Best in Black Beauty Awards 2015: Hair

ESSENCE.COM Sep, 17, 2015

1 of 12 Greg Vore

Natural Hair System: Dark & Lovely Au Naturale Moisture L.O.C. Cleansing Shampoil and Deep Conditioning Delight

“This combo gave my curls lots of moisture and definition without leaving any buildup on my hair.”—Quintella Rowell, Birmingham, AL

$10 each, Target

2 of 12 Greg Vore

Relaxed Hair System: Carol’s Daughter Mirabelle Plum Biotin Shampoo & Conditioner

“I’ve tried other sulfate-free shampoos in the past and my hair immediately felt hard and tangled. Not with this! My hair loves this shampoo and conditioner and does not tangle.” —Dawn Langston, Milford, CT

$10–$12 each, Target

3 of 12 Greg Vore

Curling Iron: Phuse Beauty Wind Me Up Curling Iron

“My daughter tried this and said that it gave her a fresh-from-the-salon look.” —Kisha Bowser, Virginia Beach, VA

$75, phusebeauty.com

4 of 12 Greg Vore

Flat Irons: Hot Tools 1" Salon Flat Iron-Extra Long Plates

“I like the long flat plates. They make it easier to handle my hair from root to tip. The iron also heats up really quickly.”—Regina Daniels, Farmingdale, NY

$60, ulta.com

5 of 12 Greg Vore

Flat Irons: ghd Platinum

“This styler allows me to straighten my hair without having to worry about overheating and/or damaging my very color treated and curly hair, leaving it soft to the touch and with a reflective shine.”—Lisa M. Franklin, Pflugerville, TX

$249, Sephora

6 of 12 Greg Vore

Blow-Dryer: Revlon Pro Collection Soft Feel AC Motor Dryer

“This dried my hair in half the time of the other dryers I’ve tried. It also gets hotter and has less confusing settings.”—Ashton Grose, Leland, NC

$35, Target

7 of 12 Greg Vore

Hair Masque: PHYTO PHYTOKeratine Extreme Exceptional Mask

“At my age, I’ve noticed that my hair has turned into a dry, brittle, frizzy mass. I used this product and wow! It made such a huge difference. It’s fantastic!” —Karlene Carnegie, Tamarac, FL

$59, Sephora

8 of 12 Greg Vore

Dry Shampoo: Moroccan Oil Dry Shampoo Dark Tones

“For a dry shampoo there’s no powdery residue, it smells great and adds a nice thickness to my hair.” —Rosland Martin, Snellville, GA

$26, moroccanoil.com

9 of 12 Greg Vore

Curl Cream: Miss Jessie’s Coily Custard

“This gives me shiny, bouncy curls all day without any frizz.” —Charmale Cockrell, Pittsburgh

$14, missjessies.com

10 of 12 Greg Vore

Heat Protectant: Paul Mitchell MIRRORSMOOTH Primer

“Normally my hair reverts with humidity, but this keeps my hair from totally frizzing. I used this before I went to Essence Fest and my relaxed hair stayed nicely. My hair was smooth and the shine was awesome.” —Myra Achoe, Fort Mill, SC

$27, paulmitchell.com

11 of 12 Greg Vore

Hair Oil/Serum: Nexxus New York Salon Care Oil Infinite Nourishing Oil

“I have very thick, coarse, relaxed hair that’s cut into layers. My style requires a lot of movement. I’ve used this oil on both wet and dry hair, and I’m able to get the shine I want, plus the moisture, without it being heavy or feeling like it has product buildup.” —Felicia Walker-Stephen, Richardson,TX

$18, CVS

12 of 12 Greg Vore

Gel: R+Co MOTORCYCLE Flexible Gel

“I like the way this gel interacts with my hair. It gives a flexible hold without leaving a gunky buildup. It also has a clean scent that’s not too overpowering.”—Monica Scott, Columbus, OH

$26, neimanmarcus.com