A Compendium of Especially Excellent Products

As recommended by stylists, salon owners, and other obsessive testers.

TOOLS The Best Edge-Control Combs

For a long time, when it came to styling baby hairs, people had to make do with a combination of edge-control gel and a toothbrush. But in recent years, tools designed specifically for edge styling, which do a much better job than your average Oral-B, have come onto the market.

BABY TRESS 3-IN-1

EDGE STYLER TOOL —$15—

“all black women know that our hair comes in different textures, which means some products just don’t work for everyone,” says eyewear designer Elisa Johnson. “But I am convinced that Baby Tress’s Edge Styler has universal appeal.” It’s a three-in-one tool that, according to stylist Mika English, has all the trappings of a good edge brush. “On the comb side, the teeth should be really close together, and the brush side should have a thick, thick base and a lot of bristles,” she says, adding that the pick at the bottom should have a metal or plastic tip. This one checks all the boxes.

PATTERN EDGE BRUSH —$12—

many edge-control brushes use boar bristles to create a firm brush side, but this one from Tracee Ellis Ross’s hair-care line, Pattern, is made of vegan synthetic bristles.

The other differentiating factor: According to Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst, it is slightly larger than usual, which she prefers. Plus, “The bristles are tightly packed, and it’s stiff without being too rough. It’s great for edges, and the pointed end is ideal for separating my hair,” she says.

RED

PROFESSIONAL EDGE

BOAR FIXER BRUSH —$5—

“This is unique because it has a boar brush, two combs, and a spatula for product application,” says stylist Ro Morgan. Anyone who has ever stuck a finger into a jar of edge control knows how easily the wax can get stuck under nails, especially if your nails are longer. This mess-free spatula prevents that.

The Best Detangling Brushes

Below, the detangling brushes strong enough to comb through natural hair with minimal pain and hair loss.

DENMAN CLASSIC

STYLING BRUSH 7 ROW —$20—

denman has been around since the 1960s, and this brush in particular is oft praised by stylists for its versatility—it is excellent for all hair textures and for tasks like “reducing frizz, blow-drying, gently detangling, straightening, and adding shine and volume,” according to Kadeisha Placide, the owner of Classic Beauty Studio salon in Bedford-Stuyvesant. Stylist Erica Legagneur says the Denman brush is foolproof: “The seven rows of teeth glide through hair evenly and never get tangled.” 

FELICIA LEATHERWOOD

ORIGINAL DETANGLER BRUSH —$18—

This brush was designed specifically for natural hair and has widely spaced, flexible bristles that slide through without ripping or tearing. According to former Strategist writer—and Felicia Leatherwood fan—Nikita Richardson, “It glides through my thick head of hair with impressive ease and, most important, stretches it along the way,” which is key for anyone with curls and coils that dramatically shrink up when dry.

TANGLE TEEZER,

THE ULTIMATE DETANGLER —$14—

has a hard base and flexible, spread-out bristles to comb through your hair. Denton-Hurst owns “four of them, and I collect them as if one day they’ll be discontinued.” A big deterrent for people who choose to wear only protective styles or relax their hair is that they won’t be able to take care of their hair in its natural state, but “this brush made me feel like my hair was not only manageable but easy to care for,” she says.

The Best Steamers

There are two kinds of at-home steamers: hooded and handheld. While a hooded steamer is better for thicker or denser hair, handheld steamers are helpful for styling because the steam release is more targeted.

THE Q-REDEW STEAMER —$79—

the q-redew is a favorite among stylists for three reasons: It is easy to use, it’s (relatively) inexpensive, and it works for both deep conditioning and restyling. It is also beloved by natural-hair influencers— a quick search on YouTube yields thousands of evangelizing videos. This steamer has a small spout for water (it holds about three ounces) and can be used for several minutes before needing to be refilled.

EZBASICS HOODED HAIR

AND FACE STEAMER —$70—

maggie rose salon founder Jamila Powell prefers a hooded steamer to a handheld one because it tends to produce more steam. “Holding the steamer means you have to rake it through. It’s a little tedious,” she says. Unlike a handheld model, which needs to be constantly refilled, this one has a larger reservoir that holds 300 ml of water and is hands-free so you can multitask while doing a treatment. The downside is that it’s harder to target specific sections of hair.

The Best Hood Dryers

When you hear hood dryer, you may picture a salon-size behemoth, but plenty of compact versions are available for home use. Below, the best on the market, according to hairstylists.

GOLD ’N HOT HARD HAT DRYER —$50—

hairstylist Felicia Leatherwood often recommends this dryer to her clients, as it’s mid-priced, does an excellent job of distributing heat to the whole scalp, and is durable enough to be a worthwhile investment (some reviewers claim they have used theirs for over a decade).

MIFINE BONNET HOOD HAIR DRYER —$14—

hairstylist Shelby Samaria says this is a staple in her Fashion Week kit. It’s convenient, durable, and efficient—all of which are important when you’re rushing from client to client. “From my bedroom on wash day to backstage, these babies are reliable. All you have to do is attach your personal hair dryer to the end of the adjustable drawstring at the hose and bam—you’re good to dry,” she says. It has a stretchable, four-inchwide hose collar that works with all types of hair dryers and comes with a pouch for easy storage.

BELSON GOLD ’N HOT SALON STAND —$131—

if you’re planning on using a dryer on a weekly basis, hairstylist and colorist Illeisha Lussiano suggests investing in this Belson hood dryer, which has four styling settings to select from, depending on how hot you want it, and a fairly large hood (which makes it a suitable choice for most hairstyles).

The Best Bonnets

In picking a bonnet, it is important to consider material—satin and silk both help hair retain moisture, though the slightly more expensive silk does an ever-so-slightly better job—and slippage (hairstylist Ebony Clark-Bomani recommends looking for one with ties rather than elastic).

THE MANE CHOICE MANE BONNET —$13—

this extra-large bonnet is a favorite of influencer Natacha John. “The elastic band is strong, so it stays on all night,” she says. “It’s also huge, so it fits just as comfortably over my protective styles as it does my natural hair.” This one is made from 100 percent satin and is double lined, which ensures your hair won’t dry out.

GRACE ELEYAE SLAP CAP —$24—

if you’re on the hunt for something that doesn’t quite look like a bonnet, this Slap Cap from Grace Eleyae—which is lined with ultrasilky charmeuse satin—is an ideal choice. It is one size fits all, meaning it works better for someone with less hair or for styles like twist-outs and braid-outs (which will lie relatively flat).

SLIP PURE-SILK TURBAN —$85—

this bonnet made from pure mulberry silk is a favorite of actress Regina King, who says it’s big enough and deep enough to fit her hair when she is wearing braids. 

PRODUCTS The Best Basic Shampoo, Conditioner, and Deep Conditioner

There are a few simple things to consider when it comes to the basics, according to Lisa Price, founder of natural-hair-care brand Carol’s Daughter—but chiefly keeping hair moisturized and tangle free, which can be achieved with regular deep-conditioning treatments and sulfate-free shampoos.

MELANIN HAIRCARE

AFRICAN BLACK SOAP

REVIVING SHAMPOO —$20—

this shampoo uses ingredients like charcoal powder and black soap to give hair a deep clean along with moisturizing cocoa and shea butters, argan oil, and vitamin B5. It also contains anti-inflammatory oils like black-cumin seed, peppermint, and tea tree—the last two work together to soothe an irritated scalp.

URBAN HYDRATION

HONEY GROWTH & REPAIR

CONDITIONER —$11—

stylist nigella miller likes this deep conditioner from Urban Hydration that is meant specifically for detangling. It contains honey (for intense moisture) and argan oil, which helps to repair any broken strands from the inside out and controls frizz. It also helps with shine, elasticity, and curl definition.

AFRO SHEEN VELVET

FLOW 4-IN-1

LEAVE-IN SPRAY —$8—

once you’ve washed out your deep conditioner, you’ ll want to follow up with a leave-in conditioner like this one, which is lightweight and works well for all textures and curl densities. “It’s a great leave-in for style preparation,” says Miller, and a good base for layering other products on top. In addition to moisturizing and detangling, it acts as a heat protectant.

The Best Products for High-Porosity Hair

First off, to figure out your hair type, place a strand in water for two-to-four minutes. If it floats, water isn’t penetrating the hair shaft and you have low-porosity hair. Conversely, highly porous hair will quickly sink. According to Joann Gruny, a texture expert at Maggie Rose Salon, highporosity hair needs especially thick products that will seal in hydration.

MARIA NILA REPAIR SHAMPOO

AND CONDITIONER —$28 each—

diane da costa, owner of Simplee Beautiful salon, says a hydrating “shampoo and conditioning regimen is the only way to solve the porosity challenge.” Da Costa recommends the ultranourishing Repair line from Maria Nila, which contains reparative algae extract.

OLAPLEX HAIR PERFECTOR

NO. 3 REPAIRING TREATMENT —$28—

hairstylist Christin Brown uses a combination of Olaplex No. 1 Bond Multiplier and No. 2 Bond Perfector to fill in gaps in the hair shaft. “This is a major ace in the pocket for high-porosity hair because it really helps to calm down the cuticle, providing the hair with some real repair instead of placing a Band-Aid on it,” she says. While Olaplex No. 1 and No. 2 are salononly treatments, No. 3 offers similar (albeit less potent) benefits but can be used at home.

CREME OF NATURE ARGAN-OIL

APPLE-CIDER-VINEGAR RINSE —$6—

all that moisture from conditioning is useless if it isn’t locked in. Products with an acidic pH cause the cuticle to contract and act as hydration sealants. Hairstylist and author of Natural Hair: Hairversations Pat G. Williams likes this after-conditioner rinse from Creme of Nature. The apple-cider vinegar in the formula makes it slightly acidic, and argan oil helps lock in moisture.

The Best Products for Low-Porosity Hair

Low-porosity hair, on the other hand, does best with water-based, lightweight products because they absorb into the hair shaft, rather than sit on top of it.

THE MANE CHOICE PEACH

BLACK TEA CONDITIONER —$15—

clark-bomani prefers lightweight conditioners like this one for low-porosity hair. It uses glycerin, a humectant, to attract moisture to the hair. Thick or heavy conditioners just sit on top of low-porosity strands. She cautions against products containing protein, which can build up on the hair and make it brittle.

KINKY-CURLY COME CLEAN

NATURAL MOISTURIZING SHAMPOO —$11—

it’s essential that lowporosity hair be truly clean after shampooing because it is prone to buildup. To that end, Brown recommends using a clarifying shampoo, like this one from Kinky-Curly. “It gives your hair a chance to let go of ingredients that build up and thus prevent proper hydration,” she says.

The Best Products for 4C Hair

When it comes to taking care of 4C hair, Michelle Dixon, a hairstylist at the Chicago-based Maxine Salon, says there are two things to remember: Keep it moisturized, and make sure the ends are trimmed.

DESIGN ESSENTIALS ALMOND &

AVOCADO SULFATE-FREE SHAMPOO —$12—

hairstylist and owner of Magic Fingers Studio Stasha M. Harris likes this sulfate-free shampoo that makes caring for 4C hair “a breeze,” she says. “It cleanses all buildup as well as softens the texture.” Pairing it with the accompanying conditioner makes it easy for users to detangle and prevents breakage when combing through hair.

ORIBE SHAMPOO FOR

MOISTURE & CONTROL —$46—

for 4c hair, Dixon recommends shampooing every other week to help offset the dryness that can come with shampooing more frequently. When wash day comes, she recommends using this shampoo from Oribe. Infused with amino acids and panthenol (which help to hydrate and condition), it is formulated to combat hair damage but works well to impart an extra dose of moisture into 4C strands.