Beyoncé’s Haircare Line Cécred Has Arrived

Everything about Beyoncé’s new haircare line, Cécred (spelled like Bey’s name but pronounced “sacred”) has been shrouded in mystery since it was announced on May 16th of last year. “How many of y’all knew my first job was sweeping hair in my mama’s salon?” she shared with her 320 million Instagram followers. “I was exposed to so many different kinds of entrepreneurial women in her salon. I saw firsthand how the ways we nurture and celebrate hair can directly impact our souls. Having learned so much on my hair journey, I’ve always dreamed of carrying on her legacy. I can’t wait for you to experience what I’ve been creating.” 

Since then, the world has gone on the whirlwind Renaissance Tour IRL and in theaters and smelled like the star through the limited-edition fragrance Cé Noir. Still—nothing about the haircare line… until about a month ago, when a mysterious email arrived in my inbox, inviting me to experience a yet-unnamed haircare brand from Beyoncé (it was an instant R.S.V.P. of yes, of course). 

A couple weeks and a taxi ride later and I’m on location for the brand’s New York launch event. The name had been revealed that morning, again on Instagram, as “Cécred.” We’re meeting at  hairstylist Neal Farinah‘s Brooklyn salon. Trinidad-born Farinah has been Beyoncé’s hairstylist since her “Irreplaceable” days. It’s actually one of the first videos he was on set with the star—and he’s helped design everything from that gravity defying Met Gala ponytail to her current Texas Hold ‘Em bleach blonde—ever since. After being buzzed into the front door, I’m greeted with my first surprise of the day: In this post-Grammys, pre-Super Bowl week, Farinah is there in the flesh to do my hair for the day. 

We’re chatting about a summer spent on tour (and his incredible ability to keep Beyoncé’s hair looking smooth during a 3-hour concert) when it’s time to start learning about the products. I sign and NDA, put tape over the cameras on my phone, and move to the back of the salon. Waiting there, next to the Foundation Collection is surprise number two of the afternoon—Miss Tina, Beyoncé’s mother and a trained hairstylist. Miss Tina and and Farinah make up half of Cécred’s advisory board: there’s also CEO Grace Ray and Kari Williams, PHD and trichologist, who are also on hand to share the secrets of the brand.