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 $8 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 $7.48.
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. Verb's Ghost Oil has reviewers raving. Comb through the 5,700+ 5-star reviews and you'll find plenty of people saying that two to three 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
3. Maple Holistics' Volumizing Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner Set is an affordable way to encourage regrowth and combat hair loss. Reviewers with everything from stick-straight manes to natural 4c curls say it's given them a softer, fuller, more manageable mop.
Promising review: "I have been having hormonal issues and my hair has been thinning (especially up top), but since I've been using this product for the past couple months, it has helped tremendously! My hair feels healthier, looks shiny again, and the smell of the shampoo and conditioner is amazing. Definitely found my go-to shampoo and conditioner." —Hannah Caddell
Get the set from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two sizes).
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 don’t usually do reviews on products, but for this one I absolutely have to. I have 3c type 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 never would have thought this brand would work on my hair. I have always used ethnic hair products and stayed away from brands such as this one because of the alcohol consumption. 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 $9.87.
5. Curlsmith's Weightless Air Dry Cream has been dubbed a "holy grail" product by reviewers managing postpartum hair loss, uncontrollable frizz, mixed curl patterns, and dehydrated manes. If you're looking for a protein-free styling product, give it a go, bb!
Promising reviews: "My hair has become increasingly curly as I've aged (don't ask!) and I've tried many curl products. Some work, others, not so much. But I do love this leave-in curl cream, as it accentuates my 2c/3a curls, which is exactly what I want! It's easy to use in the shower, doesn't require a huge amount of product and never feels crunchy, oily, or flaky." —Aura
"I misplaced this product for two days and had to revert back to my old stuff, I then realized just how much of a game changer this is! I will NEVER use anything else. I don't even need gel. This defines and hydrates my hair like nothing else could! My curls are healthy, shiny, bouncy, defined, and best of all…NO FRIZZ. Worth the price. Get it, get it, get it!" —Mary
6. Eva NYC's Lazy Jane Air Dry Shampoo gives you a tousled, textured look without any heat tools or frizz. The formula is powered by hemp seed oil and sea lavender — Omega-3-, Omega-6-, and antioxidant-rich ingredients which lock in moisture and soften your tresses.
I have been using this (along with Eva NYC's Lazy Jane Conditioner and Salt-Free Wave Spray) and they've been a game changer!! Most days, my hair can't decide if it wants to be straight, wavy, or even slightly curly and since I work from home, I don't bother blow-drying, straightening, or curling it myself — I just let it do its thing. This trio of products gives me body, enhances my hair's texture, prevents frizz, and just makes it much more manageable!
Promising review: "Smells AMAZING! It's definitely given my hair the body I was looking for. It feels clean and light with my thin hair. It gives it the volume it needs and I think it's my fave shampoo so far." —Linzy B.
7. 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 for $28.
8. 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 7,900+ five-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 $7.59.
9. 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 $25.
10. 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.
11. Xtava's Black Orchid Hair Diffuser evenly distributes heat with the aid of 90 different air vents! This allows your curls to ✨ pop✨ without any added frizz.
Promising review: "The BEST diffuser on the market! I have naturally wavy hair and have struggled with finding the right diffuser to keep my tresses curly while drying my hair. Using the Black Orchid Hair Diffuser is what you need if you have wavy to curly hair! You'll still have your curl and won't have frizz after using the Black Orchid!" —BMRGirl
Get it from Amazon for $32.49.
12. 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.
13. 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 $8.89.
14. Girl + Hair's Restoring Scalp Treatment Balm supports hair growth with a handful of restorative ingredients including castor oil, shea butter, and tea tree oil. It's also an incredible pick for anyone with curly, kinky or coily hair as it provides anti-itch relief and reduces scalp irritation, dandruff, and flaking if you're rocking a protective style.
Girl + Hair is a woman-owned small business whose mission is to create products specifically for curly and coily hair in potentially hair-damaging protective styles.
Promising review: “I have been using Girl + Hair for years now. I have a dry scalp, like DRY DRY, and this product is so great when I have braids. It helps to soothe my scalp when my braids are new and it's so easy to apply. Most importantly it's not runny like other scalp oils. My hair felt soft and I retained length when I took out my braids after using this product.” —Danielle
Get it from Girl + Hair on Amazon for $16.99.
15. Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Soft Waves Spray bills itself as "summer hair in a bottle" and reviewers are apt to agree. Dead Sea salt, sea kelp, and aloe combine to create perfectly tousled waves that'll have you taking a selfie or two. And did I mention it's only $7?!
Promising review: "I've been trying to not use the straightener on my hair so I've been braiding it at night when it's wet to try and give it that beach waves type of look. It was alright looking, but then I discovered this stuff. It not only made my hair look way better without giving it that caked-in hair product look, but it also smells AMAZING." —Danielle
Get it from Ulta for $6.99 or get a pack of three from Amazon for $14.37.
16. The Fro Experts' Curl Refresher Spray helps define your curl pattern if things are looking a bit...limp. The aloe vera-based formula is gentle and can be used daily on wet or dry hair — just spray it evenly, making sure it saturates all of your strands, and watch it get to work!
The Fro Experts is a Georgia-based, Black woman–owned natural haircare brand on Etsy formulated for all type 3 and 4 hair textures.
Psst — this is meant to be used in place of water as a refresher, but per the brand, can be used right after conditioning as the “liquid” portion of the LOC method in your wash 'n' go or as a detangler.
Promising review: "OMG and AMEN ... Seriously, I have TRUE 4c hair and I have never in my 36 years experienced a true 100% natural/organic hair product, and for this to be my first time I'm beyond impressed. So pleased with my 2-year-old daughter's hair as well :-) Product does EVERYTHING it was described to :-)." —Rosanna Quinones
Get it from The Fro Experts on Etsy for $22.
17. Fanola's No Yellow Shampoo busts brassy tones so you can go into spring with 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 $5.72+ (available in four sizes).
And check out our full write-up on this Fanola No Yellow Shampoo to learn more.
18. 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.
19. 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! I have used their products since 2011 but have always shied away from hair oil / other leave-in products because they usually leave my hair greasy. 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. I wet my hair with rosewater, sprayed my hair down with the oil (it smells amazing!), then put on a bonnet and went to bed. I washed my hair lightly in the morning with Alaffia Everday Coconut Shampoo, then did a light conditioning with Alaffia Everyday Coconut Conditioner. I braided my hair while it was still wet and let it dry naturally, then took my hair out of the braid once it dried. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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."
Promising review: "Can I add 5 MORE stars?! This product is a game changer in so many ways. So simple, so quick, so effective. My hair has never felt softer, shinier, and somehow as if I've got more of it. I believe this is partly because I'm getting some of my natural texture back as it becomes healthier with every K18 use. I'd recommend this product to literally ANYONE who has hair!" —CJaymes
Get it from Amazon or Sephora for $29+ (available in two sizes).
22. I Dew Care's "Tap Secret" Mattifying Powder Shampoo eliminates grease at your roots and keeps your scalp nice and healthy with antioxidant-rich black ginseng and nourishing biotin. If you're prone to sweating the second temperatures rise — even like a degree or two — it'll come in clutch.
The powder-based dry shampoo works just like spray formulas — apply to the area you're looking to refresh and then shake out excess powder with your fingertips or a brush.
Promising review: "This stuff works better than batiste at absorbing oil. I have very wavy fine greasy hair and i can go an additional day without washing it now." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $16.70 or I Dew Care for $11.20 (originally $16).
23. Or — if you're looking for a dry shampoo alternative — Sunday II Sunday's Root Refresh Micellar Rinse is PERFECT for use after the gym or just a particularly sweaty subway ride. The sulfate- and benzene-free formula cleans your scalp with the aid of apple cider vinegar and micellar water and keeps your locks nice and fresh in between washes.
Here's more from BuzzFeeder Taylor Steele:
"I regularly get knotless braids, and my type 4 hair is not a fan of the sweat buildup that occurs in the heat or after a workout. That's where this miracle spray comes in! It relieves my itchy scalp and leaves it looking and feeling clean. It also smells really good. Just wins all around!"
Promising review: “I have a lot of hair, and it is very dry. Dry shampoo makes it frizzier and also hurts my scalp. This stuff is absolutely amazing. Worth every penny. I work out in the mornings, and my scalp gets nasty sweaty. As soon as I’m done, I spray this on my roots and let my hair air dry while I get ready. As soon as my hair dries, it looks like a fresh wash. I am so impressed.” —Clare
Get it from Sunday II Sunday for $31.
24. Oyin Handmade's Hair Dew Lotion nourishes dry hair with castor oil and olive squalane. It also has a light sugary vanilla scent which seems like the perfect way to usher in spring, if you ask me.
Oyin Handmade is a family-owned, woman-owned small business creating clean formulas 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 $13.99.
25. 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 $9.70.
26. And 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 $27.50+ (also available in packs of two and in several colors here).
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.