Shop TODAY launched our first-ever Hair Awards this year and it's safe to say the winners really wow'd both our testers and readers! These awards were an extension of Shop TODAY's 2025 Beauty Awards, because we know that hair (and all the products dedicated to taking care of it) deserves a spot to shine all on its own.
For these awards, we spent weeks curling, straightening, teasing and combing through our hair to find the best tools out there for styling every hair type.
Whether you have unruly cowlicks that refuse to be tamed, curls that demand a little extra oomph or pin-straight hair that you're wanting to add a little extra shine to rather than frizz, you've come to the right place. We've even tested items that can improve your overall hair health, like a red light therapy cap that strives to thicken strands.
From household name brands like Conair and Revlon to trendy, buzzy brands like Dyson and Pattern, shop these award-winning tools starting at just $12.
Best value multistyler$24.53$27.55
Award-winning hair tools to shop
"I like that this brush encouraged more bounce in my curls!" praises Katrina Bartocillo, producer for TODAY with Jenna and Friends. "It's easy to use, and did a great job detangling and styling my curls."
This hair brush further boasts an easy-to-grip handle, sustainable materials and bristles that are perfectly spaced for a "pain-free" experience each time, according to the brand.
Dubbed the "ultimate solution" by the brand, this is a quick and simple way to dry your hair compared to enveloping your hair in a towel. This is also the same brand behind an editor-loved, once-viral stone bath mat.
Its microfiber and cotton fabric blend remains gentle on the hair, hoping to prevent breakage, split-ends and frizz.
"Like many things with having this job, I’ve learned over time that one of my regular habits (in this case, sleeping with wet hair) is actually bad for me!" admits deputy managing editor, Jess Bender. "I’ve tried a couple of microfiber hair towels over the years, but this one I’ve found to be the most effective with absorbing all of the moisture that lingers from my tresses without frizzing it up. It also stays in place really well thanks to the added pull tab in the back that I tuck the towel end in after I wrap up my hair."
Volume! Body! Travel-friendly! This hair tool received a perfect 5/5 overall score because it provides you with voluminous hair full of definition.
Ashley Parrish, SVP of commerce at NBC News Group, calls this tool a "terrific multitasker," adding that it "can style hair wet and dry and makes lasting waves and volume."
Conair is a household name when it comes to hair tools. If you’re clinging onto an old hair dryer, it’s time to give it an upgrade with the brand’s latest iteration of their well-known InfinitiPRO hair dryer.
It’s simple to use thanks to the two basic attachments and included blow dryer brush, promising to provide salon-like results at home.
"This hair dryer is super light, dries hair fast and is quiet," says Donna Pilikyan, commerce insights and operation manager. She also says it's "super easy and quick" to detach and replace the different attachments, as they're magnetic.
It has three different speeds that can dry your hair at three different temperatures, and weighs less than one pound, making it a no-brainer to pack during your next girls trip or weekend getaway.
With a sleek design, minimalistic body and interface, as well as the ability to dry any length of hair in less than five minutes, it seems as though Laifen thought of everything when it comes to drying your hair in a smooth, timely manner.
"It has a nice grip, solid buttons and is fairly quiet for a hair dryer," adds Peyton Young, social media video producer at TODAY.
Skip the salon for your next touch-up and reach for this device instead. Simply pop the cartridge into the hair tool and brush it through your hair similar to how you would a normal hair brush.
The end result will be a new-and-improved look that took only five minutes to complete.
Our editors found that this device left their hair looking "sleek," even after just one pass through. We love T3 for their splurge-worthy and effective products, and this one is no different, providing impressive, timely results.
Drybar isn’t referring to a drink with the name, rather three different attachments you can use to style, dry and straighten hair with.
They left no detail untouched: perfectly spaced and crafted bristles and vents, included technology that works to decrease frizz and increase shine and a lightweight body to make styling easy and efficient.
This bundle comes with quite literally everything you need to achieve the curls of your dreams. It has four attachments that dry and style curls and six different settings that emit heat at a level that's safe for curly and textured hair, according to the brand.
It also comes with a heat protectant that includes key ingredients like sunflower seed oil and jojoba seed oil, working to moisturize and protect strands.
Commerce editor and producer Julie Ricevuto relied on this cap as part of a three-step anti-thinning hair routine. For 10 minutes a day over the course of three months, Ricevuto wore this cap while watching TV, cooking or cleaning.
It has "120 diodes of red light bulbs that use FDA-cleared technology to stimulate hair growth" on the inside of the cap, starting at the scalp to promote thicker strands.
How we chose
Shop TODAY’s first ever Hair Awards had our team of editors and staffers across the entire TODAY team try and review more than 140 products to find the best products on the market. From growth products to masks and more, this list is everything that has earned the Shop TODAY stamp of approval. We sorted through over 350 new launches, editor recommendations, trending and tried-and-true products to come up with 52 winners.
We incorporated products into our everyday, regular beauty routines over the course of over six months to see if they meet requirements when it comes to value, satisfaction and quality for hair products and tools. Finally, our panel of experts reviewed some of our winners to give their sign-off based on ingredients and other factors.
The Flat Lay Co. Flat Lay Makeup Bag
The Flat Lay Co. Flat Lay Makeup Bag