Glossy, soft and never weighed down: a splurge that pays for itself

A lightweight camellia oil that tames frizz and adds real shine without weighing hair down, and one bottle lasts ages.

A single drop of Shu Uemura's Essence Absolue hair oil worked through dry hair tames frizz and leaves it soft and glossy without flattening it. It's built around red camellia seed oil and doubles as protection against heat and UV. It also smells wonderful. There are two caveats. The ingredient list leads with silicones, so if you avoid them, look elsewhere. And the price is eye-watering, so wait for a deal. Take comfort in the fact that one bottle lasts years.

Best for Anyone fighting frizz who has written off hair oils as too greasy, including people whose fine hair goes limp at the first sign of product. Regular heat stylers get protection thrown in.

The Verdict At £65, this is a lot to spend on something you use a drop at a time. That's also the point: used properly, a 150ml bottle lasts a long time, which makes the cost per use far less alarming. Try the 50ml at £36.50 first, or wait for a sale. Either way, it's one of the rare luxuries that pays its way.