Tested by The haircare and styling world has evolved exponentially in the last decade, from a one-product-fits-all approach to myriad solutions tailored to specific hair textures, types, and needs. Now there are more options than ever, from shampoos, conditioners, and treatments (for the scalp too!) to styling serums, creams, mousses, and sprays to haircolor products and the ever-expanding category of hair tools that become more high-tech by the minute. Whether you like to wash and go, create the perfect DIY salon-level style, or do something in between, these winners will enhance your hair routine.
This "luscious,” antioxidant-infused Dove shampoo and conditioner set helps prevent and repair daily damage from the sun and more, restoring silkiness and luster.
TEST RESULTS: The duo scored highest for lathering well and leaving strands clean, soft, smooth, shiny, and feeling stronger. “I paint house exteriors in Florida, and this strengthened and smoothed my brittle, sun-beaten hair,” a tester marveled. Another exclaimed, “My parched strands really drank this up!”
Vichy is harnessing ingredients used in its skincare products (peptides, alpha hydroxy acids) to make big waves in haircare, including this shampoo and conditioner set, which both thickens and strengthens strands.
TEST RESULTS: Testers ranked it highest for increasing hair’s volume, leaving strands feeling stronger, and making hair more manageable. “My hair felt fuller after using these, and I noticed a difference in the amount of breakage,” a user reported. Another tester agreed: “I have tried several products for my hair breakage, and this is the first that has worked.”
The “creamy” Tresemmé shampoo and conditioner, an excellent value for the large bottles, rival pricey salon brands in their haircolor protection and conditioning capabilities.
TEST RESULTS: This set ranked near the top in GH Beauty Lab color fade-resistance tests and was best at conditioning in the wet-combing test with the Instron machine. A full 100% of users said the shampoo lathered well and cleansed fully. A tester said her “hair color seemed to stay vibrant,” while another raved, “My hair was so soft and shiny using these products.”
A longtime staple, Batiste’s dry shampoo was a top performer in GH Beauty Lab testing for instantly refreshing hair and extending the life of styles between washes.
TEST RESULTS: Testers found the product easy to apply and brush out; liked that it didn’t leave a powdery, dulling cast on hair; and praised the “clean” scent. “There was no white or sticky residue—my hair looked like it was just washed, and it gave nice body,” a tester noted.
Bur Bur’s intensive treatment drenches strands in an extensive list of plant oils, butters, and extracts to counteract brittleness and dullness.
TEST RESULTS: The mask performed well at gliding on and rinsing off effortlessly and making hair feel softer, more moisturized, and noticeably shinier yet not weighed down. “My hair is long, graying, and thinning with age, and I was impressed by how much this moisturized and improved the texture and shine—I will definitely purchase it,” a tester reported.
Kerasilk’s innovative rinse-off treatment, made to be used in place of conditioner, gives dehydrated hair a drink in a water-light liquid form.
TEST RESULTS: Consumer testers agreed that it made their strands feel moisturized and soft as well as appear polished and less damaged. They raved about how it left their hair “very soft,” “less frizzy,” and “more manageable.” Two reported that their hair looked as if they had “just stepped out of the salon.”
This water-light serum from Pantene harnesses skincare ingredients like niacinamide and antioxidants to treat scalp skin and encourage healthy hair growth.
TEST RESULTS: GH’s beauty director applied the serum to areas of her scalp that experienced postpartum hair shedding and appreciated how it “soaked in instantly and left no residue even on dry hair.” The formula “is on par with luxury products, and everything from the amazing scent to the glass dropper bottle made me look forward to using it,” she said.
As its name implies, this Milk Shake leave-in conditioner spray not only smells “sweet” like vanilla but also silkens strands with milk proteins and plant butters.
TEST RESULTS: It rated high for its “not too thick” texture, being lightweight on hair, and making strands appear sleek and less frizzy. “It helped smooth my hair, define my curls, detangle easily, and reduce splitting,” a tester commented. “It made my routine simpler while leaving my hair looking and feeling healthier.” Two other users said they liked “everything about this product.”
Unlike some hair oils that can be heavy, Dyson’s “silky” blend of 13 plant oils from argan to avocado gives strands a “soft, healthy glow” while leaving them bouncy.
TEST RESULTS: The formula, which can be applied on damp or dry hair, got perfect ratings nearly across the board: for effortless application; making hair supple, polished, and shiny; not leaving a residue; and, surprisingly, giving hair movement and body. “I was genuinely impressed—this is one of the rare hair oils that actually adds shine without making hair feel greasy or weighed down,” a tester marveled. Another called it “one of the best I have used—it gives my dry ends the moisture they desperately need.”
This double-duty Redken serum with softening squalane and strengthening citric acid can be used as a leave-in or touch-up during the day or as a repair treatment overnight.
TEST RESULTS: Testers ranked it high for its “perfume-like” scent, leaving hair smooth, and reducing frizz. They raved about its transformative effects, saying, “It gave my very dry curls so much nourishment”; “My split ends looked much nicer”; and “My crunchy hair came alive, like it repaired itself—the softness came back and dead ends weren’t an issue.”
Slick on a few drops of this nongreasy Matrix serum to shield strands against pouf and help styles last.
TEST RESULTS: Testers were “very impressed" with the product, giving it high marks for leaving hair sleek, frizz-free, supple, and glossy but not weighed down. They also rated it tops for being simple to apply and extending the life of their hairstyles. “My hair frizzes easily, and this kept it smooth even in humidity,” one said. Another exclaimed, "It made my hair so silky and shiny!"
Mimic a pro blowout in your bathroom by spritzing on this lightweight John Frieda mist with added heat protection.
TEST RESULTS: It got perfect ratings in many respects, from adding shine and silkiness to keeping frizz tamed and not weighing down hair with residue. “The best I’ve tried for a smooth blowout that lasted several days,” a user enthused. “It replaced three products I had been using!”
Like a mascara wand for your hair, this genius Rizos Curls tube holds a styling cream for targeted smoothing and discreet touch-ups anytime, anywhere.
TEST RESULTS: All testers were satisfied with the styler’s performance and said they would continue using it. Three users raved that it “worked wonders” at taming flyways. Other praise included “It was easy to use” and “There was no shiny or clumpy residue.”
Shield your hairstyle from frizz and sets its shape with this “light” KMS finishing spray, a GH Beauty Lab tester favorite.
TEST RESULTS: The formula worked well at controlling frizz and blocking humidity, testers found. “It helped keep my hair smooth and styled,” one said. Another marveled that unlike other sprays that “leave a film that weighs down hair,” this felt “like there [was] nothing” on their hair.
Cutting-edge Good Housekeeping Seal Star Clairol works DIY dye miracles: It contains a special combination of ingredients and an applicator comb to color hair in record time while minimizing damage and odor.
TEST RESULTS: The formula colored gray hair samples fully in just 10 minutes in GH Beauty Lab testing. Lab scientists found that the color was rich and even and hair was noticeably softer to the touch, visibly shinier, and easier to style.
Created especially for silver hair, AgeBeautiful’s toner gives gray strands a glow and neutralizes brassy tones; it comes in three shade options.
TEST RESULTS: GH’s beauty lab director tested this on her gray hair that had become dull and yellowed and found the process easy, quick, and not messy. The toner “brought my hair very close to its natural color, imparted a silver tone, and canceled the yellow,” she reported.
Powerful yet sleek, this SRI hairdryer—with a foldable handle—blew away the competition in GH Beauty Lab tests, delivering polished blowouts in no time.
TEST RESULTS: It was the best at drying hair fast and leaving strands smooth and frizz-free. Testers found the magnetic attachments (two concentrators and a diffuser are included) effortless to put on and take off. They also gave it points for its quality construction, light weight, and wide temperature range. “My hair was so smooth and shiny, it looked like a professional blowout,” a tester marveled.
This “durable” Conair hairdryer is compact enough for travel but proved strong enough for everyday use in GH Beauty Lab evaluations.
TEST RESULTS: In our lab’s instrumental tests, it received the highest score for maximum measured air speed and airflow and came out near the top for its rate of drying. Among consumer testers, 100% agreed that it was high-quality, felt safe and didn’t burn skin, and left hair smooth. “It was easy to pack in my small carry-on suitcase for travel,” a tester said. Another raved, “I am obsessed—this dryer left my long, thick, curly hair soft and shiny with minimal frizz.”
Blowdry hair and smooth, volumize, or curl it at the same time with Revlon’s lightweight styling tool, which comes with three brush attachments (a larger round brush volumizer, a smaller round brush root booster, and a paddle brush).
TEST RESULTS: Testers gave it perfect marks for being simple to operate, not heavy, customizable, and gentle on hair. “This was a thousand times easier than a traditional hairdryer,” one user raved. “You don’t need to do acrobatics to get a blowout.”
The groundbreaking Dyson multi-styler that can dry, curl, wave, smooth, stretch, or diffuse hair gets an even higher-tech upgrade with an app that tailors heat, airflow, and timing to your hair type as well two extra attachments for textured strands (a barrel with a tapered tip for tighter curls and a diffuser with two modes for softer or more defined shape).
TEST RESULTS: Testers with curly hair gave the styler perfect ratings for its simple-to-operate controls and magnetic attachments (it also includes a speed dryer, a wide-tooth comb, and a smoothing brush), airflow consistency, and being gentle. “The attachments are perfect for my coily hair type,” a tester remarked. Another user praised it for easily creating both “natural-looking curls” and “smooth, shiny looks.”
Styling cascading curls is a cinch thanks to this one-inch Babyliss curling iron with an extended wand that works for a variety of hair lengths.
TEST RESULTS: The tool got the best scores among those tested for heating up fast, having simple-to-navigate controls, and being easy to maneuver. It also is lightweight, at a little more than half a pound. Expert evaluators appreciated the long handle and barrel— “great for wrapping hair around, especially long hair,” one noted.
This hot round brush from BondiBoost uses infrared light to gently heat dry hair, helping create loose waves, soft curls, or a smooth style.
TEST RESULTS: It was effortless to operate, heated up quickly, left hair feeling soft and looking shiny, and formed curls that stayed well throughout the day. “This gave me a pro blowout look that I would never be able to achieve by blowdrying my own hair—the ends curled under nicely, and I had great volume and bounce,” a tester commented. “It was as simple as brushing my hair with a round brush.”
The wide two-inch plates of this state-of-the-art GHD hair straightener make it a breeze to speedily smooth large swaths of hair up to the roots.
TEST RESULTS: This model received perfect scores in an impressive 11 categories, from ease of use to performance and results. It heated up fast and created the desired smooth look without snagging or burning hair. A tester loved that this “got hot in seconds” and made hair “shinier and smoother compared to others.” Another user "only needed a few passes” with the flat iron, which she said was the best she had ever used.
Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
Danusia (she/her) is a senior chemist in the Beauty and Personal Care Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute where she evaluates haircare, skincare, cosmetics and beauty tools. She holds a B.S. in chemistry from St. John’s University and a M.S. in pharmaceutical sciences with concentration in cosmetic science from the University of Cincinnati. Danusia has over 15 years of experience in the personal care industry including formulation, product development, claim evaluation and performance testing. The number one skincare rule she lives by: never go to bed with makeup on.
Chiara (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Beauty and Personal Care Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she’s been doing hands-on testing of beauty products since 2022. She also covers aesthetic treatments like injectables and lasers. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Columbia University. Before joining GH, she worked as a cosmetic chemist, formulating skincare products for a variety of brands and learning to decode ingredient lists, evaluate ingredient efficacy and scrutinize product claims. When not at GH, you can find her wandering the beauty aisles of the drugstore.
