When it comes to professional haircare, a few brands consistently stand out as customer favourites. Trusted by salons worldwide, Redken delivers science-backed formulas for every hair type, while Kerastase takes a more luxurious approach with premium ranges targeting specific concerns. Olaplex has become a global staple for damaged and chemically treated hair, and both Wella Professionals and L'Oreal Professionnel offer iconic salon ranges covering everything from colour care to smoothing treatments. milk_shake is loved for its fruit-enriched, colour-safe formulas, Matrix brings professional quality at an accessible price point, and Alfaparf Milano is a go-to for nourishing, damage-repairing care. Incredilox rounds things out as a firm favourite for frizz control and smoothing treatments.

Finding the right shampoo and conditioner starts with understanding your hair type and its specific needs. For dry hair, look for deeply nourishing formulas packed with moisturising ingredients, and the Wella Professionals Invigo Nutri-Enrich Deep Nourishing Shampoo & Conditioner is a brilliant place to start. Those dealing with scalp concerns or dandruff need targeted formulas that rebalance and soothe, and the Aveeno Strength & Length Plant-Based Keratin Blend Shampoo & Conditioner is a gentle, effective option. Fine hair benefits from lightweight, volumising formulas that cleanse thoroughly without weighing strands down, with the Redken Acidic Grow Full System Densifying Shampoo & Conditioner a standout choice for adding body and fullness. For curly and wavy or afro hair, hydrating and curl-defining formulas are key, and the Kerastase Curl Manifesto Bain Hydration Gentle Hydrating Creamy Shampoo & Conditioner delivers outstanding moisture and definition. Colour-treated hair needs sulphate-free, colour-safe options that protect vibrancy and prevent fade, and the L'Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Colour Radiance Shampoo & Conditioner is a trusted salon favourite for maintaining colour brilliance. For damaged hair, bond-building formulas are a must, and the Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo & No.5 Conditioner is one of the most effective options available for restoring strength and resilience.

Blonde hair has its own set of needs, from keeping brassiness at bay to maintaining brightness and shine between salon visits. Purple and toning shampoos are a blonde essential, neutralising unwanted yellow and orange tones to keep colour looking fresh and cool. The Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo is a cult favourite that combines toning with bond-building benefits, while the milk_shake Icy Blond Specific Shampoo is a brilliant option for keeping cooler tones bright and vibrant. The Redken Blondage High Bright Conditioner pairs beautifully with a toning shampoo to enhance luminosity, and the Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Cool Blondes Neutralising Spray Conditioner is a handy in-between treatment for on-the-go toning. For a mask that does double duty, the Wella Professionals Colour Fresh Mask Pearl Blonde refreshes tone while deeply conditioning, and the Osmo Super Ice Brightening Mask is a great budget-friendly brightening option.

Keeping colour-treated hair looking fresh between salon visits comes down to a few key habits. Sulphate-free shampoos are a must, as sulphates strip colour and dry out the hair over time. Washing hair in cooler water also helps to keep the cuticle sealed and colour locked in for longer. Regular deep conditioning is essential too, as the colouring process can leave hair more porous and prone to dryness. The Redken Acidic Colour Gloss Complete Regime is a brilliant all-in-one solution for maintaining colour brilliance and shine, using acidic technology to seal the cuticle and lock in vibrancy. The Bleach London Reincarnation Mask is a great weekly treatment for keeping colour-treated hair feeling soft, strong and healthy, while the Osmo Colour Revive is a colour-depositing mask that refreshes and intensifies tone with every use. Heat is one of the fastest ways to dull and fade colour-treated hair, so always apply a heat protectant before styling - the Alfaparf Milano Semi Di Lino Style & Care Thermal Protector is a great option, shielding hair from heat damage while keeping colour-treated strands smooth and healthy.

Hair Serums and Hair Oils are both finishing products designed to add shine, reduce frizz and smooth the hair, but they work differently. Serums are typically silicone-based, forming a lightweight protective layer over the hair shaft that works best on fine or straight hair. The L'Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Keratin Alpha Sleek Hair Serum is a great example, using Keratin to smooth and seal the cuticle for a sleek, frizz-free finish. Hair oils are more nourishing and penetrating, making them a better fit for dry, thick or curly hair. The Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil combines the benefits of a lightweight oil with bond-building technology,

The curly girl routine is a method designed specifically for curly and wavy hair, built around keeping curls hydrated, defined and frizz-free. The core principle is avoiding ingredients that can dry out or weigh down curls, particularly sulphates, silicones and harsh alcohols. Here's how a typical routine breaks down:
Cleanse - Use a sulphate-free curly hair shampoo to cleanse without stripping the hair's natural oils. Those with very dry or tight curls often prefer co-washing with a conditioner as a gentler alternative.
Condition - Apply a curly hair conditioner and detangle gently with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb while the product is still in. Rinse with cool water to seal the cuticle.
Treat - Incorporate a hair mask once a week to deliver deeper moisture and keep curls at their most hydrated and healthy.
Style - On soaking wet hair, layer a leave-in conditioner, then apply a curl mousse or curl gel to lock in definition and reduce frizz.
Dry - Scrunch out excess water with a microfibre towel or cotton t-shirt rather than a regular towel, then allow hair to air dry or use a diffuser on a low heat setting. Once fully dry, scrunch out any crunchiness to reveal soft, defined curls.

If you use any heat styling tools, a heat protectant spray is a non-negotiable step in your routine. Heat styling tools can reach temperatures of over 200 degrees, and without protection, repeated exposure causes the hair's bonds to weaken over time, leading to dryness, breakage and split ends. A good heat protectant forms a barrier over the hair shaft, reducing moisture loss and minimising damage from straighteners, curling irons and blow dryers.

Damaged hair needs products that work to repair and rebuild from within, rather than just coating the surface. Look for formulas containing bond-building ingredients, Keratin, Hyaluronic Acid or Argan Oil, all of which help to restore strength, smoothness and moisture. The Olaplex Bond Maintenance Shampoo, Conditioner & No.3 Hair Treatment Trio is a brilliant starting point, combining everyday cleansing and conditioning with the brand's iconic bond-building treatment in one set. For intensive repair, the Incredilox Intensive Deep Repair Treatment Mask delivers a powerful dose of nourishment that helps to restore softness, strength and shine to even the most compromised hair. The milk_shake Incredible Milk 12 Effects Leave-In Treatment is a versatile leave-in that offers twelve benefits in one step, from detangling and heat protection to frizz control and deep hydration, making it an ideal finishing product for damaged hair.