Zara is my go-to shop for a lot of things, and I'm not just talking about fashion. Sure, it has some of the best affordable handbags and summer sandals on the high street, but Zara fragrances are also top tier. Not to mention the brand's makeup which is perfect for any big occasions from festivals to weddings. However, when I heard that the brand was launching haircare, I was sceptical.
In my opinion, hair products can be make or break. They can either enhance your entire wash-day routine or become those bottles that sit in your bathroom cupboard never to be used again. As a beauty editor, I've spent years curating my personal collection of holy-grail shampoos, conditioners, volumising mousses, hairsprays and more, and it would take a lot for me to stray from the brands that I know and love.
That being said, Zara's haircare range definitely intrigued me. Not only is the packaging super fun, but each product retails for £16, making the collection more affordable than luxury hair brands such as Olaplex and Oribe (but still more expensive than a lot of high street contenders). Because of this, I decided to give the entire range a go to see if it would live up to the hype. Keep on scrolling for my honest review.
Zara Haircare Review
Before getting into the individual products, I want to talk a little bit about the collection as a whole. If you didn't know, the range was actually created in collaboration with renowned hair stylist Guido Palau, who has worked with the likes of Prada, Saint Laurent, Versace and more. There's no denying that Palau knows what he is doing when it comes to hair, so the fact that he has worked on this range definitely makes it more appealing.
Each product has been designed to become part of your everyday arsenal of styling basics, and with six different products on offer, there is plenty to choose from. One thing I would like to note is that there is only one product in the collection that is designed for curly hair, and it would be nice to see a wider range of products for waves, curls and coils from the brand in the future.
Now, onto the products themselves...
1. Zara Hair Volumising Mousse
First up is the volumising mousse. I have a love/hate relationship with these kind of products, as although I love the way they make my hair look, they often leave my hair feeling crunchy and stiff. However, this Zara mousse is easily one of the most lightweight options I have tried, and practically disappears when applied to the hair. Although this was a big plus, something I found a little strange is that you are advised to apply the product to your mid-lengths and ends. I normally like to use a volumising mousse in the roots of my hair as that is where my hair tends to fall flat, whereas my ends hold a lot more volume. It definitely made my ends look fuller and more bouncy, but I don't know if I would reach for this on a daily basis as I'd rather use something on my roots. However, if you find that your hair does fall flat at the ends, then I would recommend giving this a go.
2. Zara Hair Blow Dry Spray
Now this product really impressed me. I won't lie, I don't always use a blow dry spray as I never really know if they are necessary, but since testing this I have reached for it every time I've washed my hair. You can apply this before drying or straightening to not only protect from heat, but to also add shine. When I use this I feel like my hair looks so much smoother and healthier, and it definitely gives that glossy finish that I thought I could only get from going to the salon.
Junior Beauty Editor, Grace Lindsay, testing the Zara Volumising Mousse and Blow Dry Spray.
3. Zara Hair Dry Texturising Spray
Another product that impressed me was the texturising spray. This is designed to add volume and give you that tousled, "undone" look. The spray itself is so easy to use and it feels really lightweight on the hair (unlike other sprays which have weighed my hair down). On first look, it definitely added that chic, "I just woke up like this" kind of texture to my hair and I loved the voluminous finish that it gave. That being said, I wouldn't say that this spray lasts particularly well. I found I had to keep it in my bag to refresh my hair throughout the day, but at just £16, I didn't mind too much.
4. Zara Hair Light Hair Balm
Ok, so you don't need this product in your collection, but it's a really lovely one if your hair is feeling dry and lacklustre. The balm is designed to help hydrate your ends and add shine and softness. I can confirm that this product does all of these things and is great for refreshing hair in between washes. I also like using it when I do my slicked-backed buns as it gives your hair that glossy finish. The best bit is that you can't feel a thing once you've applied it, so you don't have to worry about your roots feeling greasy or your ends feeling weighed down.
Junior Beauty Editor, Grace Lindsay, testing the Zara Light Hair Balm and Hair Spray.
5. Zara Hair Curl Activator
As someone with naturally curly hair, I was excited to give the curl activator a go. I've tried various curl creams and gels over the years but have yet to find something I love, so I had high hopes. Although it is a great product, I don't think I will be rushing to purchase it again. It definitely helped enhance my curls, but I didn't feel as if they were super defined. It also promised to add shine, but again I didn't see much difference here. If your curls are already quite defined then you might love this, but for me it wasn't a winner.
6. Zara Hair Spray
Last, but by no means least, is the Zara hairspray. If I'm being honest, this was probably the product I was least excited to try. I mean, how good can a hairspray really be? Well, as it turns out, it can be really, really good. My hair stayed in place all day when wearing this, but when I ran my fingers through it, it was as if I had applied no product at all. It is so lightweight while still managing to deliver impressive hold and also add natural shine. If you want glossy, healthy-looking hair that holds its style, then this is the product for you.
Shop The Zara Hair Collection:
The perfect product to add volume and shine.
This is one of my favourite products from the range.
If you want that perfectly "undone" look, I recommend adding this to your basket.
My hair savour for in between washes.
This lightweight spray helps to define curly hair types.
The only hair spray you need in your collection.
