ProsDeeply cleanses yet mild on hair color; Boosts fullness; Left hair feeling stronger and more manageable.
ConsShampoo may take long to rinse.
This plant oil-infused Joico pair excelled across the board in GH Beauty Lab assessment, simultaneously strengthening and volumizing hair. The GH Beauty Award winner scored best for thorough cleansing, making hair feel stronger and more manageable, adding fullness and being gentle on color. “My hair is so much healthier after using these,” a tester noted. (Two also reported that the shampoo took long to rinse.)
Economic yet Effective Hydration and Cleansing
ProsDoesn't weigh hair down; Thoroughly cleanses; Makes hair manageable; Bargain price.
ConsSome users didn’t like the twist-off caps.
At less than $5, this light, refreshing Dove shampoo (used with the matching conditioner) was by far the tester favorite in the GH Beauty Lab’s test of hydrating shampoos and conditioners, with 100% stating that they would continue using it. “The effects were wondrous,” a fan raved. “My hair was fantastic - brushable, silky and flowing.” In Lab evaluations, the formulas rated best for leaving hair fully cleansed and easy to style, but didn't have as strong conditioning properties.
Indulgent Thickening and All-Day Body
ProsBoosts hair thickness; Makes hairstyles look fuller; Weightless feel.
ConsSome users didn’t like the twist-off caps.
A salon splurge that’s worth it, Kérastase’s indulgent formula with its conditioner tied for best in the GH Beauty Lab’s volumizing shampoo test for thickening strands using ingredients like peptides and hyaluronic acid. Testers “loved” this fine-hair “holy grail” that “truly worked” for “all-day body.” These won for thickening strands and making styles fuller compared with other shampoos and conditioners, data revealed, and also earned top points for weightlessness. (One drawback: A few testers thought the twist-off caps were tricky to use.)
Color-Safe Cleansing and Shine
ProsPrevented hair color fading in Lab tests; Made color look shiny, rich and vibrant; Left hair feeling cleansed and soft.
ConsConditioner can be difficult to dispense.
Keep your hair color vibrant longer by sudsing with this Redken set, which won the GH Beauty Lab’s test of shampoo and conditioner for colored hair. They earned the best score for stopping hair color from fading in the Lab’s rigorous test simulating a month of wear. The formulas also came out on top for making color look shiny, richer and more vibrant. (Know that the conditioner can be tricky to dispense from the bottle, though.) A full 100% of users agreed that these left their hair clean and soft. “I loved everything about these,” one raved.
Hyaluronic Acid Infusion for Softness and Shine
ProsContains moisturizing ingredients; Thoroughly cleanses hair; Leaves strands soft and looking less damaged.
ConsOne user found the texture sticky.
The skin-hydrating ingredient hyaluronic acid, used to draw in moisture, is infused into these L’Oréal Paris shampoo and conditioner formulas, which won a GH Beauty Award. The pair earned top marks for fully cleansing strands and making hair look less damaged. They also ranked highest for their lasting “sophisticated” scent. “Works wonders: Strands feel super soft and bouncy and look shiny,” a tester commented, although one didn't like the products' "sticky" texture.
Hydration, Hydration, and More Hydration
ProsSmooths hair with long-lasting results; Adds sleekness and shine.
ConsMay not be conditioning enough for some hair types.
This protein-infused Nexxus duo, a GH Beauty Award winner, tames unruly hair and fends off frizz starting in the shower. In a study on hair samples in 98% humidity, strands had significantly less frizz up to 72 hours after system application. “The amount of smoothness and shine was noticeable from the first use,” a tester reported. Another said she wished the formulas were more conditioning for her colored hair, however.
Bond-Building Redken System
ProsCreates rich and even hair color; Easy to use and non-messy; Long-lasting.
ConsNot as many shade choices.
The creamy Redken shampoo, conditioner and leave-in conditioner trio, winner of a GH Beauty Award, works together to protect and strengthen bonds in hair, shielding against damage. In a study, the set reduced visible split ends by 82%, and 93% of testers said their hair felt moisturized immediately, according to Beauty Lab data analysis. “My hair was absolutely gorgeous,” “results were transforming and long-lasting” and “I can’t live without these," testers remarked.
At-Home Color Excellence
ProsCreates rich and even color; Easy to use and non-messy; Long-lasting.
ConsShade selection isn’t as extensive as other brands.
This ammonia-free DIY dye kit from Phyto outperformed the rest in the GH Beauty Lab’s at-home hair color test. It was the tester favorite, with 100% of users agreeing that it gave rich and even color. The boxed color was also best in many other aspects: simple preparation, not being messy, matching the color on the box, lasting and leaving hair feeling soft. (One downside is that the shade selection isn't as extensive as other brands.) A tester called it “the easiest-to-apply, longest-lasting color I’ve used.”
Leave-In Treatments and Texture Enhancers
ProsDetangles, softens and smooths hair; Lightweight formula; Protects against heat.
ConsCan be difficult to spray.
It’s A 10 Haircare’s leave-in spray with strengthening silk amino acids has earned its cult classic status (and a GH Beauty Award) thanks to multiple benefits in one: detangling, softening, smoothing, protecting and shine-enhancing. The formula is effective at keeping hair smooth yet has a light texture, Beauty Lab experts found. One drawback: It can be difficult to dispense. “I love that this eliminates the need to use so many products and even provides heat protection for styling,” a tester remarked.
Frizz Fighters and Anti-Frizz Stylers
ProsMakes hair look clean; Extends the life of hairstyles for up to five days; Not sticky.
ConsCould leave slight white residue.
Kérastase, a winner of the GH Beauty Lab’s anti-frizz styling products test, proved to be a strong frizz fighter in a lightweight liquid spray. A worth-it splurge, the mist stopped frizz on testers for a full day and on hair swatches in the Lab humidity chamber, and it didn’t feel tacky on hair. “This single bottle worked better than the three-product combination I was using,” a tester said. “It smoothed out my frizz and broken ends without leaving any film or crunch behind.” More than half of users raved about its “pretty” floral scent.
Dry Shampoos and Volume Boosters
ProsGives instant volume and thickness; Lasting effects.
ConsNozzle may squirt instead of spray.
Living Proof won the Beauty Lab’s dry shampoo test, faking freshly washed hair and maintaining styles for up to five days. In Lab assessment, an impressive 100% of users found that it left hair looking clean. (Be aware that some noticed a slight white residue, so brush through hair to distribute the product.)
Thickening Sprays and Curls
ProsInject long-lasting body and fullness into fine or flat hair by misting this GH Beauty Lab thickening spray test winner from hairstylist Kristin Ess. Ninety-one percent of users agreed that it made hair look instantly voluminous, and it was tops for thickening. (Note that the nozzle may squirt out product in droplets rather than spray.) “Fantastic volume that lasted two days!” a tester raved.
ConsThe nozzle caveat.
Pattern Beauty’s airy foam, winner of GH Beauty Award, defined as a texture-enhancing product for textured hair, infuses strands with bounce, fullness and shape. The panel rated it best at defining and holding curls in place and for enhancing hair’s movement. “It didn’t make hair feel crunchy,” two testers noted, and it “really accentuates your natural curl pattern while keeping it volumized and less frizzy.” The fragrance was mentioned as a potential drawback by one evaluator.
Heat-Protective Styling and Serum-Oil Hybrids
ProsSends hair through heat styling with no residue; Softens strands; Boosts shine; Works on damp or dry hair.
ConsUse sparingly on fine hair.
Shortly after, Joico’s top-performing heat styling preparation, a GH Beauty Lab favorite, is applied before heat styling to ensure flawless “smooth and healthy-looking” results. A hairstylist panel noted the “light” formula with heat protective properties and movement with no residue. One pro mentioned that less is more when applying this product, as too much could feel heavy.
ProsSoftens strands; Boosts shine; Works on damp or dry hair.
ConsSome users said it made their hair appear fuzzy.
A serum-oil hybrid from Matrix, a GH Beauty Award winner, can be used on damp or dry hair to soften and add shine. The lightweight liquid received high marks for effortless application, making hair softer and shinier, and enhancing movement. Some testers warned it could weigh down fine hair if overapplied.
Texture, Curl Definition, and Fragrance Considerations
ProsDefines and holds curls; Boosts movement; Not crunchy.
ConsSome testers noted a floral fragrance is strong.
A GH Beauty Award-winning Pattern Beauty foam created for textured hair infuses strands with bounce, fullness and shape. Our professional panel rated it best at defining and holding curls in place and for enhancing movement. “It didn’t make hair feel crunchy,” said two evaluators, and it “really accentuates your natural curl pattern while keeping it volumized and less frizzy.”
Quality and Safety in Performance Testing
In-depth testing for hair care products follows two key phases: pre-clinical and clinical study design, data collection, and evaluation. Phase I covers pre-clinical dermal and ocular safety; Phase II outlines study objectives, timeline, panelist characteristics, data collection methods, and analysis. Clinical data may involve various measurements, including trichological analysis, traction tests, hair pluck tests, and regimented combing techniques, all designed to validate safety and efficacy before market release. This rigorous approach ensures that market-ready products deliver consistent performance without compromising consumer safety.
Hair Sample Analysis Video
tags: #premium #haircare #product #evaluations