Iles Formula Signature Collection

I discovered this brand through my brilliant friend, neighbor, and hair stylist Amber Hodgson. Things I love about Amber: her kindness, her ultimate MILFiness, her sense of humor, her style, and the fact that there is not a single niche reference—hair inspiration, 80s movie, fashion, or otherwise—that you can throw her way and she will not catch. She was genuinely excited about Iles, and where she goes, I will follow. I am deploying zero hyperbole now when I say that this formula has changed my hair identity and is worth. every. penny.

I’m still learning who my hair is now, after the halcyon days of pregnancy hair, followed by the postpartum fade. I am also becoming more and more gray, yet another seasoning for my hair’s texture. For reference, I have fine, dense, textured hair with 3A curls. I have always struggled with finding a cleanser and conditioner that effectively cleans and moisturizes my hair. I have tried everything: cleansing conditioners, no-poos, New Wash; brands like Hair Story, KEVIN.MURPHY, Pureology, Redken, R+Co, OUAI, Kérastase, Act+Acre, Aveda, I could go on… Everything, at best, would give me decent results for one day (if I were lucky). More probably, I would be left frizzy and puffy or heavy and flat.

The list of products that I have tried is even longer, and more expensive. What I have found after infinite trial and error is that no amount of product can fix hair that was stripped or not adequately hydrated during washing.

This changed for me when I tried the Iles Signature Collection: a shampoo, conditioner, and finishing serum. I am officially done playing the field and am absolutely married to this routine now; it keeps my hair calm, hydrated, and clean.

What I like:

-A universal formula

-Formulated without sulfates, parabens, and silicones

-Lives up to its claims

-Created with sustainably sourced raw materials

What you may not like:

-A universal formula (you may want something more specific to your hair type)

-Not cheap!