.
Best hair treatment for dry hair
Try: Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Deep Conditioning Treatment
• Size: 150ml
Give your hair a supercharged boost of elasticity, moisture and strength with this pre-shampoo treatment. Nutrient-rich and oh-so creamy, it helps prevent breakage while leaving hair bouncy, silky and shiny without weighing it down.
Best hair repair spray
Try: Wella Professionals Ultimate Repair Miracle Hair Rescue Spray for All Types of Hair Damage
• Size: 30ml
• Vegan**
Formulated with AHA to rebuild bonds inside the hair and omega-9 to replenish the outside barrier of the hair cuticle, this easy-to-apply spray helps repair damaged hair while coating strands in a layer of protection to help reduce further damage. It also instantly detangles and leaves locks looking shiny and smooth.
Heat protection
It goes without saying that heat protection is an absolute must when styling your hair to help avoid damaging your locks. Whether you’re styling curly hair, weakened hair or hair extensions, here are some protection sprays to try.
Best heat protection spray for curls
Try: Mark Hill Pick 'N' Mix™ Curl Lock Heat Protection Spray
• Size: 300ml
What a curl wants, what a curl needs is this heat protection spray packed with hyaluronic acid to help hydrate, reduce frizz and leave a glossy finish. The salon-approved formula protects hair from temperatures up to 230 degrees, while providing hold to help curls stay styled for longer.
Best heat protection spray for hair extensions
Try: Beauty Works Heat Protection Spray
• Size: 250ml
Help extend the lifespan of your hair extensions with this lightweight formula. It’s designed for those who style their hair extensions daily and can be sprayed on wet hair before blow drying to help minimise colour fade and heat damage.
Best all-rounder heat protection spray
Try: Matrix Miracle Creator 20 Total Results
• Size: 190ml
This multi-tasking spray not only helps protect from heat damage, it also detangles, reduces dryness and flyaways, boosts shine and helps prep hair for styling. Simply spray it on damp hair, comb through until all of your hair is coated and style as usual.
Hair oil
From using as a pre-shampoo treatment to taming frizz after styling or scrunching into waves, curls and coils, hair oils are easy to incorporate into your routine and are a great way to add nourishment and shine. Here are some of our top hair oil picks.
Best multi-tasking hair oil
Try: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Hair Oil for All Hair
• Size: 50ml
Enriched with a blend of six flower extracts this non-greasy oil leaves hair looking soft and shiny. The ultra-versatile formula can be used before shampooing and styling or as a finishing touch to smooth away flyaways and add a luxurious layer of shine.
Best hair oil for coloured hair
Try: OUAI Hair Oil
• Size: 45ml
This multi-tasking oil helps reduce frizz, leaving a high-gloss, super-smooth finish. It’s packed with caring African galanga, ama and Asian borage oils, plus a UV filter to help protect hair from the sun’s rays and help prevent colour from fading.
Best hair oil for shine
Try: ARKIVE The Good Habit Hybrid Oil
• Size: 50ml
• Vegan**
• Leaping Bunny certified cruelty-free
With a hybrid oil-serum formula, enhanced with baobab and jojoba oils, this lightweight formula is designed to nourish your whole head and leave hair soft and shiny. Apply it to freshly washed and conditioned hair that’s still damp by working it from root to tip and combing through for an even distribution. Or, use it after styling as a finishing touch.
Find even more favourites and complete your routine by shopping our full range of hair products.
