CONTROL FREAK

Eight Black-owned edge controls. Three hair types. One blind test.

Let's talk about edges. Specifically, the eternal quest for an edge control that actually survives real life. So I did what any self-respecting Hair Lady would do. I turned my household into a lab.

I tested eight Black-owned edge controls and judged each one on three criteria:

 Hold — Does it actually lay those edges DOWN?

 Shine — Pretty or crusty?

Flakiness — Nobody wants flakes on their edges.

The Test Subjects:

 Me — Heat-straightened hair. I wore mine the longest: slept in it, worked out the next morning, then showered. 

 My daughter — Beautiful 3b curls. Wore hers for 4 hours.

 My son — Virgin 4c hair. Never been straightened. The ultimate stress test. Also wore his for 4 hours.

...shall not be named.

Look, I love Black-owned businesses with my whole heart and I will not use this space to publicly drag one. But there was a product in this lineup that felt more like furniture wax than edge control, and it has been quietly removed from the competition. We move on. We protect our edges AND our community.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

This product smells absolutely luxurious. Like someone bottled a high-end spa and put it in an edge control jar. If scent is your love language, this one is calling your name.

This is edge control for people who do not play games. Bulletproof. The thickest formula in the entire lineup. It will look your edges dead in the eye and tell them to sit down and stay seated. The only reason it's not higher on the list: if you don't brush it through really thoroughly it can dry a little gunky. For the right person and the right occasion? An absolute powerhouse.

SECOND RUNNER UP

The surprise of the entire competition. This one came out of the jar looking thin and lightweight. But it dried with a genuinely strong hold and a beautiful natural shine. Blueberry Bliss, you have been underestimated and I owe you an apology.

FIRST RUNNER UP

This one was a very close second. Like, NECK & NECK! The hold is fantastic — smooth, clean, no drama. What sets it apart is that it's actually doing something for your hair while it holds it. Castor oil and biotin in the formula mean your edges are being nourished and protected even as they're being slicked. 

THE CONTROL FREAK — TOP PICK

THE ONE.

This is everything you want from an edge control and nothing you don't.

Strong hold

No flaking

No gunk

A beautiful, subtle shine 

It performed beautifully on all three hair types.

10 out of 10. No notes.

Bask & Lather, you are the Control Freak. Wear that crown.

ALSO TESTED

The Doux Push It! Super-Charged Honey Braid & Edge Gel The Doux is one of my all-time favorite brands. They never disappoint, and Push It! is no exception — quality formula, incredible hold for braids and edges, and the most fun packaging in the entire beauty aisle. I would follow The Doux anywhere.

Black Panther Strong Braid Gel Technically not an edge control, it's a braid gel. Still a great product in its own right, but if you're going Black Panther, go for the edge control version. That's the star of their lineup.

Top Pick

First Runner Up

Second Runner Up

Honorable Mention

Honorable Mention

All products tested were Black-owned brands. Support these businesses year-round, not just in February.

Have an edge control you think should be in the next challenge? Let me know!