As someone with fine hair I've discovered that hair creams are the best way to achieve cool girl texture
As someone with relatively fine, flat hair, I've always found hair serums troublesome. No matter which one I try, they just seem to be far too greasy for my strands and weigh them down. This has been particularly frustrating lately as I've been travelling a lot and thus, humidity has become more of an issue. However, my trusty Hershesons Everything Cream eventually came to my aid and in no time, I remembered just how much I love the best hair creams.
As much as I adore Hershesons one, it's not the most easily accessible product (both in price and on shelves), so I wanted to share a list of my ultimate go-to options from years of testing. Hair creams are suitable for all hair types and are excellent for smoothing, adding moisture and hydration, shaping and defining and taming frizz, so they're the ultimate versatile styling product – and the following hardworking formulas certainly deliver on all fronts.
1. Hershesons Almost Everything Cream
Hershesons Almost Everything Cream
I had to include my personal favourite - the one that made me fall in love with hair creams in the first place. As its name suggests, this promises to offer a myriad of hair styling benefits, from defining curls to taming flyaways and boosting shine, and can be used on both dry and wet hair. I use this as a finishing product to define any style, and also adore the subtle, understated scent.
2. Hair By Sam McKnight Happy Endings Nourishing Balm
Hair By Sam McKnight Happy Endings Nourishing Balm
Sam McKnight's cleverly named Happy Endings has a really great, non-greasy texture that feels featherlight in hair. All you need is a couple of generous pumps to tame frizz, re-moisturise hair and add a gorgeous fragrance to strands.
3. ARKIVE The Good Calmer Cushioning Moisture Cream
ARKIVE The Good Calmer Cushioning Moisture Cream
A highly rated affordable option you can pick up in Boots, hairstylist Adam Reed created this cream to hydrate, protect and boost shine. It utilises moringa seed oil to strengthen weakened strands and inject moisture and definition into any style.
4. JVN Complete Air Dry Cream
JVN Complete Air Dry Cream
A slightly different kind of hair cream, JVN's is designed to be used on damp hair in place of other blow-drying products. It works to define hair to allow it to air-dry naturally without frizz or flyaways, and is enriched with a blend of nourishing ingredients to make lengths super soft.
5. Dyson Chitosan™ Pre-style cream
Dyson Chitosan™ Pre-style cream
One of the most lightweight styling creams of the bunch, Dyson's newly-launched Chitosan formula feels practically undetectable in hair while offering hold and frizz-free benefits. It works especially well when used in tandem with an Airwrap.
6. Larry King Haircare A Social Life for Your Hair
Larry King Haircare A Social Life for Your Hair
While Dyson's is lightweight, Larry King's cream has more of a rich, nourishing formula meaning you only need a little for best results. It can be used on all hair types and lengths, and on dry or wet hair.
7. Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino and Avocado Leave–In Defining Crème
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino and Avocado Leave–In Defining Crème
Briogeo's defining curl cream features an impressive ingredients list starting with avocado oil to soften and hydrate waves, curls and coils and ending in rice amino acids that seal the hair cuticle. I have naturally wavy hair so use this when I want to wear my hair down without too much heat styling and to define my waves.
8. Oribe Créme for Style
Oribe Créme for Style
Suitable for all hair types, this cream can be used on wet or dry hair and offers hold yet flexibility for any style. It feels super moisturising on hair, taming frizz and adding shape as it goes to work.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
Rebecca is a freelance beauty journalist and contributor to Marie Claire. She has written for titles including Refinery29, The Independent, Grazia, Coveteur, Dazed, Stylist, and Glamour. She is also a brand consultant and has worked with the likes of The Inkey List on campaign messaging and branded copy. She’s obsessed with skincare, nail art and fragrance, and outside of beauty, Rebecca likes to travel, watch true crime docs, pet sausage dogs and drink coffee. Rebecca is also passionate about American politics and mental health awareness.
-
Marisa Abela makes a case for Mocha Mousse
The EE BAFTA Rising Star nominee dressed head-to-toe in the Pantone Colour of the Year
By Mischa Anouk Smith
-
Calling all Miu Miu lovers: here's how to create the looks in your closet
It’s time to put your best preppy looks forward
By Lauren Cunningham
-
Everyone is talking about dark cherry at the moment, but I can't get enough of the super wearable plum shade
All skin tones apply
By Lollie King
-
Everyone is talking about dark cherry at the moment, but I can't get enough of the super wearable plum shade
All skin tones apply
By Lollie King
-
As a beauty editor, these are the 8 best foundations that I recommend for everyday wear
Lightweight with decent coverage = the everyday dream
By Tori Crowther
-
I’m calling time on brown nails—trust me when I say this expensive-looking shade is the next big trend
So clean, so fresh...
By Nessa Humayun
-
I cannot believe how much brighter and tighter my skin feels after using these products for just 2 weeks
The ultimate complexion-boosting combo
By Matilda Stanley
-
I'm not exaggerating, you'll find a product from this brand in *every* beauty editor's bathroom
These are my top picks
By Tori Crowther
-
This affordable skincare ingredient massively calms redness and inflammation—I’m mad I didn’t know about it sooner
A true unsung hero
By Nessa Humayun
-
My house is so cold in the winter that I always skip body lotion, but these 6 shower oils keep my skin soft and nourished
My low-maintenance body care hack
By Mica Ricketts
-
Make-up artist-founded brands play home to some of the best products on the market—here are 11 of the greats
In MUAs we trust
By Lucy Abbersteen