I compared Rihanna's and Beyoncé's haircare lines, and one product is now permanently part of my routine

I have cultivated a tried-and-true haircare routine thanks to products from Camille Rose, Miss Jessie's, Cantu, and Eco Style.

I typically wash my hair twice a week and co-wash as needed, and my absolute favorite products for this are from Camille Rose's coconut water line.

The No. 1 thing I assess when trying a shampoo is how it makes my hair feel after I'm finished washing it. If my hair feels dry, brittle, and begging for moisture, that's an immediate sign it's likely not the right product for my hair. However, Camille Rose's coconut water shampoo leaves my hair feeling clean, hydrated, and soft after every use, as if the conditioner is just an added bonus to pack in more moisture.

The conditioner is much more than an added bonus, though. Its consistency is so thick that it's hard to squeeze from the bottle, and it creates great slip, which is amazing for detangling while in the shower.

They each cost $11.99 for 12 ounces, so I anticipated the combination of quality and affordability would be hard for another product to match.

Meanwhile, for styling, I love Miss Jessie's Leave In Condish and Multicultural Curls. The leave-in is thick and packed with moisture, while the curl cream is light enough to give my curls definition without weighing them down or leaving them with an overly crunchy cast. However, as much as I love these products, they retail for $16.99 each at Target for 8.5 fluid ounces, so when I need to replace my stash, I'm easily spending upward of $30 for two products.

Finally, I like to rake in a little Eco Style Castor Oil and Flaxseed Gel ($3.99 for 16 fluid ounces) when I wear my hair down and for specific styling needs like slick-back buns or half-up half-downs in combination with Cantu's Shea Butter Extra Hold Edge Stay Gel ($4.49 for 2.25 ounces). Together, they keep my curls defined and my styles frizz-free.

While testing products from Fenty Hair and Cécred, I kept my conditioner and gels as constants since I did not purchase Fenty Hair or Cécred equivalents. I also kept my styling tools, which include a wide-tooth comb, a boar bristle brush, and a Tangle Teezer Naturally Curly Hair Brush.

First up, I tested Fenty Hair for a week. Rihanna launched the line in June.

Instead of giving fans a new album, Rihanna launched Fenty Hair in June, adding another facet to her Fenty brand which already includes beauty, skincare, fragrance, and lingerie.

The Grammy-winning artist shared the news on Instagram, writing, "you know how much switching my hair up matters to me. I've had almost every texture, color, length, from weaves to braids to natural- so I am launching a flexible line of products for not only every hair want, but every single product is designed to strengthen and repair all types of hair, which is what we truly need! It's time to play and get stronger by the style."

To begin my experiment, I purchased The Rich One Moisture Repair Shampoo ($29 for 10 fluid ounces), The HomeCurl Curl-Defining Cream ($28 for 11.5 fluid ounces), and The Richer One Moisture Repair Deep Conditioner ($29 for 11.5 fluid ounces) and put them to the test for one week. Currently, Fenty only sells full-size products.

I was obsessed with the smell of the shampoo.

My first impression of The Rich One shampoo was that the packaging was nice and sleek — though, I usually prefer shampoos with caps rather than pumps because I find it easier to use the product left at the bottom of the bottle.

But the moment the product reached my hand, I forgot all about the packaging and was focused solely on the scent.

The shampoo, like the other products in the line, has notes of golden amber, coconut, vanilla, sandalwood, yuzu, and florals, according to its description on the Fenty Beauty website. All of these combine to create a sweet, warm, summery fragrance.

I applied the product to my scalp and roots, moving my fingers in circular motions across my head, and then letting it rinse down my ends.

The Rich One initially passed my moisture test and left my hair feeling clean and soft, but after using it twice throughout the week, I wasn't convinced it was worth replacing my all-time favorite. The product didn't have the best slip, so it became hard to run my fingers through my hair in the brief period between rinsing out the product and applying my conditioner.

Despite how much I loved the scent and found little issue with the quality, I'm not sure I'm at a point where I can justify spending nearly $30 on my shampoo when I'm otherwise happy with my $12 version.

The Homecurl Curl-Defining Cream was my favorite Fenty Hair product by far.

I also absolutely loved the scent of the curl cream.

After showering, I went through my hair section by section, re-wetting and applying the product by hand. When I finished, I used a little more product to touch up any areas I felt needed additional moisture (like the crown of my head) and then used my Tangle Teezer to create larger, clumped-together curls before heading to work.

However, one thing that surprised me was the choice of packaging. The cream was much lighter than I expected, making it slightly more challenging to scoop the correct amount from the container, which made me wonder if it would be more user-friendly in a squeezable bottle.

I was impressed with The Homecurl's ability to create definition, volume, and shine.

On the left is a selfie of me upon arrival to my office. My hair was definitely still damp since I prefer to let it air-dry, but I was happy with the clear curl definition and lack of frizz after commuting by train on a warm summer day.

A few hours into my workday, when my hair was about 75% dry, I took some time to shake out my curls and fluff them up for added volume. Throughout the day, my hair stayed frizz-free, which was amazing to see since all I'd used that morning was The Homecurl, as opposed to my usual three products.

My only major note for day one of application was that I seemed to have applied too much product because I could smell my hair all day, like when you test a perfume for the first time and the scent just lingers in your nose and gives you a headache.

I don't fault the product, though. I think this was user error — I'd recently cut my hair by several inches, meaning I wasn't quite adjusted to how much product I should be using.

I continued using the product throughout the week by either refreshing my hair with water, some hair oil by Shea Moisture, and additional curl cream, or starting with fresh product application after co-washing.

I also switched my application approach. Rather than applying it in sections, I raked the product through my wet hair to reduce the amount I was using. This helped minimize the strength of the scent while still maintaining my volume and definition.

The Richer One Moisture Repair Deep Conditioner was hydrating but didn't feel different from other products I've tried.

I have to admit, I have yet to find a deep conditioner that feels worth staying loyal to, so I didn't have many expectations for The Richer One or a solid list of criteria for it to meet — I was just hoping it'd "wow" me.

The deep conditioner was much thicker than the curl cream, with a texture similar to a smooth body butter, which made the packaging feel appropriate. After shampooing and conditioning my hair in the shower, I applied a full hand-scoop of the product to my damp hair, then pulled it into a bun and let it sit while I did a face mask before rinsing the product out with cold water.

This is different from the recommendation on Fenty Hair's site, which calls for users to apply the product after shampooing by raking it through the hair evenly before rinsing. But the site notes that users can leave the product in their hair "for a few extra minutes" before rinsing.

After, my hair felt soft and smelled amazing, but I didn't notice any significant changes that would make me reach for this product over any other drugstore deep conditioners I've tried in the past, especially when it costs close to $30.

I think Fenty Hair deserves some extra credit for its thoughtful illustrations.

All three products featured illustrated instructions and QR codes that take users to their specific product page for easy repurchasing.

I could easily imagine how helpful such a small detail could be for a young person learning more about their hair, and I thought it was a nice touch.

Next, it was time to try Cécred by Beyoncé which launched in February.

Is there ever a time when Beyoncé isn't busy? Between the Renaissance World Tour, the release of "Cowboy Carter," raising three children, and the launch of Cécred, the short answer must be no.

Haircare, though, was particularly special to the Grammy winner, who grew up in her mother Tina Knowles' salon in Houston.

"I have many beautiful memories attached to my hair. The relationship we have with our hair is such a deeply personal journey," Beyoncé told Essence in February.

She added, "I knew what I wanted to do, with technology that works for all women and all textures, because I had not been able to find it."

"Cécred is a legacy project for me, one that's probably the most rooted in my ancestry," she added. "It's so far beyond business. Hair is our lineage; it's our family story. Having access to proven ingredients, and creating our own technology that is patent-pending — we now have a line that works universally."

For my week of testing Cécred, I purchased the travel-sized Hydrating Shampoo ($15 for 2.5 fluid ounces), the full-sized Moisture Sealing Lotion ($38 for 8 fluid ounces), and the travel-sized Moisturizing Deep Conditioner ($15 for 2.5 fluid ounces).

There are other sizes available. The shampoo also comes in an 8-fluid-ounce tube for $30; the lotion is available for $19 for 2.5 fluid ounces; and the conditioner is available for $38 for 10 fluid ounces.

I wasn't a fan of the Hydrating Shampoo's scent.

OK, BeyHive, please don't come for me.

I actually preferred Fenty Hair's shampoo over Cécred's. While both hydrated and cleaned my hair, my first impression was that Fenty edged out its competition, especially because I preferred its smell.

All of the Cécred products are made with a signature scent called Temple Oud, which "has notes of oud, Australian sandalwood, warm musk, night-blooming jasmine, Haitian vetiver, and violet leaves," according to the product description on Cécred's website.

I learned that my personal preference definitely leans more toward the fruity, floral scents included in Fenty rather than the deeper, more musky scent of Cécred.

However, neither succeeded in replacing my original favorite by Camille Rose.

The Moisture Sealing Lotion provided my hair with amazing definition.

The Moisture Sealing Lotion was my favorite Cécred product by far.

Upon first glance, I wasn't sure how this multitasking product — its product description says it "seals, smooths, and styles with a light hold" — would compare to more traditional curl creams like those from Miss Jessie's, Shea Moisture, or even Fenty Hair, but I was excited to give it a try.

The packaging immediately caught my eye for its aesthetically pleasing, minimalistic design that could easily fit into any bathroom. Meanwhile, the product itself was much thicker than I expected, leaving me to wonder if The Homecurl and the Moisture Sealing Lotion should've switched containers.

I raked the lotion through wet curls, scrunched my hair, and used my Tangle Teezer to create more definition.

And wow, I was honestly stunned with its quality.

I mean, my curls looked so good, and all I could think to myself was how could I ever doubt the power of Beyoncé?

My hair had amazing definition, volume, and shine hours after application and my additional fluffing session … but I still couldn't get past the Temple Oud scent.

If it's possible to alter my brain (nose?) chemistry, I'd take it because, wow … the more I look at these photos, the more I think I might be missing out on something special.

So, while I have no notes on the actual quality of Cécred's Moisture Sealing Lotion, I, for now, must accept that I have a different preference for smell … and price.

Retailing at $38, the lotion is $10 more expensive than The Homecurl and $4 more expensive than the total for my two favorite products by Miss Jessie's — for less product — making it hard to justify as part of my daily routine at this point in my life.

Cécred's Moisturizing Deep Conditioner also felt on par with other deep conditioners I've tried.

Once again, I have no substantial notes to give about the deep conditioner; it was hydrating and made my hair feel soft, so I enjoyed using the product, but I'm not in a position where I'd want to pay $38 to incorporate it into my weekly routine.

Ultimately, Fenty Hair was the clear winner for me thanks to The Homecurl.

While neither Fenty nor Cécred's shampoos and deep conditioners were enough to lure me away from my tried-and-true products, I was a huge fan of The Homecurl.

This one product provides everything my leave-in, curl cream, and gel combination had to offer, making my routine quicker and ultimately more cost-effective. Plus, I still can't get over the smell and the longevity of one pot of this product!

I've actually continued using the same container of The Homecurl for nearly two months since my initial test to really confirm my feelings, and they haven't wavered — except for when it comes to styling my hair in slicked-back buns.

I've noticed that the curl cream doesn't react well with my Cantu edge control, meaning my hair doesn't stay slicked into place as well when I use this combination of products.

Could it be because Fenty makes its own edge control? That's definitely possible, and sometime in the future, I'd love to test that theory.

In the meantime, though, I've chosen to stick with my original Miss Jessie's products when I want a bun and use Fenty anytime I want to let my curls loose, which means I'll definitely be repurchasing when the pot is finally empty.