Shortlist:
Only Curls Hydrating Curl Creme, £16
Camille Rose Curl Maker, £16.99
Best hair gel
This standout hair gel from Schwarzkopf is a brilliant all-rounder that can be used to tame flyaways, smooth baby hairs and lay edges. Offering maximum hold, your style will stay put all day (and night) – no flakes, no stickiness and no residue.
Shortlist:
L’Oréal Paris Studio Line Invisi’Hold Extra Strength Gel, £3.75
Eco Style Olive Oil Professional Styling Gel, £3.99
Aunt Jackie’s Don’t Shrink Flaxseed Elongating Curling Gel, £9.19
Best edge control
Famous on TikTok, Schwarzkopf’s Got2Be wand brushes brows into place for a feathered, laminated look that seriously will not budge. Its incredible staying power also makes this invisible gel a winner for shaping and laying edges. A true multitasker.
Shortlist:
RedOne Cobra Aqua Hair Wax Full Force, £3.54
Best hairspray
When it comes to hairspray, in L’Oréal Paris we trust. Holding styles since 1960, when Elnett was born, the brand has gone on to develop many more iconic formulas, including this extra-strength iteration that offers next-level hold with zero stiffness, stickiness or scent.
Shortlist:
Schwarzkopf Got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Hairspray, £5.50
Oribe Imperméable Anti-Humidity Spray, £45
TreSemmé Firm Hold Hairspray, £5.99
Best at-home permanent hair dye
Colouring hair at home can be nerve-wracking, which is why you need a good-quality dye for a next-to-natural finish. Enter L’Oréal Paris Préférence Permanent Haircolour. Available in over 20 shades, the pigment-rich hair dye delivers full coverage and unbeatable shine for salon-worthy results at-home.
Shortlist:
Garnier Nutrisse Crème Deeply Nourishing Permanent Hair Colour, £8
Bleach London No Bleach Bleach, £8
Clairol Nice’n Easy Crème Permanent Natural Looking Colour, £6.89
Best temporary colour product
Keep locks in tip-top shape while you temporarily switch up your look. Moroccanoil’s Color Depositing Mask hits the sweet spot between a salon-style gloss and a deep-conditioning mask that helps to repair frazzled cuticles. Available in an array of on-trend shades, experiment with Bordeaux (a deep crimson brown), Rose Gold (a soft pastel pink) or Platinum (a cool grey).
Shortlist:
Bleach London Super Cool Colour, £6.50
Crazy Color Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream, £5.95
Best scalp product
Formulated with salicylic acid, this Exfoliating Scalp Treatment from Aveda gently sloughs away product build-up, surface pollution and dead skin cells to reveal a healthier, happier scalp that allows hair follicles to breathe. It also has a lovely cooling sensation on contact.
Shortlist:
Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Blend Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil, £8.20
Act + Acre Cold Pressed Scalp Detox, £42
Centred En-Root Scalp Oil, £36
Best bond builder
The take-home treatment that hairstylists rave about, Olaplex’s No3 Hair Perfector became an overnight internet sensation when Kim Kardashian credited it with saving her strands after dyeing her hair platinum blonde. It is powered by the brand’s patented bond-building technology – use as a leave-in, overnight mask on both virgin and coloured hair, or as a 10-minute pre-wash treatment. Expect to be blown away by its transformative results.
Shortlist:
Philip Kingsley Bond Builder Restructuring Treatment, £29
L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Leave-In Serum, £14.99
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask, £70
Photographer: Mateusz Sitek
Stylist: Michelle Duguid
Makeup: Marco Antonio
Hair: Craig Marsden
Manicure: Metta Francis
Models: Fallon Havanna @ Select London, Carmen Garitano @ PRM, Isabella Moore @ Milk Management
Beauty Director: Camilla Kay
Design Director: Dennis Lye
Visuals Director: Dalia Nassimi