By now, you’ve probably heard of Beyoncé’s viral hair care brain child, Cécred. When Cécred burst onto the scene a few years ago, buyers praised the brand’s products for treating and taming dry and damaged hair. But is it really worth the viral hype? After testing products from all three of the brand’s lines for three months, I gathered all of my honest thoughts about how well Cécred works for my natural hair (spoiler alert: I’m now fully obsessed).
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Our honest review of Cécred
Below is my review of my favorite products from each of Cécred’s three collections: Foundation, Protection and Styling.
The Foundation Collection
Right off the bat, I was excited to try this shampoo since dryness is a consistent challenge for my hair. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid and an oil blend of baobab, moringa and black seed for deep hydration. I usually shampoo my hair twice during washes, so I’d either use this twice, or use the Detoxifying Shampoo first (which I go more into detail below) and follow it up with this shampoo to re-hydrate my hair afterwards.
After using it throughout multiple wash days (including a few with braids in), I can confirm that it’s one of the most hydrating shampoos I’ve ever tried. Combined with the conditioner, this shampoo kept my hair moisturized for days after washing with little to no added styling products — a first ever for me.
On wash days where I didn’t have the time or energy for a full deep condition (which, realistically, is most of them), this conditioner became my saving grace. It has the same hydrating ingredients as the shampoo, with the added benefit of amino acids to repair damaged hair, according to the brand. I apply it to my wet hair after shampooing, and wash it out immediately after detangling. Although it takes me longer than a minute to detangle (which is the amount of time the brand promises results in), by the end of the process my hair is definitely softer and more hydrated. I also love that it helps ease any knots during my post-wash detangle.
Deep conditioner is a non-negotiable when it comes to natural hair, and I highly recommend this one for anyone struggling with dry or brittle hair. This conditioner made my hair feel so soft after using — and I’m talking like pillowy, cloud-level softness. It was so good that I found myself deep conditioning more often than usual (which is completely unheard of for me). I tried it both with a warm towel (as directed by the brand for best results) and without, and although my hair felt softer before washing when using the towel, I can honestly say that there wasn’t much of a difference in post-rinse softness either time.
This two-step treatment is made with rice water and rose protein, which help strengthen hair for better length retention. I experienced noticeably less breakage after using this the first time, and after the third time, I was more than ready to repurchase.
I will admit, the application process is a bit tricky because you’ll need to pour the first step over your head and leave each step on for a minimum of five minutes. I usually do my wash routine in the shower, but when using this, I step out until it’s time to rinse out the last step. Since it’s not a deep conditioner, it also leaves my hair feeling a bit crunchy and dry, so I like to follow up with the brand’s Moisturizing Deep Conditioner or Hydrating Conditioner to restore my moisture balance.
After an extended love affair with knotless braids left me with some thinning around my hairline, I immediately reached for these drops, and let me just say: believe the hype. I tried them for three months last year while my hair was in cornrows, and after unraveling, I saw that my patchy areas were filled with new growth. I experience the best results when I use these drops daily, however I’ve also seen progress when using them just a few nights a week (which is really a testament to how well the product works). Although they’re great for thinning hair, since the bottle is on the smaller side, I would recommend these drops as a spot treatment rather than a full-head solution.
The Protection Collection
Itchiness is a given when it comes to fresh braids, but this spray might just be the remedy. The formula has moisturizing honey and ceramides, along with menthol to cool and soothe the scalp. I spray this at the root of my braids when I feel they’re developing any buildup, and also love using it on the itchiest parts of fresh styles to treat them without frizzing or messing them up. The best part of the spray is the precision nozzle, which lets you aim the stream directly at your pain points, instead of wasting product by spraying the whole area.
Detangling is my least favorite part of wash day, and it usually takes me around an hour to get through my entire head before shampooing. But that was before I tried this spray. Hands down, this is the best detangler I’ve ever used. The time spent detangling my hair drops down to 30 minutes or less (it’s usually anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour), and it doesn’t leave any residue, flakes or crunchiness on my hair afterwards. I like to use this for all my pre-wash detangles and as an aid in taking down my braids. I also love that the nozzle sprays in such a fine mist because it helps cover a wider area with less product.
It would be hard for me to choose my favorite product out of the line, but if I had to, this oil treatment would be a top contender. I initially only used this in what I call my “restorative routine,” which is especially reserved for wash days following braid takedowns or when I’ve gone a while without a deep conditioner and my hair is feeling particularly dry. However, I quickly introduced this into my weekly wash routine once I saw the difference it made. Immediately after using it, my hair feels softer and less brittle, and stays that way even after rinsing out the oil, my shampoo, and even my deep conditioner. I even tested it on a wash day without using the other Cécred products, and still had the same excellent results throughout my wash. The brand recommends warming the oil before using it, which I do by pouring some into a plastic container and letting it sit in a bowl of hot water until it warms up (which keeps it from getting too hot for my head).
This clarifying shampoo is my favorite to use when washing braids or washing my hair right after taking down my braids because it deep cleans and removes buildup. It also has a striking blue color (which I love) to help prevent brassiness in chemically-treated hair, according to the brand. I like using this as my first shampoo, and then following it up with the brand’s Hydrating Shampoo for the perfect cleansing combo. In my experience, the shampoo does give your scalp a strong tingling and cooling sensation, so you may want to skip this one if you’re not comfortable with that feeling.
The Styling Collection
As with all products in the Styling Collection, this heat protectant mist has moisturizing panthenol and a thermal gloss blend of Kalahari melon seed, mongongo and wild plum to help protect hair from heat of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the brand. Unfortunately, I didn’t straighten my hair while testing these products, so I didn’t get to see how well this heat protectant mist stands up to the ultimate heat damage test. However, I did use it a few times for blown-out braidouts, and I didn’t experience any heat damage or issues with curl reversion afterwards. I also didn’t see any residue left behind. Best of all, there was no greasy texture to my hair afterwards; it felt as if I’d sprayed nothing at all.
Out of all the products I tried, this was the one I was most skeptical of because it can be tricky to find a gel that actually slicks and holds 4C hair. However, this gel exceeded my expectations. As a styling gel, I love it. Updo puffs are my daily look when my natural hair is out, and this gel was great for quick styling in the morning. After applying the gel, I’d tie down my hair and give it a quick hit with my blow dryer before leaving it to set for about 10 minutes. The results were sleek puffs that always had a shiny finish and, best of all, left no hard gel cast on my hair — it was still very soft to touch. My puffs would also only really get frizzy when I would go to the gym or brush my head up against something.
When I did try it as an edge control, it also worked well on days that weren’t too humid. However, by the end of warmer days, my edges were pretty much back to normal.
I’ve become something of an expert in braid-outs over the years, so I can say with authority that this foam is a solid addition to my arsenal. The foam leaves no residue or flakes once it dries down and has a soft finish (rather than hard and crusty). What I love most, though, is that the texture of the foam isn’t overly sticky like others I’ve tried, which makes it much easier to get through the braiding process without having to constantly hand wash after every step.
However, the hold didn’t last for 72 hours, in my experience. By the end of the day, some sections had lost their shape, and I had to rebraid them at night for the style to last for the next morning (with other foams or mousses, I can go without a re-braid for four or five days at a time).
This dual-sided brush includes nylon bristles on one side for smoothing edges and a fine-tooth comb on the other for parting, shaping or smoothing flyaways. The bristles were strong enough that they could slick down my edges (with the help of the gel) in one pass, and I like that the brush has a curved handle that’s thicker than others I’ve tried. The handle’s shape made it much more comfortable to hold and maneuver.
What can improve
Although I enjoyed most of what I tried, I have a few thoughts on what the brand can do better:
- Pricing: I grew up with a mother who consistently invested in our hair by purchasing higher-priced salon brands for at-home use, so I wasn’t too shocked by Cécred’s prices. However, the brand’s price points are a bit on the higher side, ranging from $18 to $56 for a single, regular-sized product or tool, which for some consumers can be a barrier or at the very least a consideration before buying.
- Applicators: Some products, like the Scalp Refreshing Spray and Wrap & Set Foam, have applicators that are perfectly suited for their uses. Others, like the Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Ritual and the Oil Ritual, need additional tools for the best application, in my experience (you can use your hands, but they may not get you the best results). For example, the Oil Ritual requires a separate bottle for warming, and a comb or nozzle topper for easy distribution around your head. Although the brand sells some of these tools separately (like the Oil Warming Applicator), they should be included at this price point.
How I tried Cécred
After receiving these products from the brand, I tested most of these Cécred products over a period of two to three months, although I’ve been using a few in my regular hair care routine for multiple months before writing this review. Here’s what I kept in mind while testing:
- Texture/consistency: The texture and finish of a hair product is especially important to someone like me with fine, natural hair. I considered the slip, feel, and weight of each product, and how it felt on my hair and hands both during and after application.
- Versatility: I kept in mind how well the products could be used across different styles, situations and hair types.
- Packaging: I noted any issues or barriers to easy use posed by the packaging, or any ways in which the packaging made using the product faster or more efficient.
- Results: Of course, I was sure to consider how well each product lived up to its claims and whether or not I had any noticeable changes to my hair during or after using them. I was also on the lookout for how well the results held up in different environments and during my normal activities, like during workouts at the gym, eight-hour work days, humid summer nights out and even a day spent at the beach.
What is Cécred?
Cécred began in 2024 as a hair care line for “all types and textures,” whether straight, curly, coily, wavy or more. The initial launch featured the release of the Foundation Collection, which (along with its celebrity founder) helped propel the brand’s virality with the popularity of products like the Edge Restoring Drops. The brand followed up with the Protection Collection in summer 2025, and the latest release, the Styling Collection, just launched this past March.
Much of the brand’s technology focuses on replacing lost protein in your hair strands, using bioactive keratin, honest and lactobacillus ferment as the three key ingredients. The bioactive keratin, which is naturally-derived from wool protein, mimics keratin in hair for added protein, while the honey acts as a hydrating humectant and helps activate the prebiotic properties of the lactobacillus ferment for a healthy scalp biome, according to the brand.
Who is Cécred for?
In a word: anyone. One of the brand’s strengths is its versatility: the products are formulated to work well for all hair types and textures. Even if you’re not dealing with issues like brittle strands, dryness or itchiness, Cecred’s products are great for just regular maintenance of a healthy head of hair. However, if you do have any of the above struggles, it works especially well. The Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner, along with the Oil Ritual and Moisturizing Deep Conditioner, are all great for treating damaged hair, and have all been game-changers in my own hair’s levels of hydration and strength.
You can probably find comparable versions of products like the Strong Hold Gel and the Wrap & Set Foam from other brands at lower prices. For example, I love Mielle’s Pomegranate and Honey Curl Defining Mousse ($10.99) and Got 2B’s Glue Blasting Freeze Spray ($7.99). However, the brand’s reparative products from the Foundation and Protection collections are definite standouts based on the results they’ve given me.
Bottom line: it’s definitely worth the price, and if you’re considering trying it, my advice is to go for it full steam ahead.
Why trust NBC Selected?
I am an associate SEO reporter for NBC Selected covering skin care, hair care, wellness and more, including stories on the best styling products for natural hair, the best braiding hair and the best Korean hair care products. For this story, I tried 16 Cécred products over the course of two months and broke down her thoughts on whether or not the brand is worth the price tag.
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