Does Beyoncé's New Haircare Line, Cécred, Live Up To The Hype? Three ELLE Editors Put It To The Test
It's the launch that's set the internet alight, but does Cécred - a new line-up of haircare heroes created by none other than Beyoncé - truly live up to the hype? Three ELLE UK Editors put every tech-led shampoo and hardworking treatment through its paces to find out...
Tamison O'Connor, Fashion Features Director
'I’ll be honest, I’m not easily wowed by buzzy 'of the moment' hair care brands. Most new labels I try are perfectly fine, but I rarely ever end up repurchasing. Cécred, Beyoncé’s new beauty venture, is the new exception.
My hair is naturally very curly, but a recent anti-frizz salon treatment has loosened the curls to waves and left my hair feeling particularly dry (and looking particularly unruly). I usually wash it once a week and always go heavy on the conditioner as it needs a lot of moisture.
I was a bit overwhelmed with Cécred’s product offering — how many steps!? — so I decided to ease myself in and start with the basics: the scalp shampoo, the hydrating shampoo and the deep conditioner. It didn’t start off well: while the packaging looks beautiful, I found it unnecessarily fiddly, particularly in the shower. A few slips and one a broken shampoo cap later, I decided to unscrew the lids and squeeze the product straight from the bottle.
Faff aside, I was extremely impressed with the efficacy of the products and how they felt in my hair. The hydrating Shampoo lathered really nicely, unusual for a sulphate-free shampoo, while the conditioner was like a mask in itself (I usually leave my conditioner on for 3 to 5 minutes before rinsing out, and the thickness of Cecred’s makes it perfect for this). With both, a little goes a long way.
Encouraged, before blow drying, I ran a tiny bit of Moisture Sealing Lotion through my hair before spritzing it with Pureology’s Colour Fanatic Spray, my go-to for heat protection. I found my hair was unusually easy to blow dry and it was left silky smooth for days. I can’t remember ever using a product line that packs such a punch after just one wash before. Each morning I’ve been refreshing my ’do with a tiny splash of the hair oil.
For round two, I added the Reconstructing Treatment Mask to the routine; it sells itself as "hair repair in a jar". Does it deliver? I’ll leave you with my one-word review: magic.'
Kara Kia, Fashion & Beauty Ecommerce Editor
'As with many editors, I am sceptical of celebrity beauty brands, but you can truly feel and see how much research and development has gone into Cécred. Starting with the packaging, it’s beautiful but also practical. The textured design means the bottles are easy to grip onto with wet hands, and the flat top sits on its head to get every ounce of product out without force.
The formulation is excellent. Starting with the Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub, the exfoliants removed a week’s worth of product build-up from my scalp and lengths (I gave it a good go). Followed by the Hydrating Shampoo, it infused my hair with moisture. I’ve never used a silicone-free shampoo that has enough slip for in-shower detangling – very impressive. I finished it off with the Moisturizing Deep Conditioner, and I love the rich, buttery texture – and that it can be left on for up to 30 minutes.
On two separate occasions I tried the Reconstructive Treatment Mask and the Fermented Rice & Rose Ritual. Although there is no heat-protectant in Cécred’s foundation line – the treatments have been incredible at healing heat damage in the front of my hair. I use the mask to get my curls back after a blow-out or silk press, and I saw a slight kink returning to heat-damaged strands. As for the Rice & Rose Ritual, I was blown away by how much my curl pattern returned to those same heat-damaged ends, which had previously become bone straight. Using the ritual before a blow-out is going to be the way forward for infusing my hair with enough protein so that it can withstand a straightener.
Finally, the Nourishing Hair Oil – beyond the obvious shelf appeal, it smells gorgeous and is incredibly lightweight. For me, it’s perfect as a finishing oil on a wash-and-go day, used very lightly to create a frizz-free barrier after a blow-out, or I also like to dab a tiny bit on my scalp where there's any thinning. I can’t wait for Cécred to expand the line into curl creams and gels, then I will be fully converted.'
Panashe Nyadundu, Editorial Assistant
'As someone with extremely dense 4c hair that's been bleached and dyed, I was initially sceptical as to how Cécred, though claiming to cater to all hair types, would meet the needs of my typical hair routine – but I was quickly proven wrong.
Starting off my usual wash day regime, I dampened my hair to detangle and section it, and went straight for the Clarifying Shampoo and Scalp Scrub.
Despite having some build-up and residue in my hair following a protective hair style, after just one wash I could see and feel that my hair was getting the deep clean that it needed. I added the Hydrating Shampoo for some moisture and, by wash number two, it was clear that the mix of exfoliants, willow bark and tea tree oil had left my hair feeling clean, soft, and free from any brittleness, which is so often the result after using clarifying shampoos.
Next up, the sure-fire heroes of the collection – the fermented Rice & Rose Ritual, Reconstructing Treatment Mask and Moisturising Deep Conditioner. A natural, ancient ritual made easy, my hair was left feeling stronger than before, without the added effort of having to make the treatment myself. As the first conditioner contains keratin ferment and the latter, a mix of rich butters and oils, my bleached strands felt so renewed that I was happy to retire my trusted Olaplex products.
To finish my haircare routine, I let my hair air dry and only added in a few drops of the Nourishing Hair Oil, which has a blend of 13 oils and plant-based extracts. Without any heavy silicone or paraben coatings that leave your hair looking greasy and weighed down, it has a really lightweight feel that locks in lasting moisture.'
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