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. A Mielle rosemary mint scalp oil because TikTok is absolutely obsessed with this so you better grab it before it sells out. This biotin-infused hair-strengthening oil helps smooth split ends, moisturize dry scalps, and deeply nourishes 3a–4c hair.
Promising reviews: "It does what they say it does. I immediately noticed a difference." —Chimise
"I have been in the market for a good quality hair/scalp oil for my overprocessed hair. It got very dry, brittle, and frizzy after my last color job. I heard about this product and after reading the reviews took the plunge to buy it. I noticed difference after the first use. It's understandable that hair loss will take a while to stop with continued use but my hair feels softer and more shinier than before. Plus the frizziness has toned down by 1,000. I would give 10 stars if I could to this product." —Mona Shanbhag
Get it from Amazon for $8.98.
2. A leave-in conditioner for curly-haired and tender-headed tots (and adults!) that harnesses the hydrating, reparative, and detangling abilities of vitamin B5, jojoba oil, keratin, and more.
Promising review: "My 3.5-year-old daughter has gorgeous, soft, cascading curls — WHEN we use the right product. Otherwise, her hair is a tangled, unruly mess. Enter this product! It works so well at doing exactly what it says it does: detangle and leave curls manageable! It's truly like night and day. I totally recommend this product for children and adults alike. Plus the smell is quite nice." —Wheeler 985
Get it from Amazon for $9.66.
3. A moisturizing hair treatment if you want a a quick burst of hydration. In just eight seconds — eight! — it starts working to leave your mane feeling silkier, softer, and smoother after washing.
Promising review: "Great product that performs as advertised. This product is awesome. My hair was extremely damaged after Covid, lots of breakage and fallout. I figured I would give Wonder Water a try after reading several reviews. I’m thrilled with it! My comb is sliding through my just-washed and non-tangled hair now with a noticeable decrease in damage. My hair is soft and shiny and smells wonderful too! Would definitely recommend." —JB
Get it from Amazon for $8.62.
4. A bottle of dandruff shampoo so you can banish white flakes from your scalp. It's made with ketoconazole 1%, an antifungal ingredient that'll tell your dandruff it's no longer welcome here.
Promising review: "Works as advertised. I work in the kitchen where it’s humid so I break out constantly. Now I noticed less itchiness and less flakiness, and the urge to scratch has diminished by 80%. My sores are hardening and healing, and are not irritated by my perspiration." —Buc Lao coy noy
Get it from Amazon for $15.47.
5. Or a Briogeo exfoliating shampoo to penetrate deeply, lifting dead skin and leftover products. Plus, the cooling formula soothes itching with a combination of anti-fungal oils, as well as moisturizing coconut oil that prevents future flakes.
Briogeo is a Black woman-founded hair care brand created by Nancy Twine.
Promising review: "Works as advertised. This is GREAT for getting rid of product buildup, or if you workout and sweat a lot and get greasy roots. I use it once a week. It smells nice and has a tingling/cooling sensation on the scalp. Love this stuff!" —LayerCakeErin
6. A collagen-coating hair treatment that'll revitalize a mane that's dry, damaged, and overprocessed. Waking up with frizz-free hair? Umm, yes please!
Promising review: "Ever since I started getting my hair balayaged it’s been very unruly especially after it’s wet from a shower. This treatment helps against that and makes it easier to get a brush through afterwards. Smells amazing too and makes your hair silky smooth. I also have very oily hair, always have, and have to be careful what products I use because so many very easily just give me greasy hair. This one does not which is also a plus. It does exactly what it advertises." —Michaela
Get it from Amazon for $7.45.
Read my colleague's Elizavecca CER-100 Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment review (#1) to learn more about she calls it, "the miracle product I've been searching for."
7. A hair dew because your ~do~ could use some extra moisture. This vanilla-scented lotion is made with castor oil and olive squalane to nourish your locks and help prevent breakage.
Jamyla Bennu launched Oyin Handmade — a family-owned, woman-owned, and Black-owned small business based in Baltimore — in 2011. It specializes in moisture-rich products for natural textured hair that's made without petroleum, silicones, parabens, and sulfates. Fun fact: oyin (“oy-yeen”) is a Yoruba word that means honey.
Promising reviews: "Item as described and works as advertised." —Tom
"Love this product! Exacty what my hair needed for moisture. However, I thought the product would be thicker. It is more like a hair milk but still more than satisfied. The smell is very yummy!" —xO_pinK
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
8. K18, a leave-in reparative treatment for anyone who's put their hair through the wringer. It's fan-flipping-tastic at restoring moisture and softness in your strands if you frequently bleach or chemically treat your hair, or if you use heat-styling tools often.
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 bottle and was gobsmacked at how much softer my hair was — this stuff truly does what it says it will do. 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 50 mL tube lasts a few months, 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 and Sephora for $29+ (available in two sizes).
9. And because I just said it, a splurge-worthy bottle of Olaplex No. 3 because it's not messing around. It'll revive your dry, damaged, colored hair like no other.
Promising review: "My hair is color damaged and dry, weak, and frizzy. After one application according to the directions, my hair feels smoother, looks sleeker and is shiny again. This definitely tamed my frizzies and split ends. It will take more than one treatment to restore my hair’s strength, but with a regular maintenance routine, I am confident that will happen. This product does what it is advertised to do. A small amount is all it takes to get advertised results." —Merrill Dickinson, Jr.
Get it from Amazon for $30.
10. A set of flexible curling rods so you don't have to spend three hours in the morning curling your hair. Use them on wet or dry hair and then sleep on 'em. The results: perfect heatless curls.
Promising review: "These are great. They do exactly what they advertise. Leave your hair slightly damp and wrap away. I didn't even need to use any product. The curls last all day. I even wore them while driving. When I got to my destination, I took them out, shook my head, and was done. They are comfortable to sleep in too. The price was very reasonable, and they fit easily back into their case. Because of the smooth surface of the rods, my curls also came out smooth, uniform, and shiny, unlike the foam and wire rag rollers." —Madigan
Get 42 rods from Amazon for $14.99.
11. A color-depositing conditioner to transform your mane without the hassle and mess of at-home box dyes or the hefty price tag of a salon visit. Each time you wash your hair using this conditioner, the color will become more vibrant.
Promising review: "This stuff is like a miracle in a bottle! Great scent, left my hair feeling soft. I ordered the merlot and it gives the perfect color!! Really helps keep the vibrant tint affordable! Highly recommend." —Katelyn Moore
Get it from Amazon for $22+ (available in two sizes, and 19 colors).
12. A combination hair dryer and styler brush that'll give you a salon-worthy blowout without the hand cramps. This 3-in-1 hot tool does the job of hair dryer, straightener, and brush.
Promising review: "I’ve been natural for about four years now. Having had relaxed hair since I was 12, it’s taken a while to get used to this new texture. And I generally wear my hair in French braids. But I really hate the fact that it takes me two hours to do my hair. So much so that I’ve contemplated getting a texturizer or even going back to relaxing just to make the process quicker. But I thought I would give this dryer a try and it absolutely does what it says. You do have to be careful because the paddle part gets extremely hot and I did burn my finger when I wasn’t paying attention. And obviously it doesn’t give you the same results as a silk press, flat iron, or hot comb. It’s more like a good blowout. Which is all I was looking for to be able to braid my hair quicker. I still put heat protectant on it and leave-in conditioner and it works well for me." —CJ's Music
Get it from Amazon for $30.87.
13. A hair finishing stick because it cleans up all those random strands that escape from ponytails and buns. It's basically like a mascara wand coated in natural plant oils for your hair.
Promising review: "I really like this product especially in the summer when I have my hair up constantly in a ponytail. It keeps stray hairs at bay and neatly frames the face and lifts stray hairs out of the way where you want a cleaner look. I like the product because it’s not too sticky and doesn’t mess up my hairstyle. It’s a good product and the price is very good too. I like to keep one in my bag when I run around for little touchups. Only thing is I have stray hairs that come loose whenever I remove my glasses so I need to reapply just a little amount to get the hairs in place again." —Annie Ch
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
14. A hair wax stick for anyone who doesn't want to deal with the mess of a gel or hairspray. Reviewers swear by it for laying their wigs, relaxed hair, and edges without looking greasy. A little goes a long way with this one!
It goes without saying that you 100% do not need to lay your edges if you don't want to!
Promising review: "It does what it says! I had no fly away *strands* of hair. My style kept the entire evening. I received many compliments on my look." —Eddie Olivares
Get it from Amazon for $9.60.
15. An anti-humidity spray if you want to give humidity a metaphorical middle finger. This spray creates a waterproof coat around your hair that blocks out moisture (that eventually leads to frizziness). As if that wasn't already magical enough, this effect lasts up to 72 hours or through two to three shampoos!
Promising review: "This product does what it says. I have zero frizz when drying my hair and it lasts for three washes. I have fine hair that has a little curl to it, but it is not a pretty curl; it just frizzes and looks a hot mess. I spray this on my hair while it is wet to damp and use my curl styler and my hair is smooth and silky looking. After about three hair washes I will notice the frizz coming back and know it is time to WOW it again!! The next day my hair is still frizz free and easy to style. Totally recommend!!!!" —Teri Norris
Get it from Amazon for $28.
16. A paraben-free dry shampoo powder so your locks look fresh between washes. No more panicking in the morning once you realize your hair is looking mighty greasy but you don't have time to wash it.
17. A detangling brush to separate knots without pulling and breaking your strands thanks to its flexible bristles.
Promising review: "Just as advertised. I have thick curly hair. Other hair brushes just rip my hair when brushing. And now that I'm starting to lose my hair due to age, I need to keep every strand I can! This brush just glides through. Perfect." —Heatgain
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in five colors).
18. A Verb hair oil that'll gift your hair with a weightless blend of moringa seed oil, bamboo extract, and argan oil that simultaneously moisturizes, strengthens, and adds shine while leaving behind a light, fresh scent (because no one needs to know this is third-day hair).
My colleague Alice Prendergast (pictured above) loves this bad boy. In her own words:
"When I bleached my hair, it was completely busted. It broke every time I brushed it and basically looked like one of those tumbleweeds you see in an old western movie every time I blow-dried it — until I found this. It's thicker than most oils (a bit lighter than the consistency of gel) and combs through hair like a dream. It packs in moisture like nobody's business and also smells freaking amazing."
Promising review: "Does what it says and does it beautifully. I left this product to try a competitor's product that had a longer list of promises (and a heftier price tag). After several disappointing and damaging uses of the other product, I reached for my Ghost Oil again to get my hair back. I shouldn't have strayed to begin with. This smooths my hair without being heavy, makes it easier to comb through, gives me a better blow-dry, and makes it shiny, shiny, shiny. I was wrong to stray." —kristinailla
Get it from Amazon and Sephora for $20.
Not convinced? Check out another BuzzFeed writer's Verb Ghost Oil review (#5) for more deets!
19. A 10-in-1 spray if you're short on bathroom space but the list of things you want from your hair products is long. This product *checks notes* boosts shine, conditions, controls frizz, detangles, hydrates, prevents breakage, protects from heat, smooths, softens, and strengthens.
My coworker Elizabeth Lilly (above) swears by this spray. In her own words:
"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 product. It does all it says it does. I bleach my hair a lot and this product helps with damage. This is my second bottle will keep buying." —Jordiona L.
Get it from Mane Club NYC for $10 (cruelty-free, vegan).
20. A scalp massager for not only treating yourself to a relaxing scalp massage, but also for getting that blood flowing to your head while simultaneously breaking down buildup (hello hairspray and dry shampoo) that's making your hair oily and difficult to style. Starting with a clean slate can make working with your hair so much easier.
Promising reviews: "Works exactly as advertised. Love the head massage! Scalp feels very clean afterwards." —joyjes
"This is just what I wanted! Great for a scalp massage. I wanted a product that would not pull my hair, and did not have hard, plastic seams, to pull or damage my hair. This is it! Very relaxing to use. It is light, and comfortable to hold. I don't have to worry, about straining my hands, trying to grip this. I can control the amount of pressure perfectly without scratching my scalp. I bought one for my mom, and two for me! Love these. Great gift for the natural hair enthusiast or anyone looking for a nonmotorized scalp massager." —BunnyLove2
Get it from Amazon for $6.98+ (available in three colors).
21. A Chi automatic curling iron if you enjoy the look of curls but hate the inevitable burned fingers. All you do is insert your hair into the chamber and the curler will automatically wrap it around the heated rod. Then, just wait until it beeps to let you know that the curl has set.
Promising reviews: "It does what is advertised — professional curls quick and easy." —Amazon Customer
"Love it!! I have fine textured hair — very straight hair. I have trouble not only curling it but keeping it curled. For example the other day I left rollers in my hair for 45 minutes and got a minor wave that fell out in 10 minutes. This tool is easy and fast to use, adds shine, and the curl stays." —Alexandria
Get it from Amazon for $66.90+ (available in six colors).
22. A L'Oréal heat protectant spray so you can beat frizz while simultaneously protecting your strands from your heat-styling tools. It works with any and all hair textures, be they straight, curly, or something in between.
Promising review: "This product is amazing!!!! Does what it says without weighing your hair down like other products do. My fine curly hair stays smooth and great-looking for days! I use this when I blow-dry my hair (I let it dry about half way on its own), and also when I just keep it natural and let it air dry completely. No frizz, and that smell?! It’s glorious! Done bouncing from product to product; this is the one!" —mamab
Get it from Amazon for $8.30.
23. A cruelty-free Briogeo leave-in conditioner spray to help frizz while injecting your hairs with all sorts of delicious, magical goodness, like rosehip, coconut, and argan oil. It's safe for all hair types and textures, as well as color-treated and keratin-treated manes.
Promising review: "From first spray on my hair, I was in love! Does what it says and smells fabulous! Will buy again!" —Cherie Stott
Get it from Amazon for $24.
24. A bottle of Fanola purple shampoo that'll strip the brassiness from your hair so your silvery blonde dye job looks as good as it did when you stepped out of the salon.
Promising review: "I bought this for my blonde hair that was gradually turning more brassy and yellow by the week and I wanted it to look fresh and new without paying $200+ for a new treatment at a salon. I asked around and read reviews online and this was what was recommended by several people. Boy were they right, this stuff is the real deal. I love using it once or twice a week to refresh my color and make it bright like it was when it was freshly done. It's mild on my hair and scalp, which is great. Be careful to wash your hands immediately after using because it can stain a little, especially around my nails. Overall this product is wonderful, does what is advertised, and very affordable. I would recommend this product and will purchase again when needed. TRY IT YOURSELF, YOU WON'T BE SORRY!" —Benz
Get it from Amazon for $13.
25. An air-dry leave-in cream because frizz-free curls that are bouncy, defined, and hydrated doesn't require a blow-dryer.
Promising review: "The air dry cream is great product for someone like me with naturally curly hair. The product is as advertised, lightweight, and a great moisturizer. I apply it immediately to my wet hair, scrunch my hair, and go. My hair dries quickly and it not only leaves my hair curly but the scent is often confused as perfume. I just purchased my second bottle. The first bottle lasted a year and a half. I really love this product because I know if I am running late my hair will be dry when I arrive at my destination." —FridaFan47
Get it from Amazon for $7.99.
26. A time-saving, foolproof donut bun maker for mornings when you don't have 15 extra minutes to spend perfecting your ballerina bun.
Promising review: "Exactly as advertised. These just make going to work easy. I like brushing my hair up making a quick bun and getting out of the house super quick." —Honest One
Get a seven-piece kit plus bobby pins and hair ties from Amazon $8.99 (available in three colors).
27. A satin-lined Hairbrella if you're itching to give mother nature a figurative middle finger when she decides it's gonna be rainy but you spent all morning straightening your hair.
Hairbrella is a Black-owned small business established in 2016 that specializes in hats combining fashion and function to protect against all types of weather.
Promising review: "This product did exactly what it was advertised to do. I have long natural hair and humid, rainy days are not favorable for any style let alone a press. Took a chance on this hat and it works well. Satin lined and covers all the hair. The visor is good for keeping rain off your face and out of your eyes. I wouldn’t call it stylish and it balloons out a bit, but it keeps my hair dry and frizz free. That’s a win for me." —Teresa Miles
Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in seven colors).
28. A set of claw-shaped hair clips so you can toss your hair up in seconds when your neck is feeling a little sweaty. These jumbo clips are especially great for people with long, thick hair that normal clips just can't handle.
My colleague Ciera Velarde loves them! In her own words:
"I've owned this set for about a year and I am reaching for them constantly! I used to be someone who would tie my hair up in a messy bun whenever I'm doing things around the house, but I noticed how that would really start damaging my hair after a while. Instead, I just clip my hair back with one of these, and my long, thick hair stays in place without the claw jamming into my head. I have some other clips lying around that I should probably get rid of because I only ever exclusively use these!"
Promising reviews: "Does just as advertised. The clamp holds really well. Easy to use and stays in place. I really like these." —Shirley Owen
"Exactly what I needed. I have butt crack–length thicker wavy hair and these hold it in place. Extremely satisfied. Will repurchase again. I recommend these." —Valerie Cheron
Get a four pack from Amazon for $13.99 (available in 18 different color sets).
29. A hair removal device designed to permanently reduce hair growth at home so you can skip the $$$ laser hair removal treatments.
It's safe to use on your bikini line, upper lip, chin, face, armpits, back, chest, stomach, arms, and legs. Do not use it on your eyebrows or on tanned or tattooed skin.
Promising reviews: "Works as advertised. I’ve paid for professional hair removal. This product works just as well as from the privacy of my home. It’s actually better because I can do it more regularly." —ASL
"7 out of 5 stars. After two months of using it as directed I am impressed with the results. My face has post-menopausal coarse hair growth. In the past I have spent thousands of dollars to have the hair on my legs and bikini area professionally removed. Rather than risking the possible COVID-19 exposure due to multiple office visits at a professional salon I chose to purchase this device to remove my facial hair. Even the medium and fine black facial hairs have disappeared." —Prague
Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (clip the $40 off coupon for this price).
You showing off your new hair:
