We tried Blake Lively’s Blake Brown haircare, and here’s our honest review

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Blake Lively’s one busy lady.

Earlier this month, the blond bombshell took a brief break from her floral-fashion-filled “It Ends With Us” press tour to launch her new haircare line, Blake Brown , inspired by her own personal regimen of shampoos, masks and styling products. (Brown is her father’s last name; he took her mother’s name, Lively, when they wed.)

“Blake Brown has been more than a 7-year labor of love. I was determined to bottle up a premium, salon-quality haircare line that’s cleaner, cruelty-free, easier, yummier, more sustainable and more accessible than anything I saw out there,” Lively said in a press release.

“Performance was paramount. We were uncompromising, which is why it took an absurd amount of time, but the products show our level of dedication and strict quality control. I couldn’t be more proud.”

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Now available at Target , Blake Brown launched on August 4 with eight products, all priced under $25: Wild Nectar Santal Fundamental Nourishing Shampoo , Wild Nectar Santal Fundamental Nourishing Mask , Sandalwood Vanille Fundamental Strengthening Shampoo , Sandalwood Vanille Fundamental Strengthening Mask , Milky Sandalwood Rich Reset Pre-Shampoo Mask , Amber Vanille Dry Shampoo , Blackcurrant Vanille Glam Mousse and Bergamot Woods All-In-Wonder Leave-In Potion .

Notably, there’s no traditional conditioner in the lineup; that’s because Lively exclusively uses masks after every wash, a trick she learned from years of working with some of the best hairstylists in Hollywood.

The “Gossip Girl” star’s said she wanted Blake Brown to be the less expensive, cleaner version of Kérastase , the luxury haircare brand she’s used and loved for years. To find out if she achieved that goal — and if her products might magically transform our hair into the lush, Lively-esque locks of our dreams — we ordered the full range to put to the test.

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Pros:

• Lathers like a dream
• Smells great
• Sulfate-free but still cleanses effectively

Cons:

• Both Blake Brown shampoos contain sodium chloride (aka salt) — not ideal for keratin-treated hair

“This shampoo felt really nourishing and smoothing. The texture was velvety, and felt really nice on my coarser curls. I always have to use a little bit more than the packaging recommends, because I have thick hair and I want to make sure that I’m getting it all. This is definitely something I would keep in my lineup.” — Taylor Valentine, Page Six Lead Editor/Producer

“My hair is thick and naturally curly, so I typically flat-iron it weekly and get an annual keratin smoothing treatment to help me survive the humid NYC summers with minimal frizz. While I was pleased to discover Blake Brown’s shampoos are both sulfate-free , I wasn’t a fan of the fact that they contain sodium chloride (aka salt), another enemy of keratin-treated hair — and I’d just gotten my treatment before receiving these products. Still, since it’s pretty far down on the ingredient list and I tend to only shampoo once a week, I went forward with my test — and am glad I did. This stuff lathered like a dream, effectively cleansed my hair and scalp without stripping and infused some much-needed volume (sans frizz) into my post-keratin locks. I also loved the scent!” — Elana Fishman, Page Six Style Editor

Pros:

• Great lather
• Fragrance is noticeable but not overpowering

Cons:

• None to note

“I have naturally curly hair, but am always blow-drying it straight. I also color it and wear extensions. I opted for the line’s strengthening shampoo, since my hair is more on the dry and damaged side from all of the heat styling and coloring I’ve done to it over the years. I applied a palm-sized amount and started to massage it through my hair. At first I wasn’t sure if it’s would be the kind of shampoo that forms a thick lather, but as I continued to massage it in, it began to get more foamy — which I personally prefer. The shampoo also had a very light fragrance to it, which wasn’t heavy or overpowering. It was just right.” — Astra, Page Six Anchor/Producer

Pros:

• Very nourishing and softening
• Beautiful scent
• Great at detangling

Cons:

• Packaging is a bit unwieldy
• Those with thick, long hair may need to use a lot of product for desired results

“This mask was my favorite of the bunch. As somebody who gravitates towards hair masks in general for weekly use, this made my hair feel so soft and I was able to comb through it with ease in the shower before getting out and putting in my hair product. I used about a full palmful to cover my entire head, so if you have a lot of hair, this might not be ideal because there’s not a ton that comes in the container.” — Valentine

“I wholeheartedly agree with Blake that a mask — or even just a rich conditioner left on for a few extra minutes — is the gold standard when it comes to achieving soft, shiny hair. This one was especially thick and buttery; I left it on for about five minutes while shaving and washing my body, then rinsed it out. My hair felt soft, moisturized and, well, nourished! While I really like how the packaging for the shampoos and masks looks on my shower shelf, however, it’s not the most user-friendly; the (gigantic) caps are a bit tricky to screw on with wet hands.” — Fishman

Pros:

• Beautiful scent
• Effectively softens and hydrates hair

Cons:

• Fragrance could be a bit stronger

“This mask had a beautiful light vanilla scent to it. It was in a tub-like container, so you need to scoop out the amount you want to use. I took out enough to, again, fill my palm, and I evenly distributed it through my hair from root to tip. I left it on for about two minutes or so, which was just enough time for me to finish up the rest of my shower. I rinsed it out and my hair felt smooth and slippery, which let me know that the product really did its job. Personally, I wish the smell was a bit stronger, because as someone who only washes their hair twice a week, I like for my hair to hold the scent of the products that I use. This would be great for someone who washes their hair more regularly and doesn’t want a scent that’s overpowering.” — Astra

Pros:

• Rich, creamy consistency
• Beautiful scent that’s not too strong
• One tester said her hair felt smooth and silky after use

Cons:

• Takes 30 minutes to work
• One tester said her hair felt brittle afterward — though she only used it for 10 minutes

“All the Blake Brown packaging is very cute, but I will admit I had a little trouble with the cap on this mask. It’s a little tough to get off. I used enough to coat my hair, which is kind of a lot because I do have very dense hair. I left it in for about 10 minutes but when I washed it out, I felt like my hair was actually brittle. I didn’t really like the feeling of it, considering my hair is already on the drier side and my curls need to be nourished and not feel stripped.” — Valentine

“This needs to stay on your hair for 30 minutes, per the instructions — so it’s not the type of mask that you can put on as you enter the shower. Normally, hair masks take about 10 minutes, which allows you time to shower and shave while they’re on. This was an inconvenience because if I’m going to wet my hair, I would prefer to do it while I’m in the shower and multitasking. The consistency was creamy, and the scent was fragrant but not too strong or overpowering. Since my hair is long, I used a palm-sized amount of product and evenly distributed it from my roots to the tip of my hair, making sure to cover my full head. I then wrapped my hair and clipped it and went to watch TV for a half hour. When it was time to rinse it out, my hair felt smooth and silky.” — Astra

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Pros:

• Smells great
• Effectively detangles
• Tames frizz and flyaways

Cons:

• Texture is a bit thick for a spray bottle
• Not marketed as a heat protectant, but ingredient list suggests it may function as one

“As with the shampoo and mask, I have some gripes about the packaging here. The formula’s thicker than you’d expect (more like a lotion than an oil), and it wasn’t the easiest to spray directly onto my hair; I preferred spraying it into my hand and then finger-raking it through. That said, its detangling and smoothing properties impressed me, and like the other Blake Brown products I tried, it smelled lovely. I found it curious that a treatment billed as “all-in-one” wasn’t marketed as a heat protectant — probably because it’s silicone-free, like the rest of the line. That said, the ingredient list includes alkanes, panthenol and plant-based proteins, which are all effective at protecting the hair from hot styling tools, so make of that what you will!” — Fishman

Pros:

• Creates soft, lightweight, flexible hold
• Adds major volume
• Smells incredible

Cons:

• None to note

“I’m not somebody who uses mousses often, because I don’t feel they give me the hold that I need — but I was pleasantly surprised when this one gave me hold without frizz and made my curls feel lightweight and soft. Also, can you say volume ?! If you’re in the market for something to lift your roots, this is definitely the product to do it. I think this mousse is also something I would keep in my lineup. It might be good for winter, when my hair is feeling a little limp because of the dry air; I can’t wait to try it when the weather changes and see how it helps! Also, like everything else from the line I tried, the smell was amazing. I am a huge fan of warm fragrances, and after using the products at night, I’ve been waking up to find my hair still has that Blake Brown scent.” — Valentine

Pros:

• Smells great
• Adds volume and texture while absorbing oil
• Didn’t leave a whitish cast in our dark hair

Cons:

• As with most dry shampoos, you may notice residue after a few consecutive days of use

“I tried out Blake Brown’s dry shampoo at the best possible time: during the agonizing post-keratin-treatment period when you can’t wash your stick-straight hair for three days. I spritzed it into my limp, lifeless, greasy bangs and hoped for a miracle. And for the most part, it delivered, adding volume and lift along with a lovely (but not overpowering) amber-vanilla scent. It also didn’t leave a whitish cast in my dark brunette hair, which I appreciated. Post-shampoo, I’ve been using it on clean hair to add a boost to my bangs, which tend to be a bit flatter immediately after keratin treatments than I’d prefer, and it’s working like a charm. One caveat: When I used it for several consecutive days, I did detect a bit of residue at my roots, but that’s to be expected with most (if not all) dry shampoos.” — Fishman

Overall, we were pleased with the performance — and particularly the fragrance — of Blake Brown’s first offerings. We especially enjoyed the scented lather of the shampoos and the rich, deeply moisturizing masks. That said, it’s clear there are some kinks the team needs to work out in terms of the products’ packaging. They sure do look pretty on the shelf, though!

Our three testers washed, conditioned (sorry, masked ) and styled their hair using various Blake Brown products for at least one full wash-day cycle, keeping the following criteria in mind:

• Scent: Blake’s said picking the right fragrances for her products was a top priority, and wanted them to smell like perfumes you’d actually want to wear.
• Value: Unlike some celebrities who’ve entered the beauty space, Blake chose to keep her offerings affordable, with the goal of making luxury haircare available to the masses.
• Viscosity: From the thick, rich masks Blake suggests substituting for traditional conditioner to the volume-boosting but brushable mousse, we took careful note of the consistency of each product — and how easily (or not) it dispersed from the packaging.
• Performance: Obviously, this one’s key! How did our hair look and feel after using Blake Brown? Did each product deliver on its promises, and did the results lash until our next wash?

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