MY EXPERIENCE: CANTU SHEA BUTTER GROW STRONG STRENGTHENING TREATMENT

Product: Cantu Shea Butter Grow Strong Strengthening Treatment

Claims: Strengthens fragile strands, protects from heat damage

Directions

• Daily Styling: Massage into hair beginning at the root and work toward ends. For deeper penetration, cover with a plastic cap overnight.
• Daily Protection: Apply before brushing, styling, drying or setting to form a thermal protection barrier around hair.
• Pre/Post Chemical Treatment: Apply 3 days prior and 3 days after relaxing or coloring hair.

Ingredients: Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lanolin, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Perfume), Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Carbomer, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Petrolatum, Sorbitan Stearate, Panthenol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Salicylate, Coumarin, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl MethylPropional, Linalool.

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When I went to the drugstore to get a creamy leave-in conditioner that day, I went to get the Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Repair Cream because it has so many great reviews. But I didn't find it, so instead, I got the Grow Strong Strengthening Treatment. The jar is smaller than the one I originally wanted. So my reasoning was if it was anything like the leave-in cream, I'd be more inclined to buy the bigger jar.

Unfortunately, there is no instruction, neither on the product itself or on the website, on how much to use when applying the product on your hair. Not that I follow them anyway if my other product reviews are any indication :p, but this gives me an idea of how to get the best out of the product. From there I improvise considering the length and thickness of my hair and the consistency of the product.

The first time, I used it as a leave-in conditioner. It's very light and smooth, neither thick or runny. But it instantly made my hair hard, which to me was an indication of high protein content and couldn't be applied on my hair every 2 days let alone every day as a daily leave-in conditioner. My hair was still hard the next day, so I decided it wasn't the best way to use it on my hair.

The second time, I used it as a pre-poo. I applied it on dry hair and did a scalp massage with my oil mixture and left it on overnight with two plastic caps and my head scarf. The next day was obviously wash day so I rinsed it out and shampooed, deep conditioned and styled my hair as usual. My hair was amazingly moisturized and soft when I was done styling and I couldn't stop touching it! The only con was the perfume which was too strong for me and I had to sleep with it overnight.

The third time I used it as a regular protein treatment after I shampooed. I applied quite a good amount and deep conditioned for about 15 to 30 minutes. After the deep conditioning, my hair was so hard that I had to deep condition again with ORS Replenishing Conditioner for an hour. After rinsing and styling, my hair wasn't as soft and moisturized. And it was tangled.

I'm glad I got to explore the product in so many ways. I still have to try it as a heat protectant before concluding that it leaves up to its claims. Although it would not fit my current hair routine as my hair doesn't need hard protein at the moment - and I already have a heat protectant-, I'm glad I discovered it should I ever need one. I was a little bit bummed to see petrolatum as an ingredient, but the product doesn't weigh my hair down so I guess it won't affect my hair negatively - the few times I get to use it.

Not the Cantu hair product I've been wanting to try, but I'm satisfied with the way that it worked out for me nonetheless.