Is this $33 celebrity hair product worth the hype? Here's my honest review

hair, woman with brown hair and yellow shirt taking selfie in mirror, hand holding pink bottle of dae styling cream, Is this celebrity hair product worth the hype? Here's my honest review (Photos via Kayla Kuefler)
Is this celebrity hair product worth the hype? Here's my honest review (Photos via Kayla Kuefler)

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In case you haven't noticed, I am obsessed with haircare. Having tried all of the hair masks and hot tools you can imagine, when I find a product that actually walks the talk, I have no qualms sharing it with the world.

So, when I was given the chance to test out Dae's new Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream before its recent launch, I (unsurprisingly) jumped at the opportunity.

To find out if I think the $26 USD/$33 CAD styling cream is worth its 4.8-star rating on Sephora, scroll below.

Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream (Shop in U.S.)

Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream (Shop in Canada)

Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream in pink tube bottle on white background (Photo via Sephora)
Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream (Photo via Sephora)

$26 at Sephora U.S.

$33 at Sephora Canada

The details

The Cactus Fruit styling cream is a multitasking 3-in-1 product designed to add polish, tame frizz, and lock in moisture, leaving behind soft, touchable strands.

Whether you have tight curls or bone-straight hair, the formula increases shine and helps to shape and define your natural texture.

Vegan and cruelty-free, the styling cream is formulated with clean, desert-derived ingredients, including dragon fruit, prickly pear seed oil, and meadowfoam seed oil, which helps leave hair shiny and smooth.

First impressions

Having never tried Dae products before, I didn't know what to expect from the celebrity-founded haircare brand. In my experience, when a celebrity or influencer (Amber Fillerup Clark, in this case) launches a brand, you always run the risk that the hype and product calibre don't exactly meet eye-to-eye. However, in the case of Dae, I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

My first experience with the styling cream was post-shower and shampoo to prep my hair for my beloved Revlon hot air brush.

Day 1

woman with brown hair taking selfie in mirror, Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream: Day 1 (Photos via Kayla Kuefler)
Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream: Day 1 (Photos via Kayla Kuefler)

I applied a small amount to my damp hair as instructed and dried it as per usual. Aside from the smell, I didn't notice a massive difference in the texture or feel of my hair, although it was less frizzy than usual. However, on day two of my blowout, the product really started to show its value.

Day 2

brunette woman in green sweater smiling, Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream: Day 2 (Photos via Kayla Kuefler
Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream: Day 2 (featuring my dead-looking eyes) (Photos via Kayla Kuefler

On day two, I used my straightening iron to curl my hair and I could see a noticeable reduction in frizz before and after applying the styling cream.

Unlike other styling products, Dae's 3-in-1 dried naturally, even on my already-dry hair. It left zero visible product residue and when I ran my fingers through my hair, you couldn't tell anything was there.

Day 3

woman with brown hair and yellow shirt taking photo in mirror, Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream: Day 3 (Photo via Kayla Kuefler)
Dae Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream: Day 3 (Photo via Kayla Kuefler)

On day three of the blowout, I touched up my curls and applied the tiniest amount of Dae to get rid of my post-bed head frizz. Once again, the product left my hair feeling soft and manageable, and although I usually turn to dry shampoo by day three (this one is my all-time favourite), I didn't feel the need to apply any to my hair.

P.S. if you're as obsessed with my shower curtain as I am, you can find it on Etsy here.

What people are saying

Although the styling cream only launched on March 15, it has already collected more than 180 five-star reviews from early-adopter Sephora shoppers.

Earning an average rating of 4.8 stars, reviewers say the 3-in-1 is "truly the most magical hair product."

"It smells HEAVENLY," according to one reviewer. "I get so excited to use this because it smells like the sweetest fragrance; not too overpowering- just perfect. It makes my hair feel incredibly soft and smooth. I will continue using this forever!"

The styling cream is "another winner from Dae," writes another shopper. I have thin and fine hair, and it makes it "feel super soft, bouncy, and not heavy at all, which is honestly a miracle for me."

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"To say I'm obsessed is an understatement. [...] I used it while my hair was slightly damp and then I styled it as normal. My hair smelt amazing, and it was significantly softer."

While 99 per cent of reviewers would recommend the product, some say it may not be the best option if you have straight hair.

It "makes my hair smell amazing," however, "I don't love the way it looks on my straight hair," writes one user. "I think it might be meant for very wavy and curly hair because it just makes it feel sticky and doesn't tame my frizz."

The verdict

Having used Dae's new Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream over the past several days, I have to say: I'm a fan. As a haircare buff, I am always looking for new products to add to my roster, and thanks to its incredible smell and ability to tame frizz, I'll be sure to keep the Dae styling cream on hand from here on out.

To try out other top-rated products from the brand, scroll below or click here.

Dae Prickly Pear Hair Oil (Shop in U.S.)

Dae Prickly Pear Hair Oil (Shop in Canada)

Dae Prickly Pear Hair Oil in green and pink bottle (Photo via Sephora)
Dae Prickly Pear Hair Oil (Photo via Sephora)

$36 at Sephora U.S.

$48 at Sephora Canada

Dae Signature Shampoo (Shop in U.S.)

Dae Signature Shampoo (Shop in Canada)

Dae Signature Shampoo in large pink bottle (Photo via Sephora)
Dae Signature Shampoo (Photo via Sephora)

$24 at Sephora U.S.

$32 at Sephora Canada

Dae Signature Conditioner (Shop in U.S.)

Dae Signature Conditioner (Shop in Canada)

Dae Signature Conditioner in pink peach bottle (Photo via Sephora)
Dae Signature Conditioner (Photo via Sephora)

$24 at Sephora U.S.

$32 at Sephora Canada

Dae Cactus Flower Leave In Conditioner (Shop in U.S.)

Dae Cactus Flower Leave In Conditioner (Shop in Canada)

Dae Cactus Flower Leave In Conditioner (Photo via Sephora)
Dae Cactus Flower Leave In Conditioner (Photo via Sephora)

$26 at Sephora U.S.

$35 at Sephora Canada

Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask (Shop in U.S.)

Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask (Shop in Canada)

Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask in green jar (Photo via Sephora)
Dae Monsoon Moisture Mask (Photo via Sephora)

$28 at Sephora U.S.

$36 at Sephora Canada

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