Cantu

This silicone- and sulfate-free shampoo claims to reduce color fade (retaining 84% of color after 10 washes) and claims to remove buildup without stripping hair. First off, I can't say I noticed any difference WRT to color fade with this shampoo. I live in Florida (hello hard and chlorinated water), so brassiness is a thing even if you don't dye your hair. (If you live in an area with hard water or you color your hair, the best thing you can do is get a filter for your shower.) My experience with this shampoo was neutral. It didn't dry out or strip my hair - its formula is gentle and creamy - which is good. But it didn't ever leave my scalp or hair feeling super clean, which is not good. The shampoo comes in a giant bottle (13.5 oz), but it expires after being open for 12 months. After ~1.5 years, I've only used 1/4 of the bottle. (I don't shampoo every day.) I'm tossing it because it's time, but it feels like such a waste of product. It only cost ~$5-6; but I don't like the idea of throwing away a nearly full bottle. It's been hard to find a shampoo that is silicone-free and also isn't harsh and color-stripping (i.e., sulfate-free), and my quest continues.

I have dyed low porosity 2A-3B hair. My ringlets fall more on the top of my head with waves in the bottom layers. This is an excellent CG curl cream for the price point and it is widely available in my local drugstores. I typically use a quarter plus a little extra on my shoulder length hair using a praying hands and then scrunch. I find that it dries with a cast on me, almost like I had used a hair gel product. So I usually scrunch the crunch out once my hair is fully dry. I wish it provided a little bit more frizz control but my it is still pretty manageable. Minus one star for the horrible coconut tropical scent. I am so sick of coconut in every curly product. That is the reason why I would not buy this product again.

Summary: good for curls, but also an amazing blowout cream. My hair is coarse, thick, and naturally wavy (mix of 2B and 2C). I normally straighten, but do sometimes wear it natural/wavy. I picked this up since it is silicone-free and I'm trying to remove those from my haircare. I paid around $5 at Sally Beauty hoping it would add some extra moisture to my hair during styling and reduce frizz. My hair is about chin-length and I use about a small dime-sized amount of this. Work it through my damp/towel-dried hair & comb through, followed by gel, and let it air dry. I definitely notice more curl, less frizz (although I do still have some), and my curls/waves are significantly more defined than if I skipped this. Also, not at all how intended to be used, but this makes an absolutely incredible blowout cream. I again used a dime-sized amount followed by a little of the Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore blowdry creme (for heat protection), and blowdry with my usual round brush technique for straightening. My hair comes out gloriously straight and shiny, with absolutely zero frizz. This product does have a strong tropical coconut/beach scent (as most Cantu products do), which I personally enjoy, but if you dislike coconut, be warned. I personally find this works best on damp, towel-dried hair. On soaking wet hair it can foam up, and on dry hair it flakes something terrible. This is so cheap and has great ingredients, so I will always keep it on hand regardless of how I choose to style my hair day to day.