I spend copious amounts of time searching for new beauty products—specifically, the next best hair care products. Of course, my endless journey of testing curly hair products is not unique; women worldwide are always in pursuit of the best styling products for their textures. That search can leave you feeling like Goldilocks, seeking products that not only work with your curl type and fulfill specific styling needs, but also for conscious consumers (like myself), align with our values, such as sustainability or being Black-Owned. Finding the perfect hair product that ticks off all the boxes can be daunting, but luckily, I’ve done the work and unearthed a few gems in the haircare aisle. Ahead you’ll find the best Black-owned hair brands that have the perfect products to inject into any hair care routine. Whether you rock a weave, locs, box-braids, blowouts, or your natural texture, the ideal Black-owned hair product awaits.
We’ll be the first to admit we’re fans of anything Tracee Ellis Ross does—but that doesn’t mean our love for her haircare line, Pattern Beauty, is unwarranted. Not only does the haircare line specialize in products intended to match your curl pattern, but also with products like their treatment mask (which has rice protein in it), you can rest assured knowing that your curl’s thirst is getting quenched.
Founded by Mahisha Dellinger, the Curls brand has been a mainstay in women’s haircare arsenals since 2002. While the brand specializes in specific styling products for each curl type, their leave-in conditioner is its hero product because its blueberry formula promotes hair growth for all textures.
If we’re talking about brands that pioneered the natural hair market, then you have to give props to Kinky Curly. Founded in 2003 by Shelley Davis, this brand paved the way for major retailers across the country to make accessible hair care products for women with curls. You can’t go wrong with any of their products, but if you’re not sure where to start, their leave-in detangler will make yanking out knots a thing of the past.
We love to look to French women for style inspiration or skincare insights, but we should also be looking to them for hair care inspiration (specifically, the French brand, Kadalys). Founded by Shirley Billot in 2010, the Black-owned beauty brand specializes in sustainable, banana-based products that will change your haircare routine. Just try their green banana precious oil, and tell us your curls don’t have that je ne sais quoi.
Balancing a regular workout regime with a haircare routine can feel unnecessarily challenging, which is what led Keenan Beasley to found Sunday II Sunday. With products focused on maintaining your protective hair in between your busy schedule, their products are great for anyone with box-braids or a weave looking for a scalp serum.
For anyone rocking their natural texture, having a weekly to monthly deep conditioning masque you can count on is a must. For me, that is Curls Dynasty’s pumpkin mint masque. Founded by Nickie Nougaisse in 2014, the brand creates all-natural hair care products perfect for anyone transitioning to their natural texture.
If you’re not new to this hair care game, you’re very aware of the promoted benefits of using castor oil in your hair care routine—but finding the right oil that’s not diluted, unsustainable, or Black-owned isn’t always the easiest. Fortunately, Kreyòl Essence exists, and the brand produces sustainably-harvested Haitian Black Castor Oil that will keep your braids or curls in check.
There’s an average amount of hair shedding that’s natural with coiled textures, but if your hair is suffering from severe breakage, try testing out Curldaze’s products. While struggling with hair loss in 2010, Roby Atwater created the first product, hair oil blend, which led to a line of products meant to help get hair (no matter how you’re styling it) back to the healthiest form.
For women whose hair isn’t bone-straight but doesn’t quite require the level of moisture or care that 4a and up textures need, I recommend adding Mixed Chicks hair care products into your routine. Keeping up with day-to-day styling can mean that your hair is either over-moisturized or dry, but Mixed Chick’s overnight foam (which is a fan favorite) will keep your curls poppin’ long after washday.
No matter your curl pattern, if you suffer from low porosity (aka your hair struggles to maintain moisture), it’s important to incorporate a great oil into your styling routine. Personally, Bomba Curl’s forbidden oil has been a game-changer for me, since it’s not as heavy as castor oils which weigh down my 3B/3C coils. Still, the hybrid blend crafted by Afro-Dominicana founder Lulu Cordero will ensure that hair looks and feels its best.
For protective hairstyles to be effective, it’s critical to keep your scalp moisturized— Eden Bodyworks’s papaya castor scalp massaging serum is a must-have. Not only will the oil and serum formula moisturize and fight itching, but knowing that you’re supporting a Black-owned brand is a bonus.
Not only is knowing your curl type necessary but also knowing your curl’s elasticity can help determine what type of products will work best. For example, if you’re on the low end of the elasticity spectrum (meaning you can’t hold a curl), then you’ll want to invest in a good defining butter, like this one from the Black-owned brand, Bounce Curl. This product will not only help your curls retain their elasticity but for coiler textures, it can help lock in much-needed moisture.
The basis of any good hair day is a great wash day routine. But as many of us know, shampoos can leave coiler textures drier than before, which is why you’ll want to test out Carol’s Daughter goddess strength fortifying shampoo. Not only is it from a beloved Black-owned hair care brand but also contains castor oil and black seed oil which strengthens hair follicles ensuring that your hair stays hydrated beyond wash-day.
For women who have fine, easily-damaged hair, or delicate curls, finding products that help build stronger hair follicles has been a challenge—until now. Founded by Lavada Dale, Haircredible Hair Care’s biotin hair care line is the perfect solution for promoting hair growth.
What happens when a cosmetologist creates styling products? You get the Black-owned brand, The Doux. Founded by Maya Smith in 2009, the brand makes the perfect products for wash-and-go days; specifically, their texture foam is great for adding definition to curls.
If an all-natural hair care routine intrigues you, buying from the Black-owned brand Rucker Roots is a must. With zero sulfates or parabens, their products will be your new go-to. We recommend starting with their growth serum. Formulated with argan oil, shea butter, and cocoa seed butter, it’s perfect for maintaining a silk press.
Maintaining moisturized braids or flawless edges requires a good hair oil in your arsenal—Glammed Naturally Oil’s braid oil solution is just that. Not only is it formulated with essential oils, it will also keep your scalp from flaking, along with restoring and preventing edges from thinning. Plus, it’s from a Black-Owned brand which makes it even better if you ask us.
Baby hairs can be the bane of styling—luckily, the Black-owned brand Mylon’s Natural Hair Care is here to solve these common woes. If you live for a slicked-back look, then you’ll want to incorporate their natural edge control gel into your routine, stat.
Frizz is never our friend, but what will always be there for you post-wash day is Imbue Curl’s curl-defining serum. Infused with cacao, this serum infiltrates your hair follicles without weighing them down. Plus, it was created by celebrity hairstylist Michelle Sultan, so you know it’s good.
What do Anne Hathaway, Renée Zellweger, and Zoe Saldana all have in common? Their hairstylist: Ted Gibson. Of course, the best hairstylists do end up creating the best hair products—i.e., Gibson’s texture meringue. It can be used to enhance and protect any hair texture pre-blowout. Talk about a universal hero product.
Do you live for switching up your hair from protective styles to blowouts and presses? If you frequently switch between protective styles and blowouts and presses, then you know it’s critical to invest in an arsenal of products that ensure your hair stays healthy no matter how you style it. Nuele’s hair serum can do just that;t doubles as a heat protectant and a daily deep moisturizer to ensure that hair stays healthy no matter how it is styled.
Whether you have low porosity or a coiler pattern, you’re most likely no stranger to struggling with retaining hair moisture—which is why a product like Oyin Handmade’s burnt sugar pomade is perfect for your texture. The formulation of oils, butter, and veggie wax acts as a humectant for hair to lock in moisture and keep curls shinin’.
Maintaining moisture is a common haircare woe, but another one is combating greasiness and product build-up. If your current wash-and-go situation is leaving your hair feeling weighed down, then you’ll want to put Tgin’s miracle repaiRx curl protein reconstructor to the test. Its natural formula removes product buildup and smoothes hair cuticles like a dream.
Combating product build-up is the name of the game for elongating the lifespan of any protective style, so we recommend investing in a good refresher product to keep the braids, locks, or curls in order until wash day. Black-owned brand, Bask & Bloom Essentials’ hy-fresh reviving spray will do just that.
For anyone that struggles with dandruff, dry scalp, eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea, finding a deep conditioning treatment is the key to combating those flakes. Fortunately, the search is over thanks to Adwoa Beauty. The brand’s Baomint treatment contains a hybrid of oils meant to relieve itchiness and anti-fungal properties that help keep flare-ups at bay.
Let’s be honest: scalp irritation from braids, hair extensions, weaves, and dreadlocks can be down-right annoying. Whatever style you love to wear, scalp irritation can be a given, unless you’re using Black-owned brand, Canviiy’s hero product, scalp bliss serum. This organic mix of aloe, lavender, witch hazel, manuka honey, and peppermint oil is perfect for soothing even the most irritated scalp.
Fact: shampoo does not need to strip my hair of moisture in order to be effective. Don’t believe me? Just test out Melanin Haircare’s African Black soap reviving shampoo. Formulated with cocoa, shea butter, argan oil, tea tree oil, black cumin turmeric oil, and spearmint, your hair will love this shampoo.
What happens when a scientist studies curly hair and creates a new brand? You get Kinky Tresses. After dealing with severe chemical relaxer burn, founder Shawna Moses decided to make a haircare brand meant to help dry, damaged hair—the result is a set of products that will help transitioning hair thrive in its natural state.
Two things can be considered top-tier life experiences; good hair days and giving back. And the Black-owned fair-trade brand, Alaffia, combines both of those feelings. Not only does the brand create handcrafted hair care products, but each purchase also goes towards the brand’s empowerment projects aimed to help Togo communities with access to education, maternal health, FGM eradication, and environmental sustainability.
Bouncing back from heat damage or chemical relaxers can be challenging—but that’s nothing Naturalicious’s Spanish almond regrowth oil isn’t willing to tackle. Founded by Gwen Jimmere as a way to simplify hair care routines, from her regrowth oil to styling products, everything is meant to cut-down time spent on hair maintenance without sacrificing its health.
Twisting paste is an essential part of maintaining healthy locs and promoting hair growth, which is why it’s important to invest in the right product. If you’re not sure where to start, look no further than the Black-owned, ethically sourced avocado hydrating twisting paste from NaturAll Club.
Before you fall down the YouTube haircare tutorial hole and consider DIY-ing your hair products, let us introduce you to Nancy’s Kitchen Products. You’ll still get the thrill and effect of handmade hair care without destroying your kitchen in the process.
Split ends are a nuisance for any hair texture, which is why having a treatment to combat breakage is a must. Mielle Organics’s rice water treatment will do just that since rice water has been proven to penetrate damaged hair follicles and repair them from the inside out.
For many women on their natural hair journey, YouTube is the place to learn about their textures and share their evolutions—for Rochelle Alikay Graham-Campbell, that sentiment rings true. After sharing her haircare journey, she was inspired to launch her all-natural hair care line, Alikay Naturals, which has become a beloved brand by many.
If you’ve been searching for a hair care product that will not only moisturize your locs but keep them fresh, then you’ll want to add Black-owned brand, Ooli’s fragrance into your arsenal.
Whoever said that all-natural hair care products couldn’t effectively maintain healthy curls never tried any products from Uncle Funky’s Daughter. Acquired by Renee Morris, this Black-owned brand continues to create crowd-favorites, including their curly magic curl stimulator (which is excellent for 3c-4c curl types looking to define and elongate their curls).
Anyone that’s experienced the “big chop” or is adopting protective hairstyles can relate to founder Dr. Camille Vervoic’s story. After cutting her hair and realizing there was a lack of hair care products specifically for caring for natural hair while wearing protective styles, she founded Girl + Hair Under Hair Care. Of course, the brand now specializes in various hair care products, but their apple cider vinegar hair rinse is a must-have.
You may have spotted Briogeo in Sephora before, but did you know that the brand is not only Black-owned but also a clean hair care line formulated to help all textures? Founded by Nancy Twine, each product is 90 to 100 percent naturally derived and has sustainable packaging material. Talk about a good find.
Ensuring your scalp is clean and hydrated is an essential part of maximizing any protective hairstyle—which is why Taraji P. Henson founded her vegan, cruelty- and paraben-free hair-care line, TPH. There’s an array of excellent products, but their serum will keep your scalp super hydrated and maximize the benefits of your protective style.
No matter if you have thick curly hair or thinner straight waves, hair loss is common for all textures. Fortunately, there is Black-owned brand, Camille Rose’s rejuva drops. Containing Saw Palmetto, its formulation naturally blocks the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) known for causing balding.
The key to any good hair routine is having not only an arsenal of hair products you can rely on,but also tools you love. A detangling brush can do wonders for hair, and this one from the Black-Owned brand, Felicia Leatherwood, is a game-changer.
All 4a curl patterns and up, let us introduce you to your new favorite curly hair styling product: Miss Jessie’s curly pudding. Formulated with your specific texture in mind, it’s guaranteed to add shine and stretch to your curls.
As cliché as this sounds, headwraps will 100% transform your hair care routine. So why not buy one from the Glow by Daye? You’ll be supporting a Black-owned brand while getting your beauty sleep and preventing frizz—multitasking at its finest.
If you are a fan of heat styling, then you’ll want to invest in a flat iron from the Black-owned brand Kosa. This flatiron is not like the rest because it has multiple ceramic topped layers designed to prevent hair breakage.
Not to get all woo-woo on you, but if you’re looking to embrace your curl’s divine structure, then you’ll want to shop Black-owned brand Meraki. Unlike other brands, they specialize in ground-breaking formulations containing amethyst gemstones, so your hair and your aura will be protected.
You can’t get the baby hairs or edges in formation with the right styling tool—enter the Baby Treses brush. Baby hairs don’t stand a chance.
While it’s essential to evaluate how effective a product is for your specific hair goals, it’s also important to understand if the oils within your hair care products are ethically and sustainably sourced. One Black-owned brand that’s leading the charge in that arena is Charlotte Mensah. Because great hair should also be great for the planet.
We’ve spoken before about our love for Frigg beauty, and we will again. If you’re looking for an all-in-one oil that can combat your dry scalp, dead ends, or enhance growth, then you only need Frigg’s attuning hair potion. Basically, it’s magic in a bottle.
If you’ve scrolled this far, then you’re probably wondering: how do I simplify my wash-day routine? Start by turning to the Black-owned, brand Bread Supply beauty, which specializes in creating easy wash-day pairing for all hairstyles—you really can’t go wrong with these kits. Keep in mind that the best products are the ones that work for you. Every person’s routine is as unique as their curls themselves, so don’t be afraid to test things out—there are so many great products available, and if they happen to be Black-Owned, that’s icing on the cake.
