We want every day to be a good hair day, so we’re setting you up with the ultimate building blocks for your best haircare routine ever. From basics like shampoo and conditioner to add-on treatments that address lackluster strands (or even lashes!), we’re excited to present our carefully selected trove of haircare gems.
Best Hair Oil
Chris McMillan The Glassy Smooth Hair Oil
Chris McMillan
The Lightweight Glassy Hair Oil Mist for Shine
Our testers love how versatile this hair oil is. It works its magic on every hair type and texture and delivers the glassiest glow to the strands. The formula is fortified with key ingredients like wheat oil, moringa oil, and HS3 to add hydration and shine while simultaneously smoothing frizz and adding heat protection up to 450°F.
Why experts love it: “I love how this instantly absorbs into the hair and leaves no oily residue. I love that it adds a shiny, glass-like finish without weighing the hair down.” — Justine Marjan, Celebrity Hairstylist
“Really impressed by how lightweight this feels while still giving the hair incredible shine and smoothness. It helps tame frizz beautifully without sacrificing movement or making the hair feel coated.” — Candace Marino, Founder of The L.A. Facialist
Before and after senior beauty editor Jamie Chevron used Chris McMillan’s Glassy Smooth Hair Oil
Best Styling Cream for Waves & Curls
Woody’s Cream of Waves
This cream proved itself as an elite styling companion for anyone with waves or curls in our testing circle. The formula features plant-based proteins and natural extracts to smooth, strengthen, and professionally shape wavy and curly strands without crunch or stickiness.
Best Heat Protectant
Cécred Thermal Shield Mist
CÉCRED
Thermal Shield Mist
Heat protectant is absolutely pivotal if you’re using hot tools, but if you don’t like the way it feels on your hair (let’s face it—most formulas feel heavy or leave behind unwanted residue), you’re probably going to skip it. This lightweight mist from Cécred stands up to 450-degree heat, humidity, and pollution with ease while giving you the soft, glossy, and utterly residue-free hair of your dreams.
Why experts love it: “Some heat protectants can feel heavy, siliconey, or leave buildup on the hair, but this formula strikes a much more elegant balance. Cécred’s Thermal Shield Mist delivers lightweight heat protection while still supporting the overall integrity of the hair fiber at high temperatures up to 450°. I love that it’s formulated with humectants and conditioning agents to help maintain softness and flexibility, never weighing the hair down or compromising movement. The humidity protection is also so key on warm summer days. Overall, I recommend it.” — Caroline Robinson, MD, Board-Certified Dermatologist and Founder of Tone
“Heat protection that doesn’t leave hair feeling coated or weighed down is surprisingly rare. This actually shields without the heavy silicone feel that most thermal protectants have. If you’re using hot tools regularly (and most people are), this is the kind of preventative care that matters more than the repair products you’ll need later if you skip it.” — Sophie Carbonari, Celebrity Aesthetician
Best Shampoo
Rahua Aloe Vera Shampoo
Shopping for a good shampoo should feel basic and easy, which is why we are consistently shocked by how many formulas we kind of hate. Sorry! This gentle and calming blend from Rahua pleasantly surprised us. First of all, the light cucumber scent feels like a spa day bottled, and the soothing blend of aloe vera, witch hazel, cucumber extract, and guayusa leaf tackles nearly every strand and scalp woe on our list. Our scalps felt more balanced and less aggravated, and our strands fresh and clean without feeling stripped. It’s scalp- and haircare in one.
Best Conditioner
Rahua Aloe Vera Conditioner
Rahua
Aloe Vera Conditioner
We highly recommend pairing this conditioner with its sister shampoo above. It also features aloe vera as the hero ingredient, is gentle on the scalp and hair, and boasts additional rainforest-sourced oils like rahua, morete, and sacha inchi for luxuriously thorough hydration and conditioning.
Best Scalp Scrub
Rōz Salt Scalp Scrub
Thanks to the strategic mix of physical exfoliation (Himalayan and Bolivian salt) and chemical exfoliation (AHAs and BHAs), this scrub delivers unbeatable purification to both scalp and strands. It’s pH-balanced and color-safe and has extra additions of caffeine and rosemary to stimulate healthy hair growth.
Why experts love it: “This is a must to remove buildup and give your scalp a refresh. I suggest using once a week to restore volume to the roots and give the hair a fresh base for the week ahead.” — Marjan
“This scrub is gentle and perfect to use before a big event (wedding/red carpet) where your hair and scalp need to be in tip-top shape.” — Bridget Brager, Celebrity Hairstylist
“This is one of the few scalp scrubs that feels both effective and elevated. It deeply cleanses without stripping the hair and leaves the scalp feeling refreshed while still maintaining softness and shine through the lengths.” — Renée Loiz, Celebrity Makeup Artist
“Love how refreshing and balanced this scalp scrub feels. It exfoliates effectively without irritating the scalp. This is something I’ve been incorporating since getting a scalp analysis at a head spa, and it’s totally changed my scalp health.” — Marino
Best Overnight Repair
Crown Affair The Overnight Repair Serum
Crown Affair
The Overnight Repair Serum
We don’t know about you, but when it comes to hair products, we like maximum payoff with minimal effort, and this beautiful overnight treatment from Crown Affair answers that call. We combed it through our dry hair before going to bed at night and woke up to shinier, softer, and stronger hair.
Why experts love it: “This is such an easy way to transform your hair with minimal effort. Just one simple thing to add to your routine with great hair-health benefits.” — Marjan
“This is such a nice overnight treatment for dry or stressed hair. It leaves the hair feeling softer, healthier, and more manageable by morning without any heavy residue.” — Marino
Best Texturizing Spray
Dae Fairy Blaster Dry Texturizing Spray
Dae
Fairy Blaster Dry Texturizing Spray
One part dry shampoo, one part dry texture spray, this innovative formula easily builds lightweight volume in the hair while absorbing any excess oil lurking at the scalp and roots. A dream multitasker!
Why experts love it: “I love the soft, feathery finish this gives the hair soft texture and body.” — Marjan
Associate beauty editor Alyssa Brascia testing Dae’s Fairy Blaster Dry Texturizing Spray
Best Thickening Product
Dr. Groot Hair Thickening Shampoo
Dr. Groot
Hair Thickening Shampoo
This shampoo has become a star K-beauty formula in our lineup. The formula is infused with strategic ingredients—such as biotin, rosemary, prebiotics, and caffeine—to encourage healthy new hair growth while pumping the breaks on breakage-induced hair loss. Our testers noticed extra volume and appreciated the color-safe formula.
Best Hair Gel
Garnier Fructis Flexi Hold Curls Moisturizing Gel
Garnier Fructis
Flexi Hold Curls Moisturizing Gel
Flexible hold doesn’t always mean long-lasting hold, but this gel from Garnier is one of the exceptions. The breakthrough formula provides a whopping 100 hours of hydration and bounce without any crunch, stickiness, or heavy residue.
Best Shine Treatment
Joico Dream Blowout Glass
Joico
Dream Blowout Glass 72Hr Frizz Fighter
Think of this heat-activated spray as a powerful force field that protects strands from humidity, heat, and any of their side effects you’re trying to avoid. One application offers an impressive 72 hours of humidity and frizz control and heat protection up to 400°F.
Best Leave-In
Davines OI All in One Milk
Davines
OI All in One Hair Milk
This is one of the best leave-in products that we’ve ever tested to achieve soft and healthy hair. It has a satisfying milky consistency that instantly delivers thermal protection and detangling aid to damp hair. Its all-star ingredient list includes antioxidant-rich roucou oil, deeply nourishing provitamin B5, and a functional amino complex to fortify fragile strands with strength and resilience.
Why experts love it: “This is a staple for so many hairstylists to restore hair health and give a soft, healthy finish. I love using after washing [and] before styling to keep the hair healthy and soft.” — Marjan
“A standout multitasking product. It detangles, softens, and protects the hair while leaving it looking polished and healthy.” — Marino
Best Hair Spray
L’Oréal
Elnett Satin Extra Strong Hold Light Hairspray
Name a more iconic hair spray—we’ll wait! The unique microdiffusion technology coats hair in an ultrafine mist that instantly disappears for easy styling with zero crunch or stickiness.
Why experts love it: “I am a hair spray user for life, and this is the one I will recommend forever, especially for those who are afraid to use it. It provides hold without being crunchy, and I feel like it’s the secret to maintaining volume in my styles throughout the day.” — Lila Childs, Makeup Artist
Best Bond-Building Treatment
Olaplex No.3Plus Complete Repair Treatment
Olaplex
No.3Plus Complete Repair Treatment
Our team already had a lot of love for Olaplex’s original No.3 treatment, but this new iteration managed to impress us even more. It’s specifically designed to repair damage to all three hair bonds in the hair’s inner structure and surface while also offering instant gratification in the softening and breakage-reducing arenas. Simply apply it to damp hair in the shower for three minutes pre-shampoo, and enjoy the results post-wash.
Why experts love it: “I love and have recommended the original Olaplex No. 3, and the new Plus treatment does not disappoint in look, feel, or function. It’s designed to support the hair at a deeper level by targeting disrupted disulfide bonds caused by chemical processing, heat, and mechanical stress. The texture is rich without feeling overly heavy, and with consistent use, hair feels stronger, more resilient, and noticeably less prone to breakage. It has a place in my routine.” — Robinson
Best Styling Stick
Oribe Supershine Smoothing Wax Stick
Oribe
Supershine Smoothing Wax Stick
Trust us when we say that this is the chicest styling stick on the market. It effortlessly glides over the hair to smooth, slick, and add shine, but thanks to the flexible hold and high-quality ingredient profile, it feels more like a luxurious hair treatment than a styling stick. We loved that we could easily brush our hair out post-style, and our strands still felt soft and nourished, not crunchy or greasy.
Why experts love it: “I love that this stick offers precise, clean flyaway control without the messiness and allows you to finish your hair like you just stepped out of a magazine.” — Brager
“This is what happens when a product does exactly one thing extremely well instead of promising everything. It smooths flyaways without making hair look greasy or product-heavy. The stick format gives you control. You’re not overapplying or getting product where you don’t want it. I appreciate products that understand less is more. This does.” — Carbonari
Beauty Director Erin Jahns applying Oribe’s Supershine Smoothing Wax Stick
Best Dry Shampoo
Ouai Super Dry Shampoo
Ouai
Super Dry Invisible Dry Shampoo
We deeply appreciate a dry shampoo that smells amazing, but we also need it to instantly refresh our style and sop up any oil and grease hanging out around our roots. This formula from Ouai kept our hair looking, feeling, and smelling fresh for a full week. Think bergamot, lychee, white musk, and champagne
Why experts love it: “Not only does this smell amazing, but also it instantly absorbs oil and buildup, making the hair fresh for styling or refreshing for the day. Keep in your bag for after the gym!” — Marjan
“I’m generally skeptical of dry shampoos. Most either leave white residue or don’t actually absorb oil. They just mask it with fragrance. This one actually works. The texture is fine enough to disappear, the absorption is real, and it doesn’t create that crispy buildup that makes hair look worse by day three. For clients who wash less frequently (which I actually recommend for scalp health), this bridges the gap without compromising the hair or creating that ‘I’m covering up not washing’ texture.” — Carbonari
“I’ve tried so many dry shampoos over the years, and this is one I always come back to. It actually makes my hair feel clean without leaving that heavy buildup or white cast, and it gives the perfect amount of volume and texture.” — Brittney Boyce, Celebrity Nail Artist and Cofounder of Lost Angels
Assistant beauty editor Sabrina Talbert applying Ouai’s Super Dry Shampoo
Best Hair Mask
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Ultimate Reset Strengthening Hair Mask
Shu Uemura Art of Hair
Ultimate Reset Strengthening Hair Mask
It might sound dramatic, but this mask is so effective it almost felt like we had an entirely new head of hair. It’s an innovative formula that quite literally addresses everything—from damage and split ends to tangles and dullness. It’s commercial-level hair, bottled.
Why experts love it: “After my recent trip to Japan, I discovered Shu Uemura products. The hair mask is a new favorite of mine because it pairs rich emollients and conditioning agents with Japanese rice extract, a traditional ingredient valued for its amino acids, minerals, and protective properties that help support softness and shine. The formula helps improve softness, manageability, and elasticity, especially after repeated heat or chemical stress.” — Robinson
“I am absolutely obsessed with this mask and recommend it to all my clients. I love how soft it leave the hair and the silky finish it leaves in the shower.” — Marjan
Best Eyelash Serum
Sweed Beauty Eyelash Growth Serum
Sweed Beauty
Eyelash Growth Serum
There are plenty of eyelash serums that work, but most are irritating and intolerable. This formula from Scandinavian brand Sweed is less irritating, vegan, and prostaglandin-free. And yes, it still delivers the lush and full lash line we’re looking for in as little as four to six weeks.
Why experts love it: “As a decade-long victim of lash extensions, this serum is the only one that actually helped me rehab my lashes without irritating the skin on my eyelids. I was amazed at how quickly this serum worked after trying multiple brands that didn’t work. I really appreciate how gentle yet effective this formula is around the eyes. It helps support the growth of fuller, longer lashes while keeping them conditioned and healthy over time.” — Marino
Best Serum for Hair Growth
Verb Density Peptide Hair Serum
Verb
Density Peptide Hair Serum
The hair-growth and scalp-serum sector has become a dizzying display of options over the years, and we’ve tested our fair share of them. There are many great formulas, but Verb’s Density Peptide Hair Serum set itself apart this year. Utilizing the brand’s signature density complex, biopeptides, ginseng-root extract, and niacinamide, the formula works to visibly increase hair density while minimizing hair thinning over time.
Beauty editor Kaitlyn McLintock applying Verb’s Density Peptide Hair Serum
