GHI Beauty Hall of Fame Awards haircare winners 2024

Score: 85/100

This sulphate-free shampoo is designed to wash away chemicals that can dull your colour, and our panellists were impressed. “It gave my hair a thorough clean without stripping the oils – instead it felt soft and nourished,” said one tester. Everyone found it easy to use, with the majority agreeing it left their hair feeling more hydrated. It didn’t irritate the scalp or leave any residue either.

Score: 82/100

This bond repair shampoo is designed to protect and restore damaged hair, caused by everything we put it through –heat styling, sun exposure and scraping it into a bun, for a start. Our panellists said it was creamy and smooth and lathered perfectly. The scent was also a big hit, with one tester telling us it “smelt divine, like apples.” It feels luxurious for the price, and it didn’t leave behind any residue. Lengths looked more hydrated, less greasy and more healthy after use.

Score: 82/100

Formulated with sulphate-free surfactants (which are gentler on the hair and skin), this shampoo aims to help strengthen thinning hair and add a healthy dose of volume. OGX says it’s “on a mission to help you fall in love with your natural hair” and it succeeded for most of our testers, who had a wide range of hair types. In fact, almost everyone who tried it said this added fullness to their ’do.

Score: 88/100

Our panel confirmed that this conditioner from the holistic haircare experts at Philip Kingsley delivers on its promise: softer, stronger, more bouncy hair. They praised the “gorgeous” scent and quality packaging, and said it hydrated without weighing their hair down. “This lightweight formula is perfect for someone like me who has straight, fine hair; it left it super soft and shiny,” said one happy tester.

Score: 87/100

Pantene’s bond repair conditioner uses biotin to help reverse damage caused by heat styling and colouring, and its performance belied its affordable price tag. It left our testers’ hair softer and shinier and helped minimise frizz, with one ‘dye-hard’ colour fan saying it made their hair look healthier. The only quibble? “I wish the bottle was bigger,” said one tester.

Score: 86/100

This conditioner is formulated with the K18 peptide, which the brand claims reduces protein loss, helping to strengthen hair. It also contains polysaccharide – a biomolecule that alleviates any inflammation around hair follicles, helping to promote new hair growth and shield against UV rays, pollution and even heat styling. Testers said it left their hair “thick, shiny, and not frizzy”, with no “stickiness or unpleasant smell”.

Score: 90/100

Living up to the promise of transforming strands from parched to quenched, this mask left almost all our testers with healthier-looking hair. They said their locks felt more nourished, smoother and less frizzy after leaving it on for just three minutes. Everybody said its spreadable texture was ideal for working into their ends, too.

Score: 89/100

Celebrity hair stylist Chris Appleton has collaborated with Colour Wow on this deep conditioning mask, delivered in a gorgeous aqua blue pot. It contains blue sea kale and a sea kelp and algae blend that helps to strengthen and draw in moisture, with a bonus layer of heat protection. Our panel loved the mask’s “scoopable” consistency and the glossy, “swishy” results.

Score: 87/100

This offering from Black-owned beauty brand Bouclème impressed our panel, making their tresses look and feel noticeably more nourished and bouncy. One tester couldn't stop raving about their new “soft and juicy” hair. It left strands smooth and most testers agreed it relieved any dryness. Everyone loved its creamy consistency, too.

Score: 88/100

Glycolic acid is known for its hydrating benefits in our skincare, and it does a similar job in this gloss. The formula penetrates deep into the hair’s fibre to boost strength while also working to seal cuticles. After leaving it on for just five minutes (the perfect opportunity to squeeze in a leg shave), it delivers super glossy and hydrated hair, according to our panel.

Score: 88/100

If you're looking for a quick refresh between salon visits, or a temporary change of shade, then Wella’s colour mask is a great place to start. It combines conditioning care with semi-permanent colour, so you can top up your tone and add a glossy finish at the same time. Our panel liked how it left their hair feeling “vibrant and shiny”, without any tackiness or residue. It comes in 13 shades.

Score: 84/100

Our panellists said this leave-in gloss helped reduce frizz, and their hair felt soft for days after use. TRESemmé’s patented technology works to envelope strands, keep locks tangle-free and allows for maximum light-reflection, creating extra shine from roots to ends. This is a leave-in option, so you can skip the required rinsing and save yourself some beauty admin. Sold!

Score: 87/100

This vegan formula from Garnier is an absolute gift for those with dry, damaged or frizz-prone hair. In our lab test, it proved excellent at improving smoothness, while many of our testers said it added definition to their curls. Most agreed it left their ends feeling softer as well.

Score: 87/100

This cult favourite from award-winning Black British hair stylist Charlotte Mensah topped our list for curl definition, leaving almost everyone raving about their salon-worthy finish. All agreed that it helped smooth ends and reduce flyaways, with most seeing a boost in shine and hydration, too.

Score: 87/100

For those looking for long-lasting definition, this silicone-free oil did a great job of keeping most testers' curls and waves intact for longer than usual. Almost all panellists saw an improvement in the smoothness, hydration and softness of their lengths, while those with colour-treated hair noted a boost in vibrancy.

Score: 86/100

This medium-hold mousse promises added oomph and an oh-so-cushiony finish, and most of our panellists agreed their hair looked bouncy and soft after use. Everyone said it added volume, with one tester telling us: “I absolutely love the volume it gave my long, typically flat hair.” Many praised the holding power and lack of residue left in its wake, too. A clear winner.

Score: 84/100

Hair stylist to the stars Larry King brings his own personal twist to his styling range, including this mousse, which he formulated in homage to his nan and her signature glamorous blow dry. All our testers said it was easy to dispense and distribute, and almost everyone agreed it felt lightweight on their hair while still adding volume that truly holds. Nanna knows best.

Score: 82/100

Adam Reed’s hard-working Arkive range combines thoughtfully formulated products with a comparatively affordable price point. Our panellists loved this lightweight mousse, saying it held all day and was easier than most to apply evenly. One told us: “This is the first mousse I’ve ever used that is genuinely non-sticky.” Can’t say fairer than that.

Score: 90/100

Firm but flexible is exactly what this hair spray delivers. Everyone achieved their desired styling result upon first spray. “It held its shine”, “it lasted all day” and “it was easy to brush out” are just a few of the positive comments we received. People loved that it didn’t smell the same as old-school hair spray and held firm for hours despite feeling lightweight. You don’t need a lot of product either.

Score: 85/100

Another product that says what it does on the tin (can). This outperformed all other hair sprays for its staying power in humid conditions and for preventing frizz. “It fixes my curls without making them feel dry,” one tester told us, while another added: “I liked the application process because it delivered a fine, even mist across my whole head.”

Score: 83/100

“A strong hold that feels lightweight” is how our panel described this hairspray, heralded as the least heavy of all our winners. It has UV protection and can be brushed out easily, yet most testers said it held their desired styling after just one use. It worked best for those with short and fine hair, whereas heavy, thicker styles may need a stronger hold.

Score: 87/100

As well as offering heat protection up to 232°C, this oil promises to repair damage, reduce frizz and improve shine – and it delivered across the board, regardless of hair type. Panellists found it easy to dispense and said a small amount went a long way. “Having grey hair can mean it feels coarse and frizzy, but this brought my healthy texture back,” said one. It also fared well in humid conditions and kept hairstyles intact for longer without any need for hairspray.

Score: 86/100

This nourishing hair serum has been formulated with Olaplex’s patented bonding technology to protect against heat damage (up to 232°C) and pollution, add shine and reduce static and tangles. Our testers agreed that their hair was less frizzy after use. “It left my hair really soft and hydrated, right through to the next wash day,” said one. “This serum is lightweight and made my lengths feel silky and look shiny,” added another.

Score: 86/100

This immediately made our testers’ hair shinier, sleeker and more glossy, even in humid environments. Our panellists praised its ability to prevent breakage and make hair look and feel more healthy and lush long-term. This is perfect for those who want something quick and convenient, but note that creams or oils may be more suitable for hair that needs a lot of repair (think bleached locks or broken ends).

Score: 89/100

Our winner was effective at removing grease and sebum, leaving hair with a pleasing touch of texture and a long-lasting, light floral scent. Only a small amount of product was needed, it was easy to distribute through the hair and it left locks feeling “shiny and fresh” all day. For most, it didn't leave a chalky finish or feel claggy on the scalp, but those with darker hair did notice a slight white cast.

Score: 85/100

This great-value option was praised by our panel for not leaving a white cast, and it scored highly in the lab for reducing hair’s greasy appearance. Most of our testers were fans of its fresh citrus scent, too. Some found that the de-greasing effects didn’t last the whole day, but for this price, you can probably afford to give your ’do a few top-up sprays.

Score: 83/100

Our testers praised this oat milk-enriched dry shampoo for leaving their hair looking shiny, healthy and more voluminous after use. Sebum was soaked up perfectly and the initial white cast was wiped away with a quick zhoosh of the roots. The moisturising formula is also free from sulphates, parabens and colourants, making it gentler on your hair.

Score: 86/100

This no-rinse formula wins bonus points for convenience and left our panellists’ hair stronger, shinier and smoother thanks to a patented bioactive peptide, or “miracle molecule” as the brand calls it. Our testers were impressed with how well it reduced frizz and made their hair more manageable. Our experts also found it “extremely effective” at preventing and repairing damage in the lab.

Score: 85/100

Tapping into the new wave of plant-based peptides helping to reverse hair damage, this formulation uses hydrolysed oat protein to soften and hydrate lacklustre locks. It strengthened strands instantly in our lab, while improving the look of hair health immediately for at-home testers. The sweet scent proved divisive, but all agreed this ramped up softness, smoothness and shine.

Score: 85/100

It’s always impressive when a spray solution does as well as its cream counterparts, fusing convenience with performance. This was a hit with our testers, who said hair felt thick and healthy after use. This one scored 5/5 on the Dia-Stron machine, which measures a product’s ability to stem frizz and flyaways, and most of our panel agreed their hair was more manageable after use.

Score: 82/100

This box dye offers a three-step colour care routine, including a pro-keratin enriched colour cream, a gentle scalp shampoo and a conditioning mask – the perfect combination for creating a healthy-looking blonde. Our panel said it left hair feeling “hydrated and smooth”. The colour also impressed, with one tester noting it left their hair looking multi-tonal, rather than being one block shade.

Score: 82/100

“A colour equal to a professional salon treatment,” was how one tester described the result achieved with this at-home dye. As well as looking good in the mirror, our lab results also found there was minimal breakage and damage to hair during dyeing, easing any concerns you may have about DIY bleaching. This dye also scored highest with our testers for boosting shine.

Score: 82/100

There’s a reason why Clairol named this dye ‘Nice ’n’ Easy’ – most of our testers agreed it was really straightforward to use. They also praised the lovely blend of tones they achieved with the product, with one panellist saying they’d even been asked where they got their hair done. Spoiler: a little spot we like to call “over the bathroom sink”.