A Cécred Review (From My Texts)

My curls have never been better.

As luck would have it, my favorite pop star released Cécred, a hair care line, mere weeks after I jumped from a big, curly fro to a close-shave faux-mullet. Up to that point, I found myself frustrated with what I could find in Sephora. Delivering reliable moisture and frizz control to my locks felt like too much of an ever-shifting and fickle project. So a big chop it was. Eight months later, my hair has grown out a bit more and so has the line from Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.

A vast majority of haircare lines targeted at (or even mindful of) textured hair types sit in the drug-store category. They are almost a dime-a-dozen, at this point, and virtually indistinguishable in both claims and results: Mielle, Shea Moisture, Carol’s Daughter, Curl’s Dynasty, Alaffia, Camille Rose, etc. My personal experience: formulas that often feel drying, heavy, and merely sit on top of the hair. Pattern, the haircare venture launched by Tracee Ellis Ross in 2019, disrupted the Black haircare sector a bit. Pay $28 for a Leave-In conditioner, versus the more standard $10-12, for a richer and more effective product. The subtle idea behind the line—which regularly features natural hairstyles in its campaigns—was celebrating and nourishing textured hair, versus simply managing or “dealing with it.” The line has been a hit. Once, in a salon, I heard a straight male receiving a fresh set of cornrows proudly declare, “I only use Pattern on my hair!”

Cécred takes the proposition a bit further—both in price point and approach. There’s a $44 hair oil, $42 treatment mask, a protein treatment set that, including its brutalist-coded “shaking vessel,” costs 65 buckaroos, a $38 leave-in conditioner. The formulas go far beyond shea butter, jojoba and coconut oil. Ingredients within the line include fermented rice powder, watermelon seed oil, squalene, niacinamide, biotin, rose powder, amino acids… You get the point. The brand’s social media channels does not merely promote the products, but offer mechanical methods and techniques to help them go even further in performance. Tina Knowles, Beyoncé mother and a hair stylist, advises not simply slathering on a deep conditioner, but also sitting under heat with it to “help open up the cuticles.” A new release aims to help customers “grow their edges back” — addressing the hair loss people with textured hair can often experience due to protective styles, weaves, and wrapping methods. The line seeks to both validate and elevate the specific needs of textured hair types.

Honestly, my hair has never felt or performed better. I religiously follow the steps outlined—along with tips I’ve collected over recent months from my barber, my dermatologist, and friends of color. Satin pillowcases. Wrap my hair up immediately after washing and drying (“You still gotta trap that moisture in,” one person told me.). Veer towards oils more than leave-ins. It reminds me that the project of beauty—and well-being overall—is rarely a one-man project. Community tips and secrets found here and there helps one reach their desired destination quicker and easier.

The name Cécred is built around a hypocorism of Beyoncé. (The star has an ever-growing bevy of nicknames: Yoncé, Queen Bey, Sasha Fierce, etc.) Other business ventures from her utilize the naming device, too: like the fragrances Cé Noir and Cé Lumiere. Other recent products from the star include Sir Davis, a LVMH-backed whiskey inspired, partly, by the work of her great-grandfather, and a candle within the Cécred line. At the end of the day, the line feels like a fabulous piece of empire building from a pop star. It fits in line with the subtle, but consistent, project of her work: Positioning Blackness as a vessel to greatness, and not a limitation or barrier from it.

In an effort to feature more casual, off-the cuff writing on this platform, I’m including a quick review of the line I texted my friend (hi, Jaymee!) yesterday.

Least favorite to favorite: 
Leave in Conditioner- Lightweight, but not as moisturizing as I would like. Which therefore resulted in me using more of the product and kind of defeating it being lightweight. I do like the smell of this leave-in. Which I rarely can say for this product category.

Deep conditioner: I found this to be too hard to spread around even with a soaking head of hair. It is a really thick butter-like cream, so I would find this to be great if your hair is HELLA damaged or dry. (Like after a pool or a bleaching or some weeks of neglect.) But this is simply too rich for even a dry hair person like me. Alt suggestion: JVN Intensive conditioner. Much easier to spread. 

Hydrating Shampoo: Is this product different from other hydrating shampoos on the market? Maybe not. But I find it to be super gentle and a great product to use after the clarifying shampoo. I love the Pattern Hydrating Shampoo. But I found that even with THAT product, my hair was a little drier than after using this one. So I think it really delivers on its specific purpose and is a good product to use in TANDEM with the system, but not something to specifically go out of your way for if not. 

Clarifying Shampoo: Now we’ve entered my loves. I really could make this the GOAT, but I’m not! The user experience of this product from beginning to end. I love that it has a nozzle dispenser. That truly a very little (dime-sized) amount is more than enough each time. I love that it starts off as a gritty cream consistiency and then lathers up for a more intense clean.  My hair feels squeaky clean after each use of this product, but not dry. For comparison, the Pattern Clarifying Shampoo sometimes can be confused as a slightly amped hydrating shampoo. One could easily use TWO washes of that product for heavier build up. 

Reconstructing Hair Mask: Since introducing this one into my uses, my hair really DOES have less breakage and less frizz. This has a bit of a honey scent to it. I find that you have to use a bit more product than you might think and I do wish the formula was more concentrated or spreadable. But otherwise I do think it’s a great treatment. Not something you’re going to appreciate with one-simple use, but is a great long-term investment in your hair health. 

Hydrating Conditioner: Baby, crack in this bottle! I find that this provides a god tier level of moisture, slip, and detangling all tucked into a light formula. I like to put this on my hair and then sit under the blow dryer for ten minutes. It does me well. I need bottles of this on deck forever now. 

Nourishing Hair Oil: I find endless ways to use this product each day. It’s a great pre-poo the night before a wash. A hot oil treatment (put some on, shower cap over, shower). Frizz remover for day two or day three hair. Or a nice boost of moisture to a styling product with a few drops. Honestly I’ve tried just using this oil after washing and conditioning and it really is enough on its own. This product NEVER feels heavy or greasy and it’s truly magic that it doesn’t. There is no oil like this. 

(Have not tried Fermented Rice and Rose Protein Ritual Treatment)