Shop Artiste

A firm-hold matte pomade for styles that need to stay exactly where you put them. It works easily through the hair without dragging, stays reworkable through the day, and dries down to a clean matte finish with no shine — so the hold reads as texture rather than product. How to use: warm a small amount between your palms and work through dry hair, starting at the back and finishing at the front. Build up gradually; it's easier to add than to remove. Best for short to medium hair, and anyone who wants structure without a wet look. Washes out easily with a normal shampoo.

A salt-inspired wave spray that creates the kind of texture you normally only get after a day at the beach. It roughs up the surface of the hair just enough to encourage natural bend, adds volume through the mid-lengths, and leaves a lived-in finish with a light, flexible hold. How to use: spray generously on damp hair, scrunch with your hands and let it air-dry, or rough-dry with a diffuser for more volume. Spray on dry hair to revive waves on day two. Best for fine to medium hair that holds a bend, and anyone after an undone finish rather than a set style.

A quick-dry styling cream for mornings when there isn't time to do this properly. It speeds up drying noticeably, gives a medium hold and leaves a natural finish — the sort of result that looks like you spent longer on it than you did. How to use: work a small amount through damp hair from roots to ends, then blow-dry as normal. It cuts drying time meaningfully, which is the whole point. Best for anyone with a short window in the morning, and for medium to long hair that takes a while to dry.

A volumising lotion for fine hair that falls flat within an hour. The formula is weightless, so it builds body from the roots through to the ends without the heaviness that makes fine hair collapse — which is the usual problem with volume products. How to use: apply through damp hair with the focus on the roots, then blow-dry, lifting sections away from the scalp as you go. A round brush helps. Best for fine and flat hair. If your hair is thick or coarse, a lighter styling product will suit you better.

A blowout lotion that does two jobs at once: it protects the hair from the heat of your dryer and delivers the smooth, full result a good blowout is meant to have. It also reduces drying time, so the hair spends less time under heat in the first place. How to use: distribute evenly through damp, towel-dried hair from roots to ends, then blow-dry in sections. Finish each section with cool air to set it. Best for anyone who blow-dries regularly — heat protection matters more than any other styling step if you use a dryer often.

The definition and texture of a wax with the ease of a spray. Because it goes on as a fine aerosol rather than a solid product, it distributes evenly without clumping or needing to be worked in with your hands — which makes it far easier to control on shorter hair. How to use: hold 20 to 30cm from dry hair and spray in short bursts, then break up the shape with your fingers. Build in layers. Best for short to medium hair and anyone who finds traditional wax hard to apply evenly. Gives a flexible hold you can still move.

A smoothing lotion built for hair that frizzes the moment the humidity rises. It works on coarse and unruly hair specifically, controlling the surface of the hair and keeping moisture in the air from getting into it — which is what causes frizz in the first place. How to use: apply through damp hair from mid-lengths to ends, comb through to distribute, then blow-dry smooth. A little on dry hair calms flyaways later in the day. Best for thick, coarse, curly or frizz-prone hair, and essential in humid weather.

A finishing serum for genuine mirror shine. It smooths the surface of the hair so light reflects off it evenly, which eliminates frizz and flyaways and leaves a luminous, polished finish over whatever style you've created. How to use: warm one or two drops between your palms and stroke through dry hair, mid-lengths to ends only. Avoid the roots — serum there will look greasy rather than glossy. Best for dark or glossy styles, blowouts and finished looks. Use sparingly; this is a product where less genuinely is more.

A flexible-hold hairspray for people who restyle through the day. It holds the shape without locking it, so you can brush through, reshape and go again — while keeping natural movement and shine rather than that stiff, sprayed look. How to use: hold 30cm from dry hair and mist evenly over the finished style. Reapply lightly when you restyle. Best for everyday use, soft styles and anyone who dislikes the feel of firm hairspray. If you need a style to survive untouched all day, choose Fixer or Steel Lock instead.

A glitter finishing powder that adds shimmer and sparkle over a finished style. It catches the light and gives dimension to the hair, which makes it useful for occasions — parties, New Year, festivals, anywhere a normal finish isn't the point. How to use: tap or dust lightly over dry, finished hair, concentrating where you want the light to catch. Add gradually. Best for special occasions and evening looks. Brush out and shampoo to remove. Not an everyday product, and it isn't trying to be.

A fibre paste that builds real texture and volume with a natural matte finish. The fibrous texture is what makes the difference — it grips the hair and creates the appearance of more of it, rather than simply holding what's there. How to use: rub a small amount between your palms until it goes tacky, then work through dry hair from the roots outwards, pushing the hair into shape rather than combing it. Best for fine or thinning hair, and for short to medium styles that need thickness and definition. Matte throughout, so nothing looks greasy.

A lightweight styling foam that adds volume and texture without the crunch older mousses were known for. The finish is natural and effortless rather than set, which makes it a good base for beachy, undone looks. How to use: shake well, dispense a palmful of foam and work through damp hair from roots to ends. Air-dry for texture, or diffuse for volume. Best for all hair types, and a reliable everyday base whether you're air-drying or building a style on top.

An ultra-light finishing spray that adds soft volume and texture with no stiffness at all. It gives the hair a cloud-like, featherweight feel and a subtle hold — the point is that you can't feel that it's there. How to use: mist lightly over dry, finished hair, lifting sections at the root for volume. Build in thin layers. Best for fine hair, soft styles, and anyone who wants texture without any sense of product in the hair. Not the choice for a style that needs to hold firm.

A strong-hold texturising paste with a super matte finish, holding for up to 48 hours and water-resistant with it — so it survives rain, sweat and a long day. It works on all hair types and is scented with Keune's Cardamon Spell fragrance. How to use: emulsify a small amount between your palms and work through dry hair, shaping as you go. Build gradually for more structure. Best for short to medium lengths and any style that needs definition to genuinely stay put. Completely matte, no shine.

An extreme-hold hairspray with 72-hour fixation for styles that cannot move. It dries fast in a fine mist, which distributes evenly rather than landing in wet patches, and leaves no residue — just a natural shine. How to use: hold 30cm from dry hair and mist evenly over the finished style. Let it dry fully before touching. Best for updos, sculpted styles, event hair and anything that needs to survive a long day untouched. Suitable for all hair lengths and types. Choose Free Styler instead if you want to restyle later.

A finishing spray for intense, mirror-like shine. It smooths the hair's surface so light reflects evenly, eliminating frizz and flyaways and leaving a polished, red-carpet finish. How to use: hold 30cm from dry, finished hair and mist lightly across the surface. One pass is usually enough — more will look oily rather than glossy. Best for blowouts, sleek styles and dark hair, where shine shows most. Easier to control than a serum if you're worried about overdoing it.

An extra-strong hold hairspray with a flexible finish — the useful middle ground. It locks the style in place all day but you can still brush through it, so the hair doesn't feel like a helmet, and the formula leaves no residue. How to use: hold 30cm from dry hair and mist evenly over the finished style. Brush through gently if you want to soften the shape. Best for everyday styles that need to hold, and a good default if you want firm hold without sacrificing movement entirely.

A smoothing balm that controls frizz and leaves a sleek, polished finish. It works on damp or dry hair, which makes it unusually versatile — a styling base before blow-drying, or a fix for frizz and flyaways later in the day. How to use: warm a small amount between your palms and stroke through the mid-lengths and ends. On damp hair, blow-dry smooth afterwards; on dry hair, use less than you think. Best for frizz-prone, coarse or textured hair, and for sleek finished looks.

A flexible-hold styling cream that defines and smooths without weighing hair down. The finish is natural and airy rather than styled, but the control lasts — which is the balance most people are actually looking for day to day. How to use: work a small amount through damp hair from mid-lengths to ends, then blow-dry or air-dry. Also works on dry hair to redefine. Best for all hair types, particularly fine to medium hair that goes limp under heavier creams. A sensible everyday product.

An ultra-firm hold gel for sleek, sculpted styles with a high-gloss finish. It's the product for slick-backs and anything that needs to look deliberately structured and wet rather than natural. How to use: apply to damp hair and comb through for a smooth, even finish, then let it set without touching it. Applied to dry hair it gives more definition and less shine. Best for short to medium hair, slick-back looks and sculpted styles. High shine throughout — use Power Paste or Stay Putt if you want matte.