SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER DUO - VOLUME
Our protocol for testing haircare is always to send the ‘matching’ shampoos and conditioners, to check out how well the two work together in real life. (As ever: 10 women, each sent the same shampoo and conditioner, having self-identified as needing volume in this case.)
We do know that people ‘mix and match’, but we feel that this gives testers the chance to put products through their paces the way that brands feel they work best – and three duos duly impressed the testers, in 2023.
GOLD AWARD BondiBoost Thickening Shampoo & Conditioner
Hailing from – yes – Australia, this range promises to ‘smell delicious’, among its other virtues. We’re told the formulas were developed ‘with the help of leading experts on the shores of the iconic Bondi beach’, to create a range of products that ‘help you reach your hair goals faster, with this pump-action duo promising to ‘volumise and straighten’. There’s a long list of ‘nasties’ that BondiBoost range avoids, including mineral oils, sulphates, parabens, palm oil, during alcohols and artificial fragrances, but the list of what IS in there includes hyaluronic acid, collagen, ginseng and sea kelp, to add shine, gloss and ‘leave your main visibly thicker, fuller and healthier.’
Shampoo/£30 for 500ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£30 for 500ml – click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I would 100% say it lives up to the name BondiBoost as it "boosted" my hair onto another level. More volume, hair felt thicker after several uses, with more of a silky, smooth feeling, and not weighed down at all’ • ‘My hair has never looked or felt better – honestly, I love this. It gave me the glossiest finish particularly on the days I used a hairdryer or styling tool, making my hair feel more voluminous. It looked very shiny, as if it had been blow-dried and finished in a salon’ • ‘I loved that I could go three days between washes using this; I have naturally greasy hair and find it very hard to find shampoos that make my hair last more than one or two days’ • ‘I think it has to be the best product I have ever used for volume/thickness; the volume at the roots was long lasting and my hair definitely feels thicker’ • ‘I have had a couple of people tell me how healthy my hair looks’ • ‘Plan to repurchase this and other items from their range’ • ‘This is my new holy grail! My hair is prone to frizziness but seems to be behaving better since using this product’ • ‘So many volumising sets make the hair look dull and frizzy by opening the cuticle. These didn't – they gave a lovely smooth shine and natural bounce. My hair looks thicker and feels like silk; I keep touching it’ • ‘In comparison to my previous shampoo and conditioner, it improved my hair condition, made my hair smell lovely, reduced frizz and fall-out and my hair was easier to style.’
Shampoo/£30 for 500ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£30 for 500ml – click to buy
SILVER AWARD JVN Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner
JVN’s cult gender-neutral haircare line is created by hairstylist and activist, Jonathan Van Ness, ‘using a range of science-backed ingredients led by hemi-squalane,’ which – when we put on our lab coats to drill down a little – is a by-product of the fermentation of sugarcane. This volumising duo is suitable for use on all hair types that are fine, limp, thinning or flat (and is safe enough for coloured hair). Silicone- and sulphate-free, the shampoo and conditioner duo are packaged in recyclable aluminium bottles.
Shampoo/£21 for 295ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£21 for 295ml – click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Hair looked in good stronger condition, not so flyway. Using this duo resulted in thick glossy hair without feeling silicone-y, and I was very happy with this as it is hard for my fine hair to get bounce. This made JVB different to my other conditioners that tend to weigh the hair down’ • ‘Hair felt very hydrated; amazing body-building duo with a lovely fragrance that doesn’t weigh hair down and leaves hair feeling really clean and bouncy with a nice shine and a lovely fragrance’ • ‘My hair felt so clean with these products, absolutely love them! Really lightweight, non-greasy – everything you would want from a shampoo and conditioner’ • ‘I love the packaging – so much easier with a pump instead of squeezing out of a bottle, as you don’t waste product. Cannot wait to try some of their other products’ • ‘My daughter has commented saying my hair looked healthier and shinier’ • ‘Good all-round duo if your hair is limp and lacking volume and shine – I 100% would buy again’ • ‘I found my roots had more volume which made my hair easier to style, with less styling needed at the root because it had some natural lift. I also didn’t need to apply hair oil on the ends which I normally have to daily’ • ‘I think it enhanced my natural wave, and my ends seemed less frizzy. Combing is a little easier so less hair loss/breakage, and less flat head after wearing my riding hat too!’ • ‘These are good quality products which have continued to keep my hair feeling soft, silky and full’ • ‘Less time was needed on styling my hair as it was holding its shape well, after being blow-dried.’
Shampoo/£21 for 295ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£21 for 295ml – click to buy
BRONZE AWARD Nine Yards Go Loud Shampoo & Big Noise Conditioner
The second Beauty Bible Awards win in a row for premium Swedish haircare brand Nine Yards. And while the innovative, unusual packaging is eye-catching, it’s performance rather than good looks which we’re interested in, when it comes to our trials. 100% vegan, the duo – enriched with natural glycerine, wheat proteins and shea butter, together with a gorgeously-scented extract of Gallica rose and Damask rose – is designed to moisturise ‘without weighing your hair down’, and deemed particularly suitable for fine and limp hair. Several testers highly rated it for dealing with frizziness, too.
Shampoo/£20.95 for 300ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£20.95 for 300ml – click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I love this duo. My hair feels gorgeous, and for someone with alopecia that is amazing. The fact that my hair doesn't need washing every day is a massive benefit because it puts less stress on the hair. It is probably the best shampoo and conditioner I have used, AND smells really nice too’ • ‘A haircare duo that helps to give volume and frizz control whilst not weighing down very fine hair, leaving it nice to touch , soft and silky rather than dry and frizzy’ • ‘I would buy this product. It is lovely to use and my hair feels great! Amazingly, I have been able to leave my hair for a couple of days and it looks OK! Normally I do it every day. I love this as it enables me to get a quick shower to cool down instead of having to spend ages drying my hair every time. I have had less frizz , noticeably so! Usually, I dry my hair and in’ • ‘I rarely get compliments on my hair because it is so thin but since using this my sister has noticed that my hair is looking better. My colleague thought I had "dyed my hair or something" because it looked nice! This has to be the best shampoo and conditioner I have ever used’ • ‘Would I buy it again? YES, YES, YES, YES etc. The holy grail of hair care/maintenance, reducing the need for loads of styling products so your hair feels like hair and not a fire hazard! Lots of volume too. It's very clever stuff, my hair feels light and swishy but its big, you wouldn't normally put those descriptions in the same sentence.’
Shampoo/£20.95 for 300ml – click to buy
Conditioner/£20.95 for 300ml – click to buy