The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

Fenty Hair review: Rihanna’s haircare line proves there’s nothing she can’t do

For every hair type and texture, the nine-product line-up is finally here

Vanese Maddix
Friday 14 June 2024 11:26 BST
Our tester tried the vegan, sulfate-free and silicone-free products, to find out how they performed
Our tester tried the vegan, sulfate-free and silicone-free products, to find out how they performed (Vanese Maddix/The Independent)

The launch of Fenty Hair, Rihanna’s latest product line, seemed inevitable, with the evergrowing success of Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin and Fenty Fragrance. Vegan, sulfate-free and silicone-free, the new haircare line was created by Rihanna in collaboration with Fenty’s in-house Global Stylists, a team of research and development experts and chemists.

In true Fenty style, it’s clear a lot of love and care has gone into creating the nine-product line-up. In a recent press release, Rihanna said: “Hair has always been very personal to me – my hairstyles have been markers of my evolution and growth over the years – so launching Fenty Hair was something I was really passionate about.”

Fenty Hair has been designed to be used by all, regardless of your hair type and texture. Fenty Beauty, in particular, was a pioneer for inclusivity, with its numerous shade ranges and diverse products. So, it’s great to see that extended to Fenty Hair, with the continued ethos of “beauty for all”.

So, what products has Fenty Hair launched? There are nine haircare and styling products available. Retailing from £15 to £34, there’s everything from the gelly type strong hold gel (£27, Fentybeauty.co.uk) to the homecurl curl-defining cream (£29, Fentybeauty.co.uk) and the richer one moisture repair deep conditioner (£29, Fentybeauty.co.uk).

The products are all infused with replenicore-5, a proprietary complex and potent blend of amino acids, proteins and antioxidants, to repair, strengthen, hydrate, smooth and protect the hair. If you’re a fan of amber and floral scents, you’re sure to love the smell of each product, as they features notes of golden amber, lemon, yuzu, freesia and lily. All of the products feature pastel packaging with 3D textural design elements on the caps that correspond to each step of the haircare routine.

With all that in mind, our reviewer couldn’t wait to put the Fenty Hair products to the test.

How we tested Fenty Hair

We couldn’t wait to get our hands on the new line
We couldn’t wait to get our hands on the new line (Vanese Maddix)

Our tester has a 4C hair type, which needs a lot of moisture. She often has her hair out naturally or in a braided protective style, so it was important to her to test the products with both these styles. Fenty Hair highlights that the products work well on all styles, from braids and twists to heat-assisted looks. Our tester wasn’t able to use the strong hold gel or the deep conditioner but used all of the other products in the line-up.

On first use, our tester used the rich one moisture repair shampoo and the rich one moisture repair conditioner to wash her hair and then followed up with the protective type 5-in-1 heat protectant and the homecurl curl-defining cream, before stretching her afro hair out with a hairdryer.

A few days later, she visited her hairdresser for two stitch-in braids and used the rich one moisture repair shampoo, the comeback kid instant damage repair treatment, the protective type 5-in-1 heat protectant styler, the controlling type hair-thickening edge control gel, and the side stick 3-in-1 edge tool. Using the products for two different styles enabled our tester to really get a feel of the products.

Fenty Hair the rich one moisture repair shampoo

Fenty Hair review indybest Fenty Hair the rich one moisture repair shampoo
  • Size: 300ml
  • Why we love it
    • Lathers well
    • Hydrating formula
    • Smells great
Back to top

Fenty Hair the rich one moisture repair conditioner

Fenty Hair IndyBest review Fenty Hair the rich one moisture repair conditioner
  • Size: 300ml
  • Why we love it
    • Smooths hair
    • Good for detangling
Back to top

Fenty Hair the comeback kid instant damage repair treatment

Fenty Hair indybest review Fenty Hair the comeback kid instant damage repair treatment
  • Size: 150ml
  • Why we love it
    • Reduces breakage
    • Can be used as a leave-in treatment
    • Leaves hair feeling silky
Back to top

Fenty Hair the protective type 5-in-1 heat protectant styler

Fenty Hair indybest review Fenty Hair the protective type 5-in-1 heat protectant styler
  • Size: 150ml
  • Why we love it
    • Creamy formula
    • Infused with moringa oil and cranberry oil
    • Great scent
Back to top

Fenty Hair the homecurl curl-defining cream

Fenty Hair indybest review Fenty Hair the homecurl curl-defining cream.
  • Size: 350ml
  • Why we love it
    • Crunch-free
    • Good for use on damp hair
Back to top

Fenty Hair the controlling type hair-thickening edge control gel

Fenty hair indybest review Fenty Hair the controlling type hair-thickening edge control gel
  • Size: 100ml
  • Why we love it
    • Not oily
    • Nourishing
Back to top

Fenty Hair the side stick 3-in-1 edge tool

Fenty Hair indybest review Fenty Hair the side stick 3-in-1 edge tool
  • Size: N/A
  • Why we love it
    • Pairs well with the brand’s edge control
    • Has a luxe look and feel to it
  • Take note
    • Pricier than similar tools
Back to top

The verdict: Fenty Hair

Overall, we couldn’t be more pleased with the launch of Fenty Hair. We genuinely enjoyed the majority of the products, and Fenty Hair has done a great job of highlighting products such as the edge control gel and edge tool, which aren’t typically created by other mainstream brands. The inclusion of the warm, floral scent was an overall highlight for our tester, and really sets the brand and its products apart from others on the market.

The £15 to £34 price range is a lot more affordable than other celebrity haircare brands, and we loved the repair shampoo, conditioner and heat protectant in particular. There’s truly nothing Rihanna can’t do, and we’re excited to see what other products the brand might add to its hair portfolio in the future.

Want more inspiration? Check out our guide to the best hair oils

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
TUI Discount Code
£250 off a 7 night stay with the deal of the week - TUI discount code
ASOS Discount Code
ASOS Discount Code
10% off first orders £20+ using this ASOS promo code
Travelodge Discount Code
Travelodge Discount Code
5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount code
The Body Shop Discount Code
The Body Shop Discount Code
Save 20% on everything - The Body Shop discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
Save 15% on everything with birthday orders at The Perfume Shop - Member exclusive
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Cult Beauty Discount Code
15% off orders over £25 with this Cult Beauty voucher code

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in