Review: Shea Moisture Yucca and Plantain Hair Products Line
Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. It is my honest opinion of the products detailed below which I purchased myself.
Several months ago, I made my first 'haul' of Shea Moisture products. I bought the shampoo, conditioner and deep conditioner in the Yucca and Plantain line.
Benefits of the active ingredients:
Yucca - Promotes hair growth for thicker, fuller hair.
Plantain Extract - Rich in Vitamin B complex. Nourishes hair with moisture.
Baobab Oil - Contains Vitamins A, C, D, E and F to fortify and strengthen hair
(www.shea moisture.com)
Now, this trio is a protein-packed team, but at that time, what did I know about hair protein and all that jazz? Nada. I didn't even know there was protein in the products in the form of Hydrolized Rice Protein, and I definitely didn't know the effect of protein on my hair. So, my results were perhaps a surprise to me.
PRODUCT #1: SHAMPOO
Product Description:
Name: Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Shampoo with Baobab Oil & Cilantro Extract
Indication: Frizzy, Split & Breaking Hair
Claims: Moisturize, control and boost shine
Application: Apply to wet hair and gently massage into a rich lather. Rinse thoroughly. Repeat if necessary.
Safety: Sulphate free and colour safe (as with all Shea Moisture products)
My opinion... sigh!
What I enjoyed most about this shampoo was its rich, foamy lather although it took the second application of shampoo to really get the thick lather (as with a lot of other brands of shampoo). If you've tried a Shea Moisture shampoo before, you would know that the lather is not like regular shampoos. It has a VERY FINE feel. I can't explain it much, other than to say that it does foam up but the foam is very soft or fine.
I was also able to work on detangling my hair just with this shampoo, which is always awesome.
Unfortunately, that's where the positives end. On the negative side, I did not appreciate the scent. It was rather hair product-y, like a smell you would get from being in a beauty salon when you are relaxing your hair. It wasn't a pleasant scent, not a floral or fruity scent - just a chemical-ly smell.
Although I was able to start detangling my hair from using the shampoo, it didn't make my hair extra soft. Here's a picture of the product as it sits on my table months after I last used it. You can see a substance on the inside of the bottle. I believe that is the protein and it just shows how protein really would thicken your hair by adhering to your strands.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
PRODUCT #2:CONDITIONER
Product Description:
Name: Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Conditioner with Baobab Oil & Cilantro Extract
Indication: Frizzy, Split & Breaking Hair
Claims: Moisturize, control and boost shine
Application: Don't have the bottle anymore and can't find it anywhere online
Safety: Sulphate free and colour safe (as with all Shea Moisture products)
I used this conditioner directly after the shampoo. Even though I don't have the bottle anymore (I used out all), I really can't say anything good about this product. It left my hair HARD, seriously. There was nothing soft about this conditioner at all. AFTER learning about protein overload, I thought maybe it had my hair too stiff or brittle because it was adding more protein to my hair after a protein shampoo. It also didn't have any slip, I thought.
Rating: 1 out of 5.
PRODUCT #3: MASQUE
Product Description:
Name: Yucca & Plantain Anti-Breakage Strengthening Conditioner with Baobab Oil & Cilantro Extract
Indication: Frizzy, Split & Breaking Hair
Claims: Moisturize, control and boost shine
Application: Don't have the bottle anymore and can't find it anywhere online
Safety: Sulphate free and colour safe (as with all Shea Moisture products)
The first time I used this masque, I left it in my hair thinking it was a leave-in. Oh my goodness! My hair felt hard, obviously! The second time I used it, I realized I had to wash it out, and my hair did benefit from the conditioning. It was more moisturizing than the conditioner, I have to say.
Still, my hair did not favour the product too much.
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Final Thoughts on this line: I must say that even though my hair was hard (brittle), it really felt thick and I really believe that I got less breakage. I remember putting up my hair in one and thinking 'Wow! I have a lot of hair!', so the protein treatment did work. It just wasn't a comfortable experience in the shower. I like slip and a pleasant smell, and neither of the three products gave me that.
I think that it is too much protein at one time to use all three products on the same day. I haven't done a proper check, but I don't think that my hair is protein-sensitive because I remember using another protein treatment back when I had my relaxed hair, and my hair LOVED it.
Until next post,
Q. How does your hair respond to protein products? Let me know in the comments below.