I'm no stranger to a slick back style. I have naturally curly hair that's somewhere between 3B and 4A textures depending on who you ask, so maintaining it well enough to wear it out every single day is a skill I don't have the time or patience to master just yet.
Between that and the fact that I'm usually running out the door most days, I end up wearing my hair in some version of a slick-back hairstyle for more than half of the week. This means I've tried countless products to get it just right.
While I've figured out most of the products I need to curate an ideal slick-back – leave-in conditioners, curl creams and gels – the one thing I've struggled with is a taming product for smaller flyaways; something I can use when I'm on day two or three of this style and I don't want to use anything heavy.
To be honest, I thought I'd never find something that actually worked for me. I'd had so many fruitless attempts before. That was, until the Rizos Curls Sleek Styling Cream and Taming Wand appeared.
How I tried the Rizos Curls Sleek Styling and Taming Wand
I primarily used this taming wand on day two or three (or four or five...) of a slick-back style. It was mostly used in conjunction with another stronger styling product to tame the frizziness around my edges.
I've used it on both clean hair (where only my wash-day products were applied) and hair that's had several days' worth of styling products applied.
The formula's key ingredients include hyaluronic acid and castor oil to help retain moisture and nourish strands, hibiscus flower extract to enhance shine, and willow bark extract to prevent build-up, according to the brand.
What I like
It doesn't leave my hair crunchy or flaky
My biggest gripe with similar products I've tried in the past that are meant to tame flyaways is typically one of two things: they leave behind a weird residue on my hair, or they leave flakes behind, so I can only use them once before washing my hair again. With this product, that's not a concern.
My hair still feels soft to the touch after application, and I can confidently use it for several days in a row before I need to wash my hair.
The dual-sided brush makes it easy to achieve your hair goals
I didn't realize how much of a difference a dual-sided brush would make until I had it. While the brush itself is shaped like a mascara wand, one side has hairs that stick out, and the other side is smooth.
I found that, for the best results, I used both sides! I would use the side with hairs sticking out to get my strands in place exactly where I wanted them to be, and then I would use the smoothed side to lock them in place.
This isn't my first rodeo with Rizos Curls
I've been using Rizos Curls products for a few years. I became a fan of the curl cream (a former Shop TODAY Beauty Award winner) a few years ago. I instantly fell in love with how well it hydrated and moisturized my curls.
Since then, I've used most products they've come out with and been a fan of every one, so I had high hopes going into trying the taming wand.
What to consider
Having a curl pattern that's on the tighter side, it takes a lot of products to really tame my hair. I found the most success with this wand when used in tandem with a gel and/or other styling products.
That's not to say it didn't work well when it was the only product used! Pictured below is what a slick-back 'do looks like on my clean hair using only this taming wand. It's near perfect. I just have a few stragglers that put up a fight and can only be wrangled down with multiple products.
Who is the Rizos Curls Sleek Styling Cream and Taming Wand best for?
I think this would be best for anyone who has a curl pattern that's similar to or looser than mine. It's one of the few products that I truly won't leave the house without. I even leave it with my makeup so that I ensure I don't forget it while traveling. I love it so much, I've already gone through an entire tube and am ready for a restock!
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Why trust Shop TODAY?
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources and use our own personal experiences with the product and brand to make shopping easier for our readers.
Kamari Stewart-Jackson is an associate editor at Shop TODAY, covering a wide range of topics in beauty, gifting, cleaning, home, kitchen and more.
