I Tried Rihanna’s New Hair Care Line, Fenty Hair, and My Silk Press Has Never Looked or Felt Better

Rihanna’s magical hands have struck hot once again, and this time, she’s cooked up an entirely new beauty franchise, Fenty Hair. Her beauty empire only gets bigger and bigger, and I had already expected nothing but greatness from her hair care collection (as a natural curly girl with 3B/C texture, I've been inspired by plenty of Riri's red carpet hairstyles — her deep side part at Black Girls Rock event will forever live in my heart). So, you can only imagine how excited I was to receive a top-secret invite to test out all the new products before the launch date and I was not disappointed with my before and after results.

When I walked into the Mott NYC salon a few weeks ago, I was greeted with an adorable Fenty Hair paper cup filled with a hot, steamy matcha latte. While I waited to be seen by Yusef Williams, Rihanna's personal hairstylist, I was given a crash course into all things Fenty Hair, which has been in the works for years. The lineup features a few hair care and styling products designed to treat all hair types and textures. The “Beauty for All” approach also comes as no surprise because Rihanna has always been a leader in creating inclusive and diverse spaces within beauty (just look at Fenty Beauty and the iconic 40+ foundation shade range).

Original photo courtesy of Shauna Beni-Haynes

Original photo courtesy of Shauna Beni-Haynes

So, what products are in the collection?

There are nine products in total. A shampoo, two conditioners, a repair treatment, a heat protectant styler, a curl-defining cream, a gel, an edge control gel, and a 3-in-1 edge tool.

Fenty Hair The Sidestick 3-in-1 Edge Tool

Fenty Hair The Richer One Moisture Repair Deep Conditioner

Fenty Hair The Rich One Moisture Repair Shampoo

Fenty Hair Strong Hold Gel

The major focus behind Fenty Hair is hair health, with the purpose of building strong strands. Each product was formulated with a unique repair technology to ensure your hair gets continuous treatment no matter what step in your routine, whether it's washing, drying, or styling. The standout ingredient is called Replenicore-5, a popiteray complex crafted with a blend of amino acids, proteins, and antioxidants, which all work together to mend split ends, hydrate, and thicken the stands from the inside. Some of the powerhouse ingredients are also native to Rihanna’s Caribbean roots, like Barbados Gooseberry, upcycled Jackfruit extract, and Green Tea extract.

Photo courtesy of Fenty Hair/Fenty Beauty

Now, enough about the nitty gritty, it's time to chat more about my experience. After a quick consultation and detangling session with one of the salon’s stylists about my preferred style (a silky blowout), I was directed over to the sink to get my hair prepped. After a warm rinse, my stylist pumped a generous amount of The Rich One Moisturizing Repair Shampoo into my hair. My first thought was, “Wow, this smells AMAZING,” and it felt very moisturizing, which is a major bonus for me because many shampoos tend to dry out my curls. The stylist also mentioned that the product was very lightweight, so I wouldn’t have to worry about my curls getting weighed down. After that, my stylist went in with The Richer One Mositure Repair Deep Conditioner. And let me tell y'all, this deep conditioner felt so soft and luxurious on my scalp and strands. It also gave my hair great slip, which made it even easier to detangle.

Once I got into Yusef’s chair, it was blowout time. He first used a towel to squeeze out some excess water and then massaged in The Protective Type 5-in-1 Heat Protectant Styler. Heat stylers have become a major part of my curly hair routine, and I was pleased with how lightweight this cream felt. It protects up to 450 degrees of heat and works to smooth, defrizz, and detangle the hair. Yusef then sectioned my hair into four quadrants and began blow-drying each section, from the root to the ends. I noticed how the protectant styler made my hair feel super smooth, and the round brush was able to slide through my curls easily without getting any knots or tangles.

After blow drying, he went in with a flat iron and only did one pass per section. He finished the style using a curling iron to add some voluminous curls at the ends and slicked down my baby hairs with The Controlling Type Hair-Thickening Edge Control Gel, using The Sidestick 3-in-1 Edge Tool. And wala! I got a gorgeous, bouncy, voluminous silk press with just three products.

Original photo courtesy of Shauna Beni-Haynes

My Final Thoughts

I loved the way my hair felt after styling; my strands felt natural in a good way, it wasn’t weighed down by the products, and it had so much body and movement. During the styling process, I shared with Yusef how surprised I was at him not using any hairspray or hair oil because that’s what my stylists usually do when I go to the Dominican salon by my house. He explained how, most times, all that extra product is unnecessary, and I can see how that’s completely true! Overall, I would definitely recommend trying out the Fenty Hair, each product is made from all clean ingredients and designed to strengthen your hair — what's not to love about that?!

Ready to try out the products for yourself? You can shop the entire collection on FentyBeauty.com starting 6/13.