Rihanna’s latest project is years in the making — and no, it’s not that long-awaited album.
After filing a trademark for Fenty Hair back in early 2021, the Bad Gal finally launched her haircare line in June, expanding a billion-dollar beauty empire that also encompasses Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin.
“Hair has always been very personal to me — my hairstyles have been markers of my evolution and growth over the years,” Rihanna shared in a press release.
“Creating products that were easy to use, no matter your hair type or texture, and that included repair in every step and could keep up with me, was crucial.”
Given my love of the superstar’s past beauty launches — I wear my Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint ($36) on a daily basis, adore the brand’s fiery red Stunna Lip Paint ($29) and keep Fenty Skin’s Total Cleans’r ($30) in my regular skincare rotation — I knew I had to get my hands on Rihanna’s haircare. So I placed orders for both myself and my colleague Tamantha Ryan to put to the test.
Fenty Hair by Rihanna
Fenty Hair launched with nine products developed with all hair types and textures in mind: The Rich One Moisture Repair Shampoo ($29), The Rich One Moisture Repair Conditioner ($29), The Richer One Moisture Repair Deep Conditioner ($29), The Comeback Kid Instant Damage Repair Treatment Bond Builder ($36), The Protective Type 5-in-1 Heat Protectant Styler ($28), The Homecurl Curl-Defining Cream ($28), The Gelly Type Strong Hold Gel ($26), The Controlling Type Hair-Thickening Edge Control Gel ($18) and The Side Stick 3-in-1 Edge Styling Tool ($18).
While you can purchase each item individually, there are also two wash-day bundles available, each with four products. The lone difference between the two is the conditioners; one comes with The Rich One, the other with The Richer One for those seeking extra hydration.
Fenty Hair Moisture Repair The Maintenance Crew Full-Size Bundle
Fenty Hair Deep Moisture Repair The Maintenance Crew Full-Size Bundle
Everything’s sulfate-free, silicone-free and cruelty-free, and each product’s formulated with the brand’s proprietary Replenicore-5 complex — a blend of amino acids, proteins and antioxidants that incorporates vitamin C-rich Barbados gooseberry, nutrient-dense jackfruit extract and inflammation-busting green tea extract.
They all come in very on-brand pastel packaging, and the differently textured caps are intended as sensory aids, so you can grab the correct product when you’re in the shower with shampoo in your eyes.
Our review
Fenty Hair The Rich One Moisture Repair Shampoo
Pros:
- Lathers like a dream
- Cleanses hair without stripping
- Leaves locks feeling soft
Cons:
- The most heavily fragranced product of the bunch, which our testers loved but some with sensitive noses might not
“This smelled amazing. I had to use a few pumps to get a good lather because I have 4C hair and it’s really thick and I had just taken out knotless braids. It felt amazing on my hair and really got it clean.” – Tamantha Ryan, Page Six Writer/Editor
“Because my hair is long, very thick and naturally curly (I’m somewhere between a 2C and 3A), I typically only wash it once a week — so my shampoo has to work hard! I absolutely loved the warm amber/floral scent of this one (as did my husband, who complimented it after my shower), and it lathered like a dream despite being sulfate-free. I generally need to use half a palmful of shampoo to get the job done, but one pump of this was enough to get my hair sudsed up and super clean without feeling stripped.” – Elana Fishman, Page Six Style Editor
Fenty Hair The Rich One Moisture Repair Conditioner
Pros:
- Thick and rich, but melts into hair on contact
- Excellent at detangling
- Hydrates hair without weighing it down
Cons:
- May not be a necessary buy if you’re planning to use the brand’s bond-building treatment (more on that below)
“‘The Rich One’ is right — this conditioner is thick. Promising ‘everyday hydration’ for all hair types, it’s an excellent detangler and made my post-shower combing routine a cinch.” – Elana Fishman, Page Six Style Editor
Fenty Hair The Richer One Moisture Repair Deep Conditioner
Pros:
- Offers extra hydration for dry or damaged hair
- Excellent at detangling
- Leaves locks feeling soft and silky
Cons:
- May not be a necessary buy if you’re planning to use the brand’s bond-building treatment (more on that below)
“I loved how the conditioner felt, and how easy it was to open the packaging and scoop some into my hair. Not only did it smell so good, but I also didn’t have to use much product.” – Tamantha Ryan, Page Six Writer/Editor
Fenty Hair The Comeback Kid Instant Damage Repair Treatment Bond Builder
Pros:
- Does double duty as conditioner
- Can be rinsed out or left in
- Great at detangling
Cons:
- No instructions on packaging — only illustrations, which may be confusing
“I love that there’s two different ways you can use this repair treatment: letting it work for a few minutes and washing it out, or leaving it in and not washing it out. While the product was in my hair, I combed through to make sure it was evenly distributed. After five minutes, I rinsed it out and it made my hair feel moisturized.” – Tamantha Ryan, Page Six Writer/Editor
“While the conditioner I tried worked well, the brand confirms that you can use this bond-building treatment in place of conditioner, and that’s exactly what I’d advise doing. It’s equally great at detangling and left my hair feeling incredibly hydrated and soft. Like Tamantha, I chose to leave it in for five minutes and then rinse it out, but I’m planning to try it as an overnight hair mask next. My one gripe? I’m not a fan of the fact that all these products have ‘how-to’ illustrations instead of actual instructions. They’re not the most intuitive.” – Elana Fishman, Page Six Style Editor
Fenty Hair The Protective Type 5-In-1 Heat Protectant Styler
Pros:
- A little goes a very long way
- Protects hair against heat up to 450°F
- Smooths, detangles, cuts frizz and boosts shine
Cons:
- Again, could benefit from instructions instead of illustrations — especially when determining how much product to use
“After towel-drying my hair, I applied the heat protectant. It left my curls feeling silky. After I blow-dried my hair, I could smell the products on my hair every time I turned my head.” – Tamantha Ryan, Page Six Writer/Editor
“This product’s definitely the best value of the bunch; a little goes a long way, and after accidentally using way too much the first time, I discovered a dime-sized dollop is all I need. I swear it reduced the time it took to flat-iron my hair, as I found I needed fewer passes of the tool to get that really silky, straight look. And it truly cut down on frizz, which can be a real issue for my hair in the summer humidity.” – Elana Fishman, Page Six Style Editor
The final verdict
It’s clear Rihanna’s got another hit on her hands, if not of the Billboard Hot 100 variety. We loved testing Fenty Hair’s first few products and plan to continue using them — especially the shampoo, bond-building treatment and heat protectant. The whole line smells fantastic and left our hair clean, soft and shiny.
How we tested
Both testers replaced their haircare routines with Fenty Hair products for two full wash cycles, keeping the following criteria top of mind:
- Consistency: Is the product thick and rich or light and runny? Fenty Hair’s offerings fall pretty squarely into the former category, with the possible exception of the shampoo.
- Scent: While some folks prefer fragrance-free products, there’s no denying that a great scent can elevate your beauty routine in a big way. Both testers loved Fenty Hair’s signature warm, ambery floral fragrance.
- Results: This is the biggie! How did our locks look and feel after using Fenty Hair and styling as usual? Did the results last until our next wash day?
Why Trust Page Six Style Shopping
This article was written by Elana Fishman, founding editor of Page Six Style. Elana applies her celebrity fashion expertise to shoppable content for diehard fans (like herself) as host of video series Style Trial and Heart to Cart, reviewing celebrity-loved products and finding every Taylor Swift-worn style so that you can shop it, too. Elana consults celebrity stylists on the latest street style and red carpet trends, researches what celebrity-backed brands and products are worth it and chats with the stars themselves for beauty and fashion recommendations. Prior to Page Six Style’s inception in 2018, Elana covered celebrity fashion at Vox Media, as well as Lucky, Marie Claire and Teen Vogue.
