When bad hair days happen or our hair concerns seem unmanageable, we look to our “hero” hair products to save the day. These formulas, whether it's a go-to shampoo and conditioner system or a trusted styling product, save our manes from untameable frizz, day-three oily roots, or dry, brittle ends.
Interested in adding a few hero hair products to your routine or giving them to a loved one? This holiday season, we’re gifting our readers with a roundup of our best-selling, top-reviewed, and most buzzed-about hair must-haves. Keep scrolling to discover 15 of the best hair products to add to your holiday shopping cart.
Acidic Bonding Concentrate Bundle
Acidic Bonding Concentrate bundle to strengthen hair & repair damage
Our Best-Selling Damage-Fighting Trio: Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate
Dealing with damage? This best-selling shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in treatment set got an editor’s stamp of approval for reviving her bleach damaged hair. The system is formulated with citric acid and a concentrated bonding complex that reinforces weakened bonds to help build back hair strength and resiliency.
Writer Review: “After using the Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo and Conditioner for the first time, I immediately noticed my hair felt smoother and more manageable than it had with my previous haircare products. The leave-in treatment only amplified these results, and after the first use of the full regimen, my hair was noticeably healthier-looking.”
Deep Clean Dry Shampoo
A high-performance dry shampoo that instantly refreshes styles, delivers maximum oil absorption for greasy roots, and allows hair to go up to 4 days between washes
Our Top-Reviewed Dry Shampoo: Redken Deep Clean Dry Shampoo
This Allure Best Of Beauty winner allows you to go up to four days without washing your hair. It provides maximum oil absorption to instantly refresh your look between shampoo sessions.
Hydra Source Shampoo + Conditioner Duo
A gentle, moisturizing duo for dry hair
Our Best-Selling Bundle For Dry Hair: Our Best-Seller For Biolage Hydrasource Shampoo And Conditioner
If you have dry hair (or know someone dealing with dryness), pick up this gentle, moisturizing system. This paraben-free duo, formulated with aloe, balances moisture levels in hair, leaving it shinier, softer, and more manageable. Want to learn more? Check out an editor’s complete Biolage Hydrasource review here.
Writer Review: “The biggest impact I noticed after using this shampoo and conditioner for a full week was while brushing through my wet hair, there was hardly a tangle in sight. The brush slipped right through my strands as if I had put a leave-in conditioner and a detangler in as well—but it was all due to the Hydrasource Shampoo and Conditioner.
Blow drying wasn’t only easy, since the brush continued to slip right through my hair, but it also left me with a super silky, frizz-free blowout that took to the rest of my heat-styling routine easily.”
Unbreak My Blonde Bundle
A bundle to reinforce weakened bonds and revive sensitized hair.
Our Best Strengthening Bundle For Blondes: Matrix Unbreak My Blonde
Whether you’re a salon blonde or know a salon blonde who can use a hair routine revamp, we recommend Matrix Unbreak My Blonde. This complete blonde hair care system, including a shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in treatment, is designed to revive hair that’s been weakened by lightening services.
Click here to read an editor’s complete review of the Matrix Unbreak My Blonde line.
Writer Review: “I’ll preface by saying that one of my least favorite things about bleaching my hair—even if it’s done professionally and carefully—is that my hair just tends to feel slightly drier and less healthy than usual. I was very eager to see if Unbreak My Blonde would curb that feeling, and I am happy to report that in the days and weeks that followed my appointment, my hair has looked so shiny and healthy!
I can honestly say that I’ve received so many compliments on how good my hair looks both in person and over video calls. It’s notably shiny and glossy, and it definitely doesn’t look like it recently went through the bleach wringer.”
25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
A lightweight leave-in conditioner with heat protection that detangles, calms frizz, and treats damage and dryness.
Our Best-Selling 5-Star Leave-In: Mizani 25 Miracle Milk
This best-selling, multi-tasking leave-in treatment is the perfect fit for anyone’s hair routine. It provides 25 benefits for hair to hydrate, strengthen, control frizz, and prime every hair type for styling. Not to mention: It’s one of our shopper’s top-reviewed products.
Hydrate Shampoo
A deeply hydrating, color-preserving shampoo for normal to thick dry, color-treated hair.
Hydrate Conditioner
A hydrating, softening conditioner for medium to thick dry, color-treated hair.
Our Best-Selling Maintenance Duo For Color-Treated Hair: Pureology Hydrate Shampoo And Conditioner
Color experts everywhere swear by Pureology for the brand’s color-protecting formulas, and so do our readers! A standout from Pureology is their Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner, a best-selling, color-preserving system for dry, color-treated hair. Made with Pureology’s exclusive AntiFade Complex, it nourishes hair while protecting color vibrancy.
Extreme Length Shampoo + Conditioner Duo
This biotin-formulated duo prevents breakage in damaged hair
Our Best-Seller For Growing Longer, Stronger Hair: Redken Extreme Length Shampoo And Conditioner
Want to grow your hair out while protecting it from breakage? While no product can actually make your hair grow faster, Redken Extreme Length Shampoo And Conditioner is formulated with biotin to help prevent breakage and keep hair strong throughout the growout process. A writer tested this system out as she grew out her hair for her wedding day—and she wasn’t disappointed!
Writer Review: “Within two weeks of this ritual, I started to see a difference in the texture of my hair. It was silky and smooth, and my split ends were less noticeable. Within a month, I became impressed! The products seemed to support healthy hair growth, and my hair wasn’t frizzy.”
Total Results So Silver Shampoo + Conditioner Duo
A duo for banishing brass and restoring brightness to blondes and grays.
Our Best-Selling Color-Toning Duo For Blondes: Matrix Total Results So Silver Shampoo And Conditioner
Looking to banish brassy blonde hair? This top-selling shampoo and conditioner is a go-to for so many bottle blondes. It cleanses hair to get rid of buildup while using purple pigments to neutralize unwanted brassy warmth. Check out our editor’s complete So Silver review here.
Writer Review: “To get the most accurate results, I decided to let my hair air-dry, sans product, since that’s how I typically style my hair (or not style, as the case may be). I then snapped some photos and inspected the difference between my hair pre-treatment and post-treatment—you can see my Matrix Total Results So Silver before and after above.
It’s a noticeable difference; my blonde is far cooler (much closer to the silvery hue I prefer) and appears shinier and smoother. It’s also a lot softer than usual, and again, this is after a single-use. Suffice it to say, I was impressed.”
Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo + Conditioner Duo
An essential color-depositing blue-toning duo to neturalize brassy hair
Our Top-Reviewed Color-Toning Duo For Brunettes: Redken Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo And Conditioner
Fact: Brunettes deal with brassy hair, too! A writer put Redken’s Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo and Conditioner to the test on her highlighted brown hair—and she couldn’t have been happier with the results of the blue toning system!
Writer Review: “After just one use of the Redken Color Extend Brownlights system, I was excited to see that my brassy brown hair was instantly refreshed. I immediately noticed that the individually painted highlights that I got over one year ago popped again, appearing brighter and more bold.”
Steampod Hair Straightener + Curling Iron
A flat iron for fast, smooth styling on all hair types.
Our Best-Selling Innovative Styler: L'Oréal Professionnel Steampod
What could be a better beauty gift than a quality hairstyling tool—whether for yourself or for your bestie? The L'Oréal Professionnel Steampod, however, is unlike any other flat iron on the market. This innovative, steam-powered tool can straighten or wave any hair type two times faster and two times smoother* with up to 91 percent less breakage over time**.
Compared to Steampod without steam and comb (heating plates only)
**After 15 uses with steam and integrated comb vs. Steampod heating plates alone.
Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original Hair Oil
Nourishing treatment and anti-frizz oil that blends Argan Oil and Marula Oil to add shine, hydration, and strength to all hair types and textures.
Our Best-Selling Hair Oil: Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil
When it comes to hair products that are worth the splurge, Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hair Oil is at the very top of our shopping list. This formula is made up of five luxurious oils, including argan and camellia oil, to add shine, nourish, and help prevent breakage.
Writer Review: “Once it’s applied, I take a fresh look at my hair: My frizz halo is nonexistent, my waves are bouncy and beautiful, and even my hair’s shine seems to have upped its reflectiveness a notch or two.”
A Curl Can Dream Complete Collection Bundle
Complete hair care and styling routine for curly and coily hair.
Most Buzzed-About Curl Care Line: Matrix A Curl Can Dream
Searching for curly hair products? Pick up A Curl Can Dream, Matrix’s newest curl care and styling line. This hair care range, made with manuka honey extract, consists of shampoo, co-wash, hair mask, moisturizing cream, light-hold gel, and hair oil. Read our editor’s full review to discover how the moisturizing hair care system worked on her postpartum curls.
Writer Review: “My favorite part about Matrix A Curl Can Dream is that my favorite products work just as well on their own as they do together in the set. Sometimes I just apply the moisturizing cream to my hair for a look that’s a little less defined but just as fluffy and soft. If my curls begin to look dull on day three, all it needs is a few pumps of hair oil.”
Metal Detox Shampoo + Mask Duo
A two-step system designed to detoxify and neutralize metals trapped inside the hair fiber
Our Best Hair Detoxing Bundle: L'Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Shampoo And Hair Mask
If you have hard water in your shower, we have good news: It’s more common than you think. If you have hard water that’s causing buildup in your hair, give your strands a detox with this shampoo and hair mask. This two-step system is made to detoxify and neutralize metals that are trapped inside the hair fiber. It protects the vibrancy of your color, working to prevent dullness, discoloration, and breakage.
Our Head of Content at Hair.com, Jackie, reviewed this system on her own hair, which she washes twice weekly using her home hard well water.
Writer Review: “Since I started using the Metal Detox Shampoo and Hair Mask in my routine, my hair has felt softer, smoother, and my color (which I get done every three weeks because...grays) has remained vibrant. I use the shampoo and the hair mask at home once every two days when it’s wash day.”
Genesis Serum Fortifiant Fortifying Serum for Weakened Hair
A daily fortifying serum protectant for weakened hair
Genesis Bain Hydra-Fortifiant Fortifying Shampoo for Weakened Hair
A fortifying gel shampoo for weakened hair.
Genesis Defense Thermique Fortifying Blow-Dry Fluid for Weakened Hair
A fortifying blow-dry primer for weakened hair
Genesis Strengthening Hair Mask
A fortifying hair mask for dry, weakened hair.
Our Top-Reviewed Product Line For Weakened Hair: Kerastase Genesis
This dual action fortifying system is formulated to strengthen hair and reduce hair breakage—whether its due to brushing or environmental factors. Read our editor’s review of Kerastase Genesis here.
Writer Review: “During my month of testing, I used four core products in the line: shampoo, conditioner, hair mask, and blow-dry primer. If you’re dealing with hair breakage from brushing like me, this line might be the answer you’re looking for to help stop hair fall.”
Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil
A moisturizing hair oil that adds shine and softness.
Our Most-Wanted Luxury Hair Oil: Shu Uemura Art Of Hair Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil
Why not treat yourself to something luxurious this holiday season? The Shu Uemura Art Of Hair Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Hair Oil absorbs deeply to rebalance the hair’s moisture level, and provides all day UV protection without weighing down even the finest of hair.
Brews 3-in-1 Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash for Men
A 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and body wash for hair and skin.
Brews Cream Hair Pomade for Men
A water-based, low-shine pomade for smooth, flexible styles.
Brews Holding Gel for Men
A men's hair gel with medium hold and medium shine.
Our Top-Reviewed In Men's Hair Care: Redken Brews
If you’re looking for quality men’s hair care, look no further than Redken Brews. This line offers products across the board, whether you’re in need of men’s grooming products or hair care.
Writer Review: “The Redken Brews Cream Pomade is going to be my new go-to styling product (I promptly swapped it out in my travel bag for a trip this weekend). If I’m looking for more hold (or anticipating hurricane force winds) I’ll grab the Redken Brews Grip Tight Holding Gel.”
Searching for more hair products? Shop the best salon-quality products at Hair.com.
Acidic Bonding Concentrate Bundle
Acidic Bonding Concentrate bundle to strengthen hair & repair damage
Deep Clean Dry Shampoo
A high-performance dry shampoo that instantly refreshes styles, delivers maximum oil absorption for greasy roots, and allows hair to go up to 4 days between washes
Hydra Source Shampoo + Conditioner Duo
A gentle, moisturizing duo for dry hair
Unbreak My Blonde Bundle
A bundle to reinforce weakened bonds and revive sensitized hair.
25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
A lightweight leave-in conditioner with heat protection that detangles, calms frizz, and treats damage and dryness.
Hydrate Shampoo
A deeply hydrating, color-preserving shampoo for normal to thick dry, color-treated hair.
Hydrate Conditioner
A hydrating, softening conditioner for medium to thick dry, color-treated hair.
Extreme Length Shampoo + Conditioner Duo
This biotin-formulated duo prevents breakage in damaged hair
Total Results So Silver Shampoo + Conditioner Duo
A duo for banishing brass and restoring brightness to blondes and grays.
Color Extend Brownlights Shampoo + Conditioner Duo
An essential color-depositing blue-toning duo to neturalize brassy hair
Steampod Hair Straightener + Curling Iron
A flat iron for fast, smooth styling on all hair types.
Elixir Ultime L’Huile Original Hair Oil
Nourishing treatment and anti-frizz oil that blends Argan Oil and Marula Oil to add shine, hydration, and strength to all hair types and textures.
A Curl Can Dream Complete Collection Bundle
Complete hair care and styling routine for curly and coily hair.