I Tried Cécred’s New Protection Collection—Here Are My Thoughts

If there’s one thing we know to be true, it’s that Beyoncé is always working on something new. Naturally, this sentiment also applies to her hair care company, Cécred. Since launching last February, the brand has steadily expanded from its initial lineup of seven products, releasing viral favorites like the Restoring Hair & Edge Drops along the way.

Now, Cécred is gearing up to drop its newest assortment, the Protection Collection, on August 25. Ahead, learn more about the products in the line and my first-hand experience with each one. 

The Products

Beyoncé has worn every protective style under the sun—from wigs to braids—and is obviously no stranger to hair coloring either, having been blonde for decades. Her experiences directly shaped this collection, allowing the brand to bring a fresh perspective to the protection category.

“We knew that consumers in protective styles and extensions often rely on home-mixed hair remedies, oftentimes without validated but also high-performance solutions,” director of education Dr. Kari Williams tells Byrdie. “These approaches might offer a temporary fix, but over time, they can weaken the scalp and hair health, causing damage, breakage, and shedding. We wanted to change that narrative with the new Protection Collection. Our goal was to create products that prioritize performance and efficacy, while staying true to trusted and safe ingredients, so consumers no longer have to choose between safety and results.”

The five-piece collection includes everything you need to approach the prep, maintenance, and takedown process of protective styles. There’s the Detoxifying Shampoo, Scalp Refreshing Spray, Oil Ritual, Detangling Spray, and Hair & Scalp Balm. 

Of course, each product is uniquely formulated; however, there’s a proprietary “PhytoFerment” (a blend of scalp-nourishing ingredients) found across the entire collection. “Merging wisdom and science is the backbone of our research and development strategy, so with this collection, we drew from Herbalism, but through a scientific lens by looking at the biochemical properties of plant remedies,” senior vice president of product development Robyn Watkins says. “We took that wisdom to the lab and created our latest innovation, PhytoFerment. We developed this balanced bioferment with the overall intention to help soothe, nourish, and balance the scalp while preventing dryness, style-related itchiness, and tension. It is derived from fermented purple willow bark, tea tree, rosemary, goldenrod, and so much more.”

As with the Foundation Collection, this new assortment features a signature fragrance as well. Dubbed “nocturne spice,” the scent has addictive notes of pink pepper, vanilla, cardamom spice, tonka bean, and oud.

My Review 

Ahead of the launch of the Protection Collection, I was able to enjoy a salon appointment with Dr. Williams. Having spent the summer in protective styles and doing a bit more heat styling than usual, my hair and scalp have been in need of some extra love and care. That said, Dr. Williams gave me the full Cécred experience—using each of the five products on my hair. 

She started with the Detangling Spray—which contains slippery elm, ceramides, honey, and aloe vera leaf juice—and it instantly added more slip and softness to my hair. Then, we moved on to the Detoxifying Shampoo, a blue-violet formula that enhances the vibrancy of your hair while also removing all traces of buildup. With menthol being a hero ingredient, this shampoo creates a deep cooling sensation on the scalp (which feels really nice). After two rounds of shampooing, my hair felt squeaky clean, but not in a stripped way—instead, my curls felt like they were in their purest, most balanced state.

After cleansing, Dr. Williams applied the Oil Ritual. Hot oil treatments are a Black haircare staple, so I was excited to see Cécred’s take—and it didn’t disappoint. Let’s get into the ingredients first: the Oil Ritual is infused with 21 oils (like manuka), honey, peppermint, and menthol for that cooling effect. You can use it at room temperature or heat it to enhance its benefits—we opted for the latter to combat the dryness I was experiencing, and I sat under a hooded dryer for 15 minutes. Once the oil was thoroughly rinsed out, my hair was noticeably softer, shinier, and smoother.

Before it was time to move on to styling, Dr. Williams misted my scalp with the Scalp Refreshing Spray for extra measure. I was especially intrigued by this particular product for a few reasons—first and foremost, the packaging. Unlike typical spray bottles, this one features a custom nozzle that makes it easy to apply the product to your scalp, whether you’re wearing a weave or braids. The Scalp Refreshing Spray is packed with honey, ceramide, peppermint, and menthol, so it also offers a rejuvenating and soothing sensorial experience. In between wash days, I definitely see myself reaching for this often to dissolve buildup and revive my scalp quickly.

To finish, Dr. Williams used the Moisture-Sealing Lotion from the brand’s Foundation Collection to define and moisturize my curls. She finished with the new Hair & Scalp Balm, one of the most versatile products in this new collection. Inspired by back-in-the-day hair greases, the brand claims 10 different usage cases—from moisturizing your dry scalp to smoothing frizz to blending leave-out. We used this to tame flyaways around my hairline and further boost shine. I’m impressed by how lightweight and non-greasy this formula is, considering it’s a balm-to-oil salve. 

Post-salon visit, I’ve received numerous compliments on how healthy my hair looks, and I wholeheartedly agree. As I prepare for my next protective style, I feel confident that my hair is in its best possible shape, and I’m excited to continue to incorporate these five products into my maintenance routine. All in all, Cécred, you’ve outdone yourself once again.