Some hair products are nice extras; others earn a permanent place in the bathroom.

These three tackle very different problems — oily roots, dull lengths and frizz — but they all have one thing in common: the results are easy to notice.

OUAI Detox Shampoo

Price: €25.99 | Rating: 10/10

If your scalp gets greasy quickly or styling products seem to build up no matter how often you wash, this is the kind of shampoo that can completely reset the routine. OUAI Detox Shampoo uses apple cider vinegar to help lift oil, impurities and product residue, including the stubborn buildup that regular shampoo can sometimes leave behind.

What I like most is that it gives that properly clean-root feeling without making the whole experience feel harsh. It is especially useful after several days of dry shampoo, heavy styling or when the roots simply start looking flat much faster than the lengths. I would treat it as a clarifying step rather than an automatic everyday shampoo.

For oily scalps, though? This one deserves its 10/10.

L'Oréal Elvive Glycolic Gloss

Price: €11.49 | Rating: 8/10

This is proof that a glossy finish does not necessarily require a salon appointment or an extravagant budget. The Elvive Glycolic Gloss 5 Minute Lamination Treatment is a rinse-off treatment built around a gloss complex with glycolic acid and is designed to leave dull hair smoother and shinier.

I see this as an occasional “make my hair look expensive” step. The treatment goes through the lengths after shampooing and conditioning, sits for five minutes and rinses away. The difference is mainly visual: the surface of the hair looks more polished, light reflects better and dry lengths can appear noticeably less tired.

I would not overcomplicate things by using it constantly. When you want extra shine before an event, dinner or simply because your hair has entered its dull phase, it makes much more sense. For the price, 8/10 feels fair.

Color Wow Dream Coat

Price: €25.01 | Rating: 8/10

Dream Coat is the most technique-dependent product here. Unlike a traditional leave-in that you can casually smooth through the ends, this spray performs best when it is applied generously to damp hair and then heat-activated during blow-drying. That extra effort is also its biggest drawback: it is not quite a spray-and-go situation.

Once you get the application right, however, the payoff is much better. The lightweight formula is designed to reduce frizz, add gloss and help protect the finished style from humidity without leaving hair greasy or noticeably coated.

I especially like the idea of it for hair that becomes fluffy the moment the weather turns humid. The finish can look sleek and almost glassy, but the product still allows the hair to move naturally. Because the technique matters so much, I would keep the score at 8/10 rather than calling it universally effortless.

There is actually a nice logic to using all three at different moments: OUAI when the scalp needs a reset, L'Oréal when the lengths need extra shine, and Color Wow when the finished hairstyle needs help staying smooth. None of them needs to appear in every wash routine — and that is probably why each works better when used with a little intention.