Welcome to Retail Therapy by Prevention! In this series, our editors provide thoughtful, honest reviews of what we’ve been testing lately that we want you to know about—because we refuse to keep these game-changing finds all to ourselves. Whether you’re on a mission to find something specific or simply need a little retail therapy in the form of an impulse purchase, consider this your insider’s shopping guide to everything our team thinks is worth the buy. I may not be a card-carrying member of the BeyHive, but I’ve been a fan of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter since her Destiny’s Child days. I’ve watched her conquer the worlds of music, fashion, and film with thoughtfulness and ease, so I was excited when she announced her entry into beauty with her hair care line Cécred. The hair care line—which spent six years in development—is a joint project from Beyoncé and her mom Tina Knowles, who brings over 20 years of salon experience and expertise to the brand. The line is made up of eight products designed to help clean, moisturize, and style all hair types and textures. Curious, I knew I had to try it for myself and grabbed the Restoring Hair & Edge Drops. After six months of use, my edges felt so much thicker and fuller, I was ready to see what else Cécred had in store for my hair and scalp health. Shop Cécred at ULTA After thorough research (including combing through 800 reviews on the Cécred website, as well as watching several YouTube review), I decided to add the Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub to my bare-bones hair routine. The product promises to exfoliate and remove product buildup and residue from styling products with a gentle yet deep clean. The reviews also mentioned a refreshing, tingly clean feeling. But, did it live up to those claims? Keep reading to see my full honest review. I have 4c type hair, meaning it’s tightly curled and sometimes needs extra moisturizing. I wear my hair in locs, which doesn’t require a daily shampoo, so wash day means lighting a candle, setting a playlist (in this case, “Cowboy Carter”), and taking my time washing and retwisting my hair. I used this product twice in one month, which is about the frequency at which I usually do a deep wash. TheClarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub has a few special ingredients. It’s infused with fermented purple willow bark and tea tree oil to help remove buildup. Along with the tea tree oil, the signature fragrance comes from the notes of lemon, peppermint, and rosemary. Some other active ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, a biodegradable exfoliant derived from wood, and niacinamide, a vitamin B3 derivative. The shampoo is also formulated without silicones, phthalates, and parabens. Before using the product, I popped off the decorative double crescent top, which revealed a convenient nozzle. I squeezed the shampoo into my palm and then applied it to my scalp, but you could also apply the shampoo directly to your scalp with the nozzle. I also didn’t need a lot. I watched a few reviews before shampooing my hair, and just a dollop of shampoo was enough to clean my whole head. After thoroughly wetting my hair, I applied the shampoo to my scalp, and the mixture felt rich and silky but slightly cooling, which was likely tea tree oil activating. The shampoo has a bit of a grainy texture from the exfoliating scrub, and as I worked it through my hair, it produced a lot of suds (even without sulfates!), which is a big plus in my books. Cécred recommends letting the shampoo sit on your scalp for a minute or two before washing it out, so I piled my hair into a bun, washed my face, and let the shampoo do its thing. After a few minutes, I rinsed out the shampoo, gently squeezed out excess water, and applied a light oil to lock in the moisture. When I was finished, my scalp felt clean and refreshed while my hair felt soft and light—no residue to be found. Like all of Knowles-Carter’s ventures, Cecred is so thoughtful. First, its design: The monochromatic color scheme and pebbled texture of the bottle look and feel so elegant. The application tip is handy and easy to use, and I also like that the shampoo is free from parabens and sulfates, which can be harsh on any hair type. The shampoo itself was also a luxurious experience. Just a small amount of shampoo lathered beautifully and left a tingly feeling on my scalp—which was invigorating without being too intense—and the minty smell was really enjoyable. Most importantly, it didn’t leave any residue, a crucial factor for those with locs like me. Some reviews mentioned the shampoo leaves their hair dry, but I did not experience that. It is worth noting that it’s best used as part of a routine that includes a post-wash moisturizing product, and Cécred recommends using the clarifying product every 2-4 weeks to avoid over-stripping your hair and following up with a hydrating shampoo or conditioner. If you use a lot of styling products or wear your hair in protective styles like braids, the Cécred Clarifying Shampoo & Scrub is a great way to cleanse your hair between styles or as a monthly “reset.” I found it was a perfect fit for my hair care routine, and I think it would be particularly beneficial for those with thick curly hair. The clarifying shampoo definitely leans on the expensive side, but due to how little product it required (and its frequency directions), I think it could last a few months, making the $38 price tag a pretty good investment. As someone with a regimented hair care routine (and can set aside a few hours to wash my hair), I plan to add this as part of my deep clean wash days for the foreseeable future. Mariette Williams is a freelance writer living in South Florida. She covers topics such as travel, culture, books, and wellness, and when she’s not traveling, she’s lost in a good book.