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There’s no denying that many things have felt out of our hands in 2020, but at least the best edge-control products can keep your baby hairs sleek and snatched. With more time spent at home than ever before, you may have found yourself in the mirror crafting creative looks for a scroll-stopping selfie, or maybe you’ve used this time to take extra-good care of those delicate baby hairs that are easy to neglect.
Whatever your beauty vibe or hair journey, the best edge-control serums and gels can help you tame the strands that have a mind of their own, and top-rated edge-control brushes can offer added control for sleek swirls in all their wavy splendor.
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Ahead, we rounded up the best edge-control products and baby-hair brushes that will keep those edges laid for the gods—no matter how out of control the news cycle is that day. Here are the ones shoppers swear by, according to their glowing reviews.
All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Baby Tress 3-in-1 Edge Styler Tool
When founders Hannah Choi and Shannon Kennard launched Baby Tress in 2019, they set out to bring women of color the tools they need to elevate their beauty routines to the next level. The brand delivered this three-in-one edge styler in a range of cool colors, designed for getting baby hairs slicked, swooped, and swirled to perfection. With a mini comb, a natural boar brush, and a pointed tip for finishing touches, this styling tool is a must-have for your next moment of creativity in the bathroom mirror. (Psst: Take cues from the brand’s Instagram and throw in some gemstones for a true serve.)
Style Factor Edge Booster (Strong Hold)
If you’re a sucker for great-smelling hair products, try this strong-hold pomade available in a long list of scents like lemon berry, sugar melon, and sweet peach. The water-based formula with natural argan oil is a match for uncooperative coils, and it’s a hit with reviewers transitioning away from chemical straighteners and into a natural-hair lifestyle. “My edges were coily and slightly nappy, but as soon as I put the product on, they were straight and slicked back. I love the consistency,” one reviewer wrote.
Edge-Styling Brush
Shopping on Etsy can be overwhelming, but finding your way to the best products is easier thanks to an active reviews section. Buyers are vocal about their thoughts on various products, including this affordable edge styler (and the seller’s various edge-control products). One happy customer confirms your edges will be laid just so with this under-the-radar find. “I bought this brush and the edge control, and it smells amazing,” they wrote. “The shipping was super fast my edges are laid! I will definitely be buying from them again.”
Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Moisture Smoother
If you’re looking for an edge control packed with moisture, consider this top-rated smoother from Carol’s Daughter. Formulated to smooth dry, brittle hair with shea butter, aloe, and sweet almond oil, this paraben-free product applies dry, not wet, so it’s ideal for frizzy flyaways getting in the way of your already finished look. Reviewers rave about its residue-free formula and ability to leave stubborn edges super straight. “This product is the truth!” one reviewer wrote. “I have locs and when a friend asked it I relaxed my edges, I knew: It’s the best edge slayer! Yes yes, ya’ll!”
Cantu Baby-Hair Styler Brush
If you’re finally ready to ditch that soft toothbrush you’ve been using on your hair for years, this dual-ended styler from Cantu will cost you around the same price. Use the boar bristle brush to smooth baby hairs down, and the mini comb to perfect lines while distributing product. Reviewers with various hair types recommend, and one customer reveals they’ve finally “seen the light” thanks to this beauty bag essential: “Not sure what I’ve been doing with my life without investing in an edge brush, and now, there’s no going back,” they wrote. “This brush is not too soft, but not too hard—it’s just right for finer baby hairs, and it makes a world of difference when it comes to styling.”
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Miss Jessie’s Hold Me Down Super Edge Control Hair Gel
The last thing you need are sneaky flakes ruining your look once you’ve already stepped outside, and that’s where Miss Jessie’s edge control comes in. It’ll keep baby hairs tame without the dreaded crunch, and one reviewer claims it’s the best formula she’s ever used. “I’ve tried plenty of other brands that leave a nasty-looking residue. With my Miss Jessie’s Hold Me Down Edge Control, I have not had any issue with it,” she wrote. “No residue, no flakes, long-lasting. All of the Miss Jessie’s products work with my curls, so I’m not surprised I love this edge control, too.”
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Creme of Nature Pure Honey Moisture Infusion Edge Control
Crowned the best edge control for the 2020 Glamour Beauty Awards, this anti-frizz cream provides the perfect hold for a sleek look, no matter how rebellious your curls can be. “I have curly hair and have never been able to find an edge control that would last long,” one reviewer wrote. “After an hour or so I would have little flyaways and curls popping up along the edge of my hair. This is awesome and lays my hair just fine!”
Pattern Edge Control
Leave it to Tracee Ellis Ross to deliver textured hair products of our dreams. We tried everything from the actor’s curly-hair brand, and you definitely don’t want to sleep on the edge control, as one experienced reviewer on Ulta can confirm. “I’ve used this edge control for several weeks now and I can honestly say that I love it. It’s by far the best edge control I’ve ever used,” they wrote. “I have 4C hair and it smooths my edges down immediately without needing to be set—I use my fingernail to make the waves on my edges without any issues and they stay the entire day.”
Pattern Edge Tool
Of course, Ms. Ross had to come through with a great styling tool to match Pattern Edge Control, a multiuse brush that will bring stunning swoops and swirls to a hairline near you. Great for curly, coily, and tight textures, this vegan brush will help you embrace your natural curl pattern in all its glory.
SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil
If you’re looking for added nutrients to keep hair strong, this two-in-one treatment will provide touchable hold while conditioning the scalp and hair in one fell swoop. Thanks to reparative omegas to promote overall hair health, reviewers claim it actually helps bring about new growth if hair is sparse. “Let me tell you, I had zero edges or baby hair before I used this product, and my eyebrows were nonexistent,” one reviewer wrote. “This stuff gave me a little ’fro of edges and fuller eyebrows after a month or so of using it. Definitely worth the money!”
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Camryn’s BFF Gentle Edges Brush
Don’t let the bargain price distract you from the plethora of positive reviews for this dual-ended edge brush. It’s pushing 30,000 ratings at the moment, so it definitely qualifies as an unexpected Amazon gem worth adding to cart. Designed for gentle use on kids’ baby strands (but perfectly fine for adults too), the hot pink tool is vibrant enough to lure little ones in for daily styling. “I was already using a toothbrush for my baby girl’s edges, but this brush has a lot more bristles and they are so much softer than a toothbrush,” one mother wrote. “This makes for much smoother baby hairs, and the comb on the end makes sure they are fully detangled.”
Dark and Lovely Let’s Jam Extra Hold Gel
If you’re looking for something that will keep everything locked in for a protective style, go with this extra-strong conditioning gel from Dark and Lovely. At just under $4, this formula will add shine while protecting against breakage and flyaways, and one reviewer with relaxed hair claims this as her holy grail edge-control product. “This is the only gel I have tried that actually lays my hair down! I can’t deny how obsessed I am with this,” she wrote. “It did not dry my hair out at all—in fact, after I washed my hair and straightened it, it seemed smoother, and my husband said my hair felt super soft and smelled good!”
Sunday II Sunday Edge Flourish Daily Nourishing Serum
If you’re looking for a bit of a splurge, this luxury pick from Sunday II Sunday is for you. The featherweight, flake-free serum protects, repairs, and strengthens edges, thanks to ingredients like coconut, sunflower seed, and safflower seed oils. “This serum is loaded with amazing ingredients! It’s rich and silky without feeling sticky. My edges feel protected and nurtured,” one reviewer wrote.
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Design Essentials Natural Honey & Shea Edge Tamer
Rich with honey, shea butter, and natural oils, this nongreasy formula will deliver all of the shine to your curls without unwanted product buildup—and a little goes a long way. “I use this product on my daughter’s very curly hair and unruly baby hairs,” one reviewer wrote. “Her hair has been styled nicely in the morning and still looks great hours later, even after a long day at school. The long-lasting hold on this product is fantastic!”
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Evolve Perfect Edge Brush
Looking for a plastic-free option to help protect the planet? Opt for this bamboo boar bristle brush that stimulates the scalp while distributing natural oils and keeping hair in place. Reviewers note its soft quality that’s perfect for easily damaged hair—and no more worrying about your kid mistaking your baby-hair brush for a toothbrush! “It’s soft enough to not damage your edges, with the perfect firmness for laying them down,” one reviewer wrote.
Satin Edge Scarves (2-Pack)
If you’re looking for majorly laid edges for an ultra-sleek look, add these top-rated edge scarves to your hair-care lineup. Ideal for keeping wigs in place or perfecting intricate baby hairs that will stay pressed all day, this scarf set is an affordable option that Amazon buyers can get behind. “I was having so many problems getting my edges down, especially with my curly hair,” one reviewer wrote. “After using this? Omg, it held them down without any pieces of hair sticking up—absolutely perfect!”
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