7 award-winning hair treatments, picked by our panel of expert judges
Whatever your hair issue, these effective treatments and masks will come to the rescue
Our hair goes through it all. Excessive heat styling, bleach burnout, wind-whipping weather, and general neglect.
The best hair masks and treatments for damaged hair come to the rescue of stressed strands. Fast-tracking you to healthy, happy hair after just a few uses, they work hard to strengthen, nourish, add shine and smooth. We all have different hair types and needs, so these award-winning hair treatments are suitable for all textures, and for every tress distress.
No matter what your hair issue is, this round-up of impressive hair treatments has been rigorously tested by our expert judging panel for being suitable for all hair types and to have benefits like smoothing, hydrating, strengthening, repairing and more.
7 AWARD-WINNING HAIR TREATMENTS FOR EVERY HAIR TYPE
Why you can trust Woman & Home
Best intensive conditioner
RRP: £18
Plant-based proteins are the secret behind this nourishing, deeply moisturising conditioner. It uses natural ingredients such as fortifying murumuru butter, nourishing jojoba and tamanu oils to produce a deeply hydrating hair mask. So, if you’re looking for something to soothe a sensitive scalp and bring damaged hair back to life, then you need to try this natural hair treatment. Bursting with the gorgeous scents of sweet key lime, coconut, vanilla and blood orange, this is a total treat for the mind, body and soul. Designed to be gentle enough for even those with sensitive skin, the clever formula is pH balanced, meaning it won’t temper with the natural oils on your scalp.
"This has a great smell. It's good for fine and damaged hair and doesn't weigh the hair down," says Hair Stylist, Jo Clayton. "I love the brand's commitment to sustainability and its use of non-irritating, natural ingredients." We love that this offers a quick fix for hair problems and can be used as a five-minute mask or an intensive overnight treatment. It’s also worth noting that the formula is cruelty-free, vegan and the packaging is recyclable. However you choose to use it, it’s a must-have for your hair care collection!
Best hair mask
RRP: £36
If you ask any hair professional what treatment to use to help broken and damaged strands, they will likely recommend this product. A total hair hero, this deep conditioning hair treatment has won numerous awards and it’s clear to see why. Coming to the aid of stressed strands, this works to instantly add shine, reduce breakage (after just one use), intensely rehydrate and banish frizz and tangles. Consider it the ultimate hair all-rounder. It totally delivers what it promises, reintroducing elasticity into strands, this really is like a salon treatment in a tub.
"I love a lot of things about this product, but I especially love how well-named it is," says Senior Beauty Editor Rhiannon Derbyshire. "It does what it says on the tin - it strengthens all hair types, leaving it more elastic and resilient." Originally designed for Audrey Hepburn to give her that movie star bounce and shine she craved, this has been a holy grail hair product for years. It’s also easily incorporated into your routine, simply apply it to damp hair and leave for a minimum of 20 minutes and wash out. For best results, leave overnight to truly transform your locks.
Best quick-fix treatment
RRP: £32.50
If you’re short on time and want dramatic results then this is the hair treatment for you. Ideal for over-processed and damaged hair, this liquid hair mask offers bond repair for dry and brittle strands. Developed with 16% citric acid, which might sound scary but is gentle enough for all hair types, this formula gets to work quickly and effectively. After shampooing as normal, slather on your locks from mid-lengths to ends with the rich cream and leave for five minutes and rinse out. You can use this as often as needed but it’s recommended to use at least once a week for the best results.
"I found this mask very smoothing and nourishing, within moments of applying it through my hair, it felt silkier," raved Naomi Jamieson, Digital Beauty Writer. "Once dry, my hair felt stronger, healthier and looked so much shinier." After washing out you’ll notice benefits including stronger strands, hair that’s easier to brush and detangle, plus, deep hydration and softer, silkier strands. After you’ve had a run of over-bleaching your hair, this will come to your rescue and give you healthier and happier hair, in just five minutes.
Best for strengthening
RRP: £9.99
Highstreet hair products have come a really long way and this product is proof of that. This post-wash treatment is safe and suitable for use on all colour-treated, balayage and highlighted locks and promises ten times stronger hair after just one use. Ideal for weak and fragile hair, this immediately strengthening fluid is packed with biotin and hyaluronic acid which work in harmony to make hair more resilient and stronger. The clever technology targets weakened areas of hair and reduces split ends by 99%.
"I loved this product, it immediately made my hair feel stronger, smoother and shinier. I used it on both wet and dry hair and found that it worked well either way - the latter didn't leave my hair greasy. Plus the smell is really pleasant and fresh," says Naomi Jamieson. Leaving our judges impressed, this high street hero offers so many benefits for damaged hair that needs rebuilding. So those who might have frazzled their hair with heat styling or over-bleached with hair dye will love this treatment. If that wasn’t enough to impress you, the formula is vegan-friendly, silicone free and can be picked up at your local Superdrug or Boots for less than a tenner!
Best pre-wash treatment
RRP: £28
It’s no surprise something from this brand won one of our awards. Olaplex has been offering incredible hair-transforming and rebuilding products for years and has a legion of super fans, including hair stylists and professionals. But the patented bond-building No.3 Hair Perfector in particular, does it all. Working to reduce breakage, repair, strengthen, in addition to restoring healthy appearance and texture, this is so worth stocking up on if your hair requires a little extra TLC. The vegan, cruelty-free and pH-balanced formula works best when applied to damp hair from the roots to the ends and left for 10 minutes before washing out.
“This Olaplex hair treatment made my hair silky smooth and super shiny," says Sarah Cooper-White, Beauty Director. "It felt like I'd just stepped out of the hairdressers after a treatment." After rinsing out, you’ll notice immediate results like added gloss, deep nourishment and strands that feel stronger and healthier. Once you try it, you’ll never want to be without it!
Best leave-in treatment
RRP: £70
An investment worth making, this hard-working hair mask delivers impressive benefits quickly and effectively. Promising to produce salon-like results in just 4 minutes, this is everything you could want from an at-home hair treatment. Ideal for severely dry and damaged strands, this clever formula is brimming with moisture magnets which leave your hair feeling glossy, nourished and voluminous. The mask also focuses on rebuilding broken strands with its smart patented peptide formula which helps strands to reconnect and rebuild.
After washing your hair with your normal shampoo, skip conditioner and apply this to damp hair, leaving for just 4 minutes and don’t rinse out, leaving the rich mask to work its magic. "I've seen first-hand the difference it can make to damaged hair," says Rhiannon Derbyshire. "I have bleach-battered, chronically thirsty curls. One use of this left them sleek, smooth and shiny. Skipping conditioner felt mildly terrifying, but it's really essential to let the formula properly get to work. I was wowed - it's worth every penny." Hair is left stronger, softer, smoother and bouncier after just one use. Keep using it until your hair feels happier, healthier and stronger or add to your routine as a weekly hair boost.
Best hair oil
RRP: £32
Created by legendary celebrity hairstylist, Sam McKnight, who has a career spanning over four decades, this hair oil means business. Designed to tame and nourish your tresses, this lightweight oil is infused with three hydrsting oils: argan, camelia and sunflower seed to instantly inject strands with some much-needed moisture. The magic hair oil was formulated to be suitable for all hair lengths, types and textures, so it can be enjoyed by everyone.
"This is a beautiful product that doesn't weigh the hair down," Christel Barron-Hough, founder and creative director of Stil Salon, tells us. "It smooths and tames the flyaways and frizz, leaving it feeling soft, glossy and hydrated with a lovely shine to it. You only need a couple of drops, so a little goes a long way." Ideal for those who suffer from excessive frizz and flyaways, this oil is a multi-tasking hero which works to produce smooth glossy, protected and nourished strands. Apply a few drops to the palm of your hands and work through the lengths and ends of damp hair and style as normal. It will soon become your holy grail hair product!
Annie Milroy is the Beauty Writer for Woman & Home and other publications.
She spent three years studying Journalism and English Language at the University of Portsmouth before starting her career in magazines in 2017.
After 5 years working as a Fashion & Beauty Writer, she refined her career and is now working at Future as a Beauty Writer.
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