Top Hair Products Recognized at the Shape Beauty Awards 2023

Growing and maintaining strong, healthy hair is a surprisingly intensive process within the body. Due to the immense effort required to push the roots through the various skin layers to reach the scalp, new hair growth is often the first system to cease operation when the body lacks a sufficiently balanced supply of nutrients. Factors such as stress, illness, or vitamin deficiencies can lead to hair thinning. 

The best route to achieving optimal hair health may lie in the food you consume, as all beauty has an "inside-out" approach. This philosophy was selected as the theme for the 2023 Beauty Awards, marking the first time a wellness awards category has been incorporated. For existing, visible hair, we dedicated almost a year testing various shampoos, strengthening masks, conditioners, and styling products to identify the most effective hair products fully backed by our editorial team and testers. 

One standout product was a botanical-based spray embodying a comprehensive approach to hair health. It consisted of keratin and peptides, enhancing new hair growth and thickening and nourishing existing strands. This product is ideal for mild to moderate thinning and stood out as our top recommendation for hair growth serums targeting new hair growth. The vegan and paraben-free formula can be safely applied to color-treated hair.

Although the treatment lacks minoxidil, a typical and effective ingredient for hair growth, independent research confirmed that it resulted in increased hair growth for 89% of women, a higher rate than the 86% who used minoxidil within the same timeframe. 

The product is suitable for those who have experienced thinning and would like to stimulate regrowth. 

Find our comprehensive review here: The 11 Best Hair Growth Serums If You're Suffering From Worrisome Hair Loss, As Recommended by Hair Analysts

We identified a shampoo that proved to be promising for thinning hair following an eight-week testing period given its COQ10 (an antioxidant) and caffeine-based formula. A small amount lathers perfectly before rinsing cleanly. Three weekly applications for two months resulted in significantly increased body and coverage of sparse spots. The notable shine it added was an extra bonus. As one tester shared, the fragrance evoked an uplifting sensation of "galloping through a field of daisies". 

See Our Full Review Here: The 12 Best Shampoos For Thinning Hair, Tested & Reviewed

Our regular Sunday evening shower regimen was not complete without a thorough hair detox. When we reveal that this Kristin Ess Clarifying Shampoo endured sweat-testing, we're not exaggerating. Our team of physically active testers extended their hair washing days to the extreme amid their marathon training in the midst of a hot, sweltering August. The shampoo effectively cleansed the hair and scalp, relieving them of any dried-out effects while thoroughly eliminating dirt, product, and oil residues.

This product is recommended for individuals with oily hair or those in need of a clarifying shampoo to combat excessive sweat and build-up of hair products. 

There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to beauty routines. Factors such as your lifestyle, hair texture, and styling habits determine which products suit you best. The Dove Love Your Hair Collection offers six shampoo and conditioning lines targeting a range of hair types such as gray or color-treated, short or long, curly or wavy. All the lines have been specifically designed to cater to their respective hair types and are gentle, sulfate-free formulas available at an affordable price.

This collection is catered to everyone with hair to wash and care for!

Among our editors, dry shampoo is a regular part of their beauty routines and likely a staple for Shape readers too. Prose, a notable dry shampoo brand, tailors its products based on the survey responses provided by their customers. Factors such as your geographic location, which determines weather and water quality conditions, your hair texture, and your standard routine are considered in concocting a unique blend of ingredients and benefits. While the resulting formulas never duplicate, they are all white-cast free and presented in a loose powder format to effectively absorb oils.

As Kristen Geil, the senior commerce editor, testifies, "I've been using this dry shampoo for about six months, and it's the only formula that I've been able to apply neatly at my roots without it looking like a bag of flour exploded on my head. It only takes the lightest massage with my fingertips for the powder to blend into my medium-brown hair."

Who It's For: This is ideal for those who haven't had great experiences with dry shampoos and want a custom formula instead.

Let's delve into the heart of the matter—your scalp is analogous to your facial skin, requiring similar maintenance steps to keep it healthy. Regular exfoliation helps get rid of dead skin cells, oil, and built-up product, paving the way for better hair growth. A good physical scrub, like the sea salt and seaweed-powered scrub from Bumble and bumble, accomplishes this successfully.

“I was struggling with a sticky, product build-up spot on my scalp, sought guidance from my stylist, and she suggested this natural exfoliator. It cleared the build-up after just one use. Now I use it regularly as a preventive measure,” says Eliza Savage, Shape's Associate Editorial Director. The whipped texture is conducive to lathering, easily applied to the scalp weekly.

Who It's For: Ideal for those seeking a clean, healthy scalp.

You've probably heard "bond builder" in hair health conversations and even though you may not know exactly what it does, you're pretty convinced you need it. Here's why: Your hair bonds are akin to a chain, broken apart by aggressors like hair colorants, blow dryers, or water weakening your hair and making it more susceptible to damage. A hair product with bond builders can reconnect the hair strands, reinforcing them. This leave-in conditioner from Redken works wonders on all types of hair damage, reducing split ends, fortifying hair strands, and promoting healthier hair. To use, simply apply to clean, damp hair and style as per normal routine.

Who It's For: This is suited for those who color or heat style their hair, or are worried about damage and breakage.

If your hair tool drawer is overflowing with an assortment of flat irons, hair dryers, curling irons, and wands of all shapes and sizes, the Shark Flexstyle is the tool you need to declutter. It is a multi-functional tool, part blow dryer, part hot air brush, and part curling iron, utilizing lesser heat to prevent damage to your hair.

Even newcomers to hairstyling can easily achieve a salon-like blowout at home with this lightweight and user-friendly tool, according to Geil. The round brush attachment for added volume is her favorite.

Who It's For: Those who frequently style their hair with heat and desire a versatile tool.

For those fighting a persistent battle against frizz, flyaways, or trying to maintain a smooth hairstyle, the Color Wow product comes highly recommended. It acts like a raincoat for your hair, shielding it from moisture interference. The product was tested in an underground bar in NYC with 88 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures and high humidity, still managing to keep the hair sleek and shiny.

Who It's For: Ideal for those grappling with frizz, flyaways, or wanting a sleek style enduring humidity and sweat.

A hair mask is akin to a facial—it's not a daily essential but can significantly tackle specific issues, like dryness in this case. The Odele Moisture Mask is a vegan, cruelty-free product with no parabens, sulfates, or dyes, powered by thicker and more moisturizing ingredients such as argan and jojoba oils, plant-based proteins, and amino acids. Leaving it on for 5-10 minutes, as opposed to a regular conditioner's 2-3 minute application, enhances its benefits.

“After using this once a week, I noticed a significant improvement in my hair's texture. It feels so soft and touchable without losing any body or fullness,” Geil commends.

Who It's For: It suits all hair types and textures, especially those seeking extra hydration.

Shannon Bauer is a Shape senior commerce editor with nine years of experience working in the beauty and wellness worlds. She is a beauty product tester aficionado with special attention paid to skincare, curling irons, and mascara. She is the first to volunteer to be the guinea pig for any new launch or in our NYC-based testing lab. As for hair, she is an avid heat styler, so she's sure to baby her strands with treatments. From our winners, Shannon tested Kristin Ess Clarifying Shampoo, Redken Bonding Concentrate, and Color Wow Dream Coat.