Shea Moisture Review (Part I)

 

This particular review should have been done a long time ago... My apologies!

Often times when I'm out, I get asked what products I use. Really, I haven't been loyal to any particular products; I mix & match & experiment. However, since going natural, there has only been one brand that has remained consistent for me: Shea Moisture. Out of their four lines-- Coconut & Hibiscus, African Black Soap, Raw Shea Butter, and Yucca & Baobab--I've tried products from three (the first three listed). The following is a brief review of each product that I have tried so far. This is only part one because I have not used a complete regimen. I'm sure that these products are grouped together in lines for a reason, so I want to see if that will make a difference. In the meantime, here's what I think about the products I've tried so far...

Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Control Shampoo
Confession time: I can never tell a difference with my shampoos. Maybe it's just because I've happened to try some really great shampoos, I don't know. Whatever the reason, I can't say that this shampoo was any different or produced better/worse results than the others. But I do like that it has organic ingredients. And it did have a great smell. *shrugs* That should count for something. I'll use this again when I'm using the whole Coconut & Hibiscus line together, but as a stand-alone product... I'm not completely sold. I mean, the Softsheen-Carson Oil Therapy shampoo gives me the same effect for a few dollars less (although it does contain synthetic ingredients & some 'cones). No complaints about this shampoo though.

C&H Curl Enhancing Smoothie
I have fallen in love with this product. This is the latest that I have tried and so far the results are phenomenal. The Curl Enhancing Smoothie makes my coils so soft it's unreal. A lot of times I'll just work it into my hair while it's dry for a nice, soft puff or fro. However, this product has proven itself to be invaluable when it comes to my twist outs. I'll lightly mist my hair (using my water/coconut oil/glycerin mix), detangle, then add a little of the smoothie to my strands before twisting. When I take the twists down, not only is the hair defined, but it's super soft & fluffy. Bonus: it adds a little shine without being greasy.

C&H Curl & Style Conditioning Milk
This was the first Shea Moisture product I tried. The results were very similar to those that I got with the Curl Enhancing Smoothie. The only difference that I found was that it left my hair slightly oily. However, it wasn't enough to completely write off the Conditioning Milk. I believe this would be best to use in winter.

C&H Hold & Shine Moisture Mist
I was pleased that the Moisture Mist helped battle frizz, but I was a little disappointed that it didn't provide the shine I expected. I haven't tried it on a style that required hold, only on my fros/puffs, so I can't really attest to how well it does that.

Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner
The Raw Shea Butter formula is supposed to be for dry hair, so I tried it out when the weather was still cold, figuring that was when it was at its driest. Unfortunately, I can't say that I loved this conditioner. My expectations just weren't met. When used as a leave-in, my hair would end up feeling a little stiff and brittle at the end of the day. When used in my co-wash, it would take forever to get it worked in and then rinsed out. I'm chalking this up to the thickness of the conditioner, but I'm really not sure so don't quote me on it! Of course, it could have just been the fact that I don't have really dry hair so it didn't respond well to the formula. Add to that the medicinal smell and I was turned off. I probably won't be trying anything else from this particular line.

African Black Soap Purification Masque
This was a spur of the moment pick, from when Walgreen's had a 2-for-1 sale on SM products. It came in handy though. I was having a bout of itchy scalp (not sure why) and although I washed it good and was sure to condition it, nothing would relieve it! So I applied a generous portion of the masque to my hair & scalp and let it sit for about an hour. (On the label it says 30 minutes but I kept getting distracted.) Once I washed it out and let my hair dry, my scalp felt sooo much better. It really had the soothing effect I was looking for. I am completely sold on this product and will probably try other products in the African Black Soap line.

Once I try a full line of products, I will do another review. Until then, I'd love to know if any of you have tried Shea Moisture and what kind of results you got. Speak on it! For info on the ingredients, description and usage of these and other Shea Moisture products, check the following link: SheaMoisture_Organic_Hair_Products_Info 8.18.10