After a year of salons opening and closing their doors, our strands have seriously been put through their paces. From root regrowth to broken ends, many of us turned to souped-up hair serums and masks to really treat those tresses at home. And while we’ve been able to get back into the hot seat (hurrah!) products are still key in maintaining the everyday health of our hair. From our favourite techy tool to a bargain one-minute conditioner, these are our tried-and-tested edit of the best new haircare launches available to buy now. Meet the 15 hair heroes we can’t get enough of...
Grazia Hair Awards 2021
1. BLONDE BOOSTER: CHARLES WORTHINGTON COLOURPLEX UV TREATMENT, £9.99
'Battling brassy tones during lockdown, I tried dozens of purple products (as purple is opposite yellow on the colour wheel, they cancel each other out). This was the standout, leaving my colour more vibrant, without any telltale staining, all in just one minute. A godsend between salon appointments, the formula includes the brand's Plex-Repair system to strengthen strands, too.' Emma Stoddart, Senior Beauty Writer
2. CURL ENHANCER: CHARLOTTE MENSAH MANKETTI OIL HAIR POMADE, £52
'This pomade saved my curls during lockdown, keeping my hair hydrated and happy until salons reopened. It's that rare one-stop do-it-all cream. I've used it for everything from a standard wash-and-go to edge control. It even works well as a heat protector for blow-dries. Win, win, win.' Kenya Hunt, Deputy Editor
3. HERO HAIRSPRAY: GHD PERFECT ENDING FINAL FIX HAIRSPRAY, £14
'I'm overly picky when it comes to hairsprays, but this new launch delivered on all fronts, offering great hold, movement and definition, all while deterring fly-aways. Pleasingly versatile, the lightweight formula (which, by the way, is humidity-resistant) helped sleeken my updo, added gloss to a bouncy DIY blow-dry and kept my loose waves in place all day long. ' Annie Vischer, Beauty Editor
4. DOES-IT-ALL OIL: KHALI MIN RESCUE OIL, £38
'Struggling with lacklustre hair after the past year? A few drops of this macadamia, hibiscus and jojoba oil blend can be used to style, strengthen and repair hair. Or, as I discovered, use it as an overnight treatment and wake up to your glossiest, healthiest hair yet.' Remy Farrell, Fashion & Beauty Assistant
5. BEST INNOVATION: L’ORÉAL PARIS ELVIVE DREAM LENGTHS WONDER WATER, £9.99
'I'm not being overly emphatic when I say this conditioner is AH-MA-ZING. A total game-changer for me, the liquid formula is unlike anything I'd used before and it genuinely works in just eight seconds, leaving hair feeling soft and shiny (no mean feat with my mane). After I finished my first bottle, I stocked up on five more – and that says it all.' Joely Walker, Health & Beauty Director
6. STYLING CREAM OF THE CROP: L’ORÉAL PROFESSIONNEL SERIE EXPERT BLOW-DRY FLUIDIFIER, £16
'It's not often that I'm blown away by a heat protection product, but this is so much more. Yes, it protects up to 230°C (a must for heat styling) but it also holds your blow-dry in place all day long, thanks to vegetal proteins that are activated via heat. Simply smooth two to three pumps through towel-dried hair, then blow-dry.' Emma Stoddart, Senior Beauty Writer
7. TOP TECHY TOOL: DYSON CORRALE HAIR STRAIGHTENER, £399.99
'Aside from being conveniently cordless (big tick) the Corrale – which has three heat options, so every hair type is covered – has flexible plates that reduce drag and snagging, meaning one glide is enough to straighten (or curl!), therefore minimising heat damage. Yes, it's expensive, but if heat styling is your thing and you want to upgrade, it's well worth the splurge.' Annie Vischer, Beauty Editor
8. BEST ECO LAUNCH: GARNIER ULTIMATE BLENDS SHAMPOO BARS, £3.99
'Big statement: this is the best shampoo bar I've tried (and believe me, I've done the rounds). Out of the four in the range, my favourite is the Delicate Oat Softening Shampoo Bar, with soothing oat milk and rice cream that leaves my hair feeling cleansed and soft, all without irritating my sensitive scalp. With zero plastic waste and up to two months' usage, it's a smart sustainable swap.' Annie Vischer, Beauty Editor
9. SOS TREATMENT: AVEDA NUTRIPLENISH DAILY MOISTURIZING TREATMENT, £28.50
'If, like me, you're fuss-free in your approach to haircare and want to streamline your kit without compromising on those vital healthy hair benefits, this leave-in treatment is one to check out. A small amount worked into damp hair after washing instantly detangles and, if applied to dry hair, helps to reduce frizz and bring dry ends back from the brink. The formula is 99% naturally derived, too.' Annie Vischer, Beauty Editor
10. BEST-IN-SHOW DRY SHAMPOO: LEE STAFFORD SCALP LOVE SKIN-KIND DRY SHAMPOO, £6.99
'I'm obsessed with this ultra- light, gentle dry shampoo, which delivered a refreshing boost to my hair without weighing it down with chalky residue. Designed with sensitive scalps like mine in mind, it contains hyaluronic acid for a gentle formula that absorbs oil without drying out hair – the perfect pick-me-up when you're between washes.' Remy Farrell, Fashion & Beauty Assistant
11. BREAKTHROUGH BRAND: UNDONE BY GEORGE NORTHWOOD, £12-£18
'Oh, George! You've absolutely nailed it. And, in truth, I'd expect no less from the scissors behind the strands of Stella McCartney, Alexa Chung and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (whose hair he styled for her wedding reception). With 14 products at launch (and more to come) there's a line to suit all hair types, but my go-to has to be Undamaged – a blessing for sensitised hair (think bleach and heat styling).' Joely Walker, Health & Beauty Director
12. MANE-CHANGING MASK: HERBAL ESSENCES ESSENCES OF LIFE ARGAN OIL REPAIR & RENEW INTENSIVE MASK, £9.99
'Matching up to those twice and even thrice its price point, this three-minute mask delivers great bang for your buck. The nourishing aloe, sea-kelp and argan oil formula softens, detangles and smooths dry, damaged ends without any weighty residue. A cult classic in the making.' Emma Stoddart, Senior Beauty Writer
13. TOP TEXTURISER: NINE YARDS EASY SIDE SALT WATER SPRAY, £19.50
'If, like me, you thought truly nonchalant beachy waves could only be attained by the sea – think again. New in from Nine Yards, this spray contains salt alongside castor seed oil to give hair that matte, tousled texture without drying it out. Mist all over damp hair before blow- drying and enjoy the sunny citrussy scent as well as a fuller, thicker finish.' Emma Stoddart, Senior Beauty Writer
14. SAVVY SHAMPOO: REDKEN ACIDIC BONDING CONCENTRATE SHAMPOO, £21.50
'If healthier hair is on your summer beauty agenda, I'd recommend trying this. Featuring Redken's most strengthening formula to date, it claims to deliver 82% less visible split ends. While it's not been in my routine long enough for me to vouch for that part, I can say that my hair feels healthier, and my colour more vibrant, after just two weeks. I'm impressed.' Joely Walker, Health & Beauty Director
15. SUPERSTAR CONDITIONER: DOVE 1 MINUTE SUPER CONDITIONER, £4
'My hair needs a lot of TLC and this has been delivering the goods. Incredibly hydrating and super-softening, it doesn't weigh my fine hair down – even when used daily. Plus, I know that the high-grade formula is working wonders on my hair's condition long-term. Top marks.' Joely Walker, Health & Beauty Director