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Blake Lively launched a hair care line at Target — here's what shoppers think so far
It's called Blake Brown and features products to nourish and strengthen hair.
It's likely that you're seeing Blake Lively all over the news right now. Why? She's currently doing press for her new movie It Ends With Us (and, of course, there's a little drama swirling around it). She also just launched an affordable hair care line at Target called Blake Brown. The latter has us pretty pumped, because the former Gossip Girl star is known for her long and luscious golden locks. If we can make our hair look fuller, stronger and more hydrated like hers, then count us in! Early shoppers are already raving about it too.
What is Blake Brown?
Blake Brown Wild Nectar Santal Fundamental Nourishing Shampoo
Blake Brown Sandalwood Vanille Fundamental Strengthening Shampoo
Blake Brown Milky Sandalwood Rich Reset Pre-Shampoo Mask
Blake Brown Amber Vanille Dry Shampoo
Blake Brown Blackcurrant Vanille Glam Mousse
Blake Brown launched at Target on Aug. 4 and you can still get most of the products online. (In case you're wondering, Brown is her dad's last name — he took her mother's last name, Lively, when they married.) The line includes eight products: two shampoos, two masks, a pre-shampoo treatment and three styling products (dry shampoo, leave-in "potion" and a mousse). All of the products are priced between $19 and $25.
“Seven years in the making, and now my secret is yours,” the actress wrote in an Instagram about her new brand. “We couldn’t have worked harder to make you a handful of products so good that they speak entirely for themselves. I can’t wait for you to give them a try.”
Lively admitted at a press event that her products were inspired by some of her favorite hair care brands, Kérastase and Philip Kingsley, but with a more affordable price tag. Also notably different from these luxe brands is that all of Blake Brown's products are vegan and free of sulfates and silicones, making the line certified "clean" by Target, Ulta and Sephora's standards.
Why is there no conditioner?
Now, you may have noticed that there isn't a conditioner included in the line, and that's because Lively said she doesn't use one. Instead, she uses hair masks in place of conditioner. "I switched exclusively to a shampoo and mask system 20 years ago and have never looked back," she said in an interview with Target. "To me, conditioner is like a diluted, watered-down mask. Masks work for me, so I use them instead of a conditioner."
The shampoo and masks also address two main concerns: strengthening hair and nourishing it. Lively suggests toggling between them, either wash to wash or even bottle to bottle. She says it's important to both strengthen and nourish hair — if you do one more than the other, you could end up with breakage.
What do Blake Brown products smell like?
Another important thing to note about the products are the scents. Lively says they're inspired by the candles she burns in her own home and her favorite perfume, Burberry Beat (it's discontinued), Tokyo Milk Kabuki and Votivo No. 96 Red Currant Candle. Blake Browns' fragrances are Sandalwood Vanille, a mix of vanilla, dry ambers, vetiver and sandalwood, and Wild Nectar Santal, which has notes of bergamot, fig, cardamom and sandalwood.
What do shoppers think about Blake Brown products so far?
With Blake Brown out for about a week now, we had to know: Do people like it so far? According to Target shoppers (and TikTokers), the resounding answer is yes, but with a few caveats. Overall, they liked the formulas and said that their hair feels soft, moisturized and looks shiny. But, some people said that the fragrances are too strong for them. And some people don't like the packaging — they added that it's too bulky and that they don't like the screw top caps.
"Absolutely love," said one Target customer in the reviews. "I have now used the nourishing combo for one wash and the strengthening combo for one wash, and both have left my hair feeling super soft and healthier. I love the smell, I don’t feel that it’s overpowering. With some shampoos, I have to go back for more to make sure my hair is fully lathered, but these shampoos lather really well, only requiring about a quarter-sized amount, and I have medium to long length hair."
"I love the smell. I love that it lingers after the wash," said a fan. "My hair feels so soft. I have curly hair and I didn’t put any product in to see how my hair would react and my curls look pretty good for not having put any product in afterwards. A lot of people don’t like the shape of the bottle ... I think it’s fine. I wish it was top you didn’t have to take off completely but it’s definitely not a deal breaker for me. This was only after the first wash but so far 10/10."
"I just bought the strengthening hair mask and the volume mousse and used them for the first time last night and my hair has never been softer," shared another. "They both smell amazing and clean but luxurious. I haven't tried the products separately yet so I'm not totally sure if it's one or the other or both in combination that worked so well, but my hair looks and feels the best it ever has upon waking up this morning. The scent stays with you for a while and very perfume-y (which I like), but if you don't like heavy scents, then this may be too much for you, as well as the volume mousse."
TL;DR
All in all, shoppers like Blake Lively's new hair care line, Blake Brown. They like how the products make their hair look and feel, but shoppers are divided on the strong perfume-like fragrances and the bulky bottles.
If you want to give the products a try, you can check your local Target store or shop them below online. The two hair masks and leave-in potion are currently sold out on Target's website, but you can sign up to be notified via email when each comes back in stock.
Shop Blake Brown products:
The nourishing shampoo locks in moisture, smooths hair and tames frizz. It also features the brand's Nectar Santal fragrance.
This is the brand's strengthening shampoo. It contains plant proteins to restore the look of damaged hair and make it look fuller. It also features the brand's Sandalwood Vanille scent.
What is a pre-shampoo mask you might ask? This one is a hair mask that's designed to be used before shampooing (obviously), but the point is that it nourishes hair to make it super soft without weighing it down. If you have naturally oily hair, the brand recommends shampooing twice after using it. You can use it once a week or whenever your hair needs a good dose of hydration.
Blake Brown's Dry Shampoo can make soak up excess oil on your scalp and in your hair, but it can also make your hair smell oh, so fresh with the scent of Sandalwood Vanille. Spray it about 4–6 inches away from your head, then gently rub it in with your fingers and brush it through strands.
Want to lock in your curls or slick back hair into a ponytail? Try Blake Brown's mousse. It won't make your hair feel crunchy. Instead, it provides a flexible, brushable hold and can give hair a little extra volume.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
