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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.
Just a collection of really, really great products that won't make you feel bad about parting with your hard-earned money.
The brush has special vents that allow air to flow so hair dries faster. Plus, it's quicker than using a dryer and then a flat iron or curling iron, which equals less heat damage.
Promising review: "This product did what it said it would and more. It is easy to use, and it has saved me time getting ready in the morning. My hair is so shiny and full of volume. It feels very healthy. Even the ends of my hair look good. I have even been able to use it to extend days between washes. Very impressed." —Sara Kovach
Get it from Amazon for $41.99 (available in three colors).
My coworker Mal Mower is obsessed with this stuff, saying, "It's unearthly how much faster my hair dries with this stuff."
Promising review: "This not only helps dry my hair faster but it also actually softened my hair, tamed frizz, and made my hair shiny. I was skeptical at first but was blown away (pun intended ha) by the results it gave me. I have long, thick hair and a lot of it. This is the first product to really control and smooth my hair. And bonus it smells great too!" —Kim
Promising review: "Love the product. It withstands summer heat and rain and with confused, curly hair, it works like a gem. This product is meant for curly hair. You only need a small amount because it goes a long way. It’s a tad bit expensive but totally worth it!" —Misha
Get it from Amazon for $26.
NUELE is a small Black-owned, woman-run hair care company started by scientists Anne Cheatham and Dr. Christine Martey-Ochola. The brand supports local economies in Africa by using natural and organic ingredients harvested by female farmers.
Promising review: "I started using this product a few weeks ago, and my hair couldn't be happier! I bleach and color my curly hair fairly regularly, and while I try to give it as much moisture as possible, it always wants more. That's where this serum comes in. It's lightweight enough to use every day, but potent enough that I notice a huge difference in how my hair looks and feels. I'm very happy to include this serum as part of my daily routine!" —Maddie
Get it from for $34 from Credo or Nuele (score 20% off your first order with the promo code NUELE20).
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."
Get it from Sephora for $18.
Not convinced? Check out another BuzzFeed writer's Verb Ghost Oil review (#5) for more deets!
When I bleached my hair, I switched from drying it with a bath towel to drying it with a T-shirt because I read that my rough bath towel was too harsh on my already stressed strands. The one downside to my new method is that I was stretching out the necklines of my shirts :'( Enter this talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular towel. It's incredibly soft and dries my hair super quickly, which is great because I hate wet hair but would prefer to avoid drying it with heat.
Get it from Crown Affair for $45.
Cee Cee's Closet is a Black-owned hair accessories brand founded by Chioma and Uchenna Ngwudo. Their designs are handmade by artisans in Nigeria.
Promising review: "Exactly how I thought it would feel! 😍 I love everything about it. Thank youuuu again!" —Michael D.
Get it from Cee Cee's Closet $26.
My curly-haired coworker Maitland Quitmeyer raves about this. In her own words:
"There are many hairs on my head, and they all seem to be different textures — some corkscrew spirals, some frizzy zigzags, and some that defy a category altogether. The mane as a whole is dry AF and entirely unruly. (Fun fact: Due to its size and dryness, my hair has actually caught on fire on three separate occasions.) During the summer after my sophomore year of college, I decided to cut my long hair into a lob to try to make it lower-maintenance. Once the chop occurred, my hairdresser (bless you, Andrea) told me to try Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream. And boy can I tell you, it is my DESERT ISLAND. HOLY GRAIL. hair product. It actually helps my hair dry in its natural curl formation and stay moisturized for daysssss. It smells amazing and doesn't leave a greasy or sticky residue — it's just a miracle, guys."
Get it from Amazon for $25.36, Nordstrom for $34, or Sephora for $34.
I switched to Shu Uemura's Cleansing Oil Shampoo after using Pureology's Hydrate Cleansing Condition and not being super impressed by the results or the price tag. While the Shu Uemura shampoo is decidedly more expensive, I feel like I use a lot less product to produce far greater results; my scalp feels clean, my roots are soft, and my mane is nice and shiny.
Get it for $58 from Sephora or Shu Uemura.
DreamGirls is a Black-owned, female-founded, *and* family-run haircare brand founded by Tonya Thompson and Sharie Wilson.
Promising review: "This TLC Comb-Out is the best product EVER!! It leaves my hair feeling so soft with no tangles. It even brought out my natural curls. And the best part about the TLC Comb-Out is that a little goes a long way for me!" —Kam
Get it from DreamGirls for $29.99.
My coworker Bek O'Connell tested this and had only good things to say! In her own words:
"I use this on my hair's ends and WOW! It really works. It keeps my hair from poofing up and makes it feel super soft, especially when I'm blow-drying it. You just need a dime's worth, so it lasts for a long time."
Promising reivew: "This stuff is shockingly awesome. I figured it was beginner's luck with how well it worked with my thick, frizzy, mind-of-its-own wavy/curly/straight hair, so I tried it out another few days. By the time I hit the second week of use, I knew it delivered exactly what it claimed: smoother, softer, more manageable hair. So I ordered the big bottle and have never looked back. Honestly, I think the bottle will last forever; you don't need much to get the perfect look. (My hair is about chin length and I use no more than a chocolate chip size each day.) The best part of this product? I think it's truly improving the overall health of my hair. I wash and dry my hair every single day (bad, I know, but with working out everyday, I can't help it) and it has never felt better in years!" —curlieq
Get it for $29 from Amazon, Living Proof, or Sephora.
Check out my colleague's Living Proof PHD Styling Treatment review here (#8) for more deets!
EboniCurls is a Black-owned hair accessories brand.
Get it from EboniCurls for $45.
Promising review: "I LOVE this stuff! It gives great volume, texture, and has a little bit of hold to it! Isn’t greasy or powdery. I also LOVE the way it smells! I was hesitant to try it because of the price, but SO glad I finally did! It’s now my favorite hair product!!" —KimCarr
Get it from Amazon for $22+ (available in two sizes), Nordstrom for $23+ (available in two sizes), or Verishop for $23+ (available in two sizes).
Check out my colleague's full Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray review here for her full thoughts.
It come with three magnetic attachments — a styling concentrator, a smoothing nozzle, and a diffuser — as well as a nonslip mat and storage hanger.
Promising review: "This is worth the high price! I have long, very thick hair that I've always struggled to style on my own. I saw a demonstration in a London department store and knew I needed this. My favorite qualities are how FAST this dries my hair. And how SMOOTH it makes my hair. I have naturally wavy hair that I've straightened with GHDs since 2001. With this dryer, it's the first time I've been happy with my natural waves. I attribute this to the fact that this dryer seems to work out all the frizzy-ness in the drying process. Love this and would buy again!" —LillacSkies
Get it from Amazon for $379+ (available in two colors), Dyson for $399.99 (available in four colors), or Sephora for $399 (available in three colors).
The Dyson Supersonic won our pick for the best hair dryer. Check out our full review for more deets.
Promising review: "I very rarely write reviews but I am absolutely blown away by this product. I have been using the Damage Remedy line and have seen a huge improvement with my hair — less breakage and less shedding. After reading reviews on the split end repair I thought I would give it a try and it really is amazing. You only need a small amount, and you have to use it sparingly. It is a little expensive but it is well worth it." —Sianne24
Get it from Aveda for $33.
SwirlyCurly is a Black-owned hair accessories brand founded by Keziah Dhamma.
Promising review: "I like the look of decorative pins but avoid them due to fear of breakage. These were designed specifically for curly hair so there are no worries. They glide smoothly onto hair and can be removed without causing damage. They're also really cute." —Antoinette
Get them from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in 12 styles).
Promising review: "The BEST dry shampoo I have ever used!! I have tried many drugstore and professional brands and none come close to this one. It doesn’t leave a strong scent making it obvious that you used dry shampoo and it leaves your hair feeling like it’s been shampooed!! No gunky weird textures!! It does have a slight scent when you first spray it but then it goes away pretty quick. I actually love the scent so I don’t mind it at all!! Definitely one of the best investments I have ever made. I know it’s expensive but trust me it is WORTH IT!" —Tiffany
Get it from Amazon for $20.
Promising review: "I love all the R+Co products I've tried in the past but this one is by far my favorite. I have ultra wavy/frizzy color-treated hair, and I swim. Managing it is usually a burden but with this balm I can easily air dry after the pool without looking electrocuted. It smells nice, isn't at all heavy or sticky, and my normally dry hair gets softer the longer I wear it. The only con is it is a bit pricey for someone like me who applies more often, but honestly considering the pile of failed balms I have in the closet, it's worth every penny to have a product I actually use to the last drop." —JGwiz
Get it from Amazon for $29.
Briogeo is a Black- and female-owned hair care brand founded by Nancy Twine.
Promising review: "I'm joining the ranks of people who are COMPLETELY obsessed with these products. I had really, really bad dandruff. Like, to the point where prescription dandruff shampoo stopped working on me. My scalp was red, inflamed, painfully itchy, and flaking. I hit my breaking point and splurged on this shampoo and the Scalp Revival conditioner. I felt instant relief after the first wash (seriously.) And, after the third wash, almost complete eradication of my dandruff. Believe the hype!" —G
Get it for $42 from Briogeo, Dermstore, Sephora, or Nordstrom.
My coworker Heather Braga loves it and can't stop singing its praises. In her own words:
"I have naturally wavy (but frizzy) hair and after trying many products this is where I've happily landed. Ouai is the first brand I recommend to my fellow wavy-haired ladies. It's light, doesn't leave your locks feeling crunchy, doesn't have an overpowering smell, and keeps hair looking fresh. My only complaint is it doesn't come in a massive-sized bottle!"
Promising review: "This stuff is fantastic. I have very fine hair and use this for two days between shampoos. It washes away any hair products and rinses with no smell. Best hair product I’ve found in a very long time." —Rosie Larson
Get it from Amazon for $35.
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.