"I've done everything to her hair except shave her head," laughs Yusef Williams, a New York-based celebrity hairstylist who has worked on Rihanna's most iconic looks for the past 15 years. He says, "I'll never give Rihanna a full head of hair, but I can give her a cute boy cut that's beyond pixie."

Williams and I are at Mott New York Salon in New York City. There, he will soon be one of the first to try out and review Rihanna's upcoming Fenty hair collection. But first, Williams takes me down memory lane as she shares some of her favorite looks she has created for the mega-singer. Her latest look, a honey blonde pixie, was inspired by her desire to try something different, he explained. It's a fresh, bold new look.

I have a similar vibe. I've been wearing braided hairstyles for months, and I couldn't have picked a better time for a change. Sitting with Williams, I was perfectly prepared to preview Fenty Hair, a collection of nine hair care and styling products created by Rihanna and her R&D team.

For many of us, the launch comes as no surprise at all; in March 2021, the singer filed a trademark for the brand, hinting that items like styling products and straightening perms would be available. Especially in recent weeks, Rihanna, a mother of two, has been teasing the launch of hair products on her social media. It's not an album, a marriage rumor, or a baby announcement, but real Rihanna fans know to stop and listen when the 36-year-old powerhouse launches a brand.

To rewind a bit, her empire began in 2017 when she launched Fenty Beauty with Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy. Since then, the brand has expanded to Fenty Skin and then Fenty Eau De Parfum. Now, with Fenty Hair registered, the question is being asked: is this another strategic business or a passion project?

According to the pop star, hairstyles have always been at the forefront of her career and personality. She said, "Hair has always been personal to me, and my hairstyles have been a marker of my evolution and growth over the years.

With Williams as my styling coach, I put Rihanna's passion project into action. Here's everything you need to know before purchasing the collection, including my honest opinion.

Fenty Hair is rooted in Repair. Moisture Repair Shampoo ($29), Conditioner ($29), and Deep Conditioner ($29); Curl Defining Cream ($28), which gives hair firmness and bounce, and a protein and antioxidant formula that repairs split ends and breakage while fixing hair. Strong Hold Gel ($26) and Edge Control Gel ($18); and finally, the 3-in-1 Edge Tool ($18), which smoothes down lank and springy hair.

As an added bonus, all items are made of 100% recycled (PCR) aluminum and 50% PCR plastic, and each item is recyclable. Rihanna is also intentional about its artistic packaging, with various 3D design elements on the top that correspond to everyday steps. A rep for the brand further explained that Rihanna wisely wanted users to be able to determine the type of product at a glance. She nailed it. The small teal swirls represent the top of the conditioner, the pink triangles represent the styling products, and the peach-colored semicircles represent the curl-defining cream.

Products were developed and tested on all hair types. Brand developers taught us that conditioners should be chosen based on need, not hair type. If you want to reduce the appearance of split ends and breakage while moisturizing your hair, choose the Moisture Repair Conditioner, and if you want a thick moisturizer that will mask your hair, try the Repair Deep Conditioner. Rihanna explained in a press release, "It was very important to me to create a product line that was easy to use regardless of hair type or texture, that included Repair in every step, and that could keep up with me."

Williams' assistant began my Fenty Hair testing experience with Rich One Moisture Shampoo. I lightly touched my saturated curls and immediately noticed that they were neither hard nor brittle. 'Soft, but not heavy,' I said. Apparently, my hair responded well to amino acids and antioxidants (compounds that work to reduce split ends). It passed the test.

After a refreshing rinse, my curls were ready for the next step, Rich One Moisture Repair Deep Conditioner. Williams handed me the bottle, and when I opened the lid, I was greeted with a pleasant fragrance that smelled like a blooming garden. It was a sophisticated and pleasant fragrance, not too sweet or cloying. It was a scent that I could never get enough of. Williams then saturated my hair, paying special attention to the middle and ends. As the comb glided through my curls, I could feel the moisture seeping into my scalp and tresses. It was a luxurious treat for my hair.

Fifteen minutes later, I returned to the styling chair. Ready for styling, Williams began the session by applying Comeback Kid, a damage repair treatment enhanced with bond strengthening technology. He was told he could leave it in or rinse it out, but decided to leave it in for moisturizing purposes.

"Rihanna loves this. Rihanna loves this product." Until then, I had been a big fan of the conditioner, but when I heard that Comeback Kid was Rihanna's must-have, I thought it could be mine too. When I ran my fingers through it, my hair was shiny, soft, and textured, just like the conditioner. My hair had not felt this good in months.

Next, Williams blow-dried and flat-ironed my curls to perfection. As a final step, he applied edge control and managed my excessive ends with a 3-1 edge tool. He then quickly groomed and smoothed the top.

Rihanna joins an exhaustive list of celebrities who have launched hair brands. I'll spare you the full list, but some of the more popular ones include Tracee Ellis Ross' Pattern Beauty, Beyonce's Secrets Hair, and most recently Brooke Shields' Coman's Line (for women over 40). Every collection has its place, but Fenty Hair is different. Even in a saturated market, competing for the attention of Gen Z and young millennials looking to secure the latest trendy outfits and runway looks, it feels necessary.

Like Fenty Makeup, Fenty Hair is not a passe beauty brand that will disappear after a year. It has staying power. The products are effective, my hair felt healthier and stronger after a few days of use, and my blow-dry lasted a full three weeks, even in the sweltering New York heat. I don't know if it was Williams' magic fingers or if Fenty Hair is just that good, but as the tagline goes, I look forward to my hair getting stronger with the style.

On Thursday, June 13, Fenty Hair will be available exclusively at FentyHair.com.