Black Soap Pros
All natural
Affordable
Effective

Black Soap Cons
A bit drying on the hair
Scalp was oily the next day

Shampoo Pros
Affordable
Effective

Shampoo Cons
Can be drying to the hair
Usually has sulfates (unless labeled as sulfate free)


I've tried Raw African Black soap for my face and scalp. My face loves it (especially when I follow up with shea butter) but it may be too drying for my scalp and hair. It cleaned my scalp well but I think it may have done too good of a job. My scalp produced even more oil than usual as punishment, so I was back to square one.

I'll just stick to using sulfate-free shampoos. It may not necessarily be completely natural but it's what works better for my hair.

Price: $7-$9
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description:

• Leaves hair conditioned and healthier-looking
• Protects hair against heat damage
• Lightweight formula delivers shine
• Sulfate, Paraben and Gluten free

Silk Elements Mega Silk Heat Protection Creme helps prevent heat damage caused by heated appliances while leaving hair shiny, smooth and healthier-looking.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua, Eau), Cyclopentasiloxane, Neopentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Polyacrylamide, Diisopropyl Adipate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Fragrance (Parfum), C13-14 Isoparaffin, Disodium EDTA, Laureth-7, Phenethyl Alcohol, PPG-2 Methyl Ether, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Methylisothiazolinone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethyl Ester of Hydrolyzed Silk

Review:
I had this product for a while considering I purchased it while I was still transitioning. I used to put it on my hair before blow drying since I was trying to be more careful not to break my hair off. I didn't know how effective it was since the bulk of it was applied to the relaxed part of my hair. After my big chop, this product was just sitting in my bathroom cabinet since I would only air dry my hair.

I have only flat ironed my natural hair once and this was before I started my locs. I didn't want bone straight results; I just wanted to see my length at least one time. I pulled this product out again and put it on each little section before flat ironing. I got a little nervous when I saw all the steam, especially because the temperature was a pretty low. That steam was just the product evaporating. If I needed to do another pass with the flat iron, I'd put a little more product.

When I washed my hair, it curled back up as if nothing happened, so it did a great job of protecting my hair from heat damage. It did not make my hair hard or anything and it doesn't have any weird smell to it, so I appreciate that.

Bottom Line:

Overall great product for protecting your hair from heat damage.

Price: $11-$13
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


Description:

• Anti-Frizz, Moisturize & Shine
• Natural & Certified Organic Ingredients
• Sulfate Free & Color Safe

This nourishing styling aid for thick, curly hair defines curls, reduces frizz and smoothes hair for a soft, silky feel. Our special blend of nourishing Silk Protein, hydrating Coconut and Neem Oils helps restore moisture and create brilliant shine while conditioning hair without weighing it down for bouncy, healthy curls.



Ingredients:

Deionized Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut ) Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Magnifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter*, Persea Gratissima (Avacado) Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Silk Protein, Ammonium Salt, Melia Azadiratcha (Neem) Seed Oil,Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed oil, Sorbitol Esters, Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B-5), Caprylyl Glycol, Essential Oil Blend, Lonicera Caprifolium (honeysuckle) Flower (and) Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Hibiscus Flower Extract



Review:

This product works really well to moisturize my hair before braiding or twisting it up for a while. It has a thick consistency and it makes my hair feel soft. It also works well for twist-outs and braid-outs.
For everyday conditioning, my hair prefers a product that isn't so thick so I don’t use it for that purpose.
Other reviews highlight how well it moisturizes the hair, especially those with 4C hair. Some also like to use it as a deep conditioner. The only negative reviews I saw talked about how it was too thick to be used on fine hair and that it weighed their hair down.

Bottom Line: 

Great for those with dense or thick hair for deep moisturization.

Price: $2-$4
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description:
Africa's Best Ultimate Herbal Oil is a blend of light penetrating natural oils enriched with vitamins and African herbs. It conditions dry skin and cuticles and is great for relaxers, curls, locks, braids, twists, texturized and natural hairstyles.

Ingredients:
Soy Bean Oil, Walnut Seed Oil, Kiwi Fruit Extract, Olive Fruit Oil, Castor Seed Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Carrot Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Safflower Oil And Calendula Extract And Yarrow Extract And Cucumber Extract And Carrageenan Extract And Ginseng Extract And Sage Extract And Comfrey Extract And Ginseng Extract And Sage Extract And Comfrey Extract And Aloe Extract, Fragrance

Review:
This is my go-to oil blend for sealing moisture in my hair, hot oil treatments, and for pre-detangling. It smells good to me but it is strong and some people may not like it. For the price it's also a very good deal. I use this oil after I put in my leave-in conditioner to seal in moisture when I wear my hair out and for when I twist or braid it up. It provides great shine to my hair especially for twist-outs.

It's also great for "pre-detangling." Sometimes I'll let put conditioner and oil on my hair and let it sit for an hour under a plastic cap. Then before shampooing my hair I'll actually detangle it while everything is nice and smooth.
Other reviews for this oil are good. Some people use it on dry skin as well.

Bottom Line:

Good, versatile oil blend for those on a budget.

Price: $3-$4
My Rating: 4 of out 5 stars

Description:
Give your thirsty hair a moist makeover. Made with Australian Aloe and Jojoba Oil, this moisturizing conditioner maximizes hydration to soften your silky mane.

Ingredients:
Water/Eau, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Glutamic Acid, Fragrance/Parfum, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Benzyl Alcohol, EDTA, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Ecklonia Radiata Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice

Review:
This is my go-to conditioner when I'm out of conditioner and low on money. It provides good slip for detangling and does an alright job of moisturizing my hair.
I just try not to use it too often since it does have silicones, but apparently it's not the worst of the silicones.

Bottom Line:

Not my staple but a great conditioner for those on a budget.

My shea butter before regular use

Price: $5-$15
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Ingredients:
Shea butter

Review:
I regularly use shea butter for my skin and my hair. It provides great moisture and leaves my dense, thick hair looking shiny and healthy.
Shea butter is very thick so a little definitely goes a long way. I put a little in my palm, rub my hands together to let the heat dissolve it, and put it in my hair.
I have had the same two containers of shea butter (one for my hair and one for my face) for an entire year and it's not even halfway done. It's definitely a great value.

Bottom Line:

Great moisturizer for both the hair and skin that will last a long time.

Price: $12
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description:
You can instantly put an end to dry, dull, brittle hair. When you naturally balance hair’s moisture - manageability, softness and shine are just around the corner. This rich hydrating conditioner can do just that, plus it detangles and makes hair easier to style. The blend of Pro-vitamin B5 and Biotin strengthens and softens hair when it’s wet so there are fewer snags, snaps and tugs. And, it’s light enough to use daily and is also perfect as a co-wash.

Ingredients:
Cyclopentasiloxane, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Amodimethicone, AMP-Acrylates Copolymer, Ascorbic Acid, Biotin, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), C11-15 Pareth-7,C12-13 Pareth-23, C12-13 Pareth-3, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetrimonium, Chloride, Citric Acid, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dicetyldimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Divinyldimethicone/Dimethicone Copolymer, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Laureth-9, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Panthenol, PEG-45M, Polyquaternium-37, Polysorbate 60, Polyurethane-14, PPG-1 Trideceth-6, Propylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Retinyl Palmitate, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, ?Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Trideceth-12, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, VP/DMAPA Acrylates Copolymer, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance (Parfum)Copolymer, Trideceth-12, Tetrasodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Fragrance (Parfum)

Review:
This conditioner moisturized my hair very well and provided great slip for detangling. It's almost like it did all the hard work for me so I don't have to spend so much time detangling my hair.

It smells nice and I don't have to use a lot for it to be effective. The consistency is fairly thick so it might be a bit much for finer hair types.
Other people's experiences with this product are similar to mine. Some also feel like it’s a bit pricey.

Bottom Line:

Very good conditioner for thick, dense hair that provides great slip.

Price: About $15
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Description:
Coconut oil is used in cooking and to moisturize hair. Because the makeup of coconut oil is similar to the scalp's sebum, it can actually moisturize the hair strand instead of just being a sealer. It's also good for those with dry scalp issues.


Ingredients (Whole Food's brand):
Expeller pressed virgin organic coconut oil


Review:
Coconut oil was something I always used in my hair when I first big chopped. My hair loves it and soaks it up. It also adds great shine to my hair.

For my scalp issues it didn't help. At the time I wasn't aware that unlike the average Black person my scalp was actually oily, not dry. Massaging my scalp with coconut oil made my problem worse.

I stopped using coconut oil because when the temperature would drop below 70 degrees, it would solidify in my hair. You could see little white specks all over and it wasn't very flattering.

If you want to use coconut oil, you might want to change it up in the cooler seasons.

Also, it is a bit pricey so as a precaution I don't recommend using it directly from the jar. Get a little plastic jar from the beauty supply store and pour some oil in that for use in your hair. If your hair or scalp doesn't do well with coconut oil, you'll still have a sterile jar that you can use for cooking. I also take a tablespoon of coconut oil daily to get good fats in my diet.

Bottom Line:

Versatile oil that's great for dry hair and dry scalp. Not so great for use in cooler weather since it solidifies in your hair.

Price: $16.95
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Product Description:
This thick conditioner uses shea butter for its moisturizing properties, adding great softness to super dry hair. It also utilizes the beneficial properties of 14 different herbs and spices. Good for daily use for those with thick, dry hair, but might be too heavy for hair that gets weighed down easily. Finer curlies might want to try our Aloeba conditioner.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua)*, Behentrimonium Methosulfate (and) Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Powder, Hydrolyzed Oat Flour, Soy Lecithin, Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate

Review:
My review for this product is mixed but leaning towards the positive side. The main highlights are that this conditioner makes the hair feel silky and soft, controls frizz, and holds curls.
On the flip side, once you rinse it out, the hair can be a little dry, which equals breakage.
There are other reviews that have said that they don't like how their hair feels and/or looks after rinsing the conditioner out.

Others have said that this works best as a leave-in conditioner, and I agree. Applying it after washing your hair and continuing with your regular styling will keep the hair soft. In a way, it redeems itself.

If you want to try this product I'd proceed with caution and get a sample since it may not work for your hair type in particular. The range of hair types for both positive and negative reviews are broad. There are curlies who say the product worked well and some who said it made their hair a disaster. Surprisingly there are straight haired users who love the product but most have probably avoided using this conditioner since shea butter can weigh down their hair.

Bottom Line:

Because of the mixed reviews I'd recommend getting a sample of the product before spending $17 on the whole bottle. 

 

Samples: https://www.jessicurl.com/product/too-shea-extra-moisturizing-conditioner-fs

Price: $9-$11
My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Description:
SheaMoisture's Coconut & Hibiscus sulfate-free shampoo for thick, curly hair gently cleanses and detangles hair. This special blend of nourishing Silk Protein, hydrating Coconut and Neem Oils helps restore moisture, body and shine for bouncy, healthy curls.

Ingredients:
Deionized Water, Dacyl Glucoside (Coconut Oil), Cocos Nucifera(Coconut) Oil*, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)*, Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, Vitamin E, Melia Azadirachta (Need ) Seed Oil, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate (Coconut Oil),Panthenol (Vitamin B-5), Rosemary Extracts, Silk Protein, Proprietary Essential Oil Blend, Guar Gum, Stearic Acid, Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle) Flower (and) Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Flower Extract *Certified Organic Ingredients.

Review:
I don't know when I will learn my lesson that my hair and scalp love 2 different kinds of product. My hair loves this shampoo but my scalp hates it. Since shampooing is mainly for the scalp, I guess my scalp's opinion wins out.

My hair strands feel clean and not stripped. However, this shampoo doesn't clean my scalp very well. After 2 applications it still feels oily/waxy. I ended up just using my usual shampoo, making this product pretty useless for me.
 Other reviews of this product are stellar but I have to assume they have a scalp that needs moisture.

Bottom Line:

Useless shampoo for me but probably ideal for those with a drier scalp.

Price: $5-$10
My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Description:
Cantu shea butter leave in conditioning repair cream is an intensive deep penetrating leave in cream conditioning treatment that is made with pure shea butter and other natural oils to stop and mend breakage, repair split ends, and add manageability and shine with every application. When used daily, cantu shea butter leave in conditioning repair cream helps promote strong, long healthy hair.

Ingredients:
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Glycine Soja Oil (Soybean), Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium 37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG 1 Trideceth 6, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearalkonium Chloride, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone, Panthenol, PPG 1-PPG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Lanolin Oil, Cinnamidopropyl Trimonium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Benzophenone 3, BHA, BHT, Zea Mays Oil (Corn), Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, DMDM Hydantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance

Review:
This product only worked on certain parts of my hair.
It did moisturize most of my hair well and made it feel soft. However, it made the looser hair at my crown feel stiff and there was also a lot of flaking when it dried.

If you have multiple textures in your hair, then you may have the same results as me. Hair that's in the Type 4 range responded well, but the hair at my crown is 3B and did not respond well.
The other reviews for this product are very good, but it's clear from the bad ones that looser naturals may not find this product to be beneficial.

Bottom Line:

Works great for Type 4 hair but not so much for other hair types.

Price: $5.99
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Description:
Hawaiian Silky Miracle Worker 14 in 1 features special moisturizing and activating ingredients to help solve all hair problems associated with curly looks, braids and natural hair styles.

Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Mineral Oil, PEG-75 Lanolin, Cetyl Alcohol, Strealknium Chloride Polysobate-60, Triethanoolmaine and others

Review:
Other people say this is really their miracle worker but not in my case. This is a decent product but it's not something I can use as my primary moisturizer since the consistency is thin and it doesn't spread well in my hair. I like to use it for just for a touch of moisture or to refresh my hair. In my case it's one step up from spraying water and oil on my hair before leaving the house.

The instructions say this is supposed to be something you spray in your hair but don't do it. It's almost like pumping lotion on your hair; it'll come out in little globs. It's better to pump it in the palm of your hand and apply it that way.

According to other reviews, it seems to work well for those with looser curls.
The online price for this item is a lot higher so it's definitely better to take a trip to the beauty supply store to see if they have it.

Bottom Line:

Miracle worker for looser curls but coarser hair textures aren't missing out on much.

Price: $20
My Rating: 1 out of 5 stars

Product Description:

We have updated our formula for a better consistency while still giving you the gentle cleansing you want! Your hair is left feeling lightly conditioned after use, not dry. Formulated with Silk Amino Acids and Green Tea extract to help provide shine to the hair, while Vitamin B5 aids in moisturizing your curls. Yummy Coconut Scent and still Sulfate-Free formula!


Ingredients:

WATER/AQUA/EAU, DECYL GLUCOSIDE, COCAMIDOPROPYL BETAINE, GLYCERIN, SODIUM LAURYL GLUCOSE CARBOXYLATE, LAURYL GLUCOSIDE, HYDROXYETHYLCELLULOSE, BRASSICA ABYSSINICA (ABYSSINIAN) OIL, CAMELLIA SINENSIS (GREEN TEA) LEAF EXTRACT, XANTHAN GUM, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, GUAR HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, SILK AMINO ACIDS, PHENOXYETHANOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, TETRASODIUM EDTA, FRAGRANCE/PARFUM, BENZYL BENZOATE, CITRIC ACID.

 
Review:

This product is probably really effective, but just not on my scalp. The shampoo is very runny and hard to spread, so my scalp is not able to get clean even after a second application.
According to other reviews, the problem is common so this shampoo may not be appropriate for people who have dense hair, an oily scalp, and/or dandruff issues. This is because this cleanser will not be sufficient to get the scalp and hair clean.
On the plus side, the positive reviews have said that it works really well and fits into certain hair care regimens so it may just work out in the end.

Bottom Line:

This may be okay for fine-haired people looking for a very gentle cleanse, but if you regularly need a good cleansing, skip this product.

Price: $12
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Description:
A creamy and herbal Kinky Curly Knot Today Conditioner helps you to smooth the cuticles and remove knots, tangles and snarls painlessly. This conditioner helps you to convert a nightmare into a sweet dream.

• Helps to removes tangles and knots painlessly
• Helps to smoothen cuticles
• Creamy and herbal conditioner

Kinky Curly Knot Today Conditioner is a good herbal product that gives you the liberty to look fashionable.

Ingredients:
Mango Fruit Extract, Slippery Elm, Marshmallow Root, Lemongrass, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol And Natural Fragrance

Review:
This conditioner has a lot of "titles." It's a conditioner, a leave-in, and a detangler all in one. In other words it moisturizes your hair well enough so that you can get a detangling comb through a lot easier. It is very effective and it has great slip as well.
Most reviews for this conditioner are also good. There are a small percentage of reviews that say this conditioner left a white sticky mess on their head.

Bottom Line:

This conditioner is great for most coarse hair types but may not be that great for looser curls.

Price: $6-$9
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Description:
Silk. It has the most incredible feel, the most incredible texture. It makes you feel sexy. Desirable. Smooth As Silk Deeper Moisture Conditioner makes your hair feel so smooth, so silky, so amazingly detangled. It works only where needed to create a silky-smooth palette that's repaired, renewed and ready for your own unique kind of style. Smooth As Silk provides smooth moves indeed.

• Infuses deep moisture for manageable smoothness
• Detangles while protecting against split ends
• Calms unruly hair to alleviate frizz
• Increases shine while smoothing dry or damaged hair

Ingredients:
Aqua (water), cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, butylene glycol, cetrimonium bromide, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, natural fragrance, hydrolyzed soy protein, *chamomilla recutita (matricaria) leaf extract, *citrus aurantium dulcis (valencia orange) extract, *citrus grandis (grapefruit) fruit extract, *cymbopogon schoenanthus (lemongrass) extract, *echinacea purpurea extract, *ginkgo biloba extract, *glycine soja (soybean) seed extract, *lavandula angustifolia (lavender) extract, *rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, *macrocystis pyrifera (sea kelp) extract, *mangifera indica (mango) extract, *salix alba (willow bark) extract. *USDA Certified Organic

Review:
This conditioner is best known for the great slip it provides when detangling your hair. Needless to say, it also does a great job moisturizing your hair. This is especially important if you used Giovanni's Tea Tree Triple Threat Shampoo.

A little goes a long way with this conditioner because it spreads very easily.
The reviews for this conditioner are mostly positive. There are a few people here and there saying it made their hair dry, which honestly is surprising to me. The conditioner is literally smooth and makes anything it comes in contact with smooth as well.

Note: If you accidentally drop some on the shower floor, be careful because it will be very slippery. Make sure you rinse your shower out well. I fell on my butt once lol

Some other reviews say that the conditioner works well as a leave in as well.

Bottom Line:

Very good conditioner that gives great slip for detangling and provides great moisture. Also functions as a leave-in conditioner.

Price: $8.99
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


Description:
Whipped Creme is our EVERYTHING moisturizer!
Not too heavy, not too light! Whipped Cream has Just the right amount of moisture and oils to give you moisturized ends. Ideal for wash-and-go styles, sleek ponytails, and as a leave in conditioner. Just a dime size amount will do! It softens your new growth, adds unbelievable shine and gives new life to your hair! Your ends will love HairVeda's Signature Whipped Cream.


Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil, Sweet Almond Oil. Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter),Ceteryl Alcohol, Steryl Alcohol, Sunflower Oil, Allantoin, Isopropryl Palmitate, Emulsifying wax, Germall Plus, Light Fragrance.


Review:
This product works best as a leave-in conditioner rather than a detangler. It leaves the hair nice and soft. It works well especially as a moisturizer to put on your hair before getting your it braided or twisted.

The consistency is pretty thick so a little goes a long way. I tend to use a little for daily use and use a bit more if I'm braiding or twisting my hair up for a while.

The reviews for this product are positive with the exception of some who said it was too heavy for their hair. Some people dilute it in a spray bottle for light moisture, so that's definitely an option for fine-haired people.

Bottom Line:

Overall great moisturizer. Definitely worth it. Fine-haired people may need to dilute it.