Brunettes with greasy roots: I tried Blake Lively's new affordable haircare brand, and I'm obsessed with its dry shampoo

Business Insider

4 days ago

As a new mom, I've struggled to find little moments of self care. The calm of a hot shower has become my favorite reprieve, and I have a few products that help me reset with their transportive aromas. Blake Brown, the beautifully-scented hair care brand I just can't get enough of these days, is one of them.
Founded by Blake Lively, Blake Brown is chicly designed and hyper-focused on luxurious scents that you'll want to spritz all over — but as I've consistently used the products, I've learned that the formulas are really, really good, too.
"Hair care is deeply personal. It's not just about aesthetics, it's about identity, mood, and how you carry yourself," Lively tells me through an email interview. "I've been lucky enough to learn from some of the best hair stylists, colorists, and artists in the world who use the best products out there — but I noticed a gap. Those products delivered incredible results, but they were rarely clean, they came at luxury price points, and the scents, while nice, weren't ones I'd choose as my signature fragrance."
Thus, her years-long journey to creating Blake Brown began.
The beginning of Blake Brown
Blake Brown joined Lively's brand lineup in August of 2024 (the actor also heads Betty Buzz and Betty Booze). Since then, it's dropped a handful of hair care essentials like the fan-fave Amber Vanille Dry Shampoo and All-In-Wonder Leave-In Potion.
"From day one, I partnered with Give Back Beauty because they shared my values and vision for what Blake Brown could be," says Lively of the brand's origins. "They never once compromised on quality or rushed development."
The affordable collection ranges from $19 to $25 at Target. "Target felt like the perfect home for Blake Brown because it's where people shop for everyday essentials and little luxuries. I wanted our products to offer the full experience: performance you can feel from the first use, clean formulations, beautiful packaging, and fragrances you'd happily wear as perfume, at a price that makes them an easy addition to your weekly routine." Her reasoning? "Beautiful, quality haircare should not have to be a rare splurge."
The Strengthening Duo: Sandalwood Vanille Shampoo and Mask
Pros: The mask is better at nourishing and hydrating than a standard shampoo/conditioner combo
Cons: It can be difficult scooping out the last of the product due to the unique jar shape
I've always rotated between a few shampoo and conditioner duos, not really falling in love with any one brand — but I've been consistently using Blake Brown since it first launched. Uniquely, Lively has entirely left out the conditioner step, instead pairing her shampoo with a decadent mask that amps up your hair's strength and shine.
Not only do they both smell divine, but the shampoo creates a sumptuous lather and the mask feels thick and rich, effortlessly coating my strands. The result: damp hair that feels easy to brush through, and air-dried hair that has minimal frizz and a healthy sheen.
The Sandalwood Vanille Hair & Body Mist
These days, caring for a baby means my fave perfumes have been collecting dust (since fragrance can easily transfer to her delicate skin) — but this Hair & Body Mist has been my newest best kept secret and ultimate mom hack.
"Fragrance is at the heart and soul of Blake Brown because for me, fragrance defines my mood," says Lively. "I don't know how to pick a favorite — the fragrances were made to layer beautifully together, and they sure do."
The Sandalwood Vanille scent has notes of heated vanilla, sandalwood, and dry, earthy vetiver. It's soft and sensual, yet the aroma's warmth lingers on my strands for hours. Plus, since it's meant to be spritzed on tresses, there aren't any harmful ingredients — like silicones and parabens — that can damage or weigh down your hair. I feel put-together finally having a signature scent again and grateful that my little girl doesn't have to "wear" my perfume.
The Blackcurrant Vanille Classic Hairspray
The Classic Hairspray is Blake Brown's newest addition to the collection, and it creates a soft-medium hold while being invisible. What's more, the flexible hold allows you to run your fingers through your hair without ever feeling crunchy strands.
"We made sure it was as robust as a professional hairspray in hold and performance, while maintaining a softness and brush-ability which is tricky to do," says Lively. "The result is a hairspray that can work as hard as you need, or simply be a soft, finishing touch [with a] signature fragrance."
After wearing my hair in a slicked-back bun in New York's heat, I can confirm it kept my flyaways at bay.
The Amber Vanille Dry Shampoo
While dry shampoo powders and sprays often leave a white cast or gritty texture at my roots, this mist refreshes my hair in between washes, all while being surprisingly lightweight and completely invisible on my dark brunette hair.
Immediately, I can see why this product has become a standout for the brand. It has officially replaced the dry shampoos I was using before. It helps renew my look, and importantly, I don't feel like I'm overloading my scalp with product.
The bottom line
Lively may be best known as an actor, but in my opinion, she's firmly planted her stake in the beauty world with Blake Brown. Not only do the elegant scents set her brand apart on the shelves, but the formulas have my hair looking and feeling well-loved.
If you're obsessed with luxurious fragrances, this line is worth a try. The Sandalwood Vanille Shampoo & Mask and Dry Shampoo are total must-haves that I use on the regular.