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    1. Beauty
    2. Hair

    These 15 Styling Products Impressed Our Experts Most in This Year’s Marie Claire UK Hair Awards

    Only the crème de la crème

    Nessa Humayun's avatar
    By Nessa Humayun
    Published 20 May 2026 In Features

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    Marie Claire Hair Awards: Style Architects
    (Image credit: Marie Claire)
    Jump to category:
    • WINNER: BEST STYLING MOUSSE
    • WINNER: BEST HAIR SPRAY
    • WINNER: BEST HAIR GEL
    • WINNER: BEST TEXTURISER
    • WINNER: BEST SMOOTHING PRODUCT
    • WINNER: BEST VOLUMISER
    • WINNER: BEST BLOW DRY PRODUCT
    • WINNER: BEST HEAT PROTECTOR
    • WINNER: BEST SHINE PRODUCT
    • WINNER: BEST DRY SHAMPOO
    • WINNER: BEST FLYAWAY PRODUCT
    • WINNER: BEST WAX STICK
    • WINNER: BEST CURL ENHANCER
    • WINNER: BEST STYLING PRODUCT FOR NATURAL/TEXTURED HAIR
    • WINNER: BEST MULTI-TASKER FOR CURLS
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    In 2026, there is no dearth of innovation in the haircare industry. From next-gen mousses and featherweight oils to technologically enhanced heat protectors, you will be able to find the solution to any hair-related woe you can think of.

    Indeed, this year our expert panel of judges were spoilt for choice when it came to the best "style architects" on the market... Read on for the winner list.

    How are the products tested and judged?

    The Marie Claire UK Hair Awards judging panel is made up of industry experts, from esteemed hairstylists including Sam McKnight, Samantha Cusick, Luke Hersheson and Adam Reed, to journalists, content creators and hair specialists, ensuring every product is thoroughly put through its paces.

    WINNER: BEST STYLING MOUSSE

    Bumble and Bumble

    Bumble and Bumble
    High Drama Styling Foam
    £26 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

    Suitable for all hair types, from straight to coily, this formula is packed full of strand pumping technology (as well as built-in heat protection) to expand fibres for visibly thicker hair, from root-to-top. Our judge, film and television hairstylist Paul Edmonds, said that this is a "great volumiser that plumps the hair, and leaves it shining, without any tackiness."

    WINNER: BEST HAIR SPRAY

    Colour Wow

    Colour Wow
    Texas Hold'Em Big Hold Hairspray
    £29.50 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

    The higher the hair, the closer to god, or so Colour Wow believes. This hairspray fully embodies big, Texan hair thanks to an innovative formula that contains a blend of emollients for flexible, mouldable and never sticky hold. It also uses 50 per cent less alcohol than other leading hairsprays, so it won't dry out your hair.

    WINNER: BEST HAIR GEL

    Mellon Strong Hold Gel

    Mellon
    Strong Hold Gel
    £27 AT MELLON

    This gel really does what it says on the tin—so, keeps your hair in place. But while most strong hold gels aren't pleasant to the touch, here, acacia and seaweed extracts form a protective layer around strands to keep them hydrated and resilient against the elements, all day long.

    WINNER: BEST TEXTURISER

    Oribe

    Oribe
    Dry Texturising Spray
    £47 AT CULT BEAUTY

    Oribe's Dry Texturising Spray is a cult favourite amongst Beauty Editors for good reason. As stylist-to-the-stars, Paul Edmonds notes: "It's a must-have in my kit. It adds volume and hold to the hair, while making it smell amazing."

    WINNER: BEST SMOOTHING PRODUCT

    Osmo

    OSMO
    Guardian Angel Anti-Humidity Veil
    £18.95 AT AMAZON

    This dual-powered product coats the hair with an invisible, water-resistant shield to help fight the effects of humidity, frizz and thermal damage, all while delivering glass-like shine.

    WINNER: BEST VOLUMISER

    R+Co, DALLAS Thickening Spray

    R+Co
    DALLAS Thickening Spray
    £24.50 AT CULT BEAUTY

    Crafted for medium-to-long hair, this (delicious smelling) thickening spray is a perfect companion to hairdryers, hot rollers and tongs, for body, shine and ultimate lift. "I love this product," comments renowned hair stylist Micheal Douglas, "It does exactly what it says. No nonsense." Fellow judge Paul Edmonds adds: "It thickens and gives read body—perfect for finer hair types."

    WINNER: BEST BLOW DRY PRODUCT

    Johm Frieda Frizz Ease

    John Frieda
    Frizz Ease Infinite Smooth Blow Out Spray
    £9.99 AT BOOTS

    Infused with keratin and a unique humidity shield complex, this style-sealing spray battles frizz for silky-smooth, shiny strands—and lasts for up to three washes. It also had heat protection up to 230 degrees, to boot.

    WINNER: BEST HEAT PROTECTOR

    K18 HEAT BOUNCE

    K18
    Biomimetic Hairscience HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant
    £48 AT K18

    Our beauty team has never met a K18 products they didn't like, and their HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant has to be one of the most innovative on the market. With protection up to 450 degrees fahrenheit, its patented resilicore technology provides deep heat shielding from the cuticle to the cortex, ensuring healthier hair.

    WINNER: BEST SHINE PRODUCT

    Kerastase

    Kérastase
    Gloss Asbolu Glaze Drops Hair Oil
    £32 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

    Our judges were full of praise for Kérastase's incredibly featherweight and shine-boosting oil drops. As celebrity hairstylist, Daniel Galvin said that this was a "perfect" product: "They are very light and buildable. You can use them on every type of hair, and it's compatible with extensions."

    WINNER: BEST DRY SHAMPOO

    Living Proof, Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo

    Living Proof
    Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo
    £27 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

    An icon within the dry shampoo category, Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo has really withstood the test of time. As judge Daniel Galvin says: "It smells great, it's lightweight and it's very good at removing oils. It's probably my favourite out of all the products I judged."

    WINNER: BEST FLYAWAY PRODUCT

    REHAB.

    REHAB.
    Hair Tamer
    £20 AT SELFRIDGES

    Struggle with flyaways? Look no further than REHAB.'s Hair Tamer. This frizz-busting gel makes it easy to get super-sleek hair, thanks to an extremely fine-tooth applicator and a nourishing formula that tames flyaways and baby hairs.

    WINNER: BEST WAX STICK

    Thank God It's Natural

    Thank God It's Natural
    Miracle Styling Smooth & Sleek Wax Stick
    £12 AT BOOTS

    Infused with squalane for hydration and softness, alongside castor oil, rich in omega-6 fatty acids to help reduce breakage and strengthen hair, this clever wax stick is ideal for slicking back unruly strands, and especially useful for creating sleek ponytails and buns.

    WINNER: BEST CURL ENHANCER

    Fenty Hair

    Fenty Hair
    The Homecurl Curl Defining Cream
    £29 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

    Celebrity hair stylist and salon owner, Lorraine Dublin highlights that Fenty Hair's The Homecurl is a standout for curly and coily hair. "It has the perfect amount of moisture to make curls pop. Hair sets perfectly with this product."

    WINNER: BEST STYLING PRODUCT FOR NATURAL/TEXTURED HAIR

    Camille Rose, Curl Maker Curling Jelly

    Camille Rose
    Curl Maker Curling Jelly
    £12.74

    This hard working jelly is excellent for different types of texture that are craving definition, says curl expert Lorraine Dublin, who also pumped out that the pump is excellent at controlling just how much product you disperse.

    WINNER: BEST MULTI-TASKER FOR CURLS

    Curl Jar Style and Treat Curl Activator

    Curl Jar
    Style + Treat Curl Activator
    £28
    £27.99 AT CURL JAR

    This nourishing cream-gel hybrid has been expertly designed to enhance your natural curl pattern while delivering hydration, frizz control, and healthy-looking shine.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
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    Marie Claire Hair Awards
    Nessa Humayun
    Nessa Humayun
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    Beauty Editor

    Nessa Humayun is the Beauty Editor at Marie Claire UK. With over eight years of editorial experience across lifestyle sectors, Nessa was previously the Editorial Lead of HUNGER Magazine, and has bylines in British Vogue, Dazed, and Cosmopolitan. A self-confessed human guinea pig, Nessa covers everything from product must-haves to long-reads about the industry writ large. Her beauty ethos is all about using products that work hard, so you don't have to.

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