The 11 best hair styling products for a flawless DIY blow dry

Perfect your 'do with the best hair styling products for every hair type and texture

Collage of three of the best hair styling products by Arkive, Larry King, R+ Co
(Image credit: Future/Brands)

The best hair styling products will help you achieve a salon-worthy finish at home. The key, however, is finding the right formulas for your specific hair type and styling needs. With so many products to choose from, spanning creams and serums to foams and mists, this can be a tricky task (and one that requires a little trial and error). 

First, consider what look you’re after. If, for example, it’s a big voluminous bouncy blow-dry – invest in a foam. “Use a foam for instant lift and volume,” says Sam McKnight, legendary hairstylist and founder of his eponymous hair styling range, “apply two pumps to damp hair and comb through from roots to tip before blow drying.” To enhance curly hairstyles, use nourishing creams and oils that will help define curls and coils, or to add grit and body to fine or flat hairstyles, seek out dry products such as texturizing sprays or powders. 

We’ve rounded up the best hair styling products in the business that, alongside your best hair dryer and heated tools, will deliver the sort of finish you’d expect to find in the salon. From shine-boosting sprays to curl-defining oils, these mane-changing products will step up your hair-styling skills – promise! 

How W&H tested the best hair styling products

Why you can trust Woman & Home Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Selection of the best hair styling products we tested for this guide

A selection of the hair styling products we tested for this guide

(Image credit: Emma Stoddart)

To whittle down our edit of the best hair styling products, we tried dozens of products ranging in price points. We also made sure to include formulas aimed at a variety of hair textures, varying from lightweight serums to creams designed to be the best hair straightening products and rich, nourishing oils. To score highly, the product had to live up to its claims (whether it be smoothing strands or boosting volume). Application had to be faff-free and the products had to play well with our go-to styling tools, like the best hair straightening brushes.  

The best hair styling products, chosen by our beauty team

Best hair styling product from Living Proof

(Image credit: Living Proof)

1. Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray

Best hair styling product overall

Specifications

RRP: $35/£28
Key benefits: Boosts volume and texture, absorbs oil
Type of product: Spray

Reasons to buy

+
Helps to absorb excess oil
+
Protects hair from heat
+
Adds volume and texture 

Reasons to avoid

-
Very strong scent 

If your mane (ahem) mission is to boost volume, turn your attention to this Dry Volume & Texture Spray from Living Proof. Arguably one of the best hair thickening products around, this magic mist totally transforms fine, flat hair – adding volume and texture in seconds. To use, we spritzed this onto second-day dry hair, applying it in sections before working it in with fingertips. To get even more volume, we recommend tipping your head upside down while tousling your hair. 

No one trick pony, this clever formula also provides heat protection up to 210°C making it the perfect pre-heat-styling product. And that’s not all, the spray absorbs excess oil for a fresh hair feeling - even on second and third-day hair. Our only gripe is that it has a rather strong (slightly herbaceous) scent that lingers on the hair long after spritzing. But if you’re after lots of volume, this is your definitely guy.

Best hair styling product from ARKIVE

(Image credit: ARKIVE)

2. ARKIVE The Good Habit Hybrid Oil

Best affordable hair styling product

Specifications

RRP: $22/£14
Key benefits: Hydrates hair and adds shine
Type of product: Hybrid oil

Reasons to buy

+
Lightweight texture
+
Adds shine
+
Uplifting scent 

Reasons to avoid

-
Pump is a little tough

Created by legendary hair stylist Adam Reed, ARKIVE is a mid-range haircare brand that combines mood-boosting aromas with next-level formulas for your best hair yet. Our favorite product? The Good Habit Hybrid Oil. Unlike some hair oils, this one boasts a lightweight gel-like texture that instantly sinks into strands, without weighing hair down. We applied one pump onto damp hair, working it through mid-lengths to ends, before using our best hair dryer brush to style. 

The results? Our hair looked smoother and felt softer (which is thanks to the nourishing blend of baobab and jojoba oils). It also tamed frizz and added impressive shine for healthier-looking hair. While some may steer clear of scented products (if you have a sensitive scalp, this may be wise), we adore the ‘Future Blooms’ scent that combines sweet rhubarb with white florals and a vanilla base. Divine!

Best hair styling product from JVN

(Image credit: JVN)

3. JVN Complete Blowout Styling Milk

Best luxury hair styling product

Specifications

RRP: $29/£25
Key benefits: Protects against heat, hydrates hair and provides hold
Type of product: Milk

Reasons to buy

+
Protects against heat and humidity
+
Provides good hold 
+
Smooths and hydrates hair 

Reasons to avoid

-
None, we love this

We’re not exaggerating when we say this is the best blowout styling milk that we’ve tried. Our new daily must-have, JVN has ticked all our haircare boxes with this strand-savvy formula that smooths frizzy hair, protects against heat, and locks in moisture (thanks to the brand's signature ingredient, hemisqualane). Alongside said hemisqualane, the milk contains antioxidant-rich orchid milk to hydrate hair as well as cassia bark polymer to provide hold and style memory.  

To use, the brand recommends dispensing a couple of pumps into your hands, before rubbing your palms together and working the product through mid-lengths to ends, on damp hair. Then, style as usual. We found that our hair dried faster (a big tick) and felt silky soft once dry. If it’s a polished, soft style that you’re after, this is the product for you. It also lightly scents hair and is housed in a sleek glass bottle with an easy-to-use pump. 

Best hair styling product from Color WOW

(Image credit: Color WOW)

4. Color Wow Dream Filter Pre-Shampoo Mineral Remover

Best hair styling product for color treated hair

Specifications

RRP: $24/£26
Key benefits:
Type of product: Spray

Reasons to buy

+
Remove traces of minerals and pollutants
+
Adds shine 
+
Revives color

Reasons to avoid

-
Can leave hair feeling dry

Hair looking a little lackluster? Don’t fret as Color WOW has answered our hair-dulling prayers with Dream Filter.  An antibacterial treatment, the spray specifically removes dulling minerals and pollutant build-up for healthier, happier hair. “Water contains minerals and metals that build up, dull hair, and even change the color,” says Joseph Maine, A-list celebrity stylist, “especially if you have hard water or live in an old building with copper pipes.” 

The solution? Dream Filter. This pre-shampoo spray works by grabbing onto hair using an ionic charge, then washes out taking unwanted minerals with it. Spritz it all over dry hair, wait for three minutes, then shampoo and rinse. On testing, this was one of the easiest and most satisfying products to use. Afterward, expect hair so fresh-looking your friends will ask if you’ve had your highlights done. 

Best hair styling product from R+Co

(Image credit: R+Co)

5. R+Co Zig Zag Root Tease and Texture Spray

Best hair styling product for root lift

Specifications

RRP: $36/£30
Key benefits: Adds volume and texture, absorbs oil
Type of product: Spray

Reasons to buy

+
Absorbs excess oil
+
Boosts root volume 
+
Helps strengthen strands

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive 

On those days when our hair looks limp and hangs heavy, we reach for R+Co’s Zig Zag Root Teasing + Texture Spray. After misting it onto our roots, hair instantly looks fuller and has more body and bounce. A total mane-changer, this is one of those ‘spray on and go’ products that can spruce up a look in seconds. As well as adding volume at the root, you can also apply this product to mid-lengths and ends to give hair a messy, cool-girl texture. 

What we love most is how lightweight this product is. While some sprays give hair that crunchy texture, this mist leaves hair soft and bouncy. As for the formula, it’s blended with vitamin-rich and mineral-rich ingredients to help thicken and strengthen strands – which is a big plus point for anyone with damaged or color-treated hair.  While it’s expensive for a texture spray, it really does give flat hair a new lease of life. We’re hooked!

Best hair styling product from Redken

(Image credit: Redken)

6. Redken Acidic Perfecting Concentrate Leave-In Treatment

Best hair styling product for split ends

Specifications

RRP: $28/£23
Key benefits: Adds shine, smooths hair and protects against heat
Type of product: Cream

Reasons to buy

+
Heat protection up to 230°C
+
Tames frizz and adds shine
+
Smooths split ends

Reasons to avoid

-
None, we love this

It doesn’t matter how good your blow-dry skills are; if your ends are frazzled, you won’t get the smooth results your aching arms deserve. Of course, cutting down on heat-styling or taking a break from the bleach are the best ways to restore a healthy look and feel to your hair. But for a quick fix, Redken Acidic Perfecting Concentrate Leave-in Treatment can help things along before styling.

“This range ensures clients can 'have it all' without the fear of reversible damage,” says Harriet Muldoon, head colorist at Larry King. “The three-step regimen has ten benefits, including strengthening, color protection, and a reduction in the appearance of split ends.” Music to our ears – and our raggedy ends. After a couple of uses, our hair felt softer and looked smoother – and according to other testers, the best results come after three weeks. 

Best hair styling product from Drunk Elephant

(Image credit: Drunk Elephant)

7. Drunk Elephant Wild Marula Tangle Spray

Best hair styling product for detangling

Specifications

RRP: $25/£21
Key benefits: Detangles, adds shine and protects against heat
Type of product: Spray

Reasons to buy

+
Weightless, non-sticky formula
+
Detangles hair and smooths fly-aways
+
Provides heat protection

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive, for what it is

Taking the time to carefully detangle and remove knots from your hair before you even reach for the hair dryer will make for a far more pleasant styling experience. In fact, we’d recommend starting the process in the shower, using a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush, and working from the ends up. Just note that when hair is wet, it's vulnerable to breakage so brush gently. 

If you need a little extra help, reach for Drunk Elephant's Wild Marula Tangle Spray. The lightweight mist can be used liberally on damp hair, and sparingly when dry. Simply shake up the bottle, spritz on and comb hair before styling as usual. We recommend using the Tangle Teezer hairbrush as it glides through hair without tugging or pulling. Loaded with nourishing plant oils, the Tangle Spray conditions and strengthens strands, too. 

Best hair styling product from Moroccanoil

(Image credit: Moroccanoil)

8. Moroccanoil Perfect Defense

Best hair styling product for heat protection

Specifications

RRP: £28/$26
Key benefits: Conditions hair, protects against heat
Type of product: Spray

Reasons to buy

+
Hydrates hair
+
Protects against heat 
+
Bolsters shine

Reasons to avoid

-
Can leave a sticky residue 

Regular hair straightener? No matter whether you invest in the Dyson Corrale vs GHD Platinum, using heat protection while styling your hair is a must. Just as you wouldn’t reach for a piping hot dish without oven gloves, leaving your hair unprotected from heat styling won’t do it any favors. “These curling irons or hair straighteners can get as hot as the temperature sugar caramelizes at, and thus can cause serious damage to your strands,” says trichologist Anabel Kingsley

“When you do heat-style, use your best heat protection spray or serum, but keep in mind that heat-protective products do not 100% guard your hair from damage, so you still need to be careful," she continues. Moroccanoil Perfect Defense Heat Protectant is effective at shielding hair from damage without weighing it down. It also adds shine with the help of do-gooders like argan oil and panthenol, a form of vitamin B5. 

Best hair styling product from Larry King

(Image credit: Larry King)

9. Larry King Haircare Flyaway With Me Kit

Best hair styling product for taming flyaways

Specifications

RRP: $24/£19
Key benefits: Tames flyaways
Type of product: Cream

Reasons to buy

+
Helps control frizz
+
Tames baby hairs and flyaways
+
Easy to use with bamboo brush

Reasons to avoid

-
None, we love this

If you’re occasionally frustrated by baby hairs around your hairline, keeping them in check can feel like a full-time job. Caused by any number of factors, from excess heat styling to regrowth, they can be riled up by humidity and static and can quickly go from adorable to unmanageable without the right product. 

Smoothing them down with your hands and a serum or cream can quickly stray into oil-slick territory, so for best results, go slow and sparingly with the help of a bit of styling cream and a brush. Larry King's Flyaway With Me Kit is just what you need to neaten up edges and tame flyaways. Use a small amount of cream (a little goes a long way) before brushing on where desired. We also love using this to create slick hair up styles.  

Best hair styling product from Aveda

(Image credit: Aveda)

10. Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer

Best hair styling product for curls

Specifications

RRP: $30/£24.50
Key benefits: Defines curls, locks in moisture and adds shine
Type of product: Cream

Reasons to buy

+
Helps define curls and coils
+
Locks in moisture
+
Reduces frizz and boosts shine

Reasons to avoid

-
Slightly sticky residue

As a general rule, curly hairstyles are best left to their own devices without the intervention of a hair dryer, unless you know how to use a diffuser—in which case, set the speed to low and the temperature to high. Too much wind power and you run the risk of tangles. Regardless of whether you're heat-styling hair or not, the expert advice is to always use a curl-caring product that will add moisture and hydrate hair. 

Our top product pick? Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer. The silky cream (which is more like a lotion) is made with a blend of aloe and wheat protein to lock in moisture and help define curls. For best results, apply to towel-dried hair before drying with a diffuser. Once dry, you can add a little more product to really shape your curls and add shine. 

Best hair styling product from Hair by Sam McKnight

(Image credit: Hair by Sam McKnight)

11. Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Hair Mist

Best hair styling product for weightless texture

Specifications

RRP: $28/£25
Key benefits: Adds body and bounce
Type of product: Spray

Reasons to buy

+
Adds volume, texture and bounce
+
Lightweight and brushable
+
Provides lasting body

Reasons to avoid

-
None, we love this

You might want your hair to be smooth, but that doesn’t always mean you want it to be short on texture. Hair by Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Hair Mist is a cult classic for good reason - this pink bottle has the power to give even the finest hair some serious oomph

Spray at the roots for lift, or along the lengths for an undone airy feel. It works well with all hair types and lengths, including hair that has been colored or chemically treated. To use, McKnight recommends shaking up the bottle before misting it onto dry hair, focusing on any areas where you want to add lift and airy texture. Then, gently tease roots and lengths with your fingers, and voila! You're good to go. 


How to add volume to hair when styling

According to Google trends and data from beauty e-tailer Space NK, shoppers are currently searching for ways to boost volume and add root lift. As well as using one of the products mentioned in our round-up above, McKnight shares his simple tweaks on how to add instant volume and body below: 

  • Flip your parting: “Go from a middle to the side. Just move it from how you normally wear it. It’s instant!”
  • Flip your head upside down: “Give it a good brush from roots to ends and flip it back. It’s my on-shoot instant hair hack for volume and thicker-looking hair.”
  • Backcomb: “Now I’m not talking 80’s style, even though that’s fabulous. I’m talking a little, just at the crown and into the roots. It’s the secret to thicker, fuller-looking hair.”
Emma Stoddart

Emma Stoddart is a freelance beauty journalist and self-confessed skincare aficionado with over five years’ industry experience. Emma has worked for some of the UK’s top women’s titles including Net-A-Porter, Stylist and Grazia. Her experience spans online and print as well as producing editorial shoots with some of the industry’s biggest artists, including Val Garland. Asides from working with them behind the scenes, she’s also had the chance to interview the likes of Patrick Ta, Pat McGrath, and Sam McKnight for all their insider tips and tricks.

With contributions from