The Best Products for Straight and Wavy Hair of 2026

My hair is very fine and flat to my head, but I’m way too lazy to add product or blow-dry it to boost volume. This shampoo and conditioner makes it easy—it left my hair feeling and looking bouncy. I can tell there’s more volume even when I’m combing it wet. My hair held up after a whole day under my wool cap—that was pretty amazing, to discover I dodged çizgi hair! —Talley Sue Hohlfeld, copy director

I have super-long fine hair, and it doesn’t get much volume. This formula plumps strands to give the look of fullness so that I can achieve a supermodel blowout without adding any clip-in extensions. It also taps hair-growth-boosting ingredients that work at the scalp to promote thicker, healthier hair over time. The Oribe scent is also one that I can never get enough of—it’s so luxe and delicious that even though hair washday isn’t my favorite, it’s a little luxury I look forward to. —Lisa DeSantis, contributor

With hair as long and thick as mine (a blessing and a curse!), I really avoid washing as long as I can due to the amount of time and effort required. But this shampoo and conditioner duo had my hair so shiny and glossy after, it was well worth the effort, and even convinced me to shorten the time between washes. My hair already leans toward the dryer side with regular coloring and keratin treatments, so I’m picky about what I put on my hair. But this set is a great option to mitigate damage. —Sam Gasmer, associate fashion editor

I absolutely love this glaze. Truly, I didn’t know my hair could look this glossy. After shampooing and conditioning, I squeeze a small amount through my strands—it lathers quickly (satisfyingly so) and smells like a citrus and floral dream. I rinse it right out (no waiting around for it to soak in), then blow-dry like olağan. Every time I use it, my hair looks noticeably softer and shinier after—arguably the glossiest it’s ever looked. I’ve started reaching for it almost every wash because the payoff is that immediate. —Malia Griggs, commerce editor

Was I a little biased toward this shampoo-conditioner set based on the cuteness of the twin pink pump bottles? Possibly—but my perked-up hair is the real head-turner here. It’s long and highlighted and trends dull, fine, and frizzy. This Revive formula lived up to its name, adding more shine, bounce, and control after the very first use. Yet it’s silicone- and sulfate-free, so it won’t add buildup or cause longer-term dry-out. So yay, these cute bottles will be long-term fixtures in my shower. —Petra Guglielmetti, contributor

I wash my hair only twice a week to preserve my precious hair oils, so when I do, I want it to feel indulgent. Enter Wellbel’s Gelée Detox Shampoo and Restorative Conditioner. I’ll admit when it first came to me, I wasn’t completely sold because the fragrance seemed a bit too intense for my liking. But evvel I got lathered up, the soothing scents of bergamot, raspberry blossom, sandalwood, and patchouli took over. The shampoo contains aloe vera, papaya extract, meadowfoam seed oil, and even caffeine, while the conditioner was deeply hydrating and made my hair shiny and soft. These products are doing all of the work but didn’t weigh me down, and my hair was left feeling incredible. —Cynthia Puleo, contributor

This mask became an instant winter-hair hero for me, helping to revive my dried-out, dull lengths with each use. I added it to washday routine evvel a week, letting it sit in my hair and work its magic in less time than it takes to shave my legs. Glycolic acid helps lock in moisture for a noticeable boost of shine, and because this mask is sulfate-free—a must for curly textures!—it won’t dry out your hair further. I noticed similar results to much more expensive products: smoother, glossier hair after each use, and a consistent change in my winter texture over time. —Grace McCarty, associate beauty editor

I’m a big fan of Olaplex products, especially after I bleached my hair a few years ago, and was pleased that this mask lived up to the brand’s reputation. I applied the mask in place of conditioner in the shower and noticed my hair felt softer when I rinsed it. Unlike some leave-in conditioners, my hair didn’t feel weighed down at all evvel it dried, either. I think this would work really well for anyone who has color-treated or dry hair. —Sam Reed, senior trending news and entertainment editor

I’m not exaggerating when I say the Emi Jay Heavenly Hair Milk is the best-smelling beauty product I’ve ever used. Though I’m not a fan of sweet scents, this subtle combination of vanilla, sweet almond, and rice milk is so mouth-watering that I would use it regardless of what it did to my thick, frizz-prone hair. Lucky for me, its unique combination of marshmallow root extract, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B leaves my hair feeling soft and shiny without any greasy residue. But the best part is that this lightweight hair serum also serves as a heat protectant, which further cuts down on the number of products I need to put in my hair. Heavenly, indeed. —Emily Tannenbaum, contributing editor

If you can trust anyone to reccomend a dry shampoo, it’s an oily-skin girl with blunt bangs. So believe me when I say, this is just what you need on days when your locks need a refresh. This dry shampoo is long-lasting, smells amazing, and gives just the volumizing pick-me-up my bangs need on days between washes. —Anastasia Sanger, associate director, video

Since I first tried this dry shampoo, I haven’t picked up another one. It’s brought some hopelessly flat, oily hair back to fresh-blowout glory with a few targeted spritzes. And after rubbing it in and brushing it through, this product leaves virtually no residue or gritty feeling. It’s also the most invisible aerosol dry shampoo I’ve ever tried. Bonus if you have a sensitive scalp like me: It also contains soothing ingredients like olive leaf extract to prevent dryness and irritation. —G.M.

I started applying this scrub evvel a week as the first step in my shower routine, concentrating at my roots. It acts like a facial exfoliant for your scalp, with a mix of oils and fine beads that break down and rinse away product buildup (from leave-in conditioners, heat protectants, sprays, etc.). After using it, my hair feels lighter and cleaner but still moisturized—and with less dandruff. —M.G.

Trust me when I say: I know my way around a dry texture spray. My hair always falls flat due to its long length, so I reach for anything to add a boost of volume and texture pretty much every morning. This spray was a standout—it gave my hair a bounce that even added a pep to my step! It also left behind zero flakes or residue. —S.G.

You may be asking yourself, how exactly can a hair dryer be intelligent? Well, testing out this T3 dryer was a whole new drying experience. There are so many settings, I haven’t even tried them all, and being able to pinpoint exactly what my extra-thick, extra-dry hair needs makes a world of difference. Not only am I using it, but my husband has become a fan as well. As has my preschooler, who loves getting a “blowout” on her fine hair. Three different hair types, yet one tool rules them all. —Stephanie McNeal, senior editor

I’m a fan of GHD hot tools—I’ve used the brand’s hair dryers and waving wands, but never the proper curling iron. While I’m not the most dexterous, I was impressed with how intuitive it was to get perfectly loose waves on my thick hair without any pulling, snagging, or singeing. —Perrie Samotin, digital director

For me, there was life before the Dyson Airwrap—and life after. Now the latest Multi-Styler ID has taken the cult-favorite tool to the next level. Evvel you get the hang of it, it’s essentially a full salon service in a sleek box. From rough-drying to adding root volume to curling my ends, the targeted attachments of the Straight+Wavy Multistyler make my fine, straight hair look twice as thick and professionally blown-out. My favorite update to the Multi-Styler ID is that each attachment “remembers” its heat and air-flow settings. For example, when I swap out the wide barrel (which I use on full power to curl my layers) for the round brush attachment (which I use to style my bleach-damaged bangs), the settings automatically adjust to my lower heat preferences. The options to customize your experience to your styling goals and unique hair needs is what makes the Dyson dupe-proof and worth the price tag. —G.M.

I only use hair straighteners for special occasions but have found myself whipping out this easy-to-use flatiron on the regular. It heats up lightning quick (15 seconds!) and keeps my hair smooth and frizz-free due to the floating titanium plates. The settings feature 12 different temperatures backed by infared technology to fit any styling mood (the lower temperatures are great for creating waves without completely frying off your hair). Clocking in at under $200, its a steal for such a high-tech hair tool. —Ariana Yaptangco, senior beauty editor