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 itspublishingpartners 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.
1. Olaplex No. 3 revives your dry, damaged, hair by repairing broken hair bonds. As someone who spends four-plus hours bleaching my hair every six to eight weeks, I can 100% vouch for this miracle in a bottle.
Elena Garcia / BuzzFeed
I went from very dark brown/almost black Asian hair to platinum blonde, a color I've maintained for almost four years. I truly believe the only reason I still have hair on my head is because 1. my colorist is amazing and 2. Olaplex. Despite having pretty strong hair, I remember globs of it breaking off in the shower right after I bleached my mane. In a panic, I bought a bottle of Olaplex and my hair has been thanking me ever since. I hate how expensive a single small bottle is, but I truly can't be without this. It's reduced breakage and brittleness, minimized frizziness, and just generally helped my hair look healthy.
Get it for $28 from Amazon or Sephora.
My colleague (pictured above) also swears by this stuff. Check out her Olaplex review here for more deets and some before and afters that'll make you buy this in bulk.
2. A CHI Spin N Curl does the hard work for you — 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. The best part: the barrel protects your fingers from getting burned.
Promising review: "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 $72.76+ (available in four colors).
3. The Revlon One-Step Hot Air Brush transforms your wet, tangled, frizzy hair into a sleek and shiny blowout in minutes. FYI this is the hot air brush that all the influencers you follow on IG are raving about because it is just 👏 that 👏 good 👏.
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).
4. And speaking of blowouts, Aveda's Speed of Light spray reduces dry time by 50%, detangles hair, helps prevent breakage, and protects against damage from heat-styling tools.
Aveda
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
5. Ouidad's Advanced Climate Control Gel defines your curls without weighing them down or making them crunchy. Its special Anti-Frizz Nano Technology seals the cuticle preventing moisture and humidity from making you look like you just stuck a fork in an outlet.
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.
6. Nuele's Hair Serum grants you the soft, smooth, moisturized, tangle-free hair you've always wished for. Made of five nourishing oils — jojoba, argan, moringa, rosemary, and clary sage — this potent formula is your all-in-one, lightweight hair treatment.
Credo, Nuele
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).
7. Verb Ghost Oil bottles everything you need for a good hair day. How? Its weightless blend of moringa seed oil, bamboo extract, and argan oil simultaneously moisturizes, strengthens, and adds shine while leaving behind a light, fresh scent (because no one needs to know this is third-day hair).
Alice Prendergast / BuzzFeed
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!
8. Crown Affair's Towel is more than meets the eye. This microfiber towel not only dramatically reduces drying time, but it's also so so gentle on your hair when it's wet (aka when it's most prone to breakage).
Crown Affair
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.
9. Cee Cee's Closet head wraps protect your hair from environmental stressors, like heat, humidity, and the sun in summer and dry air in the winter, and pull your look together when you 1,000% cannot be bothered to wash your hair today.
Cee Cee's Closet
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.
10. Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream enhances your beautiful curls with its rich leave-in formula made with argan oil (makes your ringlets soft and bouncy), vitamin E (fights free radical damage and helps hair growth), and antistatic agents.
Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed
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 sophom*ore 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.
11. Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil Shampoo purifies hair without making your scalp feel tight and dry. And despite the name, it still creates a luxurious lather that'll make shower time feel fancy schmancy. It's silicone- and paraben-free, and fabulous for almost all hair types and textures.
Shu Uemura
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.
12. DreamGirls' TLC Comb-Out Treatment puts an end to the pain and frustration of detangling your hair. With its botanical-infused formula, brushing your kinks and coils will finally — finally! — be something you look forward to.
DreamGirls
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.
13. IGK MISTRESS Leave-In Balm tells frizz and dryness to take a hike, depositing lasting hydration in its lightweight formula that keeps hair smooth and shiny.
Sephora
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."
14. Living Proof's Perfect Hair Day 5-In-1 Styling Treatment smooths, adds volume, conditions, strengthens, and polishes strands all at once, so prepare for nonstop compliments starting...now!
Living Proof
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!
15. An EboniCurls' Ebonnet guards against breakage, moisture loss, and frizz while extending the life of your hairstyles by securing your strands within its satin-lined sheath.
EboniCurls
EboniCurls is a Black-owned hair accessories brand.
Get it from EboniCurls for $45.
16. Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray adds va-va-voom volume without leaving behind that annoying white residue. Say hello to show-stopping volume and grease absorption that'll make your third-day hair look fresh.
Elena Garcia / BuzzFeed
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.
17. The Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer may make you tear up a little bit when you look at the price tag — but it'll also make you shed happy tears when it gives you the salon-worthy blowout of your dreams in a fraction of the time it takes to dry your hair with your current hair dryer. Not only does it dry hair faster, but it also helps define curls, reduces frizz, adds shine and smoothness, and even protects against extreme heat damage. Who'd a thunk it? A genius, that's who!
Sephora
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.
18. Aveda's Damage Remedy Split End Repair mends split hair shafts *and* aids the prevention of future breakage. This leave-in treatment smooths and seals your strands, leaving behind a subtle scent of bergamot, mandarin, and ylang ylang.
@aveda / Via instagram.com
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.
19. SwirlyCurly hairpins are specially designed with a completely smooth surface to minimize snagging and breakage. So genius! These pins are amazing for natural hair but can work with all hair types and styles.
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).
20. Klorane's Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk soaks up oils like no one's business so your roots look freshly washed. It has a light, bright scent that won't irritate your nose, and the ultra-fine powder blends with your hair seamlessly so there's no white residue.
@kloraneusa / Via instagram.com
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.
21. R+Co High Dive Moisture Plus Shine Cream hydrates thirsty hair while upping the shininess to max levels. It's also meant to soften and prevent frizz so you can run your fingers through your hair all day.
Amazon
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.
22. Briogeo Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo penetrates deeply, lifting dead, flaky skin and leftover product buildup. The cooling formula soothes itching with a combination of anti-fungal oils, as well as moisturizing coconut oil that prevents future flakes.
Briogeo
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.
23. A bottle of OUAI Wave Spray creates the perfect beachy waves — but minus the sand, sweat, and screaming seagulls. Its weightless formula uses rice protein to produce some hold in your hair so everyone on your Zoom call can enjoy your effortlessly tousled curls.
Sephora
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!"
24. A bottle of dpHUE's Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse washes away buildup, helps restore your scalp's pH (ACV is mildly acidic), has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties, and closes your hair's cuticle so your mane is soft, shiny, and smooth. It can do basically everything a clarifying shampoo does while being a bit more gentle on your hair.
@dphue / Via instagram.com
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.
Me and my sad hair after reading this post!
20th Century Fox Television
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
