Shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie 4c hair

3.0 out of 5 stars It adds lots of moisture not a lot of curl definition
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2017

After reading so many reviews on this product, I had to finally buy it. I was very excited because everyone was raving about this it. It's a heavy cream, almost like a pudding or a custard consistency. It's very moisturizing and a little goes a long way. Now, it claims that it's good for Wash n' goes. There, I don't agree. I have 4b-4c hair and, while it provides moisture, it does not do a good job at defining my curls (I'm going to post a picture of how my hair looked the first time I tried it on a wash n go). It works more like a leave in (which it ultimately is). I paired it with the curling gel souffle and I still didn't get a lot of definition. And I think I was just wishfully thinking, because I knew deep down that a cream couldn't provide a lot of definition like a gel does, but I still was hoping. I think this is more for finger coils or twist outs. Its very good at taming the frizz. Or maybe if you have a looser curl pattern this cream would do a better job at defining. Now, I did do finger coils with this and I gotta say that the moisture and the softness the day after was very good. So all and all this cream is good as a styling cream to add a lot of moisture and softness, not very good at defining.

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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 4, 2015

I'm not very experienced with curly hair care, so I can't offer much comparison or insight, but so far I like this product a lot. I have a biracial daughter with 3b/3c hair which needs a lot of care. I was using Mixed Chicks on her, but it wasn't working out well for us. A friend recommended this thing and I got it together with another recommended product, the Ouidad Krly Kids No More Knots. I'd read in the reviews here that the Shea Moisture smoothie can be used either as a regular (wash-off) conditioner or as a leave-in, and the Ouidad says it can be used as either as well, so I tried each of them both ways.

When I used Shea Moisture as a wash-off conditioner and followed with the Ouidad as a leave-in, the results were great. We'd do it before bed once a week and in the morning my daughter's hair would have gorgeous shiny self-formed ringlet curls, which stayed remarkably defined and frizz-free throughout the day. She's 18 months old and can't sleep in a bonnet yet, plus she wears a winter hat now and generally rolls around all day messing up her hair, but even despite all that, the curls stay defined all day and the frizz is minimal, which is impressive. On non-wash days I just spray her hair lightly with a solution of the Ouidad conditioner in water so I can comb through the knots before bed, and she's all set.

Now, when I tried it the other way, it really didn't work. I used the Ouidad first and after rinsing I followed with the Shea Moisture, and the next morning my daughter's hair was hard, sticky and dull, and it looked glued to her head! I really didn't use that much. She got a lot of frizz throughout the day, too. I did that combination a couple more times just to give it a chance, with varying amounts of Shea Moisture, but it never looked good. So I wouldn't recommend it as a leave-in... Either that, or I'm doing something wrong, which is totally possible given that I'm just figuring things out. We went back to using Shea Moisture first, rinsing it off and following with Ouidad, and her hair went back to the pretty shiny ringlets. This regimen works for us right now so I'm gonna stick with it.

Also, I haven't tried this on its own or in any other manner, just in combination with the Ouidad conditioner, as described. So I don't know how it would work when used in other ways or combinations.

I'm writing all this out in detail to help out other clueless moms of curly-haired kids who are also figuring things out :-) I'm sure actual curly-haired people have a lot more knowledge than this and can probably weigh in better.

UPDATE: My daughter is 3 now and we're still using this smoothie, still in the same way, in combination with the Ouidad. This regimen has really worked out well for us. Her hair is much longer now and much more prone to frizz, so I need to reapply the Ouidad leave-in again mid-week, but so far things are under control. I even started using this smoothie on my own hair! My hair is very fine and as straight as it gets, but it's extremely prone to matting even though I brush it out diligently and frequently. I was only using a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner twice a week before, but now I follow with this smoothie as a leave-in, and it makes my hair extra smooth and shiny, and reduces the matting significantly. It doesn't get rid of it entirely, and by evening I still get knots at the back of my head almost every day, but they're significantly smaller and looser than when I'm not using the smoothie. This is the first time in my life I've left product in my hair without washing it off... Maybe I should've started doing this sooner!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 4, 2019

My hair recently decided to up and change from the ever so slight wave of 2A texture to the half wave/half ringlet texture of 2C/3A. One thing that hasn’t changed though is its tendency to frizz horribly in the year-round humidity of Texas. In an attempt to embrace my curls and combat the frizz I started trying all the reasonably priced products that had good reviews I could find. I immediately fell in love with this one!

First of all, it smells amazing. No matter what other products I put in my hair with it, I can always detect this particular scent. And it sticks around all day. I was still catching whiffs of it when I turned my head hours after applying it.

Second, it definitely helps tame the frizz and define my curls. When I use it in tandem with some mousse and the “plopping” method while my hair dries I have gorgeous, defined curls all day.

Third, it doesn’t weigh my hair down or look greasy. The individual strands of my hair are extremely fine and get oily near my scalp. I saw a couple warnings that this product is too heavy for fine, wavy hair, but I haven’t had any trouble with that. I use a really light hand with it though. My hair is incredibly thick and long as well and I still only use one, sometimes two, quarter sized dabs to apply to all of it. So this jar will last you a loooooooong time (unless you lose it within a month and have to buy a new jar like I did 😅).

My one and only complaint about it is packaging related. When I received my product in the mail some of it had leaked out of the jar into the shrink wrap. I wish the inner lining of the jar had a better seal to avoid that problem. The leaking jar is what knocked this one from five stars to four.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 9, 2010

I ordered this around the begining of Oct 2010 and I must say it is trully a wonderful product! I have used countless and I do mean countless so called moisturizers claiming to moisturize the hair and make it soft and supple at the same time. Well to say the least many of the other products that I've tried does not even come close to this. I've used to name just a few IC gel, Hawaiian Silky 14 n 1, S Curl no drip and many more. And in my opinion for my hair type nothing comes close to this.

First the fragrance alone will make you fall in love with it. Second but not last is the moisturizing affects it has on my hair. I am a 3c/4a hair type and it has been a true struggle for me to find what really works well in my hair. Well this is definitely it. Next month I will order at least 5 jars to ensure I will not run out. It does what it says it will do without a doubt. The only negative thing I can say about it and I'm not speaking of the product but more so the availability of it. I had to order this online through Amazon! I am a regular shopper on Amazon, but sometimes the shipping cost gets to me. I was so disappointed going to two different Targets in my area and they did not have it let alone only a tiny section for black hair care which I think is ridiculous in the first place! The hair care section for women of color was so small I went back to it 3 times thinking I must have missed something. For all other races there was an abundance of hair care products. Which btw I think is so unfair!

But other than that I think next month along with my five jars of this smoothie that I will also order the rest of the products since I had such a wonderful and delightful positive affects with this one. Oh, I would like to also mention when using this product I use it on dry freshly washed and conditioned hair. Then I applied the leave-in which works well also. But after I apply the smoothie (just a small amount per section) I use Wave Nouveau moisturizing lotion then put my hair in medium size 2 strand twist and use just a dab per section Jamaican Black Castor oil on the twist but mostly concentrating on my ends. Then I baggy and use a satin cap. That's it! Amazing results every single time. So if anyone out there has contemplated purchasing this, then don't! Get it, you will not be disappointed!

1.0 out of 5 stars DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT. THIS PRODUCT IS A FAKE.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 8, 2020

DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT. THIS PRODUCT IS A FAKE.

The jar of product I received is certainly different from the genuine product I usually purchase. There was no inner lid and the contents of the jar smelled rancid.

I once received a fake product like this but didn’t leave a review. I’m reviewing this now to highlight the reality of fake products being sold on Amazon. This should be investigated and product quality regulated.

1.0 out of 5 stars DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT. THIS PRODUCT IS A FAKE.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 8, 2020

DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT. THIS PRODUCT IS A FAKE.

The jar of product I received is certainly different from the genuine product I usually purchase. There was no inner lid and the contents of the jar smelled rancid.

I once received a fake product like this but didn’t leave a review. I’m reviewing this now to highlight the reality of fake products being sold on Amazon. This should be investigated and product quality regulated.

Images in this review

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 1, 2021

I have tried so many different curling creams and curl definers since my transition 1 year ago and I have to say this is the best I've used.

First off, it doesn't leave my hair with white residue after it has dried, it doesn't dry out my hair and my hair does not feel stiff after drying. It's not oily which is great.

I love it. It keeps my hair well moisturised and my curls are popping. I have very dry 4c hair which soaks moisture very quickly. I prefer to use it when my hair is slightly damp or on dry hair. It works best for me that way. I don't like using it when my hair is very wet as I don't get the same curl results.
Product soaks in very well into the hair and with one use 3 days late my hair is still moisturised. I also use satin bonnet for bed which is great too.

The fragrance is not too bad but my daughter says it's too strong but I don't find it but it does smell lovely.

I would definitely recommend this product.

4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 1, 2021

I have tried so many different curling creams and curl definers since my transition 1 year ago and I have to say this is the best I've used.

First off, it doesn't leave my hair with white residue after it has dried, it doesn't dry out my hair and my hair does not feel stiff after drying. It's not oily which is great.

I love it. It keeps my hair well moisturised and my curls are popping. I have very dry 4c hair which soaks moisture very quickly. I prefer to use it when my hair is slightly damp or on dry hair. It works best for me that way. I don't like using it when my hair is very wet as I don't get the same curl results.
Product soaks in very well into the hair and with one use 3 days late my hair is still moisturised. I also use satin bonnet for bed which is great too.

The fragrance is not too bad but my daughter says it's too strong but I don't find it but it does smell lovely.

I would definitely recommend this product.

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