Let's keep the good times rolling! Leave-in conditioners are fairly easy for me to decipher and work through, because I haven't tried *that* many. I mean, I've tried quite few in 2014, but there were only a handful that I purchased repeatedly or kept in serious rotation.
Again, just like every other Christina's Choice list, there may be a product I gave a great review to that has not made it on to this list. That does not mean it isn't a phenomenal product, my review still stands (unless I do an updated review and tell you I hate it). There's a huge difference between good, great, and essential. The Best of the Best products are essential to my product collection. Good and great are nice, but essential is well, essential.
Best of the Best
Lawrence Ray Concepts Shake & Go
$15, www.lawrencerayconcepts.com
What can I say about Shake & Go that I haven't already said? It's the love of my hair product life, a miracle in a bottle, and one of the products that I refuse to ever run out of. It detangles, it moisturizes, it de-frizzes, it's a heat protectant, and even as I'm typing this, Shake & Go continues to give me life because it was used on me at the LRC Salon as my leave-in/heat protectant prior to blowout and flat ironing. Writing about Shake & Go has me wanting to wash my hair just to use it... I guess this is why I don't flat iron my hair as much anymore. Not only do I love my curls, but great products make it hard for me to stay away. I could go on and on about Shake & Go, but I have a review where I gush and coo and swoon already. LRC Shake & Go Review
Ouidad Whipped Curls Daily Conditioner & Styling Primer
$26, www.ulta.com
When I first met Whipped Curls, it was a part of my thank you package for participating in Ouidad's #Frizz101 Hangout earlier this year. I thought the aerated whipped cream can look was cute, but didn't quite know what to expect from the product. As it would turn out, Whipped Curls quickly escalated to the top of my leave-in conditioner list. Yes, it's pricey (nothing comes cheap from Ouidad), but that tall 8.5oz can lasts a loooooong time. Whipped Curls is super thick and concentrated, so a little bit goes a long way, especially if you apply it under running water to dilute it. It helps tremendously to de-frizz, packs tons of moisture, and doesn't weigh the hair down. Ouidad Whipped Curls Review
As I Am Leave-In Conditioner
$9.49, www.sallybeauty.com
I can honestly say that I undervalued As I Am's Leave-In Conditioner for quite some time. I thought it was only okay until I figured out the key to making it work. Not only is it a phenomenal companion to the As I Am Curling Jelly (which I totally need to revisit from this summer), it works mighty well under the notoriously difficult Eco Styler gel. Any of of you that use Eco Styler for curl definition know that it is incredibly difficult trying to find products to pair with, so the fact that As I Am's Leave-In Conditioner does the job is a miracle in and of itself. It's lightweight, yet moisturizing, creamy but not greasy, and smells amazing. Oh, and the trick to making it work for me? Water. This product works best when applied to soaking wet hair, then sprayed or worked in with wet hands. My leave-in application method of choice is the shower. I am honestly realizing right now that I'm a total slacker in the "leave-in conditioner product reviews" section of my blog. I'm gonna fix that #2015HereICome!
Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Leave-In Conditioner
$8, www.sallybeauty.com
I gained a tremendous appreciation for Eden BodyWorks in 2014. I liked EBW as a transitioner, but I couldn't really appreciate the full scale of what this cost-effective product line could do for me until I was fully natural. The leave-in is super thick, has tons of slip, and coats the hair gorgeously. The first ingredients after water are aloe vera juice, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and safflower seed oil, so you know what time it is! I highly recommend this one for anyone suffering with super dry hair that's looking for a leave-in. It's also the perfect leave-in for those of you who have a curl definer that leaves your hair dry (but makes those curls pop...ahem TIGI Catwalk). It's the perfect buffer! And yes, I'll be doing a review on this one too.
Honorable Mentions
For a number of different reasons, these products are just a few bottles short of holy grail status. But they're most certainly worth mentioning!
Aussie Moist Conditioner
$6, www.target.com
I have the most on-and-off again relationship with Aussie Moist Conditioner, but I cannot help but mention it. It's a solid all-around product, as far as detangling, cowashing, and conditioning are concerned. Even still, I love it more and more as a leave-in -- running it through my hair, and squeezing the excess or rinsing it a little. It leaves my hair shiny, soft, and de-frizzed. I give Aussie and Target the side-eye for inching up the price a little over the years while shaving the bottle size down, but not enough for me to raise a total stink over. Aussie Moist Conditioner gets an honorable mention because I have been using it since my early transitioning days, but I find myself using it for a few months, taking a break, and then repeating the cycle.
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Extra Moisturizing Detangler
$12, www.cvs.com
This one honestly crept up on me. For the longest time, I had been seeing the Extra Moisturizing Detangler on shelves at CVS and Target, but didn't think much of it. It wasn't until Jess (Mahogany Curls) put me up on game at Afrolicious about it. I know she's a Shea Moisture Ambassador, but feeling truly was believing. After she gave me permission to touch her hair (lol), I was hot on the heels of the CVS BOGO Free for Shea Moisture and copped two. It has been in my rotation ever since, as either a leave-in or moisturizer. It functions wonderfully as both, but I'm still trying to crack the code on using it to detangle. Look for a review as soon as I get that last piece together!
Camille Rose Naturals Holiday Collection Nourishing Cream Leave-In
$13, www.camillerosenaturals.com
I would love nothing more than to catapult this Camille Rose product to the "Best of the Best" section, but there are two things that stop me. One, I just got my hands on this product this month (December), after ordering it on Black Friday/Cyber Monday. Two, it's a limited edition item. I haven't been using it long enough to give it the "Best of the Best" title, and I'm a little apprehensive about growing attached to something that could very well be gone after January (no intel here, just pure speculation on my end). Now, if Camille Rose naturals decides to re-label and release the leave-in as a regular product on Target shelves or their website, then..... Camille Rose Naturals Holiday Collection Review
Well, that's all for leave-ins! Up next, I'll be sharing my picks for moisturizers! Stay tuned!
In case you missed it:
Christina's Choice 2014 Shampoos & Co-Washes
Christina's Choice 2014 Deep Conditioners
Have you tuned in to my newest YouTube series, #AskAwayWednesday? I'm tackling your toughest questions about natural hair, transitioning hair, products, and everything inbetween! Check out the latest episode here:
Christina's Choice 2014
holy grails
leave-in conditioners
must haves 2014
natural hair info
product review
3 Comments
The As I Am leave mixes well with most stylers and leaves no clumps or white boogers. I used it with Argan Eco styler, design essentials natural honey curl forming custard, earth tones curl defining jelly, Shea moisture curling jelly, and of course the As I am curling jelly. I will try your suggestion of the Eden body works leave in as I am a product junkie as well. :)
ReplyDeleteGirl, you just hipped me to a new product to seek out -- earth tones! The as I am does mix super well though :)
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