When I first tried the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream, my hair didn't like it. My hair also didn't like it the second, third, and fourth time. After a while, I stopped using it. Then I pulled it back out during a relaxer stretch and used it on my dry new growth. Boy, was I surprised! My new growth ate it up!
Related read: 10 Great Hair Products Under $10
This moisturizer has a sweet kind of smell to it that lingers a bit as it fades. I typically have a negative reaction to strong fragrances, but this one doesn't bother me. Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioning Repair Cream is white in color and will leave a white residue or flakes if too much is used. I had that happen once and panicked because I thought I was getting gray hair. I have been able to avoid the white residue by mixing the moisturizer with a natural oil or serum.
The consistency is thick, so a little goes a long way. Most likely due to glycerin being toward the top of the ingredient list, there is a lot of slip, which is why I've used it to assist with detangling my new growth.
Related read: Top 7 Leave-in Conditioners For Relaxed Hair
I will most likely buy this again since my hair, especially my new growth, seems to really like it, and it's pretty affordable. You get a lot of product for the money. I also want to try the strengthening formula because it contains hydrolyzed proteins and could be used to add light protein to my regimen.
Product details
Where to purchase
Sally Beauty, Target, CVS, WalmartDescription
"The award-winning Cantu Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream is serious about promoting stronger, healthier hair! Infused with the iconic Cantu formula of shea butter and essential oils, the Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream stops and mends breakage, repairs split ends, and makes naturally curly hair more manageable with every use. When used daily, once damaged, dry, or coarse hair will experience increased shine and softness. Great for relaxed, texturized, colored, and permed hair, the Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream penetrates deeply to reduce frizz, making it a holy grail natural hair staple for those with curly hair."Claims
Here are the claims I found online
- Provides intense moisture, leaving hair soft and manageable
- Formulated for damaged, dry or coarse hair
- Leaves hair soft, shiny and manageable
- Can be used for severely damaged, dry or coarse hair
- Formulated with pure shea butter and other natural oils
- Helps stop and mend hair breakage, repairs split ends and reduces frizz
- Ideal for relaxed, textured, colored and permed hair
How to use
"To use for daily styling, apply a generous amount of product to ends of damp hair and work toward roots. Comb through for even distribution. Do not rinse. Apply more to the ends of longer hair or problem areas. To use as a leave-in treatment, apply as directed for daily styling, and cover with a plastic cap overnight for maximum absorption and intense conditioning. For frizz-free hair, apply daily to split ends or damaged areas. Comb through and let dry naturally."When I have used this on my relaxed hair, I prefer to use it when my hair is dry. That's because of how thick it is, and it's easier to apply liquid products on wet hair.
Key ingredients
Pulled from online, the ingredients in this Cantu leave-in conditioner are: Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Canola Oil, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Pari (Shea) Butter, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Parfum (Fragrance), Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Capryloylglycerin Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Propylene Glycol, Diheptylsuccinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Ppg-1 Trideceth-6, Panthenol, Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hyaluronate Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice (Decolorized), Polyquaternium-37, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Pih Propylsilanetriol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Urtica Dioica Nettle Extrac Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium (Yarrow) Extract, Actindia Chinensis (Kwo Fruit Extract Slkamino Acids Lactobacilus Ferment Benzyl Alcohol, Potassium Sorbate Sodium Benzoate, Sodiumferocihnide, Sodium Sulfite, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Coumarin, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Linalool.Some of the ingredients that stand out to me are
- Sodium Hyaluronate Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe) Leaf Juice, which is a humectant
- Hydrolyzed Collagen and Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, which are proteins
- Shea butter and olive oil
I only use it to deep condition my hair. That's the only way it works for me. I am glad your hair loves it now.
ReplyDeleteThis is my Staple leave in cream. No other has been able to claim top spot as yet. I'm on my 5th jar since starting my HHJ. Glad you hair grew to love it!
ReplyDeleteThe Shea Butter version did nothing but sit on my hair and make it heavy. My hair was not happy. I recently switched to the Argan Oil version of this Leave-in cream and my hair is happppppyyyyyy! Lighter formula, healthy shine and makes my hair flow! I'm glad I made the switch!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you found a conditioner that works for you! I've wanted to try the one with Argan Oil for a while, but can't find it in stores near me. Thanks for reading!
DeleteThis might sound like a dumb question but can i use this in moisture and seal treatment? or what can i use i noticed there is not post explaining moisture and seal regime in general
ReplyDeleteYes. You can use this when moisturizing and sealing.
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ReplyDeleteWhich Cantu product is best for black afro hair
ReplyDeleteCantu Shea Butter whipped cream. Unfortunately I just cannot find it again. I've tried everywhere. No one seems to supply it any more.
ReplyDelete