Christina's Choice 2014: Best of the Best Shampoos and CoWashes for Natural Hair

I know I have a ever-changing list of "Must Haves for 2014", but I decided I want to do something a little different this year. Rather than keep updating a running list of products, I decided to do the most difficult thing a product junkie can do -- take a long, hard look at my stash and determine which products finally deserve that Holy Grail Status label I've been so coy with doling out. You can thank NaturallyCurly.com for inspiring me with their annual Editor's Choice posts, lol. I'll be breaking this up by category, so as to not inundate you all with an insane amount of product choices. Also, if I reviewed a product and gave it a good rating but you don't see it listed, that doesn't mean it's not a great product. It's just not HG status, ya know?

Let's dive in.

TGIN Moisture Rich Sulfate-Free Shampoo 
$15 www.tginatural.com
I've spread the gospel of TGIN Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo far and wide. Any time anyone so much as fixes their mouth to say "shampoo", I blurt out "TGIN!". I wish I could say they were paying me to say nice things, but they aren't. I just really, really, like really love this shampoo. It looks like a shampoo, lathers like a shampoo, cleans like a (non-drying) shampoo, and makes your hair feel like it's conditioned. For my regimen, TGIN's Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo has been a game-changer. It is gentle enough for weekly use, yet powerful enough to remove the toughest buildup. If you're anti-cowash, or just can't wrap your mind around a cleanser that doesn't lather, this one is for you. It has been a staple in my regimen for well over a year now, and will continue to be. Oh, and did I mention it smells good and has tons of slip too?
 Read my full TGIN Shampoo review here.

Ouidad Superfruit Renewal Clarifying Cream Shampoo 
$18 www.ouidad.com / www.ulta.com
Ohhh, the dreaded "C" word -- clarify. You know you need to do it, I know I need to do it (soon, anyways). Clarifying your hair can make you feel like you've set your tresses back 10 months in terms of building internal moisture, smoothness, softness, curl definition, and frizz fighting. The good news is, Ouidad figured out a way to give your hair everything it needs without the wack side effects of clarifying. It smells amazing, has a low lather, is super creamy, and leaves your hair feeling super clean without being stripped. It really and truly does clarify, and the cool thing is that it's gentle enough to use weekly if need be. I also noticed that Superfruit Renewal is ah-MAY-zing at fighting frizz and rough-feeling hair. I tried it once, and I've been hooked ever since!
Read my full Ouidad Superfruit Renewal review here.
 
Lawrence Ray Concepts Complete Cleanse Shampoo 
$26 www.lawrencerayconcepts.com
This may come as a complete shock to some of you -- but from time to time, I use sulfates. And by time to time, I mean whenever I'm about to straighten my hair, or when I'm reverting back to my curly texture. I used to use Ion's Straightening Shampoo for this, but once Lawrence Ray Concepts Complete Cleanse came into my life,my Ion bottles have been collecting dust. Complete cleanse is designed to remove all the yucky buildup and silicones from heat styling without drying out the hair and making it feel like a bale of hay. Complete Cleanse was so clutch in the process of reverting my curls back from that Beautiful Textures Texture Manageability System doohickey. Complete Cleanse has this pheeee-nomenal spearmint fragrance that makes me feel like my hair is getting every single bit of its life back after a session with the flat iron and silicone serums. It is by far one of the most non-drying, completely cleaning shampoos I've ever used. It does leave the hair feeling just a weeeee bit stripped, which I expect from a shampoo containing SLS. But, my hair doesn't feel dry or straw-like, just on the verge of that "squeaky clean" feeling. For this reason, it will always be a part of my pre and post flat ironing regimen.

Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner 
$5 www.target.com
I'm still looking for someone to blame here. Somebody out there let me go over 2 years without even so much as throwing a glance Tresemme's way for their naturals conditioner. Who. Do. I. Blame? I will always have a spot in my heart for Aussie Moist, but Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner is my jam! I got hipped to it during my Max Hydration Method experiment, and have refused to run out since. Although my MHM days are over, I still use Tresemme Naturals to co-wash, mix into my henna, adjust my hair after a clay mask, and even sometimes as a leave-in. It smells great, comes in a big enough (albeit smaller than the rest) bottle, and costs $5. It's silicone-free for all the MHM and Curly Girl enthusiasts out there, and when combined with water has pretty legit slip. What's there to not love?


Up next: deep conditioners! Stay tuned! 

Are there any of my HG cleansers that you love or hate? Share in the comments :)