The Afrobella Review: Shea Moisture – Is It For You?
By now you’ve probably heard all about Shea Moisture, or seen the brand of natural hair products prominently displayed at your nearby Target or Walgreens. Or maybe you’re one of the natural bellas who has seen the blog posts and felt curiousity but haven’t yet actually tried Shea Moisture.
I was lucky enough to try out most of the haircare products in the buzzed-about natural hair brand’s lineup and in summary, here’s my verdict. Is Shea Moisture for you? Odds point to yes. With four different main haircare product types there’s probably something in there to meet your specific natural hair needs, and the products are of amazing quality for stuff that’s being sold in mainstream drugstores! I’ll break it down by label.
Coral/Pink/Salmon colored label – Organic Coconut and Hibiscus, meant for enhancing curls for thick, curly hair. Loving the styling products best of all!
Yellow label – made with organic raw shea butter for deep treating dry, damaged hair.
Black label – made with organic African black soap for balancing and cleansing dry, itchy scalps. Loved both the shampoo and conditioner so, so much!
Olive/brown label – made with organic yucca and baobab for thickening fine and thin hair.
In the past I had found myself gazing in wonderment at the Target endcap and trying to figure out just WHICH Shea Moisture product to try first. I got lucky when Shea Moisture sent me products to review. Now that I’ve tried almost all of them, if I could go back in time to myself standing at the Target display wondering which thing to buy first I’d say…go for the African Black Soap Balancing Conditioner. As I explain in this video, it’s in the top 10 drugstore conditioners I’ve ever tried. Ever.
Not every Shea Moisture product was a hit outta the park for me – the Shea Butter Masque didn’t do much but weigh down my hair, and didn’t give me the comb through slip I craved. I will be giving it an additional try, accompanied with my Huetiful steamer to see if it can truly make a difference.
Like I said in the video, it’s SO important to use the products as directed with this brand – click here for a breakdown on them all including ingredients and usage. Shea Moisture is also on Twitter @sheamoisture4u and on Facebook – click here to “like” them!
So in general, two thumbs up for Shea Moisture’s hair products! I love that this brand is making inroads into such mainstream stores, with ingredients that are so good for natural hair. It makes quite a statement about how far it’s all come. Don’t wanna sound like a grandma, but back when I started this blog, the idea of finding products of this quality in Walgreens? Unheard of. And look at how far we’ve come! I think it’s great. What do you think?
Have you tried Shea Moisture? What are your thoughts? What are your favorite products in the brand?
Category: Featured, Hair, Product Reviews
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- Natural Beauty’s | fullfigurednews.com | March 29, 2012
i love shea moisture products! I actually really like the deep treatment masque–i give my hair a deep condition every other week and as long as i use it sparingly it doesn’t weigh down my hair. I also like the moisture mist and the black soap shampoo. I have dry itchy scalp and it has definitely made a difference!
I love Shea Moisture products! I use the Organic Coconut and Hibiscus products and it moisturizes my hair pretty well and I always have people telling me that I smell like coconut.
I don’t have fine or thin hair but I LOVE the Yucca and Baobab line.
I’m so glad that you did a review of Shea Moisture!!!
Prior to my last BC, I was using the Organic Coconut and Hibiscus shampoo and conditioner, which I thought was “ok,” but when I tried the Organic Raw shea butter shampoo, I was in heaven. It was extremely moisturizing for my then– natural, semi-damaged hair (which I soon discovered was REALLY REALLY damaged). I ended up having to start over and just BC’ed a few weeks ago. The only shampoo I had left was the pink label, which completely dried my hair out, so I will either go back to the brown label (raw shea butter) or try to the black label. Ive never tried any of the masks, and based off your review, probably never will.
Peace & Love!
I like the pink/coral label with the moisturizing spray and the curl smoothie. I like the scent and the ingredients better than “Mixed Chicks” which i previously tried. It’s thick for my thick hair and I have even used it on dry hair. I definitely like the price much better than the other products I have tried as well.
I discovered them about a year ago and I use the coconut/hibiscus line especially during the summer for a wash & go it makes my curls bounce and plenty of shine! this fall I tried the yellow label with the raw shea butter because my hair was so dry going into the winter months. It worked ok but I still had to use additional products to get my moisture back. Ironically that line works extremely well on my daughter’s hair who is also natural.
I’m so glad you reviewed Shea Moisture! It’s a great line and for the price it can’t be beat! So far I’ve tried the black label and it really helped my itchy scalp. I also tried the deep treatment masque which left my hair really soft and the curl and style milk.
I’ve been using this line ever since it debuted on the shelves at Target! I’m in love with everything from the Pink Line and the Gold Line. I use each and every product from both and they do my hair good!
I wish the Pink Line had a conditioner that came with the Shampoo, it would make things so much easier.
The conditioners from the Gold Line are awesome as leave-in’s during the summer months and the Curl Enhancing Smoothie and Hair Milk are bomb as well. I do like the Hair Mist but that’s really something you can make at home.
I’ve been using the Shea Moisture products for about a month now and I most say that I am very pleased with the results so far. I am currently using the Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque (purchased at Target). These products have provided the much needed moisture my hair and scalp has been craving.I do plan on trying some of the other products available in this line soon!
Thanks for this review. I just love the Shea Moisture line! My hair responds so well. The Curl Enhancing Smoothie – can’t say enough good things. I just bought the Curl Milk and I am sure I will love that, too. I am using the Raw Shea Butter Shampoo and conditioner – both are superb. I also use the Raw Shea Reconstructive Elixir to seal my ends when I do my almost daily twist outs. The $9.99 price fits my pocket and being available at Target and Walgreens is icing on the cake! I am pretty sure I have found a product I can stick with unless my hair changes but then I could try a different SM product line. I never wanted to be a PJ but it kinda comes with the territory when you are a newbie. The idea of being able to layer products in the same line really has me SOLD. Did I just do a commercial? LOL
I used the Shea Moisture Masque hoping for great results, but was disappointed. Like you, I didn’t get the slippage that I’m used to with other products. And it really just made my hair feel blah. I have tried the Organic African Black Soap Dandruff and Dry Scalp Elixir, which really has helped me to improve my sometimes dry scalp, though.
ok, i know we are supposed to be talking about shea moisture, but honti you look too pretty in this video! love the makeup~
and oh yeah, i love shea moisture too – love the curl enhancing smoothie. heading to target tomorrow to stock up.
I am so happy you did a review on the Shea Moisture product line. I have tried the pink & green label and love them both. I plan on trying the masque and the organic african black soap conditioner this weekend. I just can’t say enough about this product
I have used the Shea Moisture products as well I have on again off again exzema issues, so its hard for me to use a lotion that smells good. This is why I purchased the Shea Moisture it smelled great and I was hooked. My issue was that it was tooo loud for work, which is sadly where I spend my life.
My bosses could smell me before I got to there desk. No one complianed about the scent but thats not professional.
I will buy it though for going out with friends but as a daily product I can’t use it.
Hey Bella,
Long time reader, first-time commenter. I must say I really do enjoy your site. Keep up the good work!!!
BAck to Shea Moisture… I am in Miami and so jealous you all get them in Walgreens too (we only have them in Target). Anywho, excellent products for a price you just cannot beat. I actually began using the Hibiscus & Coconut a while ago and introduced to a co-worker who’s natural as well and she loved it too. She uses on her daughter (natural) and her mother (relaxed) loves it. I even have my mother (relaxed) hooked on it, now she doesn’t use anything else! I also use the yellow label and I recently purchased the black label and olive green – so I will be giving those a try as well.
zoe1231
Zoe1231 You can also purchase the line on their website: SheaMoisture.com
Actually, skin care products may be purchased online, but, the hair care products cannot.
I meant to say that the skin care products may be purchased via the Shea Moisture website, but the hair care products cannot.
LOVE IT–Discovered it about a month after I BC’d (Aug 2010). I started off with just the Coconut & Hisbicus Curl Smoothie and Shine & Hold Spray, then later I found out they had the Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and Deep Treatment Masque and for $9.99 ea. at Target, they last a LONG TIME, I haven’t repurchased yet! And recently I found out on CurlyNikki’s site that come April 1, 2011 Walgreens will be carrying the Shea Moisture line–yea! I’ve already told my natural friends to be on the look out.
I have the Shea Butter Shampoo and conditioner and although my hair was clean, it felt very dry by the next day, I had to use shea butter like crazy and Karen’s Body Beautiful Hair Milk to soften it out. My hair is kinky (I’m a 4b/c) and dry hair is not a no-no.
I have been using it for about two months, I don’t know if maybe it didn’t work for the winter months or what, but it was a no no. However, I have just discovered Trader Joe’s Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner. Hair is soft and when I added my KBB hair milk WHOO HOO! Soft!
I’ve found what works! Still love Shea Moistures’ African Black Soap facial products though! : )
Shea butter is so good for your skin…and hair too! LOVE IT. Off to find it now!
Thank you for your detailed and informative review.
I began using the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo and Restorative Conditioning Milk per recommendation of Felicia Leatherwood via her Loving Your Hair With Natural Care Workshop. In fact, I’ve been using these products since I received my Big Chop on January 15, 2011. My hair has responded very well to both. The Conditioning Milk is a fave of mine. I can use it as a rinse-out, as a leave-in, and as a mild deep conditioner. I recently purchased the Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque. I applied it generously to freshly-shampooed hair, and covered it with a plastic cap for about one hour. While my hair felt conditioned, it also felt stronger, which leads me to think that this is a conditioner with protein and moisture benefits. I applied a bit of the Conditioning Milk after rinsing out the Treatment Masque, and I hardly combed out a hair.
My hair responded less-favorably to the Coconut and Hibiscus product line. In particular, I used the Hold and Shine Moisture Mist, and the Curl and Style Milk. They left my hair dry, rather hard, and dull, and my scalp irritated and itchy. My hair doesn’t respond well to products containing large quantities of coconut. While coconut isn’t a protein, it binds to the protein already in the hair. So, I ended up giving these two products away.
I’m interested in purchasing the African Black Soap Dandruff and Dry Scalp Elixir.
I have been waiting to purchase the hair care line! The targets around me have the skin care line (which I LOVE) but not for hair. So excited! I just purchased the African Black Soap Shea Butter lotion and it is really moisturizing for my face/body and smells good. I have been using the African Black Soap bar for about a year now. My staple face cleanser.
I could not pass up Shea Moisture once I read the list of ingredients, because at 9.99 it’s a steal.
I’ve tried moisturizerss from the coral line, and they were ok for me, but since I have locs the cream formula wasn’t ideal.
Eager to try the Black soap shampoo; I’ve actually been using the African Black Soap Shea Butter lotion from their bath and body line ( carried at Duane Reade in NYC) as well and it is WONDERFUL, extremely moisturizing and leaves the skin soft and supple!!! Usually I stay away from using bar soaps due to how drying they can be, but I’ve been using their Lemongrass soap as part of my regimen for a few months now and it has really helped to tame my acne and improve my skin tone (on the face and body)!
You are absolutely right Afrobella!!! There is something for everyone by Shea Moisture!
I reviewed some of Shea Moisture products on my site as well. I still like using the Dry scalp Elixir, But the yucca and Baobab spray left my hair hard and dry. But it works great on my daughter’s hair. And I recently bought the Deep Treatment Masque and must say that it was ok. again, maybe it’s because I have locs which I’m about to lose anyway, but it works better as a styling creme.
I tried the deep treatment masque and didn’t like it at all! It was thick and goopy but didn’t help me detangle my hair. It smelled like cake batter (which I like!) but it was too heavy. My friend purchased the shampoo during the same shopping trip and didn’t really like her purchase, either.
I have also tried the African Black Soap body wash, and liked it.
I have to say that I am in love with Shea Moisture products! This is going to sound like an infomercial, but I honestly love this stuff!
I have been raving to friends about it, even those with straight hair. The problem for me living in Milwaukee, WI, during the winters my scalp gets so dry and down come the flakes. No matter what I do, I can’t win. No dandruff shampoos work. I stumbled up SM in target and picked up the African soap anti-dandruff shampoo. It worked after one try! I thought maybe it was all in my head, but when I went to get my hair done a few weeks after I started using it, my stylist asked me if I was using a new product because she noticed I had no flakes. I was preaching up and down to her that she needs to use it. I also use a conditioner and hair creme. I only wash my hair w/ shampoo once a week and as the creme and conditioner accumulate my hair looks at it’s best mid-week.
I absolutely loshea moisture hair products. When I used it consistantly last summer I could tell my hair was healthier but when I ran out of product I moved on to something else because the nearest target that sold it (on the prodominantly black side of town) was almost an hour away. Since I have been using other products I can tell my hair is not as healthy but since walgreens introduced it in their stores this week (and its a buy one get one free sale!!!!!) I have stocked up on shea moisture products. Working to get my hair back where it was last year.
Just an FYI…..Walgreens has the Shea Moisture products on sale this week – BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE!!
Just found these products at my local Walgreens….buy one get one free. As I type I have the conditioner in my hair. Smells great, before I washed I tried the curl and style milk it made my hair super soft. couldn’t wait to try the other products that I purchased.
I was not happy with the end result in regards to this product line. It left my curly hair a frizzy mess. I have to stick with Miss Jessies to get the results that give me the rave compliments everytime I step out the door.
I have seborreah on my scalp. The kind that leaves my scalp very very oily while my hair remains dry. It has been hard to find a shampoo that “gets” that. All of the seborreah shampoos assume you have a dry flacky scalp. Well the Shea Moisture African Black Seed Shampoo was a blessing. It cleansed my oily scalp while moisturizing my dry hair. Amazing!!! I also bought the coral label hair moisturizer for the rare occasion when I comb or pick out my hair. My hair reacted well to that too. But since I typically use Kinky Curly Curling Custard on oncombed wet hair, I will not use the coral label product again until I comb out my fro again next year.
I love sheamoisture products the moisture retention shampoo stopped my itchy scalp and left my curls moist and tangle free. I love the curl smoothie as well gives me great twist outs and braidouts
I just had to add my two cents because I just published a post about Shea Moisture on my blog at http://sincerelynaturalone.blogspot.com/
Let me just say I love this product line. I am actually partial to the coconut & hibiscus line. I hear so many mixed reviews on this line, but it has worked just fine for me. I also like the raw shea butter line because my hair has a tendency to be dry and I get the moisture I need from this line. All in all I love the product and the $9.99 price tag doesn’t hurt either.
I didnt like the masque at all and i even tried it as a leave in, still didnt help so im thinking maybe it would be better on natural hair and not permed b/c im 2 weeks post. It really weighed down my hair.
I have tried the Organic Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo. I really do like it alot. I have had locs for 7 mths and have been dealing with dry dull hair and a bit of itching. So far this shampoo has done what the others did not – soft hair. As time goes on, I’ll monitor the itchy scalp. But, so far I’m satisfied.
I love their products! I have all the products but the anti-breakage masque. I use all their products interchangeably with each wash. I am not a fan of the coconut and hibiscus curl and style milk.
I made the mistake of putting a perm in my daughter’s hair. I want to know if I can use the shea moisture products on her hair since I want it back natural?
Purchased the Curls “Cleansing Cream” from target, along with the Shea Moisture “Deep Treatment Mask” and a tangle teaser. All three products were great for my hair. LOVED the Shea Moisture on my 3c/4a/4b super dry dry hair. I live in Vegas where its hot, dry and the water is very hard. I washed my hair with 1 cup of AC Vinegar and 1 cup of water to get the PH balanced, then used the cleansing cream, and finally the treatment mask along with an EVOO treament for the scalp. Praise the Lord these products actually did what they said they would. I’m so happy with the results. My hair is soft, smooth, shiny and smells good too. Definitely will recommend to the people. And if you want to cut down on detangling go to sallys and get a tangle teaser for 10.00 bucks its awesome.
To Kenya: Just let your daughters hair grow out. Research some protective hairstyles while she is transitioning. Shea mositure is an excellent products to keep up with the new growth and keep it healthy. Be easy on the shampoos too so that her hair doesnt break off. And do some light trimming each month until it grows to a desired legnth. Hope this helps (God Bless)
So happy! I haven’t been using this very long, but I already see that it works WONDERS!!! This product – Deep Treatment Masque – is very effective on my hair which craves moisture. After applying this generously after a poo and leaving it in for at least an hour, it leaves my hair clean, bouncy and moisturized like never before. I can do whatever I want to afterwards… blow it out (i know), flexies, straight fro or anything else and my hair doesn’t end up feeling brittle and stays much less tangled than before I began using Shea Moisture. I’m sold on this and the Curl & Style Milk. Will try other products from this line soon. I’m about to become a hoarder and stock up on this stuff.
I have to say I truly love this product. I am curently transitioning and am 8 months post relaxer and I’m not exactly sure but I beleive my hair type is 4b. My goal is to go for 14 months before I do the big chop. =) I usually used Curls products when I washed and styled and it worked ok but still left my hair a little dry. I bought Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus shampoo, moisturizing spray, and styling milk yesterday. I washed my hair and did a braidout and my hair is still extra soft and moisturized with no greasy feeling. No product has done that for my hair before. I will continue to use this product for the rest of my life. I cant wait to try the other products this line has.
I believe I have tried every product on targets shelves for natural hair and I go back to Shea Moisture every time!! My hair loves it. The only other product I use on my hair is Mizani’s Curl Replenish Intense Moisturizing Mask with my Huetiful Hair Steamer
It really is an amazing product. I love it so much I also use the whole line for the body as well
I been natural for about a year now and i been constantly trying to find products that will keep my hair healthy and moisturized. Shea Moisture was the first product line I tried, I believe I tried every brand they had at target and they never did anything for my hair. I love the way that it was organic and it had herbs in it but my hair never felt moisturized and it was always a tangled mess when I used this product. Everything it said that the product would do for your hair on the label, it seemed to do the opposite for me. Right now, I found kinky curly products to work best for my hair which actually left my hair detangled and conditioned without the dryness and tangle mess that I got from Shea Moisture. In addition, one of the best products I used was the one for curly hair because I wanted a shampoo and conditioner that would enhance my natural curly pattern instead of straightening it, but the shea moisture kept straightening out my hair and drying it out, which caused my hair to break and shed. Fortunately, the kinky curly line had strengthened my hair and my hair no longer sheds and I find my hair is retaining moisture and is extremely soft to the touch.
I was sooooooo excited to use the Shea Moisture curl enhancing after watching the videos. I thought this would be the answer i was looking for to keep my hair soft and like the jar says enhance my curls. Well it didn’t really do any of the above. It smells great and it did give my hair SOME moisture but it was nothing spectacular.My hair looked weighed down and nothing really happened. I was so sad after that. I don’t know if its how im using it but i need help. Any suggestions??
I LOVE LOVE LOVE their products. I use the coconut and hibiscus curl enhancing smoothie DAILY. I have tried the african black shampoo and moisturising shampoo and matching conditioners and love them all. I recently purchased the body soap for my EXTRA sensitive SKIN and i’m sooooo impressed. i will def try the entire line of products and have been recommending their line to EVERYOne I KNOW.
I purchased the pink label Cocunut and Hibiscus Hair Milk for my infant daughter because I didn’t want to put potentially harmful chemicals in her hair. The product smells great and detangles her hair very well. I also discovered that the product works very well for my natural hair, even on the occasions when I choose to straighten it. I would definitely recommend the product for other natural beauties. I can’t wait to try more of the products!
I love the Shea Moisture products. I am natural and my hair is thin, soft, extremely dry and frizzy at the ends; I purchased the Shea Moisture Organic Yucca & Aloe Thickening Growth Milk for thin and fine hair, and it works wonders. This product adds moisture to my dry ends, defines my hair curls, and smells good. I have tried many products but this works the best for me and my natural hair. Also, I use the Shea Mositure Organic Yucca & Aloe Leave in Conditioner. I would highly recommend this product line.
I really enjoy these products. I’ve been using the one for thickening hair for about 4 months and have seen positive results. I really love the conditioner as well.
I did my first product review here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGgUzQn4TM4 if you want to check it out! Thanks!
I stumbled across the ‘Shea Moisture’ shampoos and conditioners in March 2011, while shopping for a new shampoo and conditioner. For decades, I’d used Nexxus Therappe shampoo and Humectress conditioner, off and on. But, recently, I’ve found that the quality is not the same as it was when I began using it in the early ’80s, and my hair didn’t have the same feel it used to, after using it. So, I began looking for a new shampoo made from botanical products. I currently use Sundial’s ‘Nubian Heritage’ soaps and love what they do for my skin, so I had hoped to find hair care products manufactured by their company. But, since I needed to use the products the very next day, I didn’t have time to wait for shipping. When I went into a Walgreen’s store, I saw the ‘Shea Moisture’ products and liked what I read on the ingredients list. At that time, I didn’t realize it was made by the same company who makes the Nubian Heritage soaps, but decided to try them anyway. When I got home, I checked them out online, and was pleased to find out they’re the same company.
I love the ‘Shea Moisture – Moisture Retention Shampoo’ because not only is the aroma absolutely wonderful, but my hair feels conditioned after using it. I don’t even have to apply a conditioner after using it, because I can easily detangle it while the shampoo is in. I don’t like the conditioner as much; it seems to strip away some of the conditioning properties of the shampoo, but since I bought it, I sometimes use a little on my ends before roller setting. My hair has really thrived since using these products.
I just found your blog and it is one of the most informative, funny and intelligent ones on the planet. I have very curly hair and the part in one of your videos where you comment that you don’t like waking up to matted hair – yeah, that is my experience every morning.
Oh, and the hair sock thing? Priceless.
I just discovered the products and love them but your posts/videos trump all.
I loooove these products. I use the Shea moisture african black soap shampoo and the raw shea moisture masque for deep conditioning and the raw shea moisture conditioner for instant conditioning. I normally switch hair products every 3-6 months but I been with this for over a year now. Its great!
OMG! We look like sisters! Hair, face, everything.
Thanks for this review. I found Shea Moisture products in Duane Reades (NYC) on a middle shelf -not the bottom! I usually shop at Whole Body (of Whole Foods) for Kinky-Curly, or Earthly Delight products.
Happened to be waiting for my train one evening and decided to browse the beauty aisle at D. Reade’s. I bought everything they had for the Shea Moisture line because of the natural ingredients…AND they were almost sold out! That’s always a good sign because it means the product is moving.
I find Shea Moisture products to be excellent, but I still prefer Earthly Delight which gives my hair maximum strength, definition, and the greatest scent. But, Shea Moisture is definitely a good alternative, and I will continue to use them when my first preferences aren’t available.
Thanks again for a great review, and for boosting my confidence in this product line.
5 stars. I have the curl smoothie cream and the masque and they both smell wonderful and moisturize. My curl is very defined naturally but gets frizzy when dry I put some in over night and it lasts the WHOLE NEXT DAY. a little pricey? not at all! for the quality and how long it lasts I’d say its cheap. I look forward to trying more from this amazing line!!