BEST LEAVE INS

Frizz tamers, shine boosters and hair protectants that work just as well for touch-ups on-the-go.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel

"Dress, Attico at Net-a-Porter. Earring, Pandora. Hairclip, Jennifer Behr at Net-a-Porter"

A lot of people have combination scalps, on top of contrasting hair concerns, and multi-cleansing may be the ultimate solution. Think shampooing with different formulas, like a degreasing product for an oily crown and gentle suds for sensitised sides of the scalp.

 
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BEST LEAVE-IN TREATMENT FOR DRY HAIR

1. Hair Renew, $50, Follizin

Dry, damaged and chemically-treated strands will thank you as they soak up this paraben- and silicon-free blend of tamarind extract, argan oil and barley protein. You’ll get a healthier-looking mane without the grease.

BEST FRIZZ CONTROL FOR COARSE HAIR

2. Tame Frizz De-Frizz Oil, $40, KMS

An instant frizz-buster, this lightweight, nongreasy oil works on both wet and dry hair to smoothen and soften locks instantly. It does this with a combination of flexible cuticle-sealing compounds that tames unruliness and provides humidity control throughout the day.

BEST HAIR SERUM/OIL FOR CHEMICALLY TREATED HAIR

3. Beology Repair Oil Serum, $25, Schwarzkopf

All you need is a few drops to bring back the gleam and improve hair condition. With antioxidant and protective nutrients, the serum seamlessly smoothens and adds shine for soft, manageable strands.

BEST HAIR SERUM/OIL FOR COLOURED HAIR

4. Color Brilliance Perfector, $50, Goldwell Kerasilk

This accomplished multi-tasker, with keratin and tamanu oil, will leave colour-treated hair smooth and extraordinarily glossy, imbuing it with 72 hours of UV protection.

BEST HAIR SERUM/OIL FOR NORMAL HAIR

5. Hair Rituel Revitalizing Fortifying Serum (for the scalp), $250, Sisley

Brimming with plant-based extracts, proteins, minerals and vitamins, this intense cure for the scalp energises, soothes discomfort and strengthens strands. Bonus: Its ultra-light, nongreasy texture is perfect for a scalp massage and it won’t stain your sheets.

BEST SUN PROTECTION FOR NORMAL HAIR

6. Hair Rituel Hair Protective Fluid, $120, Sisley

Lots of things—from the sun’s rays to chlorinated pool water—can warp or fade hair colour, weaken follicles and damage the scalp. Give hair the protection it needs against chemical processes and the elements with this nourishing tonic, which coats hair with a protective UV-filtering film and infuses it with a fresh, summery scent.

BEST NATURAL HAIR OIL

7. face.body.hair Handmade Coconut Oil + Lavender Spray, $25, Koqo

A lavish treat, this detoxifies and strengthens the roots and follicles while thoroughly pampering any dry, sensitised areas of the scalp. Premium organic, handmade, wet-milled virgin coconut oil keeps strands smooth, healthy and oh-so-glossy.

BEST LEAVE-IN TREATMENT FOR COLOURED HAIR

8. Mixed Feelings Leave-In Blonde Toning Drops, $43, IGK

This hair-toning concentrated formula can be mixed with any product in your haircare routine, from shampoo to cream styler, to banish brass. It's so easy, we have no mixed feelings about declaring this a winner.

BEST ANTI-FRIZZ OIL FOR CURLY HAIR

9. Intensely Nourishing Hair Oil, $100, UMA Oils

This deeply restorative elixir seeks to enhance elasticity and strengthen your mane from root to end. It does this with an all-natural blend of potent botanicals, like hibiscus and yerba de tago extracts, which revive hair that’s been stripped of essential moisture from over-styling.

BEST HAIR SERUM/OIL FOR THINNING HAIR

10. Rosemary and Lavender Scalp Serum, about $49, Banyan Tree
Gently massage this paraben-free cushy cocktail of rosemary essential and rosehip oils into the scalp, and leave it on for 15 minutes before shampooing to improve micro-circulation and promote healthy hair growth over time.
 
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BEST MASKS

Show your tresses some TLC with these pampering treats

BEST HAIR MASK FOR DRY HAIR

1. Miracle Drops Hair Mask, $5.90, John Frieda

Like a face mask for your hair, this once-a-week treat delivers an intensive dose of rejuvenating moisture. It also works as a targeted treatment for a specific need—in this case, damage repair for dry, breakage-prone hair.

BEST CONDITIONING MASK FOR COARSE HAIR

2. Treatment Masque, $48, Ouai

Coarse hair needs richer products with moisturising properties that can penetrate the outer layers of the hair shaft. This healing treatment mask seeks to repair existing damage while fortifying cuticles with ingredients like artichoke leaf extract to seal and protect them from oxidative degeneration.

BEST SCALP MASK FOR SENSITIVE SCALP

3. ADV Soothe Moisture Scalp Mask, $120, PHS Hairscience

Like your skin, the scalp breaks out too—and its triggers are similar, like stress, hormones or the weather. This SOS treatment provides quick relief and deep nourishment for sensitised scalps that are itchy, inflamed and irritated, while leaving hair silky smooth at the same time.

BEST REPAIRING HAIR MASK FOR CHEMICALLY TREATED HAIR

4. Fusion Intense Repair Mask, $46, Wella Professionals

Give dry and brittle strands a do-over with this luxurious creamy mask, which uses intense conditioning ingredients and amino acids to repair and restore from roots to ends.

BEST COLOUR-PROTECTING HAIR MASK FOR COLOURED HAIR

5. Blond Absolu Masque Ultra-Violet, $69, Kérastase

Keep your colour as vibrant as when you left the salon with this non-staining purple mask, which removes unwanted brassy tones to keep blonde highlights luminous.

BEST DEEP CONDITIONING MASK FOR COARSE HAIR

6. Acai Deep Conditioning Masque, $70, Brazilian Blowout
From the creators of the world-famous hair smoothening treatment, this conditioning masque helps you recreate those silky effects at home. Its rich, reparative formula coats each strand with nutritive proteins to reconstruct, deeply moisturise and eliminate frizz.
 

BEST SUPPLEMENTS

Nutrient-rich elixirs to calm, revitalise and fortify 
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BEST SOOTHING SCALP TONIC FOR SENSITIVE SCALP

Be Curativa Lenitivo Soothing Lotion, $36, Be Hair
Massage this calming and soothing elixir gently into a freshly cleansed scalp. It helps to rebalance the epidermal environment to achieve a healthy scalp and increase hair growth. Essential oils and ozonated olive oil help to deeply moisturise and stimulate microcirculation.
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BEST SCALP TONIC FOR FINE HAIR

Cure Anti-Chute, $320, Kérastase
Designed to be used over six weeks, this tonic aims to repair and strengthen hair fibres to lessen breakage, and deliver intensive restorative care to the scalp to boost hair growth. Prepare to welcome new strands that are denser and healthier overall.
 
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BEST ORAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR HEALTHY HAIR

Look Skin & Hair Supplement, $48, Crème Simon
Meet your get-everything option for radiant hair and skin. Each antioxidant-rich capsule is infused with grapeseed extract and rosemary to promote hair regrowth and reverse premature hair loss as well as greying.
 
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BEST THICKENING HAIR TONIC FOR THINNING HAIR

Hair Care Adenovital Advanced Scalp Essence, $112, Shiseido Professional
Strengthen existing hair and restore fullness gradually with a unique blend of biogenic and moisturising ingredients that will nurture what nature gave you. Hello, va-va-voom volume!
 

BEST  STYLLERS

Slicking and texturising formulas to shape the looks you love

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BEST CURL BOOSTER FOR CURLY HAIR

1. Curl Cream, about $57, Balmain Paris Hair Couture

Giving bouncy definition without weighing curls down or making them crunchy or frizzy—that’s exactly what this lavish but lightweight cream does. And it gives UV protection too.

BEST HAIRSPRAY

2. Style Masters Photo Finisher Hairspray, $32, Revlon Professional

Its intelligent mist system disperses product uniformly, and its quick-drying, residue-free, strong but lightweight formula ensures your hairstyle stays in place longer.

BEST HAIR TEXTURISER

3. Backstage Cocktail – Street Fix, $63, Antonin B

Just a spritz of this botanical concoction provides roots with an instant lift, boosts volume and smooths frizz without weighing hair down. Plus, it adds shine with a fresh scent.

BEST HAIR VOLUMISING PRODUCT

4. Got2b Volumaniac Bodifying Mousse, $10.20, Schwarzkopf

Its name says it all—it adds volume to take your hairstyle to possibly crazy heights. A fluffy dollop on damp hair before blow-drying provides a root-lifting boost, airy body and definition.

BEST INSTANT SHINE

5. Acai Shine & Shield Spray, $50, Brazilian Blowout

For sleek locks that are shielded against the elements, spritz on this nutrient-rich elixir that fights frizz and strengthens the cuticle with an exclusive Brazilian Super-Nutrient Complex.

BEST HEAT PROTECTOR

6. Just Smooth Sleek Perfection Thermal Spray Serum, $40, Goldwell StyleSign

Daily heat-styling like blow-drying and flat ironing can weaken and damage vital proteins in hair, resulting in frizzy, frazzled locks. Prep and prime strands with this waterless serum that protects your hair from heat and humidity, keeping it sleek and smooth even in a tropical climate.

BEST HAIR SMOOTHENING PRODUCT

7. Good Behavior Spirulina Protein Smoothing Spray, $46, IGK

Treat all sorts of hair textures with this vitamin-rich, multi-purpose hairspray that provides a smoothening touch-up whenever you need one, and protects strands against frizz, heat and humidity.

BEST STYLING PRODUCT FOR MEN

8. Matte Pomade, $33, Boardwalk Pomade from Sultans of Shave

Slick on this water-based clay-type pomade that holds your coiffure in place with a nongreasy flexibility—and it washes out easily. The mattifying finish comes courtesy of volcanic ash, which also helps to reduce visible residue.

 

BEST TOOLS

State-of-the-art devices that will get you salon-style results at home 
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BEST MULTITASKING HAIR TOOL

Platinum+, $425, ghd
Intelligent heat control with ultra-zone predictive technology ensures optimum—and safe—styling temperature at all times, adapting to your hair’s needs and texture as precision-milled plates with ultra-gloss coating deliver sleek, shiny results that last.
 
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BEST HEAD MASSAGER

uScalp Handheld Massager, $449, Osim
Mimicking the effects of a salon-style treat, this easy-to-use device has four multi-directional massage heads with seven nodes each that “scrub” away stress and tension from your scalp and stimulate blood circulation.
 
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BEST HAIR DRYER

Supersonic, $599, Dyson
This ergonomically-designed device combines fast drying and controlled styling, thanks to its Dyson digital motor and Air Multiplier technology. The high-velocity jet of controlled air regulates heat to prevent damage while cutting drying time in half.