Scientifically speaking, a "good hair day [1]" yields the same neurochemical mood boost as spending 60 minutes with a really cute, fluffy dog — not that we needed to tell you that. You've long known the power of a good blowout [2], whether that means emerging from the salon with sleek ends, bouncy curls [3], or model-off-duty texture.
Here to help you recreate that hair magic at home is this editor-backed list of the year's best hair products [4] that are guaranteed to give you the shine, colour care, or definition [5] of your dreams. It's no trip to the animal shelter, but we'd like to think they'll make you happy all the same.
Don't forget to read up on the rest of our 2019 Power Your Pretty Awards winners [6] – a curated list of beauty products tested by editors, chosen for YOU.
R+Co Moon Landing Anti-Humidity Spray
The common denominator between NASA and hair in humid temperatures is this: neither have control over gravity. For flyaways that could give Neil Armstrong a run for his money, however, there is the R+Co Moon Landing Anti-Humidity Spray [7] ($32). During the testing process, every one of us couldn't believe just how well a few mists of this proprietary polymer blend blocked moisture from messing with our style, even across multiple hair textures and heat indexes. In a phrase, this stuff is out of this world.
Bumble and Bumble Bb. Curl Butter Masque
The secret to soft, defined curls boils down to basic beauty maths. One tube of Bumble and Bumble Bb. Curl Butter Masque [8] ($39) + three key hydrating oils + two means of use = the answer you've been looking for. Apply the treatment to wet hair any time you need a light resuscitation, or work it into dry ends before you shampoo to give curls a full-blown moisture shock.
Fekkai Full Blown Volume Dry Texturizing Spray
For finer hair textures, the Fekkai Full Blown Volume Dry Texturizing Spray [9] ($20) makes a good case for inflation: mist it all-over or spritz right at the roots, scrunch with your fingers, and watch as your hair reaches new heights. Even better? It simultaneously zaps oil and adds grit, all while leaving your ends impossibly soft.
Garnier Sleek Shot In-Shower Styler
Please give our sincerest condolences to flat irons everywhere: they'll be of no use to you after you try the Garnier Fructis Sleek Shot In-Shower Styler [10] ($5). The brilliant in-shower treatment combines hydrating argan oil with an innovative flexible polymer that cuts down your blow-dry time for sleek, Ariana Grande [11] hair on a just-hit-snooze schedule. Simply squirt a dollop into your shampoo, wash, condition, and go . . . then try to figure out what to do with all those extra minutes you now have in your day.
Living Proof Colour Care Whipped Glaze
Nary a single person on god's green earth can accurately describe the sheer nuisance that is maintaining colour-treated hair. Expensive, time-consuming, dependent on which special shampoo you choose afterward — it's no wonder the Living Proof Colour Care Whipped Glaze [12] ($29) has become a must-have for editors in between salon appointments. The formula deposits a cationic temporary dye (there are two shades available, depending on your needs: one light, one dark) to neutralise brassiness and fading. Just don't tell your colourist.
Don't forget to read up on the rest of our 2019 Power Your Pretty Awards winners [13] – a curated list of beauty products tested by editors, chosen for YOU.