We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. Elizavecca's Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment works just like a hair mask to repair your locks in five minutes flat. The Ceramide 3- and collagen-packed formula repairs all types of hair whether you've got over-processed tresses or 4c hair that's susceptible to dryness. Reviewers even say the $9 product is comparable to Olaplex No. 3!
Promising review: "I bought this based on a review in a BuzzFeed article. I have long, thick, curly hair and use this maybe once a week. I get a ton of compliments every time and I absolutely love the way my hair feels afterwards. So amazingly soft. I use it in the shower and usually wash my hair and then towel dry it. I put a small amount in my hair, mostly on the roots. Let it sit while I shave my legs and then rinse it out and comb through with a wide tooth comb. I allow my hair to air dry and bam, amazing hair. This will forever be part of my hair routine now." —m. damocles
Get it from Amazon for $7.66.
Read our review of Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment to learn more about why one BuzzFeeder calls it, "the miracle product I've been searching for."
2. Fanola's No Yellow Shampoo busts brassy tones so you can keep your balayage in tip-top shape — a *must* given how much you spent on it!
Promising review: "This stuff is a godsend! I used to have red hair and decided to get a blonde balayage. It took two visits to get my hair lightened to where it looked blonde and not gold, but it still had lots of gold in it. Now my hair is finally blonde and not gold! I’m so happy! Plus this stuff smells amazing and makes my hair so soft and shiny and voluminous with lots of body!" —KatEd
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available unscented or in coconut).
And check out our full write-up on this Fanola No Yellow Shampoo to learn more.
3. Eva NYC's Therapy Session Hair Mask hits your mane with the good stuff: hydration, conditioning, and smoothness, thanks to all-star ingredients like Argan oil, antioxidants, vitamins A, C, and E, and plant protein.
Promising review: "I used this hair mask in the shower, because it said it could technically be used as a daily conditioner. As soon as I applied it I could feel my hair soften. It smells so amazing, kind of like cupcakes in my opinion lol. When I rinsed it out, my hair felt like silk. I have really long thick hair and it always frizzes or poofs even if I use my straightener. But when I blow dried it, it looked the smoothest I've ever seen it without a straightener and even better after I straightened it. I'm NEVER going a day without this product again lol." —Ulta Reviewer
Get it from Ulta for $17.
4. L'Oreal's 8 Second Wonder Water visibly moisturizes hair so you can whip your 'do around just like a Jennifer (your choice of Anniston/Garner/Lopez) in a hair commercial.
Promising review: "I have 3c hair and struggle with a lot a breakage, unmanageability, and moisture. When my mom mentioned this product to me I didn’t take her seriously because of the simple fact that we have completely different hair textures. I have always used ethnic hair products and stayed away from brands such as this one because of the alcohol. I have never in my 22 years felt my hair like this! I feel like I have a completely different head of hair. This product is so amazing and I will FOREVER be using this product in my hair regimen." —Theressa Hailey
Get it from Amazon for $8.20.
5. Bread Beauty Supply's Hair Mask Creamy Deep Conditioner works on all hair types, but was really developed with curly and textured hair in mind! Australian Kakadu plum + starflower oil join forces to create a superrrr hydrating, but super lightweight formula.
And more from BuzzFeed shopping editor Kayla Boyd who is pictured above!
"Bread Beauty Supply is an Australia-based, woman-owned business that was founded by Maeva Heim in 2020. This product works best for hair types 3a–4c. I recently started using Bread products and I really love how lightweight and easy they are to use. Since I have mixed textured hair that's been frequently dyed, it tends to get very dry. After using this deep conditioner my hair felt so much better and softer. In addition to that, the smell is A-MA-ZING. Definitely one of my new favorite wash day products."
Promising review: "Amazing product! Fantastic! I appreciate the fact that it's bigger than the shampoo, since I have a tendency to go through conditioner quite quickly, and I think this maximizes my use because 1) the size and 2) it's so effective that you don't need to use a lot of it. The texture is marshmallow-y and it smells amazing. (Froot Loops?) It isn't offensively strong either, and lingers pleasantly." —Irina G.
Get it from Bread Beauty Supply or Ulta for $28.
6. K18's Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask is a must-have for anyone who regularly bleaches, colors, or styles their hair with heat tools. The four-minute miracle worker repairs all sort of damage and leaves you with silky, straight-from-the-salon tresses.
And here's more from my BF Shopping colleague Melanie Aman:
"I bleach my dark brown-black Asian hair blonde every six to eight weeks, so I was immediately intrigued when I first heard some stylists at my salon raving about K18. And it turns out the rest of the world loves it too, because it was sold out at Sephora the first time I tried to buy it. I eventually snagged a itty bitty tester on Amazon and was gobsmacked at how much softer my hair was. Seriously. I spent the whole day touching my hair, and even my boyfriend agreed that my mane was noticeably silkier.
Olaplex was my go-to before I tried K18 and I still stand by it as a product, but I really love that K18 is a leave-in treatment rather than an in-shower mask. Having to let the Olaplex sit for 10 minutes felt like forever, especially when I wasn't taking an everything shower (you know, the ones where you exfoliate and shave). With K18, you let it sit in your hair for four minutes post shower to activate and then you can style your hair (or just let it air dry like I do).
I've found that my hair is softest the next day, so don't be discouraged if your hair looks or feels the same the day you use it. One last thing: it is pretty pricey but a little goes a long way. The 5-mL tube I bought has lasted ~five washes, and eventually K18 can become a maintenance product so you won't need to use it every time you wash your hair."
Get it from Amazon or Sephora for $29+ (available in two sizes).
7. JVN's Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Cream lets your natural texture shine. The soft, buildable cream enhances waves and curls, protects your hair from UV damage, and softens your locks with a mix of squalane, chia seed extract, and moringa seed oil. In the words of JVN himself, "Can you believe?"
Promising review: "I have thick, dry, and frizzy hair. When I air dry it without any product, it gets super puffy, the texture feels a little rough and looks pretty much dead. When I read that it smoothes frizz and softens the hair while giving it shine, I was ecstatic!! It did not disappoint! I applied a good amount because I have a lot of hair and it's very long. It has a good scent that's not too overpowering and a cream-like texture. It definitely tamed the frizz and gave some life to my hair. The moringa oil in this gave my hair some shine. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone with the same issues as myself. My hair — once fully dried — looked very nice and semi styled!" —yessystruth
Get it from Sephora for $26.
8. Verb's Ghost Oil has reviewers raving. Comb through the 6,900+ 5-star reviews and you'll find plenty of people saying that 2–3 drops of this applied from roots to ends gives them body, fullness, and a polished look without any heat tools or extra effort because the latter is what we're all really trying to avoid...
Here's BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly's stamp of approval:
"I got turned onto this stuff after some colleagues put it in stories and after trying just about every hair oil out there, I can assure that this is the good stuff. It's great for finishing off your look after heat styling (like with a curling iron or straightener) or helping your hair calm down post-blow-drying. Or, it's great for putting in your hair before air drying. I always keep a bottle in my medicine cabinet!"
Promising review: "Verb is absolutely KILLING the game. Omg I am actually so happy with this purchase. I’m Filipino, and we typically have thick, coarse hair. Unfortunately I have an ungodly amount of frizz that I was looking to get rid of. This definitely does the job!!!!" —Avavalentinn
9. Kristin Ess's One Signature Hair Water with Castor Oil revives your day-old 'do with "Zip-Up Technology" — a proprietary complex that literally *zips up* splits ends and smoothes damaged cuticles so you can get up and go even if you have a raging case of bed head.
Promising review: "This stuff does everything. It detangles. It refreshes your 'do (especially if you have waves or curls). It makes a nice setting spray for rolling or curling your hair. It is a nice finishing touch after dry shampoo to give your hair a healthy bounce and make it smell nice. It's also good to use with a blow dryer to really set your curls in place. I love this product's versatility. This has helped tremendously with doing my 4-year-old's hair, (oh, there's ANOTHER good point!!) on top of everything else. I'm excited to see what other Kristin Ess products are just as stellar!! Pop it in your cart, you will not regret it." —Ulta Reviewer
Get it from Ulta for $11.
10. Adwoa Beauty's Baomint Deep Conditioning Treatment quenches the thirstiesttttt hair (and scalp!) so you can go about styling without worrying about tangles.
Promising reviews: "I have a dry type 3a/3b hair and the past three weeks I've been using this with my heated hair spa. My hair feels more hydrated than ever. Tbh I leave the product in for about 20 minutes and use it a minimum of once per week." —Hojiwan
"I have 4c hair, thick strands with medium density and a generally dry scalp. Before anything else I have to say that the amount of slip this treatment provides is incredible. Tangles quite literally melt away. That alone puts this mask on top shelf but ALSO the moisture, shine, and bounce of my hair after using this mask is something serious. I don't normally define my coils, but I do notice a consistently juicy bouncy look to my hair and the integrity and 'recoil' of the hair strands is pronounced. It helps make my hair pliable and resilient and hold moisture for so many days after washing. This product is in a league of its own!" —NaanaEsi
Get it from Amazon or Sephora for $15+ (available in two sizes).
11. Moroccanoil's Mending Infusion Styling Hair Serum nourishes (and noticeably seals) split ends in a pinch so if you've still got a few weeks left before your next haircut, no one will be the wiser.
Promising reviews: "Now the only real cure for split ends is to cut them off. But if you routinely use chemicals on your hair, this will be your friend. While it doesn’t replace a haircut, it aids in preventing breakage!" —myvenusintaurus
"This product has helped my hair look healthier. The first visible improvement was how much it helped tamed my frizz and smooth it out. It also slowly helped with minimizing the appearance of my damaged ends. Def worth a try!" —BellaLilliana
12. Briogeo's Farewell Frizz Leave-In Conditioning Spray works its magic for 48 full hours so you can enjoy smooth, luscious locks during all of your weekend outings without having to worry about washing in between Saturday and Sunday's brunch reservations.
Briogeo is a Black- and woman-founded brand that specializes in cruelty-free, gluten-free haircare products for all hair types.
Promising review: "I got this in my Ipsy glam bag a few years ago and was mad when I ran out. I randomly saw this the other day and remembered how much I had loved it previously. This product is amazing!! My hair feels like pure silk! It’s sooo soft and smooth after using this. I’ve used so many other products, expensive ones, and nothing works as well as this! I highly recommend this!" —Meli
Get it from Amazon for $25.
13. OGX's Locking + Coconut Curls Air Dry Cream is an A+ scrunch-and-go option if you're looking to create a low-lift routine. Click through just some of the 8,600+ 5-star reviews and you'll also find that users were able to cut out super-expensive products in favor of this $8 miracle worker!
Promising review: "I found this product mentioned in an article about air-drying waves and curls. I am always looking for a great 'stay-at-home' styling product and with the excellent price point, I thought I would give it a shot. WOW! This styling cream is fantastic! My waves were soft and springy and my hair was super shiny. I am SO in love with it, that it may well replace some VERY expensive products from the salon. As an aside, it doesn’t add any volume, of course, but if you need volume, I found that it plays well with a texturizing spray." —Nilene Thompson-Finn
Get it from Amazon for $7.57.
14. Breezy Tee's 100% cotton T-shirt Hair Towel reduces split ends, helps control frizz, and dries hair without causing damage which is what we're all after, right?? You can use it to scrunch your hair for a quick dry or wear it as a wrap if you're a practicer of the plop method.
Breezy Tee is a Black woman–owned biz based in Portugal that specializes in T-shirt, linen, satin, and silk hair products to prevent frizz and hair breakage. You can also shop directly on the Breezy Tee website.
Promising review: "I absolutely adore this towel, I already notice a difference in how quick it dries my hair and less frizz too! Fingers crossed it helps my ends from splitting too! Will definitely be ordering more." —Emily
Get it from Breezy Tee on Etsy for $22+ (originally $27.50+; also available in packs of two and in several colors here).
15. Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Curl Defining Creme styles thick curls and coils without any crunch so you don't walk out of your bathroom looking like an NSYNC-era Justin Timberlake.
Eden BodyWorks is a Black woman-owned business established in 2004 that specializes in natural products to nurture, restore, and maintain hair. Reviewers with 2c–4c hair mention it working well for them!
Promising review: "This curl defining creme is really good, and I consider it a must have. I have 4a, high density, low porosity, coarse hair. This gives my hair great definition and moisture. I think it works best as a part of the LCO method. Personally, I dampen my hair with water, apply this crème, and then follow up with a little bit of apricot or sweet almond oil. It doesn't mix well with products from other brands or other products in general other than oil, but that's not a bad thing considering you don't need anything else. Would definitely recommend this over curl-defining crèmes from other brands." —Crh
Get it from Eden Bodyworks for $11.99.
16. Superzero's Instant Shine + Anti Frizz Hair Serum Treatment Bar is a quick and easy way to address flyaways, split ends, dullness, and even curl definition!
Get it from Sephora for $29.
17. Gisou's Honey-Infused Hair Oil weightlessly hydrates allll types of hair and addresses concerns from dryness and dullness to frizz and flyaways. The key ingredient here is Mirsalehi honey — a powerful humectant — derived from the family-run Gisou Bee Garden in The Netherlands.
Promising review: "I use this product every single day and I love it so much. As someone with frizzy hair, this is a lifesaver. It leaves your hair soft and shiny. It also has a very pleasant honey scent that makes your hair smell better!" —Cbear205
Get it from Amazon for $46+ (available in two sizes) or try out a mini from Sephora for $25.
18. Odele's Air Dry Styler works on all types of hair but reviewers with curls applaud its ability to gently condition and separate ringlets for bouncy, defined styles. At just $12, it also only costs as much as two lattes so what's the harm in trying it out??
Promising review: "This is the product I've been searching for! I have fine hair with loose curls that tend to form ringlets at the ends. I used to have to use multiple products and a diffuser to get the result I wanted, but now I just use this and am left with defined and bouncy curls that rarely frizz or droop. I love that I can also use it to touch up my hair when it's dry by mixing a bit with some leave-in conditioner. I'm not a fan of the scent, it's a bit too grassy for me, but it fades quickly and doesn't linger. It's truly been a game changer and totally simplified my routine. I hope they start offering it in the bulk size! It works better than any other product I've tried at any price point." —Lolajean
19. Mane Club's One Hit Wonder 10-in-1 Spray is — according to reviewers — a "miracle" in a bottle. It conditions, detangles, prevents breakage, hydrates, smooths, softens, controls frizz, boosts shine, strengthens, and :::takes deep breath::: offers heat protection up to 445 degrees for the rare times you *do* decide to straighten or curl your coif.
Here's more from my colleague Elizabeth Lilly:
"I have a very thick head of naturally curly hair and have put it through just about everything, including all kinds of hot tools, at-home dye kits, the gamut of shampoo and conditioner types, basically every dry shampoo and hair oil in existence, and just about anything else to try for a story for you dear readers. Lots of products have either straight-up failed, been meh enough for me to not recommend, or fantastic but so costly that I feel guilty recommending them. Basically, a lot of stuff ends up in the trash or pawned off on my (grateful) friends when it isn't a fit for me. But THIS STUFF. This stuff has become my go-to for spraying on my wet hair and then blow drying. Normally I'd apply a heat protector and an oil treatment or leave-in conditioner before blow drying. But this 10-in-1 treatment takes the cake! Most of the time when I use it, I don't even need to finish off my hair with hair oil (I've been doing that as an essential hair step for years now). It's really that good! Here, I have freshly blow dried hair with just this post-shower using this Amika blow dryer brush. This brush is fantastic on its own but this spray-on treatment has more or less doubled this brush's effectiveness. My hair comes out feeling softer, looking shinier and healthier, and stays looking good for days — which is especially great news because I wash my hair about every four days. 'Tis time for me to unload a bunch of hair products I now no longer need to my friends."
Promising review: "I love this. I'm lazy with very long thin hair. This is EVERYTHING. I spray and go. I always air dry and this is fantastic. Smoothing and shine enhancing. ❤" —Michelle S.
20. Ceremonia's Guava Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner addresses dryness, breakage, and general damage with a reparative guava formula that delivers shiny, smooth, and — most importantly — HEALTHY hair.
Promising reviews: "I was a little skeptical about whether this product would work well in my thick, 4b/c hair. However, it did not disappoint. It is not too thick but is substantial enough to instantly soften and moisturize my hair. Great product!" —Misse415
"This is a wonderful hydrating leave-in conditioner. I have thin/fine hair and was worried about this being too heavy for my hair but no, it's great! I use it as the third step after my shower. Absolutely lovely. I will always repurchase this" —BluePine
Get it from Sephora for $24.
21. Oyin Handmade's Hair Dew Lotion nourishes dry hair with castor oil and olive squalane. It also has a light sugary vanilla scent which is just straight-up delicious.
Oyin Handmade is a family-owned, woman-owned small business creating hydrating formulas (with food-grade ingredients!) for natural hair.
Promising review: "I love this. I tried it because it was highly rated in the natural hair community. I'm glad I did. I have 4b/4c mixed-texture hair. This is the only moisturizer that works without weighing my hair down or leaving oily film or leaving a bunch of buildup. And it smells yummy!" —Tanysha Carter
Get it from Oyin Handmade on Amazon for $13.29.
22. Kenra's Platinum Blow-Dry Spray allows you to cut your drying time in HALF and acts as a thermal protectant and frizz tamer all the while. It's now racked up over 17,000 5-star reviews as well as a following on TikTok, sooo safe to say it's universally loved.
Promising review: "This blow-dry spray is life changing! Seriously. I cut my time in half when I use this product. I have a mixture of 4a + 4b hair textures." —Lisa Lang Blakeney
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three sizes and packs of one or two).
23. Bumble and Bumble's Don't Blow It Air Dry Styler was made with fine hair in mind, so if other formulas have let you down with their weightiness, give this baby a go! The hydrating cream offers UV protection and enhances your natural texture with lightweight polymers that leave your coif nice and airy.
Promising review: "This is a staple in my straight hair routine — I've used it for years and have stopped blow-drying entirely. Requires almost no product (lasts a year); just make sure to scrunch it in from the bottom. I brush with a vented Denman while it dries. I have a bit of a cowlick on my crown that I struggled with for years — I can actually use the weight of my wet hair while it dries to control it. If they ever discontinued it, I would literally die. Recently added their primer and my hair is baby soft!" —histerica
24. Color Wow's Dream Coat Supernatural Spray is just the ticket if you're looking to combat frizz, protect against heat tools, and give you a niiiiice shiny finish. You've heard of glass skin... but now it's time for glass hair!
Promising review: "I have curly frizzy hair and this stuff is like magic for my blowouts. Bought this in the travel size for a trip to Florida and fell in love. It protected my hair from the humidity so well. Purchased the full size bottle immediately after I got back. Best. Product. Ever." —SamSam24
Get it from Amazon for $28+ or Sephora for $12+ (available in two sizes).
25. The Original UnBraider makes swapping your style easier than ever as it can unbraid up to eight braids at a time!!! So if you're ready for something new, it'll make quick work of taking down existing micro, knotless, box, individual, and cornrow braids.
The Original UnBraider is a family-run, woman-owned small business working to make taking care of natural hair easier.
Get it from The Original UnBraider for $48 (also comes with a glove).
26. Alaffia's Hydrating Oil can be used as a leave-in conditioner, hair styling product, and/or as a deep hair conditioning treatment — and all for just ten bucks because there's nothing I love more than results for less!
Alaffia is a small business specializing in skin and haircare products made using all natural ingredients. Their goal is alleviate poverty and bridge the gender gap through the Fair Trade of indigenous resources.
Promising review: "I am a huge Alaffia stan! My hair is a 2c / 3a type of curl, so I wasn’t sure if this was the right product for me. However, I just turned 40 and my hair texture is growing more coarse, so I decided to try this oil as an overnight hair mask. It worked perfectly! No greasy residue or weighed down curls! My hair is remarkably softer and has held its curl much better! I plan to use this at least once a week as a hair mask! Definitely give it a try if you’re battling coarse curls and need to lock in some moisture for better definition!" —Little Miss Moscow
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
27. Amika's Mask-Topia Hydration + Repair Hair Mask Set addresses dryness, damage, and dullness no matter your recipient's hair texture. And the fact that they smell in👏cre👏di👏ble👏? Well that's just the cherry on top.
What's included: 100 mL Soulfood Nourishing Mask, 100 mL The Kure Intense Bond Repair Mask, and 100 mL Dream Routine Overnight Hydration Treatment.
Promising review: "I bought this Amika set to split up among friends for Christmas gifts because it's such a great value! I've never tried The Kure, but Dream Routine is a holy grail for me. I can use it in the middle of my wash days and it leaves my hair so soft. A must-buy for the price and sizes. Whether you're keeping all three or splitting up the masks, it's totally worth it." —MelaCar
Get it from Sephora for $45.
28. And Mielle Organics' Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil has gone TikTok viral for a reason. The $9 bottle of biotin-infused magic nourishes your scalp and encourages growth no matter your hair type (though it was formulated with types 3a to 4c in mind!), porosity level, or whether you have braids or even chemically-treated hair.
Promising review: "I was influenced by social media and had to try this out — it absolutely lived up to the hype! I've been using hair oil for a few months, but the other brand I used was making my hair too oily after washes and didn't seem to help much with hair growth. I've used this oil twice so far, and I'm really impressed at the high quality for the price. The smell (rosemary and mint) is very soothing; I left the oil in overnight and it didn't spread to my pillows and ruin my sheets. Will definitely repurchase!" —Rachel
Get it from Amazon for $8.30.
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.