12 best shampoos and conditioners for good hair days

While our tester’s hair is quite thick, in winter it can benefit from a boost of volume so we were keen to try out Fekkai’s full blown volume collection. Aiming to lift, detangle and hydrate your hair, it claims to be able to deliver twice the amount of volume, lasting up to eight hours.

Featuring French oak extract for enhanced vitality, this shampoo and conditioner duo gave our tester’s hair exactly the lift it needed. While we can’t confirm that it lasted up to eight hours (as our tester didn’t always pair with the dry texturising spray), it gave our hair an added ‘oomph’ post-shower.

It’s also worth noting these products are vegan and cruelty-free; free from sulphates, silicones, parabens, phthalates, and come in recyclable packaging.

Fekkai full blown volume shampoo: £20, Sephora.co.uk

Fekkai full blown volume conditioner: £22, Sephora.co.uk

Known for its scientifically formulated hair supplements, Viviscal’s shampoo and conditioner also aim to thicken and strengthen hair. Featuring an impressive range of ingredients such as anatel, a proprietary complex that includes clinically tested ingredients from natural sources, including pea sprouts. The products also include three key compounds to help hair grow: biotin, keratin and zinc.

While these compounds proved effective at helping our tester’s hair grow and regain its thickness, the inclusion of keratin means the shampoo and conditioner aren’t vegan. We should also note ammonium lauryl sulphate is present.

However, we loved the results after using this shampoo and conditioner, though we noticed our hair was left feeling sticky in the shower, and quite dense, even after drying.

Viviscal hair thickening shampoo: £6.69, Viviscal.co.uk

Viviscal strengthening conditioner: £6.69, Viviscal.co.uk

When we heard Ricky Walters of renowned London hairdressers Salon64 was launching his own products, we were excited to see what was to come. There are three ranges: shine, moisture and liquid gold. We tried the latter (as who wouldn’t be intrigued?), which is made with real gold, aiming to strengthen and repair hair.

While our tester’s hair is not weak per se, they find they shed a fair bit of it, so were keen to try any product aiming to restore strength. Sceptical at first, our tester noticed a difference after just one wash while using this product – finding it easier to style their locks and noticing a decrease in shedding when they brushed their hair post-wash.

At £45, this is a pricey option but it will bring a little bit of luxury to your haircare routine, allowing you to indulge in a salon-like experience at home.

Salon64 liquid gold shampoo: £44.99, Salon64products.co.uk

Salon64 liquid gold conditioner: £44.99, Salon64products.co.uk

The appeal of this product is it acts as a shampoo-hair mask hybrid – eliminating one extra step in your shower routine. The innovative formula is designed to carry out a deep cleanse and conditioning of the hair, without stripping colour or weighing down strands. Featuring algae extract, panthenol, biotin and rose oil, this shampoo is said to be perfect for those with dry or damaged hair.

Particularly during colder months, combatting dry hair is a must, and our tester was thoroughly impressed with how hydrated their hair felt after using Briogeo’s products. Not only did our hair feel intensely cleansed, we also really enjoyed not having to use a treatment mask in between shampooing and conditioning.

The result was hair that looked smooth as well as feeling soft and nourished. Our tester liked using this product, knowing it helps fight against aggressors such as air pollution, heat, styling tools and more.

Briogeo don’t despair, repair super moisture shampoo: £33, Cultbeauty.co.uk

Briogeo don’t despair, repair super moisture conditioner: £33, Cultbeauty.co.uk

Our tester is familiar with Charles Worthington shampoos and conditioners, having been impressed previously by the moisture seal and thicker and fuller ranges. So, we were keen to try the grow strong activating shampoo and protein conditioner, which aim to keep the scalp in optimum condition, building protein levels for healthy hair growth while preventing breakage.

After using both these products, we noticed a fullness to our locks, which also felt a lot softer. The formula feels gentle but stimulating, thanks to the blend of root-activating pea-sproud extract and protecting nourishing proteins. We were impressed that there was no greasy feeling to our hair after showering, though we did find we benefitted from using volumising or texturising styling products but this didn’t affect our haircare routine much at all.

Charles Worthington grow strong activating shampoo: £9.99, Boots.com

Charles Worthington grow strong protein conditioner: £9.99, Boots.com

Bumble and Bumble’s shampoo was a dream come true for our curly haired tester. The luxurious shampoo, devoid of harsh chemicals, sulphates, parabens and silicones, provides tender loving care to locks, all thanks to its blend of natural oils. The velvety fusion of avocado, coconut, shea and cocoa butter not only left our hair feeling irresistibly soft, shiny and hydrated, but we also got compliments on its fragrance. Best of all, the formula kept frizz at bay.

If you want silky, bouncy locks, our tester found pairing Bumble and Bumble’s nourishing shampoo with its 3-in-1 conditioner did wonders, instantly turning frizz to curls after a deep and gentle lather. Like the shampoo, it’s free from sulphates and is made with a combination of avocado, coconut, shea butter and cocoa butter, leaving hair feeling well-moisturised and hydrated. Our tester just wishes it lasted a little bit longer.

Bumble and Bumble curl moisturising shampoo: £26.47, Amazon.co.uk

Bumble and Bumble curl 3-in-1 conditioner: £29, Amazon.co.uk

This shampoo and conditioner bundle from Virtue comes enriched with powerful proteins and high-performance active ingredients to promote stronger-feeling locks.

Aimed at those with thin, fine and fragile hair, the shampoo is powered by alpha and gamma keratin proteins to help get rid of dirt and impurities and product build-up while also supporting a stronger-looking scalp and strands. Meanwhile, the conditioner is infused with a rich blend of probiotic ferment, cyperus plant root oil and biomimetic signal peptides, to enhance softness and shine.

Our tester loved this shampoo and conditioner but felt it promoted fuller-looking and thicker-feeling hair, as opposed to actually making a physical difference.

If your lovely curly hair has been feeling the effects of recent perming and could use a little TLC, Cantu’s leave-in conditioner is our tester’s go-to solution. Infused with argan oil and shea butter, the moisturising cream has become our tester’s daily essential for rehydrating and revitalising hair. The formula gives locks a delightful shine, and works as both a leave-in conditioner and a styling cream. Our tester’s hair was back to feeling healthy in no time.

Ideal for a range of hair types, this shampoo and conditioner duo is made with vegan B-silk protein, which aims to restore and protect the hair, while keeping it shiny and smooth. We were keen to find out if the formulas could help address thinning and dryness, and whether we noted any improved fullness and less shedding.

In addition to seeing less fallout and breakage, our tester noticed the dryness and frizziness that comes with cold, wet weather was alleviated after using these products for a few weeks.

Our tester was also impressed with the fact a little goes a long way when it comes to these products – despite them being pricier options, even a small amount of formula lathered up nicely, helping it last longer.

Vegamour Gro revitalizing shampoo for thinning hair: £48, Sephora.co.uk

Vegamour Gro revitalizing conditioner for thinning hair: £48, Sephora.co.uk

While many shampoos and conditioners we’ve tried and tested have all been geared towards a specific hair type or concern, Grown Alchemist’s nourishing range is a great one to choose if you’re simply looking to switch up your haircare routine for something that can help revitalise locks.

The vegan formula includes natural extracts, such as damask rose, sage and black pepper. Our tester loved that, thanks to the lack of harsh chemicals, their hair felt cared for after each wash. The products also gently exfoliated our tester’s scalp, which, in turn, helps promote healthy hair follicles. The conditioner worked well to help maintain and enhance shine, and we found our hair wasn’t as tangled after showering.

Grown Alchemist nourishing shampoo: £32, Grownalchemist.com

Grown Alchemist nourishing conditioner: £32, Grownalchemist.com

The first thing to note about this bundle is the size – 800ml per bottle is a very decent amount of product for the price. Monday Haircare has all sorts of ranges but we opted to test the gentle set, which has been formulated to care for delicate hair and sensitive scalps.

We noted our hair felt cleansed, nourished and hydrated after using these products, with strands appearing silky soft and very smooth. Formulated with natural ingredients such as shea butter, coconut oil and hydrolysed rice protein, the shampoo and conditioner work to lock in moisture.

Our tester’s only issue was with their hair’s texture post-wash – they had to make sure they washed out all of the product extra thoroughly.

There’s always a place on our bathroom shelf for a shampoo and conditioner that will enhance shine – particularly during the dreary winter months. Amika’s mirrorball high shine shampoo and conditioner work to moisturise your hair and boost shine, while cleansing and conditioning. Although our tester doesn’t have dyed hair, these products are suitable for coloured hair, too.

The shampoo features omega 7, vitamin C and vitamin A, to nourish the hair and scalp, while the conditioner features raspberry leaf. Both products contain magnolia and ginger root extract, to increase shine, and are formulated with sustainably sourced sea buckthorn, which works to improve overall scalp health.

After regular use, our tester found their scalp was less irritable and flaky. Our tester also noted their hair was left feeling very smooth, without appearing greasy or flat in any way.

Amika mirrorball high shine and protect antioxidant shampoo: £24, Spacenk.com

Amika mirrorball high shine and protect antioxidant conditioner: £24, Spacenk.com