The pathway to perfect strands is no easy feat.
One may be blessed with a naturally voluminous mane, but it takes an army of hair products to keep it intact.
Here at ES Best, we’re not about gate-keeping products. Over the years, we’ve trialled and tested a multitude of haircare heroes, from defrizzing sprays to luxury oils and masks, to achieve weighty, luscious locks.
Yet, it’s no secret that different products work for different hair types, so it’s generally a case of trial and error. For example, Olivia Rodrigo swears by dry shampoo and Kerastase hair oil to tame her cascading curls. Madelaine Petsch solely uses hair oil to maintain the health of her fiery mane. Sabrina Carpenter keeps it simple, giving her blonde tresses a quick brush to achieve a voluminous bed-head look.
Unlike said celebrities, however, not all of us come equipped with an on-site hair stylist ready to lather on the keratin treatment. But what we can do is curate an army of hard-working heroes to get the job done.
For most thick-haired women, there’s not much a great pair of straighteners or a curling tong can’t fix. Coupled with a nourishing hair oil to coat the split-prone ends, gel to style the baby hairs and heat protective spray, you have yourself a steadfast haircare routine.
For those with afro hair, bathroom shelf staples include jojoba oil, aloe vera, castor oil and coconut oil to help hydrate, reduce frizz, and promote effortless hair growth.
Discover the best styling products to ensure your luscious locks look flawless at all times.
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GHD Chronos
Best for: What if we told you that you could style your hair three times faster – would you believe it? Well, that’s exactly what GHD is claiming with its latest innovation. The Chronos was created with one sole mission: to streamline the styling process without compromising strand health.
The tech bit: The most advanced model in its portfolio, the Chronos has trademarked motion-responsible technology. This very innovative feature allows your tool to monitor and adapt to your hair type and the way that it is being used. For those who are prone to multiple passes or what is known as slap-slap styling, this is a game-changer.
The iron provides consistent heat but, using an intelligent algorithm, adapts power depending on speed, section size and hair type so that it only requires one stroke to create your go-to look, be it poker straight or bouncy curls. This feature also means that it is as effective on fine locks as it is on thick and the same goes for coarse and textured – all of which absorb heat differently.
Just to add: The brand says that the Chronos results in more defined styles, provides 85 per cent more shine (thanks to ultra-gloss floating plates) and has twice the frizz-fighting effects.
Buy now £259.00, GHD
Celui Nourishing Hair Oil
Fabulous hair is just a few drops away. Celui’s hair oil is top-notch, comprising a non-greasy blend of 100 per cent natural oils and botanicals to help nourish all hair types.
Buy now £26.00, CELUI
Oribe Featherbalm Weightless Styler
The clue to the success of Oribe’s delightful styler is in the name. The weightless styling balm adds delightful shine with minimal hold to breathe new life into tired hair. It’s been specially formulated for fine to medium hair textures and contains a feather-light polymer blend as well as hydrolysed pea protein for all-over rejuvenation whether applied wet or dry.
The addition of passion fruit seed oil and acai fruit oil, which is rich in fatty acids, also helps smooth hair. Vegan, cruelty-free and void of parabens or sulphates, it’s also imbued with Oribe’s signature opulent, salon-fresh fragrance.
Buy now £42.00, Cult Beauty
Pattern Styling Cream 443.6ml
Complement your coils with Pattern’s well-loved styling cream. Lavishly whipped up with a thick, creamy texture, this hero product treats the hair to a dose of mega moisture and long-lasting, touchable hold for curly hair types.
The rich formula is blended with shea butter, cacay oil, coconut oil and sweet almond oil, which promote a nourished touch and reduce the frizz factor. Suitable for twist-outs, braid-outs and Bantu knots.
Buy now £25.00, lookfantastic
Larry King Haircare Flyaway With Me Kit
Far from just a tool to help keep that slicked-back bun in place, the Flyaway With Me Kit by celebrity hairstylist Larry King will help to tame any pesky flyaways and baby hairs which threaten to disrupt the sleek finish of your salon blow-dry. It comes with a dual-ended bamboo brush and comb, making it suitable for all textures and purposes.
Buy now £20.00, Cult Beauty
Tigi Bed Head Wax Stick
If you simply can’t handle the sticky situation your hands are left in after a styling session with VO5, wax sticks are all the rage among the celebrity hairstylists responsible for the original slicked-back, model-of-duty look.
This TikTok-viral product offers a soft and malleable application which can be used for creating unique hairstyles and textures, as well as for slicking back your just-woke-up hair.
Buy now £14.20, lookfantastic
ghd Glide Professional Hot Brush
Turn to this straightening hot brush if you have curly, wavy, thick or unruly hair for a speedier routine compared with straightening irons. Designed to be used on dry hair, one stroke from the roots to ends will ‘glide’ through even knotty locks leaving them smooth and silky-looking. It’s fast because the large head covers a big section of hair, so you can go through your whole head in minutes.
The trusted hair tool brand never disappoints and like the rest of their much-loved collection, this works at what they call the optimum 185°C styling temperature, so as to not frazzle strands. A must-have for smoothing second-day hair, eliminating frizz thanks to the ceramic and ionising tech, and for those who want to cut down on styling time.
Buy now £179.00, John Lewis
Aveda Be Curly Advanced Coil Definer Gel 250ml
Paraben and cruelty-free, Aveda’s Be Curly styling gel is geared towards afro coils and curls. The vegan styling gel features 93 per cent natural ingredients, making it a kinder choice for your hair. Enriched with castor oil and apple extract, the formula coats the hair in a silky shine, while repairing damaged ends and leaving each strand feeling velvety smooth.
Buy now £28.00, lookfantastic
Ceremonia The Scalp Power-Duo
Ceremonia’s scalp massager comes with a little friend, the Aceite de Moska Heritage Scalp Remedy Oil. This elixir is made to enhance growth and add shine to locks using aloe vera, babassu oil, and castor oil in its light formula. Use the massager to work in the scalp oil and make sure it’s distributed evenly all over your head.
Buy now £27.30, Cult Beauty
Good Squish Scrunchie
If you watched the final season of Sex Education and wondered where the incredible souped-up scrunchies are from, well the answer is Good Squish. The ruffled hair adornments are the most sought-after accessory of the moment with their oversized design and pretty yet punchy colourways. Need to keep your hair away from your face? Whip your thick mane up in a bin and secure it with Good Squish.
Buy now £68.00, Selfridges
Tangle Teezer The Scalp Exfoliator and Massager - Pretty Pink
With a brand built around sliding through tangled hair like a hot knife through butter, Tangle Teezer naturally also has an in-shower option in this Scalp Exfoliator and Massager. The thin pink design has sharper tips than the other iterations featured in our list, offering pinpoint pressure and massage before and during the shampoo stage. The wellness tool has been recommended by The International Trichology Congress.
Buy now £6.40, lookfantastic
Kérastase Elixir Ultime L'Original Hair Oil
A must-have in your haircare routine if your strands or extensions are starting to look a little frazzled, the Kérastase Elixir Ultime L’Original Hair Oil works as a primer, finisher or refresher, smoothing the appearance of split ends, while providing heat protection up to 230°C.
Its leave-in formula nourishes and visibly smooths hair for a soft, sleek finish. It also comes infused with a floral-woody scent of violet leaf, freesia, mandarin and musk, ensuring your hair doesn’t just look radiant but smells it too.
Buy now £58.00, lookfantastic
Malin + Goetz Sage Styling Cream
This styling cream synthesizes sage extract and absorbent fatty acids to add shine, definition and texture to hair. It gently conditions and adds a flexible hold for easy styling without leaving residue or weighing down your locks.
Buy now £19.50, Sephora
Bed Head By TIGI After Party Smoothing Cream for Shiny Frizz Free Hair
Another impressive hair smoothing product with a great scent to match, Bed Head By TIGI’s After Party Smoothing Cream for Shiny Frizz Free Hair is a styling essential if you’ve tried hair smoothing shampoos with not much luck. This powerful product is the ultimate anti-frizz hair product for silky, smooth, shiny, healthy-looking hair: not only designed with, but used by salon professionals.
Great on any hair type, especially frizzy hair, dull hair and coarse hair, it’s easy to use, even without the need for heat or styling.
Buy now £12.00, Boots
Kitsch Eco-Friendly Jumbo Open Shape Claw Clip
Add greater dimension to your dos with this oversized clip from Kitsch. It is created from recycled materials and offers an effortless solution to hold thick types without snagging or causing breakages.
Buy now £10.00, Cult Beauty
