Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream 16oz

Moi, PrésentationAs the French would say (Moi, Présentation); Let’s get right to it!

This product in my opinion failed to live up to its expectations that it would nourish, smooth and softens while protecting against damage.

Now before going further into details I think it is important that you know my particular texture of hair. My family origin is that of Jamaican/Cuban and Indian so my particular hair texture is very wavy, and slightly dry for this time of the year but not heavily course or damaging. I do not have thick type hair but more of a medium-soft grade texture, and not a lot of frizz but do tend to have a lot of problems with hair detangle. I often do regular ‘leave-in’ conditioning treatments about 2x’s a week; I prefer to stay away from a lot of hot ironing/curling to my hair or using Platinum base curlers which in my opinion will only damage the hair for short and long-term usage. I prefer to use a Titanium coated barrel and keep the setting no more than a medium type temperature.

I bought Cantu Shea Butter (leave-in conditioning repair cream) after hearing these two females raving how much they love this product while shopping in the hair aisle at my local beauty supply store; as I have never tried Cantu products before I am always eager to try/learn new things. I was excited to try it and couldn’t wait for my next wash/conditioning session at home in the shower.

Scent

I will say out of the various Cantu products I smelled in the store this company is consistent with having a nice, pleasant scent with their products. This product lives up to the Cantu reputation as this smells heavenly! It has a nice dewy scent and doesn’t have that heavy-perfume aroma; the smell is resemblance of the tropics with a hint of coconut. It is a bit greasy to the touch but doesn’t feel heavy or weighed down. 
 
Cantu Shea Butter (the Product)

The first time I used it I tried it with additional leave-in treatments/styling aids and the result were less than favorable. Instead my hair felt dry and limb; nor did the product absorb quickly. I had to keep re-apply more product just to have that softness I was hoping to achieve. I was so unhappy with how my hair felt that I re-washed it two-days later as I did not like the texture of my hair. The next time I tried Cantu Shea Butter about two-weeks later I did not add anything in conjunction with the product but once again it was a huge disappointment. Although, I left it ‘AS-IS’ (as a leave-in conditioner) there were no bells and whistles to rave home about. It fell short to leave my hair feeling, “smooth or soft and/or manageable” as its claim.

This product can be applied dry or to wet hair

Dry: Apply it dry as a daily styling regiment (with blow dry or curling/styling irons).

Wet: As a Leave-In Treatment after regular shampoo.

It also claims to help with Frizz Free Hair by applying it daily to split ends or damaged areas; “simply comb through hair, and then allow for it to dry naturally on its own.”

Additional claims:

Stop and mend hair breakage
Repair split ends and reduce frizz
Protect hair from heat damage
Hydrate and moisturize with Shea Butter and natural oils

Little known fact:

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. Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream helps stop and mend hair breakage. Repair split ends and reduce frizz. Protect hair from heat damage hydrate and moisturize with Shea Butter and natural oils.

Read more at: cantubeauty.com

I do know that Cantu products in general are more geared towards people who hair type is that of natural or perm-free textures. This product is great for natural locks, braids, twists and curls, and for newly relaxed hair.  

Shea Butter

Shea butter can benefit your hair and scalp in numerous ways. Not quite sure what it is? Also known as karite butter, shea butter is a cream-colored fatty substance made from the nuts of karite trees that grow in the savannah regions of West and Central Africa. Karite trees, or shea trees, grow only in the wild, take up to 50 years to mature, and live up to 300 years. The trees need tender loving care, and their cultivation, along with the manufacture and distribution of shea butter, is an enormous undertaking in Africa, where shea butter is sometimes referred to as women’s gold because so many women are employed in its production.

The Benefits

Shea butter provides moisture to dry and damaged hair from the roots to the tips, leaving it healthy and shiny. Because it's rich in vitamins A and E, shea butter soothes dryness, repairs breakage, and mends split ends.

Shea butter absorbs quickly and completely into the scalp without clogging pores, leaving a greasy residue, or causing a buildup of oil or dandruff.

Shea butter helps heal a variety of scalp problems, including dry scalp, psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis.Shea butter protects hair from weather damage caused by wind, humidity, and extreme dryness, and repairs such damage. 

Because it's rich in moisture and can shield against harmful ultraviolet radiation, shea butter protects hair from sun damage.

If your hair has endured chemical treatments, hot irons, and blow-dryers, shea butter can restore its moisture and vitality.

Read more at: dailyglow.com/articles/197/hair-care-treatments/shea-butter-for-hair-and-scalp

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.

Ingredient Alert

This product contains Hydrolyze Collagen which is a pork bi-product which is used in animal products.

Watch the video for more information:

youtube.com/watch?v=eW7IggF2oHE

What I suggest using instead

I have been using Motions Moisture Plus After Shampoo Conditioner for years and I cannot express enough how much I love this product. It leaves my hair feeling so super soft and my curls are as curly and defined as having Shirley Temple hair. It leaves my hair manageable and tangible to comb through wet or dry; this particular bottle is for Medium to Coarse type textured hair. It is great for after shampoo usage, color treated hair or after relaxed hair; it does not matter the outcome it has the same level of consistency each and every time. It cost only $4.49 and can be found at major hair supply stores; it is for at home care and has a great light feeling to the hair and scent without hidden dyes or harsh chemicals.

I use this as a rinse out conditioner as well as a leave-in treatment; Motions Moisture Plus product provides consistent results and is worth every cent; and for only a fraction of what one would pay for using Miss Jessie’s products. If you’re not looking to pay for the name but for a good quality product; this is the product to try.

Another product I highly recommend

Dr Miracle’s Healing Live in Treatment and Conditioner – This product doesn’t just condition ones hair but it helps to treat problematic hair and scalp problems. It has a strong menthol scent and you can actually feel it tingling throughout your hair but isn’t overbearing on the scalp. I recommend following up with this product after you use the Motions Moisture Plus; the two are safe to use together or by itself.

My hair treatment recommendation

Apply any stand-alone regular hair conditioner with Dr Miracle’s Healing Live in Treatment and Conditioner; sit with a heating cap for about 15-20 minutes and then rinse. Repeat at least (2x’s a week); your hair will feel absolutely amazing! Your hair will feel Super-soft; having that truly conditioned feeling/healthy look and leave hair with a nice minty scent.

** You can also add an egg for additional nutrients if you like.

In a nutshell

I was hoping the Cantu Shea Butter because of the Shea Butter would leave my hair feeling oilier and super soft/light-weight since I already have a soft texture grade to my natural hair; but instead this left my hair feeling thick, nappy and dry (once dried); it definitely did not give me that nicely moisturized feeling; and combing through it was a constant hassle. It also failed to live up to my expectations and to give my hair that soft/conditioned feeling especially with having color-treated hair.

Where to Buy and Cost:

Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens; On-line: drugstore.com, amazon.com, ebay.com and hairtobeauty.com; the average cost is less than $5.00.


This is Awakened1 and I hope this review helped.

UPDATE:

Cantu has gone NEW with its complete revamp/look of all its styling aids/products. The new look has more of an earthy tone-look and more of an ethnic appeal to its line now. Who says change isn’t good and it is definitely a win-win in my opinion.

To see the full new line do a Bing search:

bing.com/images/search?q=cantu+products&FORM=HDRSC2



Recommend this product? No