Makeup isn’t my jam. I literally learned how to slap on foundation like a year ago. Still. I raised an eyebrow when the rumor mill turned: e.l.f., the drugstore makeup juggernaut, was stepping into the wet, chaotic world of haircare.
June 15 marked the debut. They aren’t just dabbing toes; they’re diving in. The new e.l.f. Hair line drops six products. Or, for those who want to test the waters without drowning in commitment, a six-piece bundle called The Bundle.
Shampoo. Conditioner. Styling cream. A weird wand. Hair oil. Anti-frizz spray.
My hair is type 3a curls. Thick. Dry. A pain to manage if I’m honest. I wash it daily because I live in New York, and sleeping with the city’s grit in my scalp isn’t the vibe. Plus, greasy roots ruin the look fast. Usually, I stick to hydrating stuff. I worry about breakage. I worry about dryness. I wanted to know if this budget-friendly newcomer could clean without stripping.
The price? $52 for the whole set. That’s insane. Each tube is under ten bucks. They’re sulfate-free. Paraben-free. Vegan. Cruelty-free. But price doesn’t wash your hair. Results do. So I put them to work for two weeks.
The Cleansing Duo: Never Thirsty
I cycle through shampoos constantly. I want hydration, but most things leave my ends brittle or my scalp slimy. Enter Never Thirsty.
The promise? Smoothness. Less tangles. They claim a 91% improvement. The science isn’t rocket science either—Provitamin B5 (panthenol) for internal moisture and argan oil to seal it in. Simple stuff.
Did it work? Actually, yes. The shampoo lathers creamy, not chemical. My scalp felt clean. Not squeaky-clean, just clean. No residue. No weird flaking. The smell is light berry, subtle. Not a perfume bomb.
The conditioner was the real surprise. Smooth. Silky. I had gone to the beach prior, swimming in ocean water—basically hair death sentence for curls. Tangles were severe. This stuff slipped through like butter. Detangling was effortless. It didn’t weigh my curls down, which is rare. I’m keeping these.
The Sticky Situation: 3-in-1 Styling Cream
Next up, the styling cream. I have standards for curl cream. I hate crunch. I hate sticky strands. I want volume without the glue.
e.l.f. calls it a 3-in-Wonder. It promises hold. Silkiness. Definition. I’m always skeptical when one product promises the kitchen sink. Usually, it ends up doing half the job and ruining the texture.
I applied it. I waited. My curls looked… stringy. Not bouncy. Not defined. Just clumped and wet. The hold was decent; my shape lasted through work hours. But the feel? Terrible. Sticky. Clumpy. It lacked the natural movement I need. Pass on this one.
The Weird Tool: Magic Styling Wand
So you can apply the cream with your hands. Or you can buy this separate wand.
It looked like a wax stick initially. A sleek applicator for tight slick-backs. Reality check: It’s a spoolie. Like a brow gel brush. For your scalp.
I tried taming flyaways at my roots. It deposited too much product. One swipe and my roots were glued down. It felt heavy. Wet. However. It did allow for precision. Using my hands on small flyaways is a mess. This kept the product localized. I could comb the excess out later with a detangling brush. It’s a niche tool. Not bad. Just… unnecessary if you don’t have tiny flyaways.
The Bright Spot: Gloss Mode Treatment Oil
Finally, a winner.
The Gloss Mode Oil has jojoba seed oil. Known for reducing frizz, adding fullness, preventing breakage.
It smells amazing. Vanilla notes. Fresh. Not cloying. It leaves hair shiny without that greasy film. I love that it doubles as a heat protectant. I blow-dry my curls sometimes. This gives me a safety net.
Does it hold up in humidity? No. I wore it on a muggy day, and my hair exploded. Frizz returned with a vengeance. But for normal days? It keeps things soft. It looks healthy. The scent lingers. I’ll keep using it despite the humidity fail.
The Hero: Humidity Hero Anti-Frizz Spray
New York rain. You know the drill. Frizz city.
I needed the Humidity Hero. It’s heat-activated. I sprayed it on, used my blowdryer (mediocre technique, I admit), and stepped out.
Eight hours later. My hair looked smooth. Silky. Presentable. I wasn’t expecting that. I usually look like I’ve been dragged backward through a hedge after five minutes out. This stuff locked in the look.
Is it perfect? No. It doesn’t add softness. It just stops the chaos. But hey, that’s what the oil is for. Layer them. The oil adds feel. The spray adds structure.
It reminds me of Color Wow Dream Coat. Which is great. But expensive. e.l.f.’s spray costs a fraction of the price. For a drugstore brand, knocking out that kind of frizz reduction? That’s the steal of the year.
The Verdict
So, is it worth it?
Yes. Mostly.
If you skip the cream and the wand, you save money and your sanity. The shampoo, conditioner, oil, and spray form a solid routine. For under ten dollars a piece, you aren’t going to find better performance in drugstores.
e.l.f. might have accidentally found its second act. These products aren’t luxury. They don’t claim to be. They just work. For a mid-shelf budget, they punch way above their weight.
I’ve already bought the bundle again. The shampoo and spray stay. The cream gets donated.
It’s a start.
