We Tried Beyoncé’s Hair Care Line Cécred—Here’s What We Thought

I’m going to be completely honest here—when my editor asked me to test out Beyoncé’s new hair care line, Cécred, my first reaction was, “Ugh, another celebrity beauty brand?” While yes, I should probably never question the genius that is Queen Bey, I admittedly was pretty skeptical about whether her new haircare line would actually deliver. 

Much to my surprise, this chic-looking line blew me away with multiple products that performed really well while testing. But, before I get into my review of Cécred, we must first cover my favorite part about this new line: the “Shop By Hair Type” tab.

I’ve tested many haircare lines in my years of working as a beauty editor and writer, and I’ve never seen a more thorough, easy-to-understand, and visually explanative “Shop By Hair Type” page than Cécred’s. The page includes 20 different hair types, including coily, curly, wavy, and straight hair, with fine, medium, or coarse hair options. What I love about this page is that you can very easily find which hair type is yours using the pictures included. I was easily able to find my hair type using the pictures as my guide—I have straight, medium hair with minimum wave. The products that are recommended for my hair type include the Hydrating Shampoo, Moisturizing Deep Conditioner, and the Moisture Sealing Lotion. 

If for some reason you can’t decide which hair type you have based on the images, the site offers a pretty thorough quiz to help you figure out which products are best for your hair. Below, I share my thoughts on all of the products that I’ve tested in the line (I skipped the Nourishing Hair Oil and the Fermented Rice & Rose Protein Ritual). See my honest review below.   

Cécred Hair Products Review

1. Cécred Moisture Sealing Lotion ($38)

This is probably my favorite product from the brand. This pick does a fantastic job of prepping my hair for a blowout at home. I have pretty long hair, so I’ll add about a dime-sized amount of lotion into my hands, rub it in between my hands, and then apply it to half of my hair, from about the mid-shaft to the ends. Then I will repeat the same process on the other side of my head. 

I notice my hair looks significantly less frizzy, and feels a lot softer and smoother, after using this formula. Also, I think it makes my blowout last longer, and prevents frizziness for days afterward. Thanks to ingredients like the brand’s Phyto-Seal Complex and an African oil blend, this hair lotion helps to moisturize dry hair or curls, minimizes frizz, and helps to seal split ends, too. 

The fragrance in this formula is between subtle and strong. You’ll find notes of oud, sandalwood, warm musk, jasmine, vetiver, and violet leaves. While I don’t hate the fragrance, I don’t love it, either. It smells more masculine than feminine, but it’s not so overpowering that I notice it when my hair is dry after I’ve used it. 

2. Cécred Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub ($38)

Next up is my second favorite pick: The Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub. This is a refreshing part shampoo, part scalp scrub that does a great job of thoroughly cleansing my scalp without stripping it or leaving it extra dry. It has a subtle peppermint scent that smells refreshing, and I like that the texture has some microcrystalline cellulose, which is a physical exfoliant derived from wood. 

The directions for this product instruct the user to follow up with the Hydrating Shampoo, but I only ever used the Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub as my main shampoo rinse. I thought the Hydrating Shampoo was a bit too hydrating for my scalp (more on that later), so I continued to use this pick as my only shampoo rinse, and then I would follow up with the conditioner. For best results, perhaps you should use this before applying the hydrating shampoo, similar to a double cleanse for your hair. 

3. Cécred Moisturizing Deep Conditioner ($38)

I was really impressed with this deep conditioner, especially because it doesn’t contain any silicones. It’s sometimes hard to find an effective deep conditioner that doesn’t contain silicones, but I was pretty blown away by how well this hydrated my really long, dense, relatively dry after just after the first use. 

This formula is super rich and thick, and smells pretty subtle and mild, too. The instructions state to apply to your hair, then cover your hair with a plastic cap and add heat with a hooded dryer, steamer, or warm towel. I did not follow instructions and instead just left the deep conditioner on my hair for about 5-10 minutes while I finished the rest of my shower routine. 

What I love about this formula is that it’s rich and thick enough to moisturize dry hair, but not so oil-heavy that it weighs my hair down or makes my hair feel greasy. I could see myself using this deep conditioner every time I wash my hair, which is about 2-3 times per week. 

4. Cécred Reconstructing Treatment Mask ($42)

I think I was a bit confused when I first used this product. I thought it was a replacement for a conditioner or deep conditioner, but it’s actually a treatment that you’re supposed to apply to your hair after shampooing and before conditioning. It’s hard for me to say if this product made a big difference in my hair. It contains the brand’s patent-pending Bioactive Keratin Ferment, which works to repair damage from heat styling, color treatment, and chemical treatments, while also helping to reduce hair breakage, too. 

Personally, I don’t think I have a ton of damage in my hair to see much of a difference after using this formula. That being said, it’s a very thick treatment mask that I can see doing the work to repair damage on folks who really need it. It’s important to note that this product was not listed amongst the products recommended for straight, medium hair with minimum wave on the brand’s site. I asked the brand to send it to me so that I could test it out, but I don’t think it’s really meant for my hair type.

5. Cécred Hydrating Shampoo ($30)

Unfortunately, this was my least favorite product from the bunch. I was really impressed with how well this formula lathered on my scalp, and the smell was really nice and subtle, which I prefer. But I felt like I had to wash my hair more frequently than usual while using this pick, as my scalp got oily fast. That being said, as I mentioned before, I might have been using this product in the wrong way. Apparently you are supposed to use the Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub before using the Hydrating Shampoo. Had I done that more often, maybe I wouldn’t feel like the Hydrating Shampoo left my hair feeling oily after just a few days. 

If you have a really dry scalp, dry or coily hair that needs extra moisture, or just want to take a break from your regular clarifying shampoo, the Cécred Hydrating Shampoo would be a good option for you. However, I don’t think I would recommend this pick for anyone with an oily scalp, as I don’t think it will remove all the excess oils as much as other shampoos on the market.