Expert-approved cleansers, tools, and creams to style your hair

Bouncy blowouts, slick buns, and curl hacks have been everywhere lately—and for good reason. “We spent the last few years really focused on hair and scalp health,” says celebrity hairstylist Justine Marjan. “But women are ready for higher-maintenance styling routines.” Today’s trending hair looks bridge the gap between healthy and stylised hair. “The products of today can block out frizz and give strands mirrorlike shine, but without weighing down the hair or compromising hair quality,” says celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton. Here, we’ve gathered the innovative products and tools that make styling a breeze, all while nourishing strands along the way.

SCALP

Styling products can leave a layer of buildup behind, leading to a host of hair issues. Los Angeles hairstylist Mara Roszak stresses the importance of clarifying the scalp, which can be done with all of these excellent scrubs, detoxing sprays, and lightweight treatments.

BEST SCALP SCRUB

L'Occitane en Provence Purifying Freshness scalp scrub (₹2,150) makes your scalp visibly less greasy and it also helps reduce odor due to excess sebum. It is packed with a complex of 5 essential oils that make your hair healthier with each use.

BEST SCALP CONDITIONER

Schwarzkopf BC Scalp Genesis Root Activating Serum (₹2,520) helps reduce non-pathological hair loss and treating thinning hair that lacks strength and density. Use it to see an improvement in non-pathological hair loss after 6 weeks of treatment.

BEST SCALP SERUM

Kérastase Specifique Potentialiste (₹5,400) scalp serum works as a defence serum that restores the balance of your scalp. No matter if hair is dry, oily or normal scalp, the potent ingredients in the serum soothe and balance different scalp types.

BEST PRESHOWER TREATMENT

Fable & Mane HoliRoots Hair Oil (100ml, ₹5200) has gone viral on TikTok for its ability to deliver healthier, shinier hair and a soothed scalp, thanks to the lightweight blend of castor oil, dashmool, and ashwagandha. Just be sure to give it a good rinse before shampooing.

BEST DETOX SPRAY

The Aveda Scalp Solutions Refreshing Scalp Protective Mist (₹4350) is a lightweight mist for heat protection and oil control. The spray can be used mid-day to refresh and protect on-the go. 

BEST HAIR MASK

Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate (₹1800) 5-Min Liquid Mask helps reverse damage from hot tools and chemical treatments by combining citric acid that strengthens and emollients that seal the cuticle of the hair.

BEST SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER FOR CURLS

Virtue Labs Curl Care Duo (₹7350) shampoo and conditioner helps detangle, de-frizz, and nourish hair for bouncier curls. It gently cleanses while removing excess oils and build-up to maintain the natural curl pattern. 

BEST DRY SHAMPOO

Olaplex No.4D Clean Volume Detox Dry Shampoo (₹3250) is a light-as-air dry shampoo that helps in repairing, rebonding, and strengthening the hair from the inside out.

BEST HAIR OIL

Mauli Rituals Grow Strong Hair Oil (₹4340)is a rejuvenating Ayurvedic oil which helps to reconstruct, protect and deliver intense hydration. The hair oil nourishes the scalp and adds thickness and shine to the hair. 

CLEANSE & CONDITION

“Everything you do to care for your hair and scalp prior to styling really builds the foundation of any style, so it’s important to keep the end result in mind from the very start,” says Marjan. The right shampoo, conditioner, and hydrating mask can save precious time when styling and keep your hair looking and feeling lustrous. After all, “healthy hair begins in the shower,” Roszak says.

STYLING

Irons and wands get a lot of credit, but it’s styling products that take your hair looks to the next level. “I personally could not do my job without hairspray,” Marjan says. “It is so versatile and can be used in a variety of ways to give the hair hold and texture.” To keep hair healthy, one of the most important stylers you should never go without is a heat protectant. “If you go in the sun and don’t put sunscreen on, you’ll burn. The same goes for your hair,” Appleton adds.

BEST STYLING CREAM

Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Hair Cream (₹1,080) contains argan oil and an anti-static conditioning agent to prevent frizzing making twist-outs, braid-outs, wash-and-go styles, and sleek buns a breeze.

BEST HAIRSPRAY

Tresemme Ultra Fine Hairspray (₹1,297) has a flexible nonsticky formula that’s also humidity-resistant, making it a staple at New York Fashion Week.

BEST SMOOTHING SPRAY

The perfect combination of frizz-fighting protection and high-shine payoff, Moroccanoil Protect and Prevent Hair Spray (₹2,880) is heat-activated and contains the brand’s signature argan oil to leave hair feeling soft and silky smooth.

BEST FOR SHINE AND HEAT STYLING

Color Wow Extra Strength Dream Coat (₹2,976) treatment prevents frizz for up to four shampoos. Best used on damp hair, it requires blow-drying with tension to activate its formula, which also nicely guards against heat damage.

BEST CURLING IRON

Ikonic Pro Curl (₹) effortlessly creates bouncy curls or beachy waves. The curling irons adjustable temperature settings allows you to adjust the temperature according to your various styling needs 

BEST FLAT IRON

The Tymo Sway (₹6599) hair straightener comes with a titanium flat iron to provide an ultra-smooth result it leaves a very shiny touch to the hair. 

BEST MULTISTYLER

The Philips BHH811/00 Hair Multi-Styler Kit (₹3,985) has a protective ceramic coating. It is a hair straightener plus curler with one-click technology for quick and easy attachment changing. 

BEST HAIR DRYER

The cult-favourite Dyson Supersonic (₹34,500) got a major upgrade with new attachments, including one to help control flyaway hairs, a wide-tooth comb to detangle curls and lift roots, and a gentle air nozzle for sensitive scalps.

BEST BRUSH

Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush (₹1500) softly detangles strands, removes impurities, and stimulates the scalp to promote blood flow. (The latter is a key component in keeping hair follicles healthy.) The result: softer, shinier hair that maintains its style and shape.

TOOLS

Once you lay down the foundation for sleek, shiny strands with the product, innovative tools can make the difference between basic hair and Instagram-worthy results. These stylers work faster and smarter and include devices that swap high heat for airflow technology and irons that expertly curl your hair with the click of a button. 

This piece originally appeared in the February 2024 print edition of Harper's Bazaar USA.