Thirsty strands on the Stylist team have found a new best friend in this hydrating duo. A hyaluronic acid complex is the ultimate strand quencher, and a blend of argan, borage and jojoba oils dials up smoothness and shine. Designer Esme Marsh found that the shampoo left her hair “feeling fresh and healthy, with no knots in sight”. She adds: “The conditioner left my hair feeling softer than any other I’ve tried.”

Shop Hair Proud Hydrate & Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner at I Am Proud, £7.95 each

“As we continue to learn more about the structure of our hair, we’re understanding the importance of bond repairing,” says Stylist’s beauty director Hanna Ibraheem. “To tackle this, L’Oréal released its new Elvive Bond Repair range, and it’s been a hit in my routine, with our testers and even among other beauty editor pals. The shampoo gives your scalp a deep cleanse without that horrible squeaky-clean feeling and contains antioxidants to promote strength. While the conditioner is quite rich, it didn’t leave my hair feeling lank – in fact, after continuous use, it felt softer and looks a lot healthier.”

Shop L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Shampoo and Conditioner at Lookfantastic, £11.99 each

Your hair pattern is a big factor in the type of products that’ll work best for you, like this duo created specifically for curly and coily hair. “I think these do great things for curls, and I would definitely buy them again,” confirms senior creative strategist Sophia Haddad. “While the shampoo and conditioner are made for ‘thirsty curls’, they aren’t greasy (a problem that often leads to me having to rewash my hair). They also didn’t flatten my curls at all; you can tell the brand has taken care to develop nourishing products that don’t weigh hair down, which is amazing.”

Shop Umberto Giannini Thirsty Curls Shampoo and Conditioner at Beauty Bay, £9.25 each

Color Wow’s cult Dream Coat got a major upgrade this year when the brand introduced its latest formulation, Extra Strength. As the name suggests, this is a stronger, more powerful product that works to lock in hydration while sealing hair against humidity and rain. Testers found it lived up to claims of keeping hair smooth for up to three shampoos and reported it made hair shinier while acting as a great heat protectant, too.

Shop Color Wow Extra Strength Dream Coat at Cult Beauty, £32

Hair breakage can be frustrating and feel impossible to fix, which is why L’Oréal created a range specifically aimed at repairing. Stylist’s events assistant Joanna Creasy loved the application of this serum: “It is very easy to apply, and two or three pumps was enough to cover all of my hair. After washing out and drying, it leaves no greasy residue behind.” Hair felt stronger and less prone to damage after continuous use, gaining it winner-worthy approval.

Shop L’Oréal Professionel Absolut Repair Molecular Rinse-Off Serum at Lookfantastic, £25.20

Known for its popular hair oil, Gisou has expanded its range with a reparative serum. At first glance, you’ll notice the chic bottle is filled with tons of tiny microdroplets. Each one is filled with pure encapsulated honey, taken from founder Negin Mirsalehi’s bee garden, and bursts along the hair shaft to coat it in nourishing oils and plant-based keratin. These wonder ingredients team up to repair damage, seal split ends and leave hair glossy and hydrated.

Shop Gisou Hair Repair Serum at Cult Beauty, £35

They say healthy hair starts at the scalp, and this scrub knows just what your scalp needs to provide the optimum environment for growth. The formula condenses Charlotte Mensah’s 20 years of hair care experience, gained at her salon in Notting Hill, into one nourishing tub. It uses naturally exfoliating salts to remove dead skin cells and product residue while balancing oil production for breathability. Jojoba seed and sweet almond oils then soften strands and soothe the scalp, reducing flaking and itching.

Shop Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Salt Scrub at Charlotte Mensah, £60

“I’m a huge fan of Fable & Mane’s original HoliRoots Hair Oil,” says beauty director Hanna. “I grew up in a household where weekly hair oiling was an imperative part of our routines and Fable & Mane has been a welcome addition as I continue the ritual in adulthood. So I was thrilled to see a new version come out this year. The MahaMane iteration is more of a styling product, but still promotes a list of benefits like its predecessor. It contains a blend of six fruit oils and ayurvedic ingredients like shikakai and ashwagandha. Rub a few drops into your hands and apply to dry hair for a smooth, glasslike finish. My usual flyaways disappear any time I use this.”

Shop Fable & Mane MahaMane Smooth & Shine Hair Oil at Cult Beauty, from £16

Hate that crunchy, post-hairspray feeling? So does hair extraordinaire Adam Reed, which is why his solution delivers the exact opposite. It places a fixing veil over locks to offer long-lasting hold, while maintaining a silky-smooth texture and shine. Stylist designer Natalie Cooper loves the undetectability of this product the most, noting that it doesn’t deliver the overbearing smell of some hairsprays, nor announce itself with that wet-look shine you might find with other formulas.

Shop Arkive The Veil Hairspray at Boots, £13

Ditching the heat tools has never been easier than with this texture-enhancing spray, which contains gum arabic instead of the traditionally-used sea salt. Spritzed onto damp or dry hair, it places a moisture-locking veil over your locks and encourages beach-worthy movement, enhancing your natural texture without leaving it crunchy. It also has a deliciously warm and fruity scent that can (in our opinion) double up as a hair perfume, clouding around you with every silky swish.

Shop Hershesons Air Dry Spray at Hershesons, £16

“I tend to be very anti-dry shampoo – the smell is often overwhelming and the finish so chalky,” says deputy digital editor Ellen Scott. “That wasn’t the case with this. It smells clean and fresh rather than powdery, and the spray is more of a delicate, light mist. I love that it didn’t feel like I had loads of product in my hair. Usually, I hate wearing dry shampoo because of the smell and the feeling in my roots – neither were an issue with this. My hair felt cleaner and had a volume boost, allowing me to postpone my hair wash for another two days. I’m a convert.”

Shop Olaplex No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo at Lookfantastic, £28

With a client roster that reads like a who’s-who on the front row of fashion week, you can always rely on hair styling icon Sam McKnight to create runway-worthy products for everyday use. “Genuinely, I was shook!” says Stylist’s acting art director Poppy Malby. “As someone with fairly fine, flat hair, the transformation after I blow-dried my hair with this mousse was amazing. It also didn’t make my roots greasy, no matter how many pumps I applied. Best of all, my hair held its volume all day.”

Shop Hair By Sam McKnight Cool Girl Volume Foam at Sephora, £31.90

This was a complete hit with our testers. “I’m obsessed with this hair product,” says Strong Women editor Miranda Larbi. “It’s the best curl cream I’ve ever used. It feels so light that you wouldn’t think it’d have much of an impact – I washed my hair, brushed it out with a tiny bit of oil and then scrunched in two pumps of this from root to tip. That was more than enough to cover my hair and it dried into the most defined, crunch-free curls. And it’s long-lasting – the following day, the curls are still intact. I’ve also tried it on days when I just wet my hair rather than wash it and it still gives brilliant hold without being heavy or greasy. It makes your hair shiny and feels nourishing.” 

Stylist’s features director Meena Alexander adds: “I love the minimalist, chic packaging and the fact that it’s odourless. With curly hair you’re often layering products and too many smells can get a bit overwhelming. It manages to be nourishing and defining, even for my thick hair, but still remains lightweight.”

Shop Act+Acre Cold Processed Soft Curl at Cult Beauty, £38

Shop Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Mask at Cult Beauty, £33

Using the right hairbrush can make all the difference to the overall health of your hair. “I am super cautious with the brushes I use when my hair is wet,” says Stylist contributor Darcy Brown. “This detangling brush is my new go-to: its flexible head glides through knots without pulling or breaking my lengths.” From a brand that started with coils and curls in mind, this brush is suitable for all hair textures. Fun fact: it’s made from plant starch, meaning its completely biodegradable, too.

Shop Bouclème Detangling Wet Brush at Bouclème, £12

Not your average hair dye, this at-home solution provides next-level colour payoff and shine, increasing the time you can wait between salon visits. In true Garnier fashion, the application and finish are pro-worthy: enriched with shea butter, it delivers glossy colour that lasts up to eight weeks without dulling. Whether you want to switch up your look entirely or simply freshen up your roots, the expansive shade range is sure to provide you with your colour solution.

Shop Garnier Good Permanent Hair Colour at Boots, £12