The Best Haircare Products Of The Year
Whether your hair is straight or curly, in need of a serious hydration boost or a good spritz of dry shampoo, beauty counters' shelves are filled with products that promise to give your locks a lift. It takes a whole lot of time and test driving to find out what’s really worth the splurge, so we enlisted women across Canada to try the buzziest new haircare products at every price point. From nourishing shampoos and conditioners to styling mousses and sprays for all hair types, our testers share the best products to banish bad hair days.
Best Drugstore Shampoo & Conditioner: Klorane Shampoo & Conditioner with Mango Butter
“The perfect treatment for dry and damaged hair, this sweetly scented shampoo and conditioner duo leaves my hair silky and smooth without weighing it down. It gives major salon brands a run for their money!” —Karine Boudreault, 37
Shampoo, $14, shoppersdrugmart.ca. Conditioner, $14, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
Runner-Up: Maui Moisture Lightweight Hydration + Hibiscus Water Shampoo & Conditioner
Shampoo, $11, shoppersdrugmart.ca. Conditioner, $11, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
Best Prestige Shampoo & Conditioner: Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Lumière Shampoo & Blond Absolu Fondant Cicaflash Conditioner
“I have long, bleached hair that tends to be dry at the ends, but these products leave my hair shiny, full of body and smelling luxurious. I have no issue getting a good lather with the shampoo and the tinted conditioner neutralizes any brassiness.” —Kelly Davies, 38
Shampoo, $45, kerastase.ca. Conditioner, $49, kerastase.ca.
Runner-Up: L’Oréal Professionnel Source Essentielle Jasmine Flowers and Sesame Oil Nourishing Shampoo & Sesame Oil Nourishing Balm
Shampoo, $36, in salons. Conditioner, $38, in salons.
Best Drugstore Dry Shampoo: Dove Coconut Dry Shampoo
“This dry shampoo’s coconut fragrance is fresh, clean and subtle. The lightweight texture doesn’t weigh down my hair and the excess powder brushes out without a trace.” —Pascale Villeneuve, 51
$5, walmart.ca.
Best Prestige Dry Shampoo: Lululemon Selfcare No-Show Dry Shampoo
“This dry shampoo works great when you are on the go. It doesn’t dry out my hair or leave it crusty. It also has a lovely scent that doesn’t stick around too long, which is great because I work in a scent-free environment.” —Clare Hacksel, 36
$38, sephora.com.
Best Drugstore Straight Styling Product: L’Oréal Paris EverSleek 10 in 1 Blowout Oil
“After my usual styling routine, my hair is left beautifully soft and silky. The result is natural and I always get lots of compliments!” —Marie-Claude L'Heureux, 52
$16, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
Best Prestige Straight Styling Product: Wella Professionals Invigo Nutri-Enrich Frizz Control Cream
“Some anti-frizz creams can make your hair feel heavy or oily, but not this one. It feels lightweight when applied to towel-dried hair and, once dry, my long hair feels soft, smooth and looks healthy.” —Amy Gibson, 43
$19, chatters.ca.
Runner-Up: Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Smoothing Anti-Frizz Multi-Styling Air-Dry Balm
$38, sephora.com.
Best Drugstore Curly Styling Product: Pantene Pro-V Curl Affair Curl (Re)Shaping Cream
“This lightweight cream has hefty defining power. Used on damp hair, it helps an impressive number of individual curls spring to life, yet it makes my multiple curl patterns appear more uniform. The lightly scented formula and luxe bottle are added perks.” —Ingrie Williams, 41
$9, available at Shoppers Drug Mart in January 2020.
Best Prestige Curly Styling Product: Oribe Curl Gelée for Shine & Definition
“I like the fresh scent and the light texture of this gel—it doesn’t leave any heaviness or crunch. My curls look shiny and defined, and they look even more amazing the next day.” —Alicia Cox Thompson, 41
$53, holtrenfrew.com.
Best Drugstore Volumizing Styling Product: OGX Bodifying + Bamboo Fibre Full Dry Shampoo Foam
“It’s lightweight, doesn’t leave a white residue, feels natural and the scent is nice without being overpowering. The foam allows for better control during application than regular dry shampoo, and a little goes a long way—which means the bottle will last me for ages.” —Kelly Power, 42
$11, shoppersdrugmart.ca.
Best Prestige Volumizing Styling Product: Shu Uemura Muroto Volume Hydro-Texturizing Hair Mist
“The spray is easy to direct, so you can get the product exactly where you want it. The formula is soft and gives great beachy waves every time!” —Elyn Arscott, 38
$42, sephora.com.
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