Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen Grow & Restore Leave-In Conditioner

I received this product in my May's Curl Kit box.  This is one of the best products I've received in my two-year subscription with them.

• Hair Type:             All Hair Types, Coarse
• Used For:              Repairing, Softening, Detangling, Strengthening
• Product Form:     Cream
• Health Facts:        Paraben-Free, Sulfate-Free, Phthalate-Free
• Product Style:      Leave-in conditioner

Let me preface this with, first and foremost, I am NOT an avid fan of Shea Moisture products.  My 3c/4 tresses just didn't seem to care for their products.  However, I do repurchase the Shea Moisture Souffle.

I simply love the way this product smells on my hair.  It is a lotion-like product and goes on smoothly and you do not need to apply a lot.

I use the product on wet or damp hair.  The shine is off the charts and the pliability and softness of my hair after using this is amazing. Product is not sticky or tacky to the touch after being applied to hair.

Ingredients:
Water , Ricinus Communis Seed Oil , Stearyl Alcohol , Cetyl Alcohol , Behentrimonium Chloride , Butyrospermum Parkii ButterShea, Certified Organic , Cocos Nucifera OilCoconut , Panthenol , Dicaprylyl Ether , Hydroxyethylcellulose , GlycerinVegetable , Simmondsia Chinensis Seed OilJojoba , Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil , Hydrolyzed Keratin , Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil , Tocopherol , Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice , Yeast Extract , Hydrolzyed Vegetable Protein , PG-Propyl Silanetriol , Mentha Piperita Leaf ExtractPeppermint , FragranceEssential Oil Blend , Hydrolyzed Rice Protein , Butylene Glycol , Niacin , Dextran , Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 , Trifolium Pratense Flower ExtractClover , Vinegar , Caprylhydroxamic Acid , Caprylyl Glycol , Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil

Benefits of ingredients:

• water
• castor oil: thick, highly viscous oil with antibacterial, antifungal, and humectant properties. It is also a great moisture sealant, and promotes hair thickening and growth.
• stearyl & cetyl alcohol: "fatty alcohols" -- NOT to be confused with drying alcohols such as ethyl. Both act as a lubricants, thickeners, and emollients. They also give conditioner its velvety feel without making hair greasy, and are additionally used to keep product ingredients from separating.
• behentrimonium chloride: quaternary ammonium compound and close cousin of cetrimonium chloride. Also penetrates the hair, conditions, and acts as an anti-static and anti-microbial agent.
• shea butter: emollient fat from the nut of the East or West African shea nut tree used to moisturize and soften hair.
• coconut oil: oil high in saturated fats (which is why when cold, it is solid). One of the few known oils to penetrate the hair shaft and truly moisturize hair. Coconut oil helps to moisturize, seal, and prevent breakage.

I have found that it leaves my hair remarkably with less shrinkage than my beloved Camille Rose Naturals' leave-in.  In fact, it's not necessary for me to have to use a styler when using this product alone!  Hair looks vibrant and healthy.

Usage:

A little goes a long way.  I like best using on extremely wet hair.  A quarter-size amount to each section (8).  Can be easily reactivated.  I use daily (applied -lightly - again all over -- at night and spritz with water in the morning).

Leaves my hair moisturized and unlike some of Shea Moisture's other products doesn't leave my hair feeling parched after my hair has dried.

Side Notes:

• I found it not necessary to use the Styling Lotion since the Leave-In performed the same way.
• PLAYS well with Kinky Curly Custard
• If you are protein-sensitive, this item will not work to your satisfaction.  This group of products are full of protein.  -- This is why you will get complaints from other users saying that it "dried" out their hair or hair felt parched.

Keravis Protein

Keravis is a silicone-derived ingredient.  Another name that it is called by is:  hydrolyzed vegetable protein PG-propyl silanetriol.  Keravis protein is a vegetable-derived protein and silicone blend that was designed specifically to strengthen, fortify, and revitalize dry and damaged hair.

Keravis' composition places this product on the Curly Girl's "not friendly" list.  However, please note that Keravis is able to penetrate the hair's cortex which enables it to help to build strength inside the strand while it both coats and conditions the hair strand.

This is important because this will yield tensile strength which will help shield your tresses from dyes, environment, styling, and stressful daily hair routines.  To "cone" or not to "cone?" My tresses love cones, so I will be a continued user.

Pros:

• Easily Accessible
• Price Point - Excellent - 16 ounces for $10.99
• Moisture Factor is Good
• Fragrance:  Loved
• Less Shrinkage than more other leave-ins

Cons:

• Product Needs to be in a Bottle Not Jar
• Contains Keravis Protein -- Not Curly Girl (method) Friendly

Will I Re-purchase:  Yes!

Loving the product!

Please comment or share your experience with this product!

Happy Curls to You!
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