The Best Hair Products For Men 2020

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Unless you've been living in an Essex nightclub for the past six months, you'll have noticed that things are shifting in the hair arena. After years of disconnected shaves and man-buns, it seems we're finally veering away from footballers' follicular faves and returning the the kinds of classic, sharp styles that won't make you wince when Facebook serves them back up in a couple of years time.

But this doesn't have to mean digging out those creaking clippers – today, you have options. Leonardo DiCaprio is here to remind you of the immortal appeal of a not-too-slick back, while Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles have made an unexpectedly strong case for cherubic curls (bonus points for boyband-worthy bone structure and a crocheted cotton collar).

But whatever your haircut of choice may be, you're going to need the right tools for the job. From the ultimate everyday shampoo to a clever volumising hack – and the finest hair pomade on the planet – we've rounded up all of the best men's hair products available today and deserving of a spot on your shelf.

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1 Best shampoo

SHOP

This sulphate and silicone-free shampoo sweeps away every last trace of oil while encouraging volume and movement. For satisfyingly clean roots, this is the winner.

Living Proof Full Shampoo, £22, Spacenk.com

2 Best budget shampoo

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Ask any hairdresser how much you should spend on your shampoo, and they'll tell you more than a tenner. They'll have good reason though, because salon-standard shampoos are generally more concentrated, meaning you'll use less each time.

That said, if we're going to have to drag you from the aisles of Boots kicking and screaming, stick with John Frieda. There's a formula for every hair type, and they'll get the job done better than most.

John Frieda shampoo, from £5.98 , Feelunique.com

3 Best conditioner

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You'll find family-owned sustainable haircare line Davines on the shelves of many an industry insider. Every one of the brand's conditioners is outstanding: this one, in particular, has an evangelical following for the way it repairs dry ends.

Davines Nounou Conditioner, £18.60, Cultbeauty.co.uk

4 Best budget conditioner

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A better-than-most line of conditioners for a very good price. John Frieda wins again.

John Frieda conditioner, from £5.98, Feelunique.com

5 Best hair thickening product

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Stay away from those miracle-touting products lurking in the depths of Amazon: nothing will re-grow lost hair.

Aveda's Thickening Tonic, however, will make what you've got look fuller and thicker. Spray it onto wet hair, and watch the 97% natural mist physically swell each strand.

Aveda Thickening Tonic, £18.70, Feelunique.com

6 Best hair pomade

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Hair pomades come in varying degrees of hold and shine: this one sits at the extreme end of both. It's infused with nice-sounding organic extracts that will nourish each strand (including scalp-soothing horsetail), yet delivers heavy-duty hold that'll see you through the longest of days.

Hanz De Fuko Heavymade, £18, Mankind.co.uk

7 Best styling cream

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If you're growing out your hair, a low-hold styling product is the key to looking more like Brad Pitt and less like a Nineties guitar teacher. Malin + Goetz's Styling Cream is a reliable choice: it's lightweight, non-sticky, and will tame flyaways without making your ends feel crispy.

Malin + Goetz Sage Styling Cream, £20, Spacenk.com

8 Best sea salt spray

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For extra volume with hold and a matte finish, opt for a sea-salt spray. This one can be sprizted liberally through just-washed hair to create effortless mussed-up texture.

Murdock Sea Salt Spray, £16.80, Lookfantastic.com

9 Best hair clay

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Blind Barber's message here is clear: if you want the exquisite slick-back of basketball player Bryce Harper, get his clay of choice. This one.

Blind Barber Hair Clay, £17, Mrporter.com

10 Best curly hair product

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Coarser curls require something a little heavier, like Moroccanoil's defining cream. Formulated with the brand's signature argan oil, it'll impart moisture and shine to thirsty hair.

Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream, £25.45, Lookfantastic.com

11 Best hair gel

SHOP

If the mere mention of hair gel brings the greasy ghost of Ross Geller to mind, stay with us. This one is perfect for slicked-back styles, making hair look simultaneously thicker and smoother.

Baxter of California Thickening Style Gel, £13, Lookfantastic.com

12 Best hair wax

SHOP

Sachajuan's hair wax is highly pliable, so you can restyle throughout the day. Lightweight, matte and totally non-greasy, it fully deserves its cult-hero status.

Sachajuan Hair Wax, £20, Mrporter.com

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