Multi-use products are brilliant for the time-poor and the travellers. We can’t get enough of these products that promise to do more. The SPF moisturiser that protects the skin from harmful UV rays, as well as improving hydration levels. The tinted balm that works just as well on the lips as it does on the apples of the cheeks. And the hair cream that claims to nourish, tame, condition, define curls, smooth frizz, prime, add texture, boost shine, that can also be used as a mask? Yes, please, we’ll take a metric tonne of it.

But can a product really do all of these things? Solve so many of our haircare worries and concerns? We’re used to hair serums that seal the cuticle, whilst also offering up heat protection and blow-dry sprays that boost shine, but a pot of cream that says it can do nine things? There aren’t many of those.

Which is why for the next instalment of Hair Heroes, we decided to put Hershesons Almost Everything Cream to the test.

THE PRODUCT

As we said above, this nourishing cream does a lot. In fact, the brand says that “It’s not a hairspray. And it’s not shampoo, either. But our super smart Almost Everything Cream is pretty much everything else.” It can be used on wet or dry hair to aid in all manner of styling. Its formula, as you can imagine from such a high-achieving product, contains some pretty hardworking ingredients selected to work together to ensure that they can tick every box of its extensive to-do list.

Luke Hersheson, co-founder and creative director of Hershesons, explains that he developed it “to address the frustration of hair products that often overpromise and underdeliver. There was a need for a versatile, effective solution, which is why I created this multi-functional cream to streamline hair care routines and deliver tangible results. I use it on everyone from Victoria Beckham to Dua Lipa and Kiera Knightley.”

There are two sizes to shop: 30ml and 200ml. The brand also offers a subscription model, which can keep you topped up every 4, 6, 8 or 10 weeks.

THE CLAIMS

The brand says that the Almost Everything Cream does three things: helps with styling, conditions and hydrates. In doing these three things, it’s able to claim to do all of the below:

• Tame flyaways
• Smooth frizz
• Add texture
• Nourish hair
• Enhance shine
• Prime
• Define curls
• Add volume
• Act as a hair mask

Let’s see if the Marie Claire team agrees…

THE RESULTS

When a product says it can do so much, it requires a robust testing group. One with different hair types, textures, needs and desires. We tested the Almost Everything Cream on four heads of hair, these are the results…

I’m going to be completely honest, I am not coming into this experiment blind. I have used AEC (as it’s so affectionately known) for years. It's an essential product in my haircare regime, and I love it. I love the scent—a divine, clean fragrance, with slight citrussy notes that doesn’t have masses of staying power in your hair, but it’s lovely while it lasts. I love how soft it makes my hair—honestly, strokeable soft. And I love how it makes my hair look.

I like to use it on dry hair, after blow-drying, to tame my split ends and revive my lengths. It defines my waves and leaves them looking ultra-glossy. I also use it on day-old hair, as a reviver. When I want to stretch out the days before my next hair wash, I will brush my hair through with a bristle brush, then blast my roots with dry shampoo. This typically makes me look like I’ve just had a bath with a toaster. But when I work AEC through my ends, it separates and redefines my natural wave pattern.

However, I probably haven’t put it through its paces enough. I know how I use it, but in the name of beauty journalism, I started playing around with it in different ways. I normally apply hair oil to towel-dried hair before blow-drying, but I replaced it with AEC. I worked it between my hands and then through the lengths. Whilst it felt like it was hydrating my ends, I didn’t feel like it was adding the right amount of nourishment that I so often need as I colour my hair (at Hershesons, FYI) every six weeks.

I also did something that I would never normally do: I worked this cream into my crown. As someone with dry ends and greasy roots, I never put any product on the hair above my eyeline. However, I wanted to see if it delivered on its volume promises. As my hair is long, it’s weighty, and so I struggle with lift and texture at the root. AEC isn’t super rich, nor is it lightweight either; in fact, it’s somewhere in between. Thankfully, it didn't make my hair look any oilier or weigh it down further. Whilst I don't think it could ever really compete with the dry texture mists and volume sprays I normally rely on, it did add movement.

All in all, my opinions of this product haven't changed; I am just as impressed as I was at the start of testing. Yes, it can be used in so many ways; what's key is finding what works for your hair.

Let’s quickly chat about packaging. If you have long hair, and a lot of it, like me, then the smaller 30ml pot isn’t going to last you long. I tend to use just over a 50p-sized blob, sometimes more if I’ve recently had my hair bleached. However, it will be good in your washbag when you go away. I prefer the larger pump tube, which comes in 200ml.

This has long been one of my own hair heroes and will continue to be for years to come.

I’m not someone who has ever “styled” their hair with products. I will blow dry, straighten and curl it, but I will rarely use any products to get that “tousled”, “beachy”, or super smooth look. That’s not to say I have perfect hair, far from it—I have long, wavy strands that are prone to frizz and flyaways… Plus, I’m lazy. But I was swayed when two of my colleagues, with excellent hair, mind, said that they swore by Hershesons’ Almost Everything Cream, for well, everything.

It’s worth mentioning that I’m incredibly sceptical when it comes to multitasking products, as I often find that I need dedicated products for each component of my routine (I am a beauty editor, after all). But I was hooked after using the Almost Everything Cream just once. Not only did it tame frizz and flyaways, but the thick styling cream also revived my four-day-old hair: it separated and defined my waves and allowed me to tease my curtain bangs back into place. The result was hair that looked like it had been freshly styled.

Initially, I was a little concerned that the formula, which is a white paste, might show up on my dark hair, but it seemed to disappear immediately. On that note, you do need to use quite a bit of product if you have long, thick hair, but the smaller pot, which comes in 30ml, is perfect for travel, and I will be taking it with me on my upcoming Italian vacation. It’s a good hair day in a little blue pot.

Coily and curly girls know all too well that when it comes to our hair, no two days are the same. After years of straightening every day, I finally decided to embrace my natural hair texture. I know have my curl routine down to a fine art: a hydrating shampoo, a (deep) conditioner, then the scrunch method, followed by a curl cream and gel for extra hold. So, I was keen to see if this would slot into my routine and what it would do for my curls.

I’ll be honest, my first thought when trying this was that it wasn’t going to work for my hair type, especially considering "everything” (that it attests to doing) is a pretty big claim. But amongst other things, it also claims to be a curl definer, frizz fighter and tamer. While I wasn’t sure you could pry my usual products from my grip, this slick, little blue pot intrigued me.

Typically, I heap products onto my hair, but I adjusted my ratios, considering the pot is pretty small. I first applied this product on my wet hair instead of my usual curl cream, dispersing it through the ends and then scrunching it to coat my curls. Once my hair had dried, I was very happy to see how shiny it was, and it added to my curls' definition.

Do I think this is the ultimate curl definer? Maybe not. But it does a darn good job of eliminating frizz and adding shine. If I want to prolong my wash cycle, I use a little swipe of this on my edges to slick my hair back or if I need to inject a little life back into my otherwise limp curls. For my hair type, which is prone to dryness, this has become a hero for the ends. It gives just the right amount of oil/moisture, and it’s become a handbag essential.

My hair is extremely tricky to manage, so anything low maintenance that can enhance its natural texture is music to my ears. I applied the cream to clean, damp hair and scrunched it into my ends before leaving it to air dry. Consistency-wise, it’s definitely thicker than other curl creams I have used (most similar to a hair mask), which felt extra hydrating on my hair when applying.

Once fully dried, my waves had more definition than they would without any product at all, but less than with more heavy-duty curl-enhancing products like a mousse or a gel. The result was a loose, beachy wave that has a lovely, relaxed feel. For me, this is the ideal product to use for holiday hair when I want to give my natural texture a helping hand, but don’t want to spend any time styling it when I know I’ll be jumping back in the pool the next day.

I can tell that the cream boosted shine and made my bleached ends look and feel much less brittle, which is exactly what I need on holiday.

Because my hair is wavy rather than coily, I stuck with a modest amount of product so as not to weigh my hair down; about a 5p coin-sized amount did the trick. This means that a little can go a long way, and the small pot is also ideal for taking in a carry-on.

THE VERDICT

Just because a product can do eight things doesn’t mean that it has to do all nine things for every person. The Almost Everything Cream can be used in so many different ways to suit the needs of almost every individual. And that’s really where the magic of this multi-use product truly lies.

Hair damage is pretty unavoidable in our modern age. From bleaching and colouring to straightening and curling (and everything in between) we put stress on our hair every single day. Even if you steer clear of the obvious culprits, it's at risk of harm by the environment that we live in, with things like hard water and pollution. There was a time when the only way we could attempt any form of repair was with expensive in-salon treatments, mediocre targeted shampoos and conditioners and nourishing hair masks, which weren't able to get to the route of the problem. And then came bond repair products, and suddenly caring for our hair got a lot easier and more effective.

This category of the haircare market is only growing and now it seems that almost every range on the shelves has its very own version of bond repair. So when Rihanna's Fenty Beauty branched out into haircare earlier this year, unsurprisingly one of the nine products was a damage treatment product aimed at repairing broken bonds.

So we decided to put The Comeback Kid to the test. Since the launch back in June it has sold out a few times, so demand is high, but does it actually work?

THE PRODUCT

The Comeback Kid is a treatment designed to be used either in place of your conditioner or as a leave-in product, depending on your hair's needs. The formula is made with amino acids, chia seed extract and Replenicore-5 - a clinically tested complex the brand has developed to help repair, strengthen, hydrate, smooth and protect.

Rihanna herself has called it her favourite product: “This saved my life when I went blonde.[...] This repair treatment allows you to have your own adventure depending on what you want and what your hair needs."

THE CLAIMS

The brand promises fast results you can see and feel in just one use. It's said to strengthen and plump strands for thicker-looking hair, reduce frizz, improve shine, moisturise and make hair feel softer and silkier. Quite the statements.

The brand conducted its own clinical study, which delivered the following results: 75% said there was improvement in damage and 72% claimed to have stronger hair when The Comeback Kid was used as a leave-in.

Another study was carried out when the product was rinsed out and 100% of testers agreed that The Comeback Kid improved the appearance of the hair and split ends over time, made their hair feel soft, moisturised, healthier, easier to style, bouncier and looked revived after each use.

But what did team Marie Claire think?

THE RESULTS

Fenty Beauty is known for its inclusivity - when it launched with a 40-strong foundation shade range it highlighted the shortcomings of other cosmetic brands in the market - and its haircare line is no different, it's been designed to cater for all hair types.

So we trialled it on straight, wavy, curly and coily hair of varying damage and these were the results...

STRAIGHT HAIR

My hair is very long, very fine, very bleached and very straight. It is flat and relatively lifeless—oh, and it’s incapable of holding any sort of curl. All of the that means it’s prone to breakage, snapping and exists in a permanent state of fragility. And because of the bleach damage and length of my strands, they are very much prone to tangling and matting—particularly post-wash. For that reason, I like to use a hydrating, detangling conditioner. If I find the right product, I’m left with silky-smooth, high-shine, sleek hair that, actually, I don’t hate that much. The most important thing when it comes to any hair product for me? It can’t add any weight. If I want to have any hint of volume or life at the root, my hair needs to feel squeaky clean.

Initial thoughts:

I have it out for hair products that claim to be for ‘all hair types’. I either find they’re not hydrating enough to work through my knots or they’re so rich and nourishing that I’m left with heavy, greasy roots at the end of it. So, to start with I’ll admit I was a little sceptical of The Comeback Kid. I liked the packaging, though. Chic-looking, powder blue and a weighty lid at the bottom to ensure all the product is used up. Something about the packaging that made no sense to me? The directions. It utilises pictures to explain how to use it for different hair types and, frankly, I was confused. I think it is saying that, for my hair type, I should use it in place of conditioner: apply after washing, leave to sit for 3-5 minutes and then rinse. But, frankly, who knows.

First attempt:

The first thing that hit me upon opening The Comeback Kid was the absolutely divine scent—a sweet, moreish floral that smells so luxe it could be bottled and stuck in the Harrods fragrance hall. It’s so good, in fact, even after I got out of the bath, my husband asked what the great smell was. I also got good vibes from the texture—not too rich, good spreadability and not so slippery that half of it ends up down the drain. Something I was surprised by, however, is how much product I felt like I needed to use for my long, bleach-damaged hair. My hair isn’t thick at all, but I needed to use much more product than I would typically use with my normal conditioner. While it felt hydrating and moisturising as I applied it (and combing knots out as I applied wasn’t an issue), it wasn't rich like a thick hair mask—more like a hardworking lightweight conditioner. So, although it was enough for my fine hair, I’m not sure how nourishing it would feel for thicker hair types. However, I did feel like a lot of that hydration rinsed away. My hair was still left feeling squeaky clean (which I like, but I know not everyone does) but when it came to brushing my hair out afterwards, knots were an issue. My hair was also quite static, something I find happens if there's not enough moisture present after blow drying. Although it didn’t feel particularly moisturised, I have to admit that my hair looked a whole lot better for using it—sleeker, stronger and generally healthier. My main issues? The knots and the fact it didn’t deliver any sort of shine. But, truthfully, this is something I can sort post-wash with leave-in treatments. If long-term strength and reduction in breakage is on the cards, The Comeback Kid will become a permanent fixture in my routine.

After weeks of trying:

I’m pleased to announce that I did like this product enough to empty every last drop from the (very pretty) bottle. Would I buy it again? Probably—but I’m not running to add it to my basket straight away. I still love the scent and do think my hair feels stronger for using it, but I have a couple of things to note. First of all, it doesn’t quite deliver enough moisture for my bleached ends. To get a sleek, smooth finish, I needed to rely on serums and oils far more than normal. The second thing is how quickly I used the bottle. As mentioned, my hair is very long (but not particularly thick, mind you), and I only got around six washes out of the bottle.

I have a love hate relationship with my hair. I absolutely love the length, the colour and the natural waves. But my golly do I hate the upkeep. Bleaching my hair every six weeks does, as you can imagine quite a lot of damage. To mitigate this, I try not to apply any heat to my hair, which means my hair tools only come out when absolutely necessary, and I also rely heavily on bond repairing products - there are very few on the market that I've not tried. So the Fenty Hair The Comeback Kid is right up my street.

Initial thoughts:

OK first up, I really like the bottle - I think it looks smart, and although colourful, I didn't feel like a tween having it on my shower shelf. I had a quick look at the instructions on the back to gauge how much I needed to use. But nowhere on the packaging does it tell you. Does a little go a long way? Should I be using a generous amount because I have hair down to my boobs? Who knows?! What the tube does have are little illustrations on the back, which I'm pretty sure were designed to eliminate any confusion on how to use it. I'd say they failed. I spent longer than I care to admit staring at them trying to figure it all out. Not exactly a great start. However, I did finally deduce that I should leave the treatment on for 3-5 minutes for my hair type.

Upon opening the bottle, I got the biggest (and best) surprise. This is, hands down, one of the best smelling hair products. It's scented like a chic, niche perfume - warm, rich, spicy, flowery - and I want it bottled, please.

First attempt:

I was a little worried about it replacing my conditioner, as it doesn't have the thicker consistency that I prefer, however I was really impressed with how manageable my hair was afterwards. I was able to get a brush through it with ease, and without the help of a leave-in conditioner or a detangler. It claims to have immediate results with just one use - my hair was definitely a lot less knotty than usual and once blow dried my hair had a nice shine to it, but I don't think I saw any other improvements to my dry split ends. But my god, did my hair smell good. I didn't even bother with perfume on the days I washed my hair.

After weeks of trying:

I definitely have a better understanding of this product now and how it works for my hair type. Whilst, I really like this product for how manageable it makes my lengths post-wash, using it in place of my conditioner didn't do enough for me. I was having to apply moisturising creams and hair oils to boost hydration and add nourishments to my lengths afterwards. However, as soon as I started leaving it in, changes to the quality of my hair were more noticeable. My hair is all the happier for it - it feels smoother, looks sleeker and my ends look a lot less frazzled. Do I think this is as good as other, more recognisable bond-repair products? Not for me, no. The results weren't as transformative. Because of how often I colour my hair, I prefer something that makes it look and feel like I've never sat in a colourist's chair. This doesn't quite cut it, my hair is almost too damaged. Do I think it would have better results on someone who's hair doesn't take such regular batterings as mine? Yes, absolutely. It's a brilliant treatment for hair that's in need of some TLC every so often. And if nothing else, I promise your hair will have never smelt as good.

If you have curly hair, you’ll already know this, but for my straight-haired girls, here’s the deal: curly hair means never knowing what it will be like on any given day. This meant I spent most of my teens straightening my hair to within an inch of its life, but now, at the ripe old age of 33, I’ve decided to embrace my hair in its natural form, or at least try to. Earlier this year, I had my first-ever designated curly girl haircut at Gina Conway Salon — a former Marie Claire UK Sustainability Awards-winner, which honestly changed my life, or at least, my locks. Since then, I’ve been half-heartedly following the Curly Girl Method in a desperate bid to keep my hair in the bouncy, healthy condition it was when I left the salon. I’ve been avoiding products with sulphates and cutting down on shampoo, and while I’ve never had more consistent curls, my hair feels dry and wiry at times. So, when news of Fenty Hair’s The Comeback Kid made the office rounds, I immediately signed up.

Initial thoughts:

I’m a bit of a hair novice (I let it air dry, and if I’m feeling indulgent, I’ll run some oil through the ends after a weekly hair wash), so perhaps a more educated consumer wouldn’t have the same issue. The issue being, I had no idea how to use the product. From what I could gather from the thumbnail illustrations on the back, I assumed I needed to use the product after washing my hair, leave it in for a while, and then wash it out. How much product I should use was anyone’s guess.

First attempt:

I proceeded with caution the first time and used a small amount left on for a few minutes. The product smelt great - like summer, but not the tropical bubblegum stuff I’m used to, being the Luddite I am. I didn’t know how to treat my hair while the product was on - do I smooth it over from tip to end? Run it through the bottom? As I’m in the midst of another doomed attempt at the Curly Girl Method, I ran my fingers through the lengths and then scrunched it for a minute to try to encourage the curls - which, of course, dropped out as soon as I washed the product out. Afterwards, my hair smelt great, but there weren’t any noticeable differences in the texture of my hair, and I’d say that it was less curly than usual. The bottle looks chic on my shelf, though, and, as I said to my boyfriend, who couldn’t share in my enthusiasm, it had a weighty lid and overall feels like a premium product.

After weeks of trying:

Instead of washing it out, I started leaving the product in, sleeping in a microfibre hair wrap, and then when it’s damp but not yet dry (which can take forever as I have very porous hair), I’d plait it to lock in moisture and encourage a better wave as my curls have become a little lacklustre since using The Comeback Kid. Keeping the product in overnight helped maintain a wave, but oddly, my hair felt drier for it (though it still smelt great). I can’t say that I’ve noticed any visible difference in my hair quality, but it’s not worse, either. I’ll stick with it, but I’ll probably reserve it for monthly use or the rare occasions that I use heat on it and it could do with a little boost.

COILY HAIR

As anyone with coily hair will tell you, it can be wildly unpredictable. I can follow my usual cleanse, condition and styling routine one day and get the result I want - soft defined bouncy curls - yet repeat the same method the next to find my locks a frizzy mess. My hair is currently dry, sun damaged and has a tendency to break easily despite the products I use, so I was eager to try The Comeback Kid - a product which promises to strengthen and condition from root to tip.

Initial thoughts:

‘Instant damage repair’ is a big claim, which had me instantly drawn in but what intrigued me most about this product was the fact it could be used either as a normal post shampoo conditioner which rinses out, or a leave-in conditioner depending on hair needs. I loved that, as I usually have to buy two products and here was one that I could use both ways.

First attempt:

There wasn’t much instruction on what quantity to use aside from ‘enough to distribute from room to tip’ so I experimented with a large dollop for each half of my head on my first attempt. It smelled light and summery and worked as an excellent detangler on just washed hair in the shower and combed through. It penetrated the strands easily and my hair felt smooth. I decided to leave in on my first go and my curls dried nicely defined and frizz free, although a little stiff.

After weeks of trying:

I experimented with different quantities depending on whether I was leaving in or rinsing out and discovered the perfect quantity for my fine but frizzy hair to give me definition without heaviness. On days I felt my hair needed that moisture boost, this was an effective easy to use daily leave-in conditioner, provided I was wearing my hair up as it did leave curls looking a little greasy. In the end, I came to the conclusion it worked better for me as a traditional conditioner that I washed out. Used regularly, my split ends were less visible, hair felt shinier and curls were more defined. I'd also say that as lovely as it smells, the fragrance is little pungent. Fresh and floral to start, but the dry down is a little acrid by the end of the day. Something to be weary of if you’re leaving it in.

THE VERDICT

This product takes some getting used to. Be prepared to play around with it, because it can be used it different ways, you have to find your groove with it. However, once a technique had been nailed down, some of us found great success. Hair was smoother, stronger, curls were more defined and split ends looked non-existent. However, getting to that point certainly took time. At £34 some people won't want to experiment with that kind of price to get the desired results.

On the other hand, it is hands down the best smelling hair product team Marie Claire has ever tried. Please Fenty, bottle this for your new Eau De Parfum?

At the moment it feels like you can't move for new hair tools. From the recent influx of wet-to-straight technology - like the ghd Duet and Dyson's own Airstrait - to the 5-in-1 stylers that promise to cater to every one of your hair's needs, the market is awash with gadgets. What happened to the noble hair dryer and hair straightener, eh?

Heat tech is getting smarter with every new launch and the brand that's always spearheading this is Dyson. When it released its first foray into haircare - the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer - I didn't think it could get any more intelligent. Oh how wrong was I?! This month sees the UK launch of its updated version: Dyson Supersonic Nural.

Naturally, I wanted to get my hands on one so that I could give it whirl and test out just how clever it really is. Because, at Marie Claire, we want to make sure that you have all of the information ahead of making any purchases, especially expensive ones, so I put the new hair dryer through its paces so that I could report my findings back to you.

The Product

The Dyson Supersonic Nural hair dryer has been designed to allow for more protection against heat damage, with particular focus on the scalp, to help consumers get the healthiest hair possible.

The new iteration promises to be kinder to your scalp and enhance your hair's natural shine. It does this with the help of its new innovation - Nural sensors that activate scalp protect mode, attachment learning, and pause detect.

James Dyson, founder and chief engineer, said at the worldwide launch: "If you’re able to limit heat damage, you can get a healthier scalp; and healthier hair."

Dyson always wants to create problem-solving products and this hair dryer is no exception. "From our research into the science of hair, we know that there is a connection between the quality of hair and a healthy scalp," says Dyson Head of Research, Shawn Lim. "The scalp tissue comprises different layers, with the outermost layer serving as a barrier against external stressors. But when your scalp is damaged, moisture loss can occur, a key factor in our development of the Scalp protect mode feature. This helps to maintain scalp moisture levels and allows for gentle drying."

The Spec

Let's look at the new technology in a little more detail. The key innovation of the new hair dryer is the intelligent Nural sensors, which activate the scalp protect mode. What this means is that an invisible infrared beam measures the distance between the hair dryer and your hair, and then changes the heat and speed modes accordingly. When you are blow drying closer to your head, the dryer will automatically reduce the temperature to 55°C, which is the optimum for scalp comfort.

When in this mode, the LED panel at the back of the dryer will light up in a different colour depending on the heat and distance from the head. The further away the dryer is from the head the higher the heat, so the display turns red, as you get closer it changes to orange for medium heat, yellow for low, and blue for cool.

The dryer comes with five attachments - the Gentle air attachment (allows for fast and gentle styling by evenly dispersing airflow); the Styling concentrator (much like the ones that come with your traditional hair dryers, this one is wider and thinner for more precise styling); the Wide-tooth comb (designed to be used on curls and coils to help lengthen or add volume); the Flyaway attachment (smooths short hairs to prevent flyaways) and the brand new Wave+curl diffuser, which uses reversible airflow to better define waves, curls and coils. Where the traditional diffuser disperses airflow into the roots, the dome mode draws air into itself and away from the head creating smooth waves.

You can use this dryer in exactly the same way as the original Supersonic - where you control the temperature and speed settings - but the Nural will remember your preferences depending on the attachment. The idea is that it simplifies and speeds up your styling routines, meaning when you connect an attachment, it will adjust to the last-used heat and airflow settings. When you first take the attachments out of the box and put each one onto the dryer, the Nural will automatically set to the Dyson-recommended heat and airflow settings. Once you start playing around with them, it will then remember your adjustments. If at any point you want to go back to the default settings, you can find these under the Nural FAQs on the brand's website. But for ease, here they are:

• Gentle air attachment - High heat / High flow
• Styling concentrator - High heat / Medium flow
• Wide-tooth comb - High heat / High flow
• Wave+curl diffuser - Medium heat / Medium flow
• Flyaway attachment - Low heat / High flow

It should be noted that not all attachments are compatible with the scalp protect mode. It doesn't work when the Wave + Curl diffuser, Flyaway tool and Wide tooth comb are attached. That's because these are considered styling attachments rather than drying, so it makes the scalp mode redundant. You use these on your lengths, rather than near your scalp and some of them need higher heat settings than the protect mode allows.

The dryer also has motion sensors that detect when you are in between styling passes and automatically drop the heat, airflow and noise.

Initial Thoughts

My first thought upon opening up the box was how impressive it was that there was no plastic packing. Every single element was paper or cardboard. As someone who reviews a lot of hair tools, unnecessary and unsustainable packaging is one of my biggest gripes. The tool comes neatly and expertly packaged - seriously it's like the perfect game of Tetris.

Annoyingly, it doesn't come with a storage bag so unless you want to keep your tool in the original box (which FYI is not small) that could prove irritating in the long run.

At first glance, it looks identical to the original, but when you look properly there are some differences. At the back of the head, where the heat and speed buttons are, there's a transparent panel that allows you to see inside the dryer. As far as I can tell this isn't necessary and more a design choice that makes it look more techy. There's also a new button, right at the top of that panel with a symbol of a hair follicle on it, which is the scalp protect mode control.

I was seriously intrigued by the new Wave+curl diffuser attachment, because as someone with naturally wavy hair, I'm always on the hunt for products that help to enhance them, but I've never encountered a hair tool that specifically targets natural waves. There are plenty of things on the market that fake them, like heatless curlers, but none that accentuate the natural texture.

First Attempt

After washing my hair and applying my favourite styling products - Moroccanoil Frizz Shield Spray and Arkive Headcare Moisture Cream - I picked up the dryer ready to get cracking. I will say that I found the attachments quite overwhelming. I normally start by rough drying as much of my hair as possible, but I couldn't work out whether I should be using the dryer bare - without anything attached - the gentle air head or go straight in with the new wave dome to do this.

In the end, I left it bare. I started drying my hair using the normal controls and then decided to press the whizzy new scalp button. I have to admit, I didn't get on with it. I couldn't work out what the different modes meant. The instructions in the box didn't help either. In the end, I switched it off and carried on using it like a normal hair dryer, where I was in control of the settings. I have the original Supersonic, which I love, so it just felt like I was using that.

This is when I grabbed the wave attachment, which can be found under the traditional pronged diffuser head. You pull off the diffuser and the wave dome is underneath. I wasn't entirely sure of the correct technique and again the instructions weren't helpful at all. At first I held it close to the hair and I couldn't see a difference, so I grabbed my lengths and popped them into the dome and then held it against my head. Well, was I in for a shock. When I took the hair out of the dome, what did I find? Waves. Not bouncy, blow-dry Airwrap waves, but natural-looking bends in my hair. Suddenly my excitement for the new dryer doubled. I have honestly never used a heated tool that accentuated my natural waves. I've only ever been able to do that with styling products.

After Weeks Of Testing

I've been using the Nural for over six weeks and I have to say that I am impressed. After my initial try on the dryer, when I hadn't got to grips with its scalp protect mode, I kept trying and playing around with it and I can safely say that I now understand it and use it regularly.

The key to using it is to lean into the technology. Is that a really obvious thing to say? Perhaps.

I have found that rough drying my hair without an attachment, in scalp protect mode, really helps get my hair into a good state before I start to style. When I've used other dryers to rough dry, my hair ends up looking frazzled and it takes a product to help define my waves and a straightener to smooth it. However, I have found with continued use of the Nural that my hair feels softer, less parched, and, in a way, stronger.

Dome mode on the diffuser has changed the way that I style my waves. I have since found out that what I did on my first go - when I put my lengths into the dome - is the correct way to use it. Whilst I still don't think that it can rival the glossy waves that an Airwrap or alternatives can deliver, it does mean that when I'm blow drying my hair on a normal day, my waves are given shape and not overlooked.

Occasionally, I will use the gentle air attachment to rough dry and that does work nicely too, but I don't tend to see a huge difference in the results on my hair.

When I want to wear my hair straight and smooth, I use the dynamic duo of the styling concentrator and the flyaway attachment. However, I don't use the wide-tooth comb at all.

The Pros

• Prioritises scalp health to encourage hair health
• Does a lot of the hard work for you
• Super lightweight
• Chic design
• Delivers on a lot of its promises - hair was shinier after use

The Cons

• Complicated at first - it requires quite a bit of trial and error
• Too many attachments - I don't need all of them - some aren't even relevant for my hair type, it seems wasteful to have extras lying around. It would be more sustainable if you could choose your attachments when you purchase the dryer or offer an attachment exchange
• Expensive
• Unhelpful instructions

The Verdict

Overall, I think this is a brilliant hair dryer. Did we need a new Supersonic? To be honest I don't see this as a new Supersonic, I see it as an upgrade. Because you can use the Nural in the same way as the original, with the added benefit of the scalp technology, I don't see the point in keeping both on the market. I can imagine the brand phasing the original Supersonic out very soon.

I used another dryer whilst I was in a hotel recently and it struck me just how hot my scalp was becoming when I was using it. It was then that I appreciated how innovative the technology really is. Scalp care is one of the biggest growing categories on the market, so it seems only right that we should be considering it when it comes to our tools too.

Much like the original, I'm sure it will kickstart a plethora of copies. That's the thing about being at the forefront of innovation, inevitably others will follow in your footsteps. However, I don't necessarily see this as a bad thing. I think all hair dryers and heated hair tools should look after the scalp, because after all if we neglect that, our hair will suffer.

Would I recommend this hair dryer? The truth is I really would. I love the original Dyson hair dryer and have done since it launched, but this is like a super Supersonic. But it's not cheap - it's incredibly expensive. If you are in the market for a new hair dryer then I can't say enough good things about it - to me it's the future of heated haircare. But if you're happy with your current dryer, then do you need to spend almost £400 on a new one? No. But as someone who has had the same Supersonic since 2016, I know that these tools last (so long as you clean your filters!). If your current one gives up the ghost any time soon, this would be a worthy investment. If you are considering making a purchase, you could visit one of the Dyson Beauty Labs where you can get a blow-dry for £35 (which is redeemable again purchase) and try out the Nural for yourself and have a Dyson stylist show you how to use it.

This year's Hair Awards have exposed us to some of the most incredible new hair products, brands and enterprises we've ever seen. These specific winners needed their own Hero category to highlight their brilliance, as well their vision and strive to make the world a better place.

Best Environmentally-Friendly Packaging

Winner: Bleach London - Rosé Shampoo Bar, £9

As more and more brands announce their take on sustainable responsibility, there is one company that has been quietly making headway with the planet at the heart of everything it does for years. Bleach's formulas are vegan and cruelty-free, it sells large refillable bottles for each of its products and it's big on reducing single-use plastic. Not only is its Rosé Shampoo Bar 100% plastic-free, it’s also the world’s first pink toning shampoo bar, and at £9, it makes sustainability accessible to the masses.

Runner up: The Body Shop Shea Butter Shampoo, £7

Best New Haircare Brand

Winner: Centred

Born out of the founder’s desire to repair the damage her previously stressful life had done to her health, Centred adds order and reliability into a messy world. During a time of so much unknown and confusion, this considered edit of products is just what we need right now. This winner aims to bring health and vitality back to hair that has suffered - it’s like skincare for your hair. You won’t find any unnecessary products here, each one is designed to promote a healthy head of hair. And we simply cannot get enough.

Best Sustainable Hair Tools Brand

Winner: Cloud Nine

When a brand takes it upon itself to set sustainable commitments, ensuring it's being as kind to our world as possible, we take note. One of Cloud Nine's commitments is to recycle your straighteners for you - even if it’s from another brand. Another is to reduce its packaging. If you opt for its eco box at checkout, they’ll plant 10 trees to reduce their carbon footprint. And if that wasn’t enough, any paper found inside their boxes has been printed in such a way, that it’s 100% carbon balanced.

Best New Hair Tools Brands

Winner: hur.

hur. is a mere five months old and in that time has shaken up the hair tool industry. Whilst we must congratulate the brand on its genius stylers - their ergonomically designed slanted plate is a must-have for creating beautiful loose beachy waves. It is its approach to waste that also makes it a deserved winner. They offer customers the option of having their tool delivered ‘naked’ to cut down on unnecessary packaging. Not only is it the best new hair tool brand, but it's one to follow in the footsteps of.

Best Hair Innovation

Winner: Redken Extreme Bleach Recovery Lamellar Treatment, £24

Hair transformation does not always mean a dramatic colour change or an above-the-ear crop. Sometimes the most incredible transformations happen on a more cellular level. Redken's Extreme Bleach Recovery Lamellar Treatment transforms hair from brittle, limp and lifeless, to smooth, nourished and bursting with life. We all know the damaging effects that bleach can have and yet that doesn’t stop us from demanding brighter and lighter hair. In fact, it’s the number one salon service. So any product that allows us to continue doing so deserves this award.

Runner up: Reduit One Pro Hair Treatment Applicator, £229

Best Ethical Hair Initiative

Winner: Remi Cachet Hair Extension Recycle Scheme

What happens to all of the old hair extensions? There is limited choice - some end up as wigs, but most in landfill. Which is why Remi Cachet took on the job of doing something about it. The Hair Extension Recycling Scheme was created as a positive alternative - any extensionist or extension wearer can post their hair (from any brand) and it will be turned into matts, sandbags and booms that absorb oil and collect debris from our oceans and rivers.

Runner up: Cloud Nine Iron Recycling Programme

Best Natural Formula

Winner: Venn Synbiotic Polyamine Shampoo, £49

As a brand, Venn brings science and nature together perfectly. This impressive shampoo is made from the combination of pre- and probiotics derived from bamboo, a traditional Korean herbal blend, Eucalyptus leaf oil, and 20 years of research. Clinically proven to balance the scalp’s microbiome and reduce sebum and dandruff, it’s a reminder that Mother Nature continues to provide us with the goods that we require.

Runner up: CurlyEllie Intense Leave-In Conditioner, £17.99

Best Sustainable Haircare Brand

Winner: weDo

In 2017, we launched our Start Somewhere campaign because we wanted to engage our readers and show them that changing the world doesn’t happen overnight. No matter how big or small, we can all make a change if we start somewhere. Which is why weDo's admission that it’s not perfect, but strives to improve and make changes where it can, speaks volumes to all us. Its 360° approach to being responsible and eco-ethical is nothing short of inspiring. It’s mindful of packaging, cruelty-free, vegan, recyclable and doing what it can to fight ocean plastic. It’s not perfect, but they’ve started somewhere.

Runner up: Faith In Nature

Best New Hair Product

Winner: Wella Professional Color Fresh Masks, £15.70

It used to be that we only experimented with our hair colour in our teenage years, but as trends have become more playful and shades more grown-up, temporary colour is now an everyday beauty cupboard essential. Wella Professional Color Fresh Masks revive and transform hair with semi-permanent colour, all the while enhancing shine and strength with botanical oils. It promises care and colour, and delivers on both.

Runner up: Authentic Beauty Concept Nymph Salt Spray

Your personal intro to the global hair superstars that test and perfect Aveda's products and salon services to pro-worthy standards.

Antoinette Beenders

Aveda Senior Vice President of Creative, Global Creative Director

Whether you fear the frizz or dream of smooth, straight locks, find out how YOU can get your dream hair with Aveda and Marie Claire.

Antoinette Beenders

Check out Aveda.co.uk for even more info.

Antoinette Beenders

Check out Aveda.co.uk for even more info.

Ricardo Dinis

Ricardo Dinis
Aveda Global Artistic Director, Hair Cutting

Whether you fear the frizz or dream of smooth, straight locks, find out how YOU can get your dream hair with Aveda and Marie Claire.

Check out Aveda.co.uk for even more info.

Ian Michael Black

Ian Michael Black
Aveda Global Artistic Director, Hair Colour

Whether you fear the frizz or dream of smooth, straight locks, find out how YOU can get your dream hair with Aveda and Marie Claire.

Check out Aveda.co.uk for even more info.

Allen Ruiz

Allen Ruiz
Aveda Global Artistic Director, Hair Styling

Whether you fear the frizz or dream of smooth, straight locks, find out how YOU can get your dream hair with Aveda and Marie Claire.

Check out Aveda.co.uk for even more info.

Tippi Shorter

Tippi Shorter
Aveda Global Artistic Director, Textured Hair

Whether you fear the frizz or dream of smooth, straight locks, find out how YOU can get your dream hair with Aveda and Marie Claire.

Check out Aveda.co.uk for even more info.

Janell Geason

Janell Geason
Aveda Global Artistic Director, Makeup

Whether you fear the frizz or dream of smooth, straight locks, find out how YOU can get your dream hair with Aveda and Marie Claire.

Check out Aveda.co.uk for even more info.