It’s here. For the first time ever, Marie Claire’s Hair Awards bring you our pick of the game-changers, time-savers and unbelievable steals that will give you the best hair of your life.
The results are in: For the first time ever, the beauty team are very pleased to announce the winners of the inaugural Marie Claire Hair Awards.
The 2017 Marie Claire Hair Awards are the chance for the Marie Claire beauty team to scream, shout and generally make a fuss over their favourite hair products, salons, stylists and colourists. Entries to the awards where not restricted to a specific time frame so the winners are truly a mix of the best of the latest haircare innovations as well as those tried and tested products that we find ourselves going back to time and time again.
After much deliberation the Marie Claire beauty desk has whittled hundreds of entries down to just one worthy winner per category that we consider the absolute best in class. From the best afro hair product, to the ultimate hair accessory, best DIY colour product and everything in between, on our quest to find the winners, the Marie Claire beauty team have tonged, styled and spritzed their way through the entries and put the products to the test so you can rest assured that each one of our hair awards winners is worth the investment and will see you on your way to your best ‘do yet.
If you’re looking for more haircare recommendations, head to Powder for personalised beauty matches – start by finding your holy grail hair mask!
Our hair awards include 19 product categories and 3 awards for the best salon, stylist and colourist whose creativity, flair and skill we admire and would wholeheartedly put our trust in to make the best of what mother nature gave us.
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So if you’ve been thinking about investing in some new haircare for the new year or about braving a chop or colour (however big or small), take our Hair Awards as your bible to the best hair products on the market and an intro to the excellent stylist, colourist and salon we would choose for our own hair makeovers.
Read on the see the full list of winners and check out the Hair Awards feature in the January 2017 issue of Marie Claire UK, on sale now.
Parlux Advance, £109.95
Award: Best hair dryer
‘Proof that not all hairdryers are created equal. The super-powerful engine dries my hair in half the time, while the ions banish static. Worth every penny.’
- Fiona Embleton, senior beauty editor
RUNNER UP: T3 Featherweight Hairdryer
ghd Platinum Styler, £165
Award: Best styling tool
'I've tried a lot of straighteners, but none that make my hair as sleek as these - or as quickly. It's the the tool I rely on when I need to look polished and presentable, fast.'
- Sophie Qureshi, acting beauty and style director
RUNNER UP: Dafni Straightening Brush
Invisibobble Nano in Crystal Clear, £3.95 (for three)
Award: Best hair accessory
‘I always have one of these knocking around in my handbag. It’s less damaging than your average hair elastic, stays put without slipping
and doesn’t leave kinks in
your hair.’
- Charlotte Clark, beauty writer
RUNNER UP: Toni & Guy Accessories Range
Kérastase L’Incroyable Blowdry, £21
Award: Best blow-dry product
'I’m pretty hopeless at blow-drying, but this helps my hair behave
the way I want it to. It makes it way easier to get shape into your style and reactivates with heat, so you can restyle the next day with ease.’
- Sophie Qureshi, acting beauty and style director
RUNNER UP: Schwarzkopf GOT2B Playful Primer
Pantene Pro-V Air-Light Foam Conditioner, £3.99
Award: Best conditioner for fine hair
'The mousse-like texture is a revelation: champagne-sized bubbles deliver lightweight moisture, giving me bouncy roots and springy ends in two minutes flat.'
- Abbie Skliarsky, beauty assistant
RUNNER UP: HIF (Hair Is Fabric) Volume Support Cleansing Conditioner
Charlotte Mensah Manketti Hair Oil, £42
Award: Best product for afro hair
‘Afro hair is naturally drier, so I rely on this botanical oil to hydrate every inch. It’s also a dream to massage into your scalp for a more intense overnight treatment.’
- Abisoye Odugbesan, acting junior fashion editor
RUNNER UP: Vernon Francois Curl Command Moisture Spray
V05 Shape My Style Dramatic Volume Creation Hairspray, £4.39
Award: Best hairspray
‘This delivers impressive hold and guts, but it’s easy to brush through when you want to switch up your style.’
- Fiona Embleton, senior beauty editor
RUNNER UP: Ouai Texturising Hair Spray
Tresemmé Beauty-Full Volume Shampoo, £4.99
Award: Best volumising shampoo
‘This game-changer is designed to be used after conditioner to give hair maximum oomph. Mine usually looks
flat when it’s freshly washed, but not
with this in the mix.’
- Sophie Qureshi, acting beauty & style director
RUNNER UP: Jo Hansford Expert Colour Care Volumising Shampoo
Aveda Thickening Tonic, £20
Award: Best volumiser
'Hands down one of the best volumisers I've tried. Just a few sprays on your roots adds enough oomph to work the "big hair, don't care" attitude.'
- Natalie Lukaitis, digital beauty editor
RUNNER UP: Wella EIMI Sugar Lift
Batiste Dry Shampoo Original, £2.99
Award: Best dry shampoo
‘This gets rid of grease in between shampoos and adds texture, but (crucially) never makes my roots look dusty, even though my hair’s dark.’
- Charlotte Clark, beauty writer
RUNNER UP: Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk
Toni & Guy Illuminating Hair Perfume, £7.49
Award: Best shine product
‘When I want to give day-old hair a second wind, I mist this all over. It leaves my locks super-glossy, and the fresh, floral fragrance makes me smell like I’ve just had a salon blow-dry.’
- Charlotte Clark, beauty writer
RUNNER UP: Liz Earle Botanical Shine Nourishing Hair Oil
John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Visibly Deeper Colour Deepening In-Shower Treatment, £9.99
Award: Best DIY colour product
‘When I don’t have time for a salon appointment, this five-minute, colour-depositing shampoo is a life-saver, adding rich tones to my hair.’
- Charlotte Clark, beauty writer
RUNNER UP: Charles Worthington Instant Root Concealer Powder
Sachajuan Ocean Mist, £18
Award: Best texturiser
'If the sea was infused with conditioning agents, it would be this spray. You still get textured hair as though you've come straight from the beach, but it feels nourished, not crunchy.'
- Natalie Lukaitis, digital beauty editor
RUNNER UP: Redken Wind Blown 05
Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, £17
Award: Best intensive hair treatment
‘The difference this makes to the condition of your hair is mind-blowing – it feels immediately stronger and healthier. I’d be devastated if they ever stopped making it.’
- Charlotte Clark, beauty writer
RUNNER UP: Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor
Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo, £16
Award: Best colour shampoo
‘I want my colour to look as fresh as when I leave the salon. This shampoo nails it, making even bleached hair like mine feel strong.’
- Fiona Embleton, senior beauty editor
RUNNER UP: Schwarzkopf Professional Shampoo
Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Finishing Hairbrush, £15
Award: Best hairbrush
‘I’ve been a huge fan of Tangle Teezer brushes since they first launched. This one has the same brilliant detangling powers, but the longer tips and handle mean you can style with it, too.’
- Sophie Qureshi, acting beauty & style director
RUNNER UP: Kent Brushes Ooh That’s Nice Brush
Rahua Conditioner, £29
Award: Best conditioner for normal/thick hair
‘Natural conditioners often don’t feel that hydrating, but this 100 per cent organic one uses nourishing nut oils that obliterate a straw-like texture and give hair a healthy sheen.’
- Fiona Embleton, senior beauty editor
RUNNER UP: Show Beauty Pure Moisture Conditioner
Viviscal Maximum Strength Hair Growth Supplement, £37.46 (for one month’s supply)
Award: Best growth booster
‘Marine extracts increase the natural production of keratin, the basic component of hair. After three months, mine grew two inches instead of one and felt way healthier.’
- Fiona Embleton, senior beauty editor
RUNNER UP: Susanne Kaufmann Hair Elixir
OGX Weightless Hydration + Coconut Water Shampoo, £6.99
Award: Best hydrating shampoo
‘I’m cursed with dry, frizzy hair, but this locks out humidity and leaves my strands super-soft. I also love the subtle aroma of coconut I get every time I swish my hair.’
- Abbie Skliarsky, beauty assistant
RUNNER UP: Head & Shoulders 3Action Formula
Paul Edmonds, Knightsbridge
Award: Best hairstylist
'Whether you're booking in for a total style overhaul or just a trim, Paul Edmonds really listens to what you want and instinctively knows what will work. Everyone he sees walks out of the salon with a big smile on their face.'
- Sophie Qureshi, acting beauty & style director
RUNNER UP: Jason Collier
Nicola Clarke at John Frieda, west London
Award: Best hair colourist
'Nicola Clarke is known for creating the most natural-looking blondes this side of Stockholm, but she also works equal magic on my brunette hair, And even though she tends the tresses of celebs including Kate Moss and Cate Blanchett, she's unbelievably warm and down-to-earth.'
- Sophie Qureshi, acting beauty & style director
RUNNER UP: Jack Howard
Errol Douglas, Knightsbridge
Hair Award: Best salon
'This salon caters brilliantly for every hair type especially afro. Look no further for the best cuts, braids and weaves in the business.'
- Abbie Skliarsky, beauty assistant
RUNNER UP: Gielly Green
