There are several curly hair products available, so when you come across a collection that ticks all the boxes (excellent ingredients, packaging, and pricing, to mention a few), you know you’ve struck gold. Melanin Haircare is a great example of this. In less than five years, this Black-owned hair business has been a darling among the curly hair community, owing to its toxin-free ingredients and a visually appealing Instagram feed. Make an attempt to purchase, and you’re likely to find yourself on a waiting list for their items (since they sell out within seconds of becoming available).
A shampoo, a leave-in conditioner, a styling cream, and hair oil are included in this popular set. However, in order to determine whether it lives up to the hype, I knew I had to give it a try. Additionally, I recruited the assistance of Nakeisha C. and Dara K., two other PureWow editors and curly girls, to see whether the collection works on curly hair in general (Nakeisha has 4C, Dara has 2C and I have 3B hair). To summarize the findings in a single sentence: Melanin Haircare appears to have gained three new fans recently.
SHAMPOO FOR REVIVAL OF AFRICAN BLACK SOAP
- Value: 19/20
- Functionality: 20/20
- Quality: 20/20
- Aesthetics: 20/20
- Curl Factor: 19/20
- TOTAL: 98 /100
If we were to choose a favorite, it would have to be this calming shampoo. The brand says that it will moisturize and condition hair while also boosting scalp health—and it certainly delivered on that promise. The combination of cocoa butter, shea butter, and a variety of oils (including argan, tea tree, and turmeric, to name a few) worked wonders for our hair care regimens. The general view is that this is an excellent starting place for testing the whole series.
“Shampoos that efficiently remove buildup without stripping my hair of its natural oils are many, but I feel as though I struck gold with this product. After soaking my hair, I followed the bottle’s recommendations and applied the shampoo straight to my scalp using the applicator tip; a little definitely goes a long way. I discovered that it lathered really nicely and quickly (which is a huge plus, since I typically only see lather during my second wash). My scalp felt really clean and my hair felt silky after rinsing. What’s the best part? It lacked that squeaky-clean feel that implies my hair has lost a significant amount of moisture and natural oils.”
Dara: “To begin, I adore the package. On my shower shelf, it looks very elegant and salon-like. Apart from aesthetics, the aroma is divine. It smells more vegetal and minty than other shampoos, which generally hit you with a flowery scent. This is a more refined, organic scent that I adore. As for the product itself, it lathers up well and a little goes a long way. When it comes to curls, I was concerned that using shampoo instead of a co-wash would result in my hair being drier and less moisturized, but this was not the case, since the major culprits (sulfates, parabens, and silicones) are absent from the chemical list.”
“A nozzle on a shampoo bottle?” Chelsea inquired. Life-changing. The tip was really helpful in massaging the product into my hair, and I saw lather nearly immediately after using my scalp massager. While the fragrance took some time to adjust to, it was the tingling feeling I had across my scalp that won me over to this shampoo. It felt relaxing and moisturized my curls well in preparation for the next stage in my wash. Additionally, anything containing tea tree oil, peppermint, or shea butter is a plus in my book.”
LEAVE SOFTENING LEAVE IN CONDITIONER FOR MULTIFUNCTIONAL USE
- Value: 19/20
- Functionality: 19/20
- Quality: 19/20
- Aesthetics: 19/20
- Curl Factor: 20/20
- TOTAL: 96/100
The leave-in conditioner’s primary benefit is how well it detangles and softens curls. If you want to keep your hair moisturized following a wash, incorporate a product into your regimen. The combination of vitamins, proteins, and oils (baobab, argan, and jojoba) adds luster to the hair and strengthens it to prevent damage. Additionally, it functions as a daily moisturizer, conditioner, and style cream.
“Detangling my hair is generally quite laborious and time-consuming, and I frequently shed a lot of hair,” Nakeisha says. However, this leave-in conditioner made detangling my hair a breeze. I used this product liberally, one area at a time, after dividing my hair into four pieces. I began at the ends of my hair and gradually worked my way up, detangling the strands with my fingertips. Then, I used a wide-tooth comb to spread the leave-in conditioner evenly throughout my strands—and the comb slid effortlessly through them. My only criticism is that the product did not soak readily into my hair after application, therefore I may try combining it with another product in the future.”
“I ADORE the leave-in conditioner,” Dara says. The push pump makes it really simple to use, and it smells divinely minty. My hair becomes TANGLED and matted, and you can feel this product quickly smoothing your hair. Additionally, you may utilize it in a variety of ways. I used it as a leave-in conditioner and a conditioner (my hair can really eat up a lot of moisture). You may also use it to moisturize your dry hair in between washes.”
Chelsea: “I despise the scent. It’s overwhelming and reminds me of toothpaste mint, which was a deal-breaker for me. I normally detangle my hair in the shower, but I appreciate how the leave-in moisturized and detangled it. I worked a quarter-sized portion at a once-through each part, which left my strands looking and feeling silky. I can easily see me using this as a daily moisturizer as well, as it isn’t excessively thick.”
BLEND OF PURE OILS FOR ANY PURPOSE
The aroma was the first thing we noticed while using the hair oil—thanks to the presence of oils such as baobab, argan, sweet almond, jojoba, and sage. Additionally, this is not your typical thick, greasy hair oil. The lightweight product performs an excellent job of trapping in moisture, which can result in 2nd, 3rd, and perhaps 4th-day curls. Concerning the packaging? Once again, they nailed it.
“As soon as I opened this, I became captivated with the aroma. The mild oil has a delicate, pleasant scent and did wonder on my hair. After conditioning my strands with my favorite deep conditioner, I applied some to my scalp and conducted a hot oil treatment, as my scalp is prone to becoming flaky and dry. For around 20 minutes, I utilized my heating cap. Then, when styling my hair, I applied it as a sealer once more. The oil treatment left my scalp feeling healthier and more hydrated, and when I used the oil as a sealer (after the leave-in conditioner application), it left my hair appearing shiny.”
Dara: “Once again, I like the packaging for this product. It just appears to be sophisticated and nice….and it is! I’ve tried oils with considerably stronger scents, and thus I enjoy how mild Melanin’s Hair Oil is in comparison to its other products. Additionally, the oil absorbs really effectively, which means that your hands will remain moisturized rather than coated in a greasy mess. Likewise, for your hair. I’ve tried different oils that sort of sit on top of the hair and make it appear oily. This one is so light that you almost don’t notice it—despite the fact that it does an excellent job of keeping my hair moisturized for extended periods of time. With regards to cost, a little goes a long way. You will probably not need to replenish this product for at least a year.”
“Another nozzle to stress over,” Chelsea observed. The applicator makes it simple to work my way across my scalp. Additionally, the scent is fantastic—thanks to the combination of argan and baobab oils. It seemed lighter than the other oils I’m used to, which is pleasant given my proclivity for buildup and itchy scalp. It didn’t weigh my hair down, and I loved working it through without feeling as though I was using too much. Additionally, I enjoy the fact that I can use it as a therapy or as a wonderful complement to my bath.”
CREAM WITH A TWIST ELONGATING STYLE
- Value: 18/20
- Functionality: 17/20
- Quality: 17/20
- Aesthetics: 18/20
- Curl Factor: 18/20
- TOTAL: 88/100
If we had to rate all of the items, the styling cream would likely be near the bottom. While the product may offer certain advantages, we did not find it to be an all-around favorite. If you’re searching for a cream that absorbs quickly, this may not be the right choice. However, the butter mix of shea, mango, cocoa, kokum, and cupucau helps keep curls moisturized and defined, which is especially beneficial for protective styles. Due to the consistency, a little goes a long way, which means you’ll have this in your regimen for a while before returning to the beauty department.
“I’ll be completely honest: I was first afraid that this cream would weigh down my hair due to its rich and thick nature. As a result, I used only a small amount of this product in conjunction with the multi-purpose oil mix for my hairdo (for sealing). Even though I used a small amount of product when twisting my hair, I noticed that part of it sat on top of my strands and did not soak quickly. However, after leaving it overnight and undoing my twists the next day, the residue was completely gone, and the results were AMAZING. Because the curl pattern was so distinct and my hair appeared alive and healthy, the cream far surpassed my expectations. I wore the same twist-out updo for a full week and was pleasantly pleased to find that the definition remained. This stuff performs exactly what it claims to do!”
Dara: “So, while I like the other Melanin products, I’m not quite smitten with the Styling Cream. While the majority of my curly hair products come in tubs, I found the broad tub a touch irritating to open—especially when you’re still dripping after a shower and your hands are too slippery to grip. There isn’t much to write home about in terms of scent. If you really dig your nose in there, you’ll detect (maybe) traces of chocolate…but I could be imagining things. Finally, the product left my hair feeling greasy and with build-up, which I wasn’t anticipating.