Yet To Try A Hair Cream? Don't Miss Out On Frizz Control, Shine, and Long-Lasting Moisture
Transform dry or damaged hair
As someone with relatively fine, flat hair, I've always found hair serums troublesome. No matter which one I try, they seem to be far too greasy for my strands and weigh them down. This has been particularly frustrating lately as I've been travelling a lot and thus, humidity has become more of an issue. However, my trusty Hershesons Everything Cream eventually came to my aid, and in no time, I remembered just how much I love the best hair creams.
As much as I adore Hershesons one, it's not the most easily accessible product—its popularity means that it often sells out—so I wanted to share a list of my ultimate go-to options from years of testing. Hair creams are suitable for all hair types and are excellent for smoothing, adding moisture and hydration, shaping and defining, and taming frizz. They're the ultimate versatile styling product – and the following hardworking formulas certainly deliver on all fronts.
First things first, though...
What is a hair cream?
"A hair cream is designed to hydrate, smooth and lightly control the hair while keeping it soft and natural," explains Hair Stylist Edward James. "It helps reduce frizz, improve manageability and support the shape of the style without stiffness." He says that hair creams work best when applied to damp hair before blow-drying, as they smooth the cuticle and give more control during styling. "This is especially important if you heat-style your hair from curly or wavy to straight, as applying cream before drying or straightening helps the hair hold its new shape and prevents it from reverting to its natural texture. " However, you can absolutely use hair creams on dry hair to tame flyaways or soften ends, but James recommends doing this sparingly. "In the salon, I reach for a hair cream when a client wants polish and movement rather than hold."
Hair creams are different to serums and oils, because they sit between conditioning and styling, offering moisture, softness and gentle control. Serums, on the otherhand, are typically silicone-based and focus on surface smoothness, shine and humidity protection. Oils are more nourishing and work to improve the hair’s condition over time. Creams are ideal for everyday styling, particularly when heat-styling hair that naturally has movement, as they help maintain the finished shape.
Best hair creams: Quicklinks
- Best all-rounder: Hershesons Almost Everything Cream
- Best for dry ends: Hair by Sam McKnight Happy Endings Nourishing Balm
- Best for wavy hair: ARKIVE The Good Calmer Cushioning Moisture Cream
- Best for air drying: JVN Complete Air Dry Cream
- Best for heat styling: Dyson Chitosan Pre-style Cream
- Best for super dry hair: Larry King Haircare A Social Life for Your Hair
- Best for curly hair: Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino and Avocado Leave–In Defining Crème
- Best for hold: Oribe Créme for Style
- Best for frizz: Ouai Anti Frizz-Crème
- Best for damaged hair: Chämpo Leave-in Perfecting Cream
- Best for on-the-go flyaway taming: Color Wow One Minute Transformation
- For thick hair: Kérastase Gloss Absolu Frizz-Glaze Cream
Best hair creams 2026
1. Hershesons Almost Everything Cream
I had to include my personal favourite—the one that made me fall in love with hair creams in the first place. As its name suggests, this promises to offer a myriad of hair styling benefits, from defining curls to taming flyaways and boosting shine, and can be used on both dry and wet hair. I use this as a finishing product to define any style, and also adore the subtle, understated scent.
2. ARKIVE The Good Calmer Cushioning Moisture Cream
A highly rated, affordable option, hairstylist Adam Reed created this cream to hydrate, protect and boost shine. It utilises moringa seed oil to strengthen weakened strands and inject moisture and definition into any style. Marie Claire's own Katie Thomas has been using this for about two years, since she tested it for the Hair Awards and now swears by it for defining her waves and softening the length.
3. Hair By Sam McKnight Happy Endings Nourishing Balm
Sam McKnight's cleverly named Happy Endings has a really great, non-greasy texture that feels featherlight in hair. All you need is a couple of generous pumps to tame frizz, re-moisturise hair and add a gorgeous fragrance to strands.
4. JVN Complete Air Dry Cream
A slightly different kind of hair cream, JVN's is designed to be used on damp hair in place of other blow-drying products. It works to define hair to allow it to air-dry naturally without frizz or flyaways, and is enriched with a blend of nourishing ingredients to make lengths super soft.
5. Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino and Avocado Leave–In Defining Crème
As curly and coily hair is naturally dry, it requires moisture at every level of care and styling. Briogeo's defining curl cream features an impressive ingredients list starting with avocado oil to soften and hydrate the shape and ending with rice amino acids that seal the hair cuticle. I have naturally wavy hair, so I use this when I want to wear my hair down without too much heat styling and to define my waves.
6. Dyson Chitosan Pre-style cream
One of the most lightweight styling creams of the bunch, Dyson's newly-launched Chitosan formula feels practically undetectable in hair while offering hold and frizz-free benefits. Naturally, it works especially well when used in tandem with an Airwrap.
7. Larry King Haircare A Social Life for Your Hair
While Dyson's is lightweight, Larry King's cream has more of a rich, nourishing formula, meaning you only need a little for best results. It can be used on all hair types and lengths, and on dry or wet hair.
8. Oribe Créme for Style
Suitable for all hair types, this cream can be used on wet or dry hair and offers hold yet flexibility for any style. It feels super moisturising on hair, taming frizz and adding shape as it goes to work. This is one of James's recommendations, thanks to its glossy finish. "Apply a small amount to damp hair before blow-drying or straightening. I use this a lot in the salon for clients who want long-lasting smoothness."
9. Ouai Anti Frizz Crème
If frizz is your main concern, then Ouai's hair cream is a lifesaver. You can use it on wet or dry hair, and it immediately calms hair. A little goes a long way, so I like to work it into my hands before using my fingers to comb through my hair. It was designed to be used on hair that's been damaged by heat styling, so if you are a slave to the straightener, I couldn't recommend this enough. It can also be used as a split-end tamer, too. James is a big fan of how versatile this cream is. "It works well on most hair types and has a soft, lightly shiny finish. Apply to damp hair before styling."
10. Chämpo Leave-in Perfecting Cream
This clever hair cream aims to restore damaged hair. If you regularly heat style or colour your hair and have noticed that your hair looks lacklustre and frazzled, then consider adding this into your routine. It's a bond-building treatment and can be used on damp hair to protect against styling, dry hair for defining, defrizz or detangling, and it can also be used as an overnight strengthening mask.
11. Color Wow One Minute Transformation
Hair have a mind of its own? Fix errant flyaways fast with Color Wow's One Minute Transformation. This hair cream has a slightly waxy texture to it, so use it sparingly. Work a tiny bit into your hands and then through the necessary area. Those with fine hair might want to steer clear. James also loves this one.
12. Kérastase Gloss Absolu Frizz-Glaze Cream
When thick hair gets frizzy it pretty much doubles in size—think Monica in Friends in Barbados. Kérastase's brand new Gloss Absolu Frizz-Glaze Cream was designed with thick and frizzy hair in mind. It's a rich, yet thankfully, lightweight cream that helps to protect hair against humidity and heat. It transforms unruly and difficult hair and makes it far more manageable. Plus, it makes hair look super shiny and healthy.
