Hi, gentlemen! Let me start off by saying that when I shop for hair shampoos to clean my hair and scalp, one major thing I look for is the omission of sulfate from the ingredients list. Sulfate is a detergent ingredient that is used in most hair and skin cleansers for sudsing action. Don’t get me wrong. Sulfate does thoroughly clean. However, that is why it’s problematic. Especially for us with curly hair. Sulfate is so thorough in its cleansing that it totally strips the hair and scalp of all its natural sebum, which is a terrible thing as curly hair types are often already drier due to it taking longer for sebum to travel the length of curly hair versus the ease that it has with straight hair. So, basically if you welcome dryness and hair breakage, then sulfate is right up your alley.
Kiehl’s Olive Fruit Oil Nourishing Shampoo: This is a greatly moisturizing shampoo. It is very creamy and rich, due to its inclusion of olive oil an avocado oil, both high in monounsaturated fats and vitamin E, which are both very nourishing to hair and scalp. My hair did not feel stripped at all. My hair was totally shiny and soft after use. The one drawback with this shampoo is that it’s extremely rich and heavy. While, my hair was moisturized, my curls were weighted down, which I don’t usually like. I like my hair to be big and springy. Other than that drawback, this is a solid choice for hair health. I also like the fact that this line has a pretty neutral smell. It smells more medicinal than fragrant. You should note though that this product is not sulfate-free. I did find that it includes enough moisturizing agents to overcome the drying effect of sulfates, but that being said, I will not be repurchasing as I prefer to avoid sulfates altogether in my haircare. Especially if I’m paying close to $30 for only 16.9 oz.
Cantu Sulfate Free Cleansing Cream Shampoo: Firstly, I like that this shampoo is sulfate-free and contains moisturizing ingredients, like shea butter and glycerin. My hair was soft, shiny and not dried out at all after using this, which are all great as when my hair is making that squeaky sound when I rub it after shampooing, then that means it’s been completely stripped and will take like good two or three weeks to rehydrate which is not healthy. And it’s inexpensive at about $5 for 13.5 oz. It is definitely a bit too fragrant and sweetly feminine-smelling for my tastes, but it does the job well in thoroughly cleaning my hair without drying it out. Also, it is widely available at retail stores, like Target and Ricky’s.
Hair Rules Cleansing Cream: Of all the shampoos I tried, this one was definitely one of the most non-stripping. In fact, it creates no suds, which initially concerned me as I grew up with the notion that the only way a cleanser could actually be possibly doing its job is only if there are suds. That couldn’t be further from the truth though. The inclusion of honey, hops and castor oil makes this cream completely moisturizing while it’s cleaning. In fact, because this is not an actual shampoo in the true sense of the word as it has no sudsing action, its seems to have actually cleaned my hair without removing much of the natural sebum produced by my scalp, which I really appreciated. Also, it does not run at all, so it doesn’t get in your eyes and burn them if you per chance are a dad and need to wash your kids’ hair. It is on the pricier side at $30 for $16, but unlike the Kiehl’s shampoo, it has absolutely no sulfates and was actually designed to maintain the natural oil balance of your hair.
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen Grow & Restore Shampoo: Of the five, this was surprising my least favorite. Not, due to any product defect per se. In fact, the shampoo contains a boatload of really nurturing ingredients, organic shea butter and Black Castor Oil which has been used as healthy hair remedy for hair strength and growth for centuries due to omega fatty acids and apple cider vinegar for pH balancing of the scalp. And this did clean my hair and kept it moisturized. What the bee in my bonnet was with this is that like many “ethnic” hair shampoos, the parfume ingredient was too extra! I realize that black castor oil has a very powerful odor that some may find offensive, but to cover that odor, the manufacturers really should have chosen a smell that was not that of cake batter. Literally,I smelled like that bowl of Duncan Hines vanilla cake for days after washing my hair with this, and that was problematic to me. In the summer time, I’m not trying to have bees swirling around my head or pet dogs trying to lick me as I walk through city streets. Thankfully at about $11 for 16 oz, it’s pretty inexpensive.
Frederick Benjamin Invigorating Shampoo: Last, but not least… This shampoo really does clean my hair and it’s sulfate-free! It cleans it without stripping it of moisture, which is key! And again, that is in large part due to the infusion of hemp seed oil in this line. As I mentioned in my previous review of Frederick Benjamin’s Daily Hydrator Styling Creme, hemp seed oil is key as it is a thorough moisturizer, rich in essential fatty acids. Also, great is the addition of wheat protein, so your hair won’t be flat. Wheat proteins are easily absorbed amino acid, and infuse all the layers of the hair shift from outermost to innermost allowing for replenishment of lost protein, which is key as hair is mostly made of keratin, a protein that gives it structure. Through daily wear and tear, your hair loses some if its protein and thus becomes compromised and more susceptible to damage from styling and the environment. The added protein in this shampoo helps keep your strands strong. And coupled with the hemp seed oil, they’ll also be moisturized while clean, leading to healthier hair over time. Another reason that my hair feels and smells clean after I use this is the addition of spearmint, which tingles on my scalp and that is its soothing action at work. It also tones the skin there, which basically gets rid of poor blockage from product, sweat, bacteria and whatever else has built up. Thus, making your scalp more ready to produce its own sebum and allowing you hair to absorb that along with added moisturizing and styling products, like the Daily Hydrator with greater ease and efficacy. My only two beefs with this product are both about packaging. And it has a pump, which is great for portion control as you’ll only need one squirt unless your hair is longer than 12 inches. The price is steep at $12 for only 8 oz. Granted, you’re paying for quality and don’t need much to wash, but still, I’d like more product for my buck. That being said, unlike most of the other shampoos, this is really designed with curly haired men in mind, including the active ingredients and the fragrance! Bonus check points for being totally devoid of synthetic fragrances and colorants! So if you have any kind of allergies or sensitivities, like me, you should be okay with this product.