I’VE TESTED A lot of curly hair products over the years, and so I was excited to try the new Rebound Cream Leave-In Conditioner from BetterDays, the haircare brand founded by celebrity barber VicBlends (Victor Fontanez). The cream promises to hydrate, define, and soften hair without weighing it down, which sounds great in theory, but as someone with tight, type 3B and 3C curls, I've learned to be skeptical of those claims.
Some creams leave my curls flat, while others control frizz but make my hair feel stiff or greasy a few hours later. Finding something that gives me the volume I want while keeping my curls soft and defined is a bigger challenge than it probably should be.
That's partly why I was so interested in trying the new BetterDays line. VicBlends has built a massive following through his haircuts and the conversations he has with the people sitting in his chair. His new haircare line aims to bring that barber-shop experience into everyday grooming, and I was curious whether the products could live up to the hype.
The brand also launched its Grip Powder, a texturizing styling powder designed to add volume and hold, particularly for guys with straighter hair. But it was the Rebound Cream that caught my eye. After putting it through its paces in my morning routine, I can confidently say that it delivers. In fact, it's quickly become one of my favorite curly hair products I've tested, and I don't say that lightly.
What Is BetterDays Rebound Cream?
BetterDays Rebound Cream is a leave-in conditioner designed to hydrate, soften, and improve hair manageability while helping maintain its natural texture. Unlike a traditional rinse-out conditioner, it's meant to stay in your hair all day, providing conditioning benefits while also acting as a lightweight styling product.
The formula features ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, commonly used to soften and condition hair, along with panthenol, a form of vitamin B5 that helps improve moisture retention and hair feel. Together, these ingredients aim to combat dryness and frizz without the heavy, greasy finish some richer curl creams leave behind.
What's particularly interesting is that BetterDays markets the Rebound Cream for a wide range of hair textures, from straight and wavy to curly and coily. While I can't speak to how it performs on every hair type, I can vouch for how well it's worked on my own curls.
SHOP THE BETTERDAYS LEAVE-IN-CREAM ON AMAZON
How Does BetterDays Rebound Cream Feel and Perform?
The first thing I noticed about the cream was the smell. BetterDays uses a custom fragrance called Scent No. 26, and the best way I can describe it is that it smells like stepping into a really good barbershop. It's fresh, with that familiar grooming-product scent that immediately reminds me of getting a haircut.
The application is another thing I appreciate. The pump makes it easy to dispense the product without scooping anything out of a jar, and the cream spreads smoothly through my hair. I typically use three to four pumps and work the product through my curls with my hands. One important detail I've learned, though, is that my hair needs to be damp, not soaking wet. When I apply it right after getting out of the shower, my curls tend to fall a little flat, which defeats the whole purpose of using a styling product.
