23 Hair Products Our Readers Loved In 2020
Especially since nobody could get to a salon 😩.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. A biotin shampoo to help with shedding by depositing biotin, a naturally occurring vitamin, where it's needed — your hair. This person used the product for almost a year, and it made a world of difference 😱.
Promising review: "My hair has been thinning lately, when I took a shower there would be so much hair in the drain, and I have been watching thinning. I couldn't imagine that a cure for this horrific problem could be so easy. I washed my hair immediately the day I got it in the mail. There was NO hair in my hair catcher in my drain after I washed my hair. It has now been less than two weeks, I've used it like three or four times, and I have NEW HAIR SPROUTING like new grass in my thinning spots. I just ordered a Biotin leave-in serum to keep the ball rolling. Anyone who is on the fence as to whether they should try this shampoo, should! I will NEVER stop using this shampoo." —bridget langston
Get it from Amazon for $9.95.
2. A satin pillowcase that you'll never have to turn over because it's always *fresh*. This one is so much easier on skin and hair than cotton. It's puppy approved too 🐶!
Promising review: "I was originally looking for silk pillowcases, but decided to give these a try because they were a better price. I am not disappointed! I have seen a noticeable difference in my hair in the mornings and overall they are so smooth and comfortable to sleep on. I’ve washed them several times and haven’t seen a difference in the quality. I would buy again." —Kate
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four sizes and 23 colors).
3. A clarifying Neutrogena Shampoo that gently cuts through layers product buildup like Kanye cut off Taylor Swift in 2009. Imma let you finish, but this shampoo is one of the best shampoos of all time AND it's under $10 😩.
Promising review: "Great product! This shampoo removed months/years of product build-up in my hair that I didn't even know I had. After just one wash, my hair felt lighter, finer, more voluminous, and I needed less styling products to achieve the same results. But be careful not to use this too often as it can dry out your hair. I have long, dark fine hair and I use this about once every two weeks, or once every four to five washes." —Katherine
Get it from Amazon for $5.19.
4. A thickening shampoo to have your hair looking thicker than a Snicker. Reviewers with fine, thin, hair said this worked wonders for them.
Promising review: "I would give 6 stars if it were possible. I have shoulder-length fine hair. This shampoo leaves my hair light and clean. It doesn't dry it out and it doesn't weigh it down. It smells great, a little like coconut with a hint of citrus, not cloying or perfume-y. And surprisingly, my wet hair is a bit easier to run the comb through than with my other shampoos. For years I've used a terrific salon product, quite expensive, alternating the hydrating with the volumizing type, but with COVID the volumizing became unavailable except in giant quantities so I figured I'd try something new. Like my salon shampoo, this one is concentrated so you don't need to use much. Even the container is well made with a sturdy cap (I've had small ones break with an accidental drop of the bottle) and a chunky container that is less likely to topple from a shower caddy. And I appreciate the environmentally friendly features. Most of all, though, I'm really happy with what it does to my hair." —Sam
Get it from Amazon for $6.98.
5. A bottle of Verb Ghost Weightless Hair Oil because it's precisely what your chemically processed hair would beg you for, if it could speak of course. Moringa seed oil + bamboo extract🎍+ argan oil = 💆🏾♀️ restored hair.
Kinks are not a hair concern, although this product lists them as such. This product is sulfate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, gluten-free, you get the idea. And it comes in recycled packaging 😌.
Promising review: "It’s amazing !! It makes my hair feel soft and sliky, I use a small amount before and after I straighten or blow dry my hair — it’s probably the greatest oil I’ve ever used! Even if I don’t wanna style my hair and just put it in after a shower and let it air dry — it's still silky smooth and keeps small frizzies away." —DaniReneBay
Get it from Sephora for $18.
6. A scalp massager to scratch away your dirt, worries, brain cells, and anything else weighing you down.
Promising review: "I started doing the Curly Girl method and I cowash a lot but my arms were getting tired from all the scalp massaging. I saw this on another video so I decided to get it and it's wonderful!!! My arms are way less tired in the shower and my hair and scalp feel great and very well-cleansed. It's super gentle and soft. I can't believe I haven't had one of those til now!" —epb913
Get it from Amazon for $8.59+ (available in three colors).
7. A purple shampoo so you can keep brassy tones at bay, thanks to a little color theory. Purple cancels out yellow, which is why professional colorists swear by this stuff.
Promising review: "I'm not one to leave reviews. . . but this product deserves it! Holy cow! I was going to go into the salon to brighten my hair up, but after discovering this product I cancelled my appointment. I'm totally in love! This shampoo is not drying at all and just after two washes I achieved my desired results! I can't recommend it enough!" —Rachael
Get it from Amazon for $13.43+ (available in three sizes).
8. A bottle of Olaplex No. 3 because it should be the first thing you reach for after you do something drastic to your hair, I don't make the rules.
Promising review: "Best Hair EVER! Olaplex No. 3 is a MIRACLE! The only word I can use is AMAZING! After two applications, I could IMMEDIATELY feel a difference in my hair. I color my hair and use heat daily to style so it is very dry at the ends. After using the No. 3, my hair was silky and felt healthy. LOVE THIS PRODUCT!" —DHuff
Get it from Sephora for $28.
9. An argan oil heat protectant that might be the only thing standing between you, your flat iron, and the hair of your dreams. Believe it or not, you can have completely straight hair without compromising your curl pattern. How? This heat protectant.
Promising review: "There are a million great things that I can say about this product, but I'll let my photo sum it up! The first photo is when I first woke, the second is after brushing this product through dry hair, and the third is after straight ironing. It works wonders and the effects last all day! In addition, this stuff smells AMAZING!! So much so that my 4-year-old requests to have this sprayed into her just to smell it!! And it sprays so easily and evenly. I love this!!! —Rachael D
Get it from Amazon for $14.89.
10. A Tarte dry shampo to lift and thicken like their iconic mascara. This vegan dry shampoo stretches your blowouts longer than T.I.'s rubber band!
Promising review: "Just used this the other day because I didn't have time to wash my hair and it was getting a tad greasy. I sprayed it on my roots in several areas then massaged it in like it says to do. This is the best stuff I've found so far. My hair didn't look greasy anymore after using it, which made me confident to go out. I would buy this again!" —Autumn H
Get it from Tarte for $12.
11. A Kristin Ess 3-in-One Flat Iron that's just over an inch of titanium bliss, especially if you have thick hair. If you've been too scared to go to the salon, this will get you similar results at home. Creasing and flyaways will be a thing of the past.
This powerful tool heats up to 440 degrees but don't worry, it'll shut off automatically if you forget to do it yourself.
Promising review: "Sure beats my Chi iron which snagged my hair this iron runs through smooth heats fast and adds shine to hair! Love the swivel cord and protective heat cap!" —Nikki
Get it from Target for $80.
12. A detangling brush to take the pain out of wash day for the most curliest textures. With this gem, your arms will never be sore from detangling again.
Promising review: "I'm a single dad of a 6-year-old girl and combing her hair is the hardest part of taking care of her. She gets really bad knots in her hair. This brush is the only thing that has ever worked. Thank you so much. She even likes to comb her own hair now." —Nguyen P.
Get it from Amazon for $11.88 (available in six colors).
13. A hair and scalp mist so your crown won't be all exposed. UV rays are nothing to play with. They wreak havoc on your scalp. This quality hair SPF will keep your expensive dye job from fading away.
14. A 42-pack of curling rods to channel Diana Ross' or Farrah Fawcett's voluptuous curls. Whoever said beauty is pain obviously never slept in these 😏.
Promising review: "Tried these for the first time yesterday. They were super easy to use, not horrible to sleep on and easy to take out. Curls were full and fell nicely. I didn't have to untangle hair or pull to get these rods out. Please know I am a thirtysomething-year-old who has no hair skill at all so these are great for women like myself who throws their hair in a ponytail and goes because they lack skill." —alyce heifner
Get it from Amazon for $10.99.
15. A wonder water for decreasing tangles and static in just eight seconds! Reviewers said it made combing through the thickest hair just like spreading butter.
Promising review: "I don’t usually do reviews on products, but for this one I absolutely have to. I have 3c type hair and struggle with a lot a breakage, unmanageability, and moisture. When my mom mentioned this product to me I didn’t take her seriously because of the simple fact that we have two completely different hair textures. I never would have thought this brand would work on my hair. I have always used ethnic hair products and stayed away from brands such as this one because of the alcohols. I have never in my 22 years felt my hair like this. I feel like I have a completely different head of hair. This product is so amazing and I will FOREVER be using this product in my hair regimen. Thank you so much!! ♥️" —Theressa Hailey
Get it from Amazon for $8.97.
16. A velvet scrunchie that puts drugstore scrunchies to shame. Not only does it have amazing elasticity and hold, but velvet also adds a dope retro edge to any look.
Promising review: "This scrunchie is so comfortable and cute, especially love the Chambray Blue color! Goes with denim so well. My favorite part is the wire inside of it, so you can bend the bow to exactly how you like it to lay in your hair. This is so helpful since I like the scrunchie to look different sometimes when I dry my hair different ways. So versatile!" —Rellz
Get it from Free People for $8, or grab three for $12 (available in seven colors).
17. A Living Proof dry shampoo to slurp the oil, dirt, and sweat out of your scalp so you can maximize the time between washes. It's magic in a bottle and people are saying it completely changed their hair routines.
Promising review: "I have tried over 50+ dry shampoos and the LP one is by far my choice out of all of them. I have very processed hair almost black naturally and I am a blonde now ;) I avoid washing daily for many reasons so the need for a dry shampoo is necessary. The feel of LPs is light, fresh and it smells lovely. Do not leave a heavy residue, easy to use." —Tam Dirk
Get it from Sephora for $25 (available in three sizes).
18. A collagen coating hair protein treatment because it's your best chance of reviving your hair from any chemical catastrophe. Ceramide 3s support moisture retention and elasticity which hair desperately needs after going through the wringer.
Promising review: "I bought this product after reading all of the positive reviews, but I was pretty skeptical because no conditioner I've ever purchased seems to help my hair in the ways it says it will. My hair is very thick, frizzy, and has a natural wave. Even when I dry it and straighten it, it still just looks dry and poofy. The first time I used this, I wet my hair a bit and let it sit on there for 20 minutes or so, then showered it off and let my hair air dry (which usually ends up in the dreaded frizz). My hair has never felt so silky and light without being greasy. This stuff is the best hair product I've ever purchased. You really only need a little bit to get results right after the shower. I've always hated my air-dry natural wave because of the condition of my hair, but this stuff lets me keep my waves (no styling required) and makes them look shiny and healthy. Will purchase again when I run out!" —TF
Get it from Amazon for $7.40.
19. A mini spin hairpin that's easy to use even if you don't know what you're doing. People loved that they could go through their days without this baby getting loose.
Promising review: "These mini spiral hairpins are amazing! They are perfect for buns. Loose bun, tight bun, top bun you name it. Eliminates the need to use a million bobby bins and best of all they don’t live dents on your hair. They also have regular size ones. Which also works for buns...but great for updos! These are a must-have. They have different colors to match your hair." —A Fam of Smart Shoppers
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $6.99.
20. A hair finishing stick becuase this magic hair sauce, bippity boppity boos those pesky flyaways who refuse to get down or lay down.
Promising review: "No matter what I do or what expensive and high rated product I try, my flyaways are an annoying constant. This product has completely rid me of my daily top of head flyaway frizz! I wish I would have discovered this product years ago! It smooths my hair out and truly lasts all day. Be careful, as a tiny bit goes a long way!" —RachelOK
Get it from Amazon for $7.98.
21. A titanium ceramic hot air brush that's totally genius, here's why. #1 Using a brush to straighten hair helps it retain its volume (@ everyone with fine hair). #2 Heated brush bristles distribute heat much better than two titanium plates. #3 You won't have to chase your flat iron with a comb or brush anymore.
Promising review: "LOVE LOVE LOVE! I got tired of trying to do a professional blowout on myself using my hair dryer with a regular round bush. My hair always came out frizzy, burnt, and just dead. I recommend letting your hair air dry first and foremost. If you're like me and it takes your roots forever to dry then go ahead and use your regular hair dryer with the flat nozzle thingy to dry your scalp first and just let it air dry. I was extremely happy with how easy it is to use. A little tip to all you ladies having trouble achieving volume, waves, etc. it all depends on how your hair is cut, and don't forget to divide your hair in sections! I had long hair and was having trouble getting volume. I asked my hairdresser to give me a cut with lots of layers and volume and once I blow dry it I am always pleased with the results. At times I even do the Kate Middleton blowout! I even attached a picture of my everyday hair using the hot brush. I even took it with me to Mexico this May only to sell it to my aunt because she was just as amazed as I was." —Jasmine
Get it from Amazon for $35 (available in two sizes).
22. A Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo for balancing the scalp with ketoconazole. Don't worry, it's an antifungal that stops persistent flaking, scaling, and itching before it gets out of hand (and on your clothes).
Promising review: "Nizoral is a fantastic product for combatting the awful flakes, redness, itchiness and other symptoms derived from seborrheic dermatitis, eczema, etc. The thought of applying shampoo on my itchy head made sense..But shampooing my face was not a line I wanted to cross. After the nickname 'Rudolph' gained momentum due to my constant red, itchy, scale ridden, nose, I finally made the decision to give in and try the product on my face. I can't tell you how glad I am that I did. The symptoms come and go but Nizoral has been my go to product when the symptoms around my nose, eyebrows, hair, face, sternum, begin to show signs. Wish I would have given this product a shot though the tough times when the conditions were at their worst. All I can do now is recommend you give it a shot! Also, as you will see in the photos, after checking out a few local drugstores and markets, Amazon is the least expensive." —braxton aldrich
Get it from Amazon for $14.84.
23. A hair repair serum that has argan oil, vitamin E, and aloe which are pretty much the holy trinity of moisture, shine, and frizz control. It's nourishing and nongreasy so your hair won't look like it's bearing the weight of the world.
Promising review: "I found this product through a BuzzFeed article for those with frizzy hair and THIS PRODUCT DID NOT DISAPPOINT, PEOPLE! I put this serum through the ringer; I got this to stand up to Bay Area fog AND the nasty, humid heat wave we got a couple weeks ago. No frizz, no extra curls. Nothing! On top of that, it made my hair super glossy. I'm very impressed. Heads up though, a little goes a long way. One pump is enough to cover my hair and I have medium length hair. Also, it can make your hair look oily if you use too much. I do have oily hair so working on my ends first then working to my roots works for me." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.