1
Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Dry Hair
Herbal Essences BioRenew Hydrate Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner
1
Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Dry Hair
Herbal Essences BioRenew Hydrate Coconut Milk Shampoo and Conditioner
Pros
- Great drugstore value
- Highly conditioning
Herbal Essences’ products, made with coconut extract and aloe, boasted the highest level of conditioning in the GH Beauty Lab’s test of hydrating shampoos and conditioners for dry hair, with this pair performing best in a test with the Lab’s Instron machine which gauges combing force through wet hair, proving strong conditioning benefits. Consumer testers loved these infusions, too: “My dry hair was much more moisturized,” one tester marveled.
2
Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Damaged Hair
Joico Moisture Co-Wash Whipped Cleansing Conditioner
2
Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Damaged Hair
Joico Moisture Co-Wash Whipped Cleansing Conditioner
Now 27% Off
Credit: JoicoPros
- 2-in-1 saves time and money
- Strengthening, smoothing and softening
Cons
- May be too rich for finer hair
A sulfate-free 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner with a higher ratio of conditioning ingredients, Joico's cleansing conditioner was a winner of the GH Beauty Lab's cleansing conditioners and co-washes test for giving parched, damaged hair a nourishing cleanse. “My hair is noticeably softer and healthier-looking than with my regular formulas," a tester said. In Lab testing, it rated highest for making hair feel stronger and look smoother and less frizzy.
3
Best Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner
Garnier Fructis Full and Plush Shampoo and Conditioner
3
Best Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner
Garnier Fructis Full and Plush Shampoo and Conditioner
Credit: GarnierPros
- Bargain price
- Instant volumizing effects
Get bigger, bouncier hair with this Garnier pair, which tied for best in the Beauty Lab’s volumizing shampoo and conditioner test. “My hair felt fuller after just one use," a tester raved. In Lab evaluations, these came in highest for noticeably upping hair’s volume.
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4
Best Lightweight Shampoo
Garnier Whole Blends Legendary Olive Replenishing Shampoo
4
Best Lightweight Shampoo
Garnier Whole Blends Legendary Olive Replenishing Shampoo
Credit: GarnierPros
- Effective cleansing and conditioning
- Not heavy on hair
- Good value
It may be “blended” with olive oil and argan oil, but Garnier’s Legendary Olive shampoo — along with its conditioner — was a GH Beauty Lab test winner for its nourishing cleansing with no heaviness. The pair tied for second in the combing test for conditioning, yet more than 90% of users said it didn’t weigh hair down. The pair made hair “manageable,” “supersoft” and “bouncy,” testers said. Almost all gave the “fresh” scent a perfect score.
5
Best Lightweight Conditioner
Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume Foam Conditioner
5
Best Lightweight Conditioner
Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume Foam Conditioner
Credit: PantenePros
- Boosts body
Cons
- May not be conditioning enough for thick, textured, or damaged hair
Perfect for the conditioner-averse, Pantene’s first-ever foam version feels as airy as a cloud, making strands supple and bouncy. The formula conditioned well in GH Beauty Lab testing and 95% of users reported that the formula didn’t weigh hair down. "It worked wonders for my fine, limp hair — it had more body,” a tester said.
6
Best Color-Protecting Shampoo and Conditioner
TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Color Shampoo and Conditioner
6
Best Color-Protecting Shampoo and Conditioner
TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Color Shampoo and Conditioner
Pros
- Prevents hair color fading
- Salon-quality at great value
The Tresemmé duo tops the Beauty Lab’s test of hair color-preserving shampoos and conditioners. Post-use, hair sample color faded least after 20 washes and 10 hours of UV exposure in Lab testing. One tester marveled that they were "like expensive salon products.”
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7
Best Salon Professional Shampoo and Conditioner
Kérastase Densifique Bodifying Shampoo and Conditioner
7
Best Salon Professional Shampoo and Conditioner
Kérastase Densifique Bodifying Shampoo and Conditioner
Pros
- Boosts hair thickness
- Weightless feel
Cons
- Pricey
A salon splurge that’s worth it, Kérastase’s indulgent duo tied for best in the GH Beauty Lab’s volumizing shampoos and conditioners test for thickening strands using ingredients like peptides and hyaluronic acid. Testers “loved” this fine-hair “Holy Grail” that “truly worked” for “all-day body.” These won for thickening strands and making styles fuller compared with other shampoos and conditioners, data revealed, and also earned top points for weightlessness.
8
Best Sulfate-Free Shampoo
OGX Shampoo Fade-Defying +Orchid Oil
8
Best Sulfate-Free Shampoo
OGX Shampoo Fade-Defying +Orchid Oil
Credit: OGXPros
- Sulfate-free formula
- Prevents hair color fading
- Great value
To keep your shade vibrant, suds up with OGX’s sulfate-free shampoo, a GH Beauty Lab test winner for preserving hair color along with the matching conditioner. In tests on hair samples, these ranked near the top for preventing color fading after 20 washes and 10 hours of UV exposure, and for conditioning ability. “I didn’t notice any fading while using these,” a tester marveled.
9
Best Purifying Shampoo and Conditioner
DOVE HAIR Nutritive Solutions Daily Moisture Shampoo
9
Best Purifying Shampoo and Conditioner
DOVE HAIR Nutritive Solutions Daily Moisture Shampoo
Pros
- Doesn't weigh hair down
- Effectively cleans and leaves hair manageable
This light, refreshing Dove shampoo (used with the matching conditioner) was by far the tester favorite in the GH Beauty Lab’s test of hydrating shampoos and conditioners, with 100% stating that they would continue using it. “The effects were wondrous,” a fan raved. “My hair was fantastic — brushable, silky and flowing.” In Lab evaluations, the formulas rated best for leaving hair clean and easy to style.
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10
Best Hair Growth-Enhancing Product
KeepItAnchored Essentials Kit for Women
10
Best Hair Growth-Enhancing Product
KeepItAnchored Essentials Kit for Women
Credit: KeepItAnchoredPros
- Boosts scalp health to minimize hair loss
- Produces visible results
Cons
- Takes time to see results
A GH Beauty Award winner for its breakthrough technology, this KeepItAnchored shampoo and scalp serum set helps maintain hair’s fullness by improving the scalp’s condition with ingredients like niacinamide, zinc and caffeine. In a clinical study on the technology, users of it had about 2,400 more hairs on their scalp after six months than those who used a placebo, according to GH Beauty Lab data analysis.
11
Best Hair Volumizing Spray
ColorProof SuperPlump Thickening Blow Dry Spray
11
Best Hair Volumizing Spray
ColorProof SuperPlump Thickening Blow Dry Spray
Credit: ColorProofPros
- Instantly boosts fullness
- No weight or crunchiness
- Makes styling easier
Get an instant lift and noticeable volume with ColorProof's featherweight, fast-acting mist, the winner of the GH Beauty Lab's hair volumizing sprays test. Hair was “immediately bigger, fuller and thicker” and “looked the best it ever has,” two testers said. 100% of users agreed that the spray didn’t weigh down hair or make it feel crunchy, and it scored on top for ease of styling.
12
Best Hair Thickening Spray
Kristin Ess Instant Lift Thickening Spray
12
Best Hair Thickening Spray
Kristin Ess Instant Lift Thickening Spray
Credit: Kristin EssPros
- Gives instant volume and thickness
- Lasting effects
Inject lasting body and fullness into fine or flat hair by misting this GH Beauty Lab thickening spray test winner from hairstylist Kristin Ess. 91% of users agreed that it made hair look instantly voluminous, and it was tops for thickening. “Fantastic volume that lasted two days!” a tester raved.
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13
Best Hair Serum
Goldwell Kerasilk Control Rich Protective Oil
13
Best Hair Serum
Goldwell Kerasilk Control Rich Protective Oil
Now 30% Off
Credit: GoldwellPros
- Non-greasy
- Adds shine
Cons
- May be too heavy for fine hair
Goldwell’s dry hair oil was a strong smoother and the top shine booster in the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-frizz styler test. “It actually works — and wasn’t greasy!” a tester raved. Hair was “very shiny” and “never frizzy over many uses," others said. The oil blocked frizz on hair samples in the Lab’s test and tied for #1 at keeping users’ hair frizz-free all day.
14
Best Anti-Frizz Hair Product
Kérastase Discipline Anti Frizz Smoothing Spray
14
Best Anti-Frizz Hair Product
Kérastase Discipline Anti Frizz Smoothing Spray
Credit: KerastasePros
- Keeps hair free of frizz all day
- Not sticky
- Lightweight
Cons
- Expensive
Great for anyone averse to heavier styling products, Kérastase, a winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-frizz styling products test, provides potent frizz-fighting power in a lightweight liquid spray. The mist stopped frizz on testers for a full day and on hair swatches in the Lab humidity chamber, and it didn’t feel tacky on hair. “This single bottle worked better than the three-product combination I was using,” a tester said. “It smoothed out my frizz and broken ends without leaving any film or crunch behind.” More than half of users raved about its “pretty” floral scent.
15
Best Shine Treatment
L’Oréal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water
15
Best Shine Treatment
L’Oréal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water
Credit: L'Oreal ParisPros
- Boosts hair shine and smoothness
- Not heavy
- Great value
Cons
- Not a strong conditioner
A GH Beauty Award winner, this innovative L’Oréal Paris liquid treatment with wheat protein imparts weightless silkiness and shine to even damaged hair in seconds. 83% of GH Beauty Lab testers found that it made strands feel silkier; 88% reported that it didn’t weigh hair down.“I couldn’t believe how incredibly shiny and smooth my hair was,” one said.
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16
Best Hair Touch-Up Wipes
Nexxus Frizz Defy Anti-Frizz Sheets
16
Best Hair Touch-Up Wipes
Nexxus Frizz Defy Anti-Frizz Sheets
Credit: NexxusPros
- No-mess and portable
- Smooths hair on the go
Cons
- Best for touch-ups, not everyday styling
These innovative, handy hair wipes from Nexxus, a GH Beauty Award winner, are infused with argan oil for instant frizz taming anytime. Testers loved that they were “so small, they could be tucked in a pocket” and “discreetly tamed fly-aways during the day.”
17
Best Hair Smoothing Cream
Garnier Fructis Style Smooth Blow Dry Anti-Frizz Cream
17
Best Hair Smoothing Cream
Garnier Fructis Style Smooth Blow Dry Anti-Frizz Cream
Now 73% Off
Credit: GarnierPros
- Affordable
- All-day anti-frizz effects
- Non-greasy
This argan oil-infused Garnier Fructis cream, a winner of the Beauty Lab's test of smoothing styling products, effectively fends off frizz and makes strands sleek. The formula earned high marks with testers for daylong frizz defense and for immediately smoothing hair with no oily or sticky effects. “It rained for almost a solid week, and I didn’t have a problem with frizz,” a user revealed. “I love the texture it left my hair with — smooth and bouncy,” another said.
18
Best Blow Dry Spray
L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Blow Dry It Quick Dry Primer Spray
18
Best Blow Dry Spray
L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle Blow Dry It Quick Dry Primer Spray
Credit: L'OrealPros
- Cuts down blow-drying time
- Sprays on easily
- Lightweight
A few spritzes of this L'Oréal Paris blow dry spray can save you precious hair drying minutes, GH Beauty Lab testing discovered. The mist reduced drying time by 15%, or 20 seconds per one-inch-thick hair sample, and 71% of testers said it sped up their drying time.
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19
Best Hair Styling Tool
Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush
19
Best Hair Styling Tool
Drybar The Double Shot Blow-Dryer Brush
Credit: DrybarPros
- Time and money-saving
- Easy to hold and use
- Gentle on hair and scalp
A GH Beauty Award winner, this inventive 2-in-1 Drybar hair styling tool combines a hair dryer and a hair brush in one wand that dries strands as you brush through. The top-ranked hair dryer brush was “comfortable to hold” and glided smoothly through hair, testers reported, and it didn't overheat the hair or scalp. “I loved it!” one raved.
20
Best Flat Iron
CHI Lava Ceramic Hairstyling Iron
20
Best Flat Iron
CHI Lava Ceramic Hairstyling Iron
Credit: CHIPros
- Heats up quickly
- Best at fully straightening hair
- Keeps hair smooth for a full day
Cons
- Pricey
This state-of-the-art speed hair straightener from CHI earned a rare 100 out of 100 from GH Beauty Lab expert evaluators in flat iron testing. It heated up to 96% of its maximum temperature in 60 seconds, and it scored best for fully straightening hair and keeping it frizz-free all day.
April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.
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