5 award-winning hair products, given special recognition by our panel of expert judges

RRP: £12

Solid shampoos often get a bad rep but this intensive repair formula really impressed our judges. Gentle on both your hair and the planet, this solid bar is entirely plastic-free, made with 99% biodegradable ingredients and is vegan-friendly, too. If that wasn’t enough to impress you, the creamy formula helps to strengthen, protect and revitalise damaged strands, making it ideal for dry, brittle and damaged hair. Packed with nourishing essential oils like sweet orange, lavender and geranium, this is a total treat for the senses. 

"I loved this product. It gave a great lather from not much product and did not strip the hair, leaving it clean but soft," describes hairstylist Jo Clayton. "I really like solid shampoos for travel and also for the fact that the packaging is so much less. I definitely would buy this again!" A worthy winner of our special recognition award, this eco-friendly solid shampoo is not only a wonder for your hair but also works to be kinder to the planet. Ticking all the right beauty boxes, this silicone and sulphate-free bar also comes in an impressive 100% recycled and recyclable paper making it conscious of the environment. 10/10 all round! 

RRP: from £1.49

Stash this children's lice-repellent collection away for those dreaded nit emergencies when you need a quick and easy fix. This multi-award-winning formula is a crowd-pleaser for a reason, as it works to cleanse, condition, soothe and de-tangle strands all in one. Suitable for daily use, this paediatric and dermatologist-tested and approved formula is gentle enough to be applied each day until it’s worked its magic. Formulated with natural head live repellent actives like tea tree, lemon and eucalyptus oils, this cures and prevents in one. It seriously impressed our judges too. 

"As a parent who has dealt with headlice on more than one occasion, I welcome a product that's going to prevent them," reveals Beauty Editor Stephanie Maylor. "The shampoo lathered up nicely and has a sweet tea tree scent. It was easy to rinse out and did a great job of cleansing. The leave-in spray was amazing on my daughter, who has long, wavy hair, which usually ends up in a mass of tangles." Making your life easier, this hair-caring colelction promises squeaky-clean hair and is encouraged to be used as a preventative measure to protect against future nit infestations. 

RRP: £30

Created by the hairstylist to likes of Kim Kardashian, Gigi Hadid and Gwen Stafani, Ouai was launched by Jen Atkin who has years of experience working with A-List hair. Hair Gloss was born out of a desire to help recreate high-shine, glossy Hollywood hair. It’s infused with a blend of hyaluronic acid, rice water and panthenol which work to promote healthy-looking strands. The in-shower treatment is applied after shampooing from the mid-lengths to the ends of your hair and left for five minutes before washing out. Hair is left immediately brighter, shinier and all-round healthier after just one use. We loved it because of its affordability and ease to provide an at-home alternative to salon treatments. 

"I normally find that glosses aren't nourishing enough on my thick hair but my hair was left nourished and silky," says Beauty Editor Jess Beech. "It also made my colour look more vibrant and I like that it can be used as a leave-in conditioner. It's also brilliant that it contains heat protection." Save money on salon glossing treatments with this DIY version that makes hair amazingly smooth and shiny, and colour look radiant. It’s suitable for all hair types and can be used a couple of times a week. 

RRP: from £10

From clips and hair ties to hair wraps and heatless curls, this brand has everything you need for healthy, stylish hair. Inspired by the time-tested traditional hair wrapping methods of her Caribbean heritage, founder Maria found that covering her hair with 100% silk material had incredible transformative results. Often waking up with broken strands, split ends and hair shedding, Maria found that there was a gap in the market for silk hair accessories and that’s how Silke London was born. Offering a solution to women with all hair types and problems, 100% silk hair accessories help women feel confident about their natural hair.  The brand now offers everything from its iconic hair wraps, heatless curlers, hair ties to hair clips and accessories, all at affordable prices. 

"I really rate this brand" raves Senior Beauty Editor, Rhiannon Derbyshire. "They're much more affordable than other similar silk accessory brands and they work just as well. I've used the hair ties and the silk bonnet and they both work brilliantly, look stylish and are prettily packaged." Worn nightly, silk fabrics protect hair against friction that causes frizz, breakage and split ends. Other benefits include extended wash days, shine and a promotion in growth and volume. 

RRP: £10

Lush strives to be more sustainable, and where products can’t be packaging-free, like this shampoo, they use 90% recycled plastic, which can be returned to stores to be reused. Big on fighting against animal testing, the brand has been an advocate for only producing products that have been tested on humans and promote, funding and using human biology-relevant testing methods which are entirely animal and animal-product-free. Lush is constantly striving to be better and produce products that customers need and not just want. Offering packaging-free, refillable products and recycled packaging, the brand is making waves in sustainability and eco-conscious practices. 

Renowned for its bath bombs, the brand has come a long way and now sells a spectrum of bath, body, hair, makeup and skin products. We tested their Tofu Shampoo, which our Beauty Director, Sarah, absolutely loved. "I was so surprised by this product. I wasn't sure what to think it's in a tub and has a slightly different texture, but I was wowed," raves Beauty Director, Sarah Cooper-White. "It smells so great and lathers up brilliantly, leaving my hair clean and fresh." Supporting a brand like Lush means that your money goes on to help create a better future and support numerous charities, too.