11 of the best haircare products that are actually worth the hype

Pre-shampoo treatment

1. African Pride, Moisture Miracle Aloe & Coconut Water Detangle & Condition Pre- Shampoo 12oz, £5.99

If you have time, using a pre-shampoo is so good for boosting the health of your hair and scalp. I absolutely love this product. Enriched with aloe vera and coconut water, I find that it really does feed my hair with the moisture it craves, creating excellent slip for easy combing. And best of all, it’s great value as a little goes a long way!

How to use: Apply to dry hair and leave for 15-30mins before shampooing.

My “worth the hype” rating: 5/5

Shampoo

2. K18 Biometric Hairscience, Peptide Prep Detox Shampoo 250ml, £39 (currently £28.70 on Amazon)

First off…we need to discuss the high price tag. This product needs to be a miracle worker for me to pay that sort of money. And is it? In a word, yes.

Coined the world’s first biotech treatment, this product’s goal is to restore chemically-damaged hair, from the inside out. It contains patented technology that replenishes amino acids to regenerate the bonds and restore strength.

Not only does it smell good, but it lathers up beautifully and leaves my hair and scalp feeling clean, but not stripped. Whilst I’m not so keen on the price, I have to say I do absolutely love the product and the results.

How to use: Use as you would any other shampoo.

My “worth the hype” rating: 5/5

Conditioner

3. tgin, Triple Moisture Replenishing Conditioner 400ml, £13.95

tgin stands for ‘Thank God it’s natural’, which is always a winner in my book. Whilst the consistency is a bit thick when you first try to get it out of the bottle, its light, creamy texture works easily into your hair providing excellent slip for easy detangling.

Not only does it smell gorgeous, the Sweet Almond Oil and Shea Butter formula also hydrate, repair and smooth hair with every use. It really is a great product.

How to use: Apply after shampooing. Comb through, leave for a couple of minutes, then rinse. 
You could even leave it on for a couple of hours as a deep treatment mask once a week.

My “worth the hype” rating: 4/5*

*I’ve deducted a point just because the consistency is so thick and you have to work hard to get it out of the bottle.

Hair Oil

4. Gisou, Honey Infused Hair Oil 50ml, £35

Another trending product with a punchy price tag, but I absolutely love this little bottle of golden goodness. Not only am I a sucker for beautiful packaging – this bottle looks so chic – this product is multi-tasking, which helps you to feel like you’re getting some serious bang for your buck.

Whether you use it as a pre-styling or finishing product, an overnight treatment or a hair mask, this beautiful formula repairs hair from the inside out using honey to maintain your hair’s natural moisture levels. Honey is rich in antioxidants, vitamins and amino acids that work hard to strengthen your locks and to give you incredible shine.

How to use: Use as a finishing step during styling, overnight treatment or hair mask.

My “worth the hype” rating: 5/5

Leave-in conditioner

5. Ouai, Leave in Conditioner 140ml, £26

Firstly, this product smells amazing and it’s a scent that lingers. If you’re looking for a product that smooths frizz, hydrates and boosts shine, with hold, then this is it. Not only does the fragrance have longevity, the frizz-free results are also long-lasting.

The Tamarind Seed, Panthanol and Vitamin E blend, hydrates, softens and adds shine, but without weighing the strands down. Whilst it’s super effective for smooth, sleek styles, it’s also great for curls!

How to use: Focusing on the lengths and ends, apply to wet hair before heat-styling

My “worth the hype” rating: 4/5*

*I deducted a point for the strong fragrance which might clash with perfume for some as it’s got serious longevity.

Root cover-up

6. Color Wow, Root Cover Up 1.9g, £29.50

A cult oldie but a definite goodie. If you need effective, natural-looking, root coverage in between salon visits, this product will be your saving grace. So easy to use, it comes in 8 shades of reflective mineral powder to diminish the look of regrowth, greys and even to fill in sparse areas.

The dual-ended brush encourages a precise application, and the water-resistant formula stays put with a barely there feel. The packaging is also perfect for handy on-the-go application.

How to use: Apply to dry hair. Use free hand to pull hair flat/taut against head and press brush down firmly into roots, starting from scalp and working out – do not use sweeping motion. Apply more powder as needed. To extend highlights, use side edge of small brush. Lightly dust off any excess powder with wide end of brush.

My “worth the hype” rating: 5/5

Texture spray

7. Redken, Wax Blast 10 Spray for Body & Dimension 150ml, £23.80

Redken describe the effect of this spray wax as delivering ‘perfect, undone texture’ which is spot on. I use this spray to create a satin-matte texture at the roots, or on the lengths and like it because it doesn’t look greasy.

It’s a high impact product that’s suitable for all hair types, but you need to experiment with your style to see how best to manipulate this product to suit you.

How to Use: Shake well and spray mist at a distance onto dry hair.

My “worth the hype” rating: 4/5

Hair Loss Concealer

8. Watermans, Instant Hair Building Fibres 23g, £15

If you feel self-conscious about thinning hair, this hair fibre product is a great unisex option.
In as little as 30 seconds, it creates natural, fuller, thicker roots. It’s not messy to use and the boost to your self-esteem is instantaneous.

How to use: Dry and style your hair as usual. Shake fibres into your hair and roots, using your fingers to work them into thinning areas of your hair, and hold in place with hair spray if necessary. Repeat until satisfied.

My “worth the hype” rating: 4/5*

*I deducted a point as I would love a spray application, which might be even easier to use – especially for those who need to apply it to their crown.

Blow Dry Spray

9. Olaplex, Volumising Blow Dry Mist 150ml, £28

Olaplex is another brand that people seem to want to shout from the rooftops about – and I totally get it! I always use a heat protector before blow-drying, and this super fine mist is so lightweight, it can’t fail but to leave you with a super bouncy blow out. Not only that, but it delivers a bounce that shines and lasts. I adore this product.

How to use: Apply the mist to clean, damp hair and then blow-dry to 75% dry. For extra lift, re-apply to the roots and finish drying. If you’re looking to refresh day 2 hair, apply to dry hair, focusing on the roots and blow dry using a round brush for bounce.

My “worth the hype” rating: 5/5

Final Stage Hairspray

10. L’Oreal Paris, Hairspray by Elnett for Strong Hold & Shine 75ml, £3.25

And now to another cult classic that’s been trending since the day it was born. In my humble opinion, Elnett has to be one of the best hairsprays of all time and the smell is so nostalgic for me.

It comes in various holds, but no matter what strength you choose, you are always left with the flexibility to run your fingers through your hair as there is no sticky residue. She’s an absolute winner!

How to use: Apply the hairspray to dry, styled hair from a distance of approximately 30cm.

My “worth the hype” rating: 5/5

Hair Styling Tool

11. Mermade Hair, Aircurl Styler, £52.80

Now this is what you need in your life – a styler that gives you salon-styled hair at home. The best thing about it is that it uses the power of air for healthier styling, rather than extreme heat to achieve it.

I use this tool like a hairdryer and curler in one to create waves, shape and add volume. Ionic technology also fights frizz while the ceramic barrel creates long lasting hold.

How to use: Suitable for dry or damp hair, simply wrap the hair around the barrel or clamp and roll the hair up and let the air set the curl.

My “worth the hype” rating: 5/5