One of the most popular brands amongst the Curly Girl community is Cantu Shea Butter products. But is Cantu Curly Girl Approved?
Let’s find out.
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Is Cantu Good For Curly Hair?
Cantu is a high street brand with fairly affordable products and their formula has been developed specially formulated for curls and textured hair.
So yes, Cantu is good for curly hair.
Even better, Cantu is part of PETA’s ‘Beauty Without Bunnies’ scheme and does not test on animals.
Of course, everyone is different and what may work for one person may not work for you.
Many of Cantu’s products do contain coconut oil and this has been known to dry out hair if you suffer from protein overload or if you’re simply sensitive to coconut.
However, coconut oil has also been proven to reduce protein loss for both undamaged and damaged hair, so there are pros and cons to using coconut oil.
Many Curlies around the world use Cantu every day because the brand works for them. So it’s simply just a matter of testing one or two products yourself to see how you get along.
Is Cantu Curly Girl Approved?
As you may have discovered on your own Curly Girl Method journey, hair care brands are incredibly inconsistent when it comes to the chemicals they add to their products.
Some conditioners may be CG safe whilst others aren’t. It’s quite frustrating and can often lead to misinformation about which products you should purchase.
So, are Cantu products Curly Girl Approved? Luckily, most of them are! Cantu has developed a fantastic range of conditioners and styling products that are totally safe for you to use. They even have a range just for kids!
However, it is important that you experiment with both protein and non-protein products.
Healthy hair requires a good balance of moisture and protein and if you are protein sensitive then coconut products may not be for you.
Also, check out my easy step-by-step guide to the Curly Girl Method.
List Of CG Approved Cantu Products :
| Cantu Anti-Frizz Smoothing Oil |
| Cantu Avocado Hydrating Curl Activator Cream |
| Cantu Avocado Hydrating Shampoo |
| Cantu Avocado Hydrating Styling Gel |
| Cantu Care for Kids Curl Refresher |
| Cantu Care for Kids Leave-In Conditioner |
| Cantu Care for Kids Styling Custard |
| Cantu Cleansing Cream Shampoo |
| Cantu Coil Calm Detangler |
| Cantu Comeback Curl Revitalizer |
| Cantu Complete Conditioning CoWash |
| Cantu Conditioning Creamy Hair Lotion |
| Cantu Curl Activator Cream |
| Cantu Define and Shine Custard |
| Cantu Dry Deny Moisture Seal Gel Oil |
| Cantu Extra Hold Edge Stay Gel |
| Cantu Flaxseed Smoothing Cream Gel |
| Cantu Flaxseed Smoothing Leave-in or Rinse Out Conditioner |
| Cantu Flaxseed Smoothing Oil |
| Cantu Flaxseed Smoothing Shampoo |
| Cantu Mega Hold Mixer Stay Glue Gel |
| Cantu Moisturizing Twist & Lock Gel |
| Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Milk Shine & Hold Mist |
| Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Cream |
| Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioning Mist |
| Cantu Shea Butter Maximum Hold Anti-Shedding Styling Gel |
| Cantu Shea Butter Maximum Hold Moisture Retention Styling Gel |
| Cantu Shea Butter Maximum Hold Strengthening Styling Gel |
| Cantu Wave Whip Curling Mousse |
| Txtr by Cantu Apple Cider Vinegar and Tea Tree Soothing Shampoo |
| Txtr by Cantu Color Treated + Curls Cleansing Oil Shampoo |
| Txtr by Cantu Curls + Waves Defining Gel |
| Txtr by Cantu Leave-in + Rinse Out Hydrating Conditioner |
| Txtr by Cantu Oil + Vitamins Scalp Saver |
| Txtr by Cantu Shine + Sculpt Control Paste |
| Txtr by Cantu Strengthen + Restore Moisture Mask |
We have also made a visual collage of the most popular Cantu products for curls which may be helpful. Feel free to download or pin for later use.
Now you know which products are safe, let’s take a look at the best Curly Girl approved Cantu products in more detail.
Let’s get to it.
Top 12 Most Popular Cantu Products For Curls
Cantu Natural Hair Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream
The Cantu Moisturising Curl Activator Cream is a CGM favorite and is one of the best Cantu products for curly hair.
The cream helps deliver volume, reduce frizz, and activate bouncy shiny curls.
It is a moisturizing cream and is filled with goodness such as fruit oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, and grape seed oil.
The consistency is therefore very creamy and no wonder it was the winner of the 2018 Curly Treats Excellence Award for Best Moisturiser.
The large amount of oil in this product would be fantastic for curlies with high porosity hair, meaning hair that easily absorbs moisture.
It’s thick, creamy and you only need about a pea-sized amount for each use.
The Cantu curl activator cream also contains coconut which is fab for curlies who need an extra boost of protein.
For low porosity hair, it may not be the best product to use as the cream won’t penetrate the outer layer of your hair, called cuticles, and moisture won’t reach the centre of the hair shaft.
If you have experienced issues in the past with thick products, you may want to try the Garnier Banana Hair food.
You can also take a look at this list we created with available Curly Girl approved products in the UK.
Cantu Define and Shine Custard
The Cantu Define And Shine Custard is like a gel but has a lot of extra added goodness such as Aloe Vera and Agave extracts.
Like the curl activator, it also contains oils and coconut so although it might be a heavier product, it is incredibly moisturizing.
The custard is best for type 3 curls or tight curls. It helps reduce hair bulk and elongate curls if you want a softer look.
This Cantu custard is great for curly hair. A little goes a long way and you’ll get an all-day hold with this product.
It is recommended that you use the custard straight out of the shower. Whether you use it on soaking wet hair or after scrunching out water is completely up to you.
You can also mix the custard with the curl activator for additional curl definition.
Just remember to use sparingly and mix the product between your palms before applying.
Cantu Comeback Curl Next Day Curl Revitalizer
The Cantu Curl Revitalizer is a Curly Girl approved refresh spray that will help you with your second or third-day curls.
The spray is made with ingredients such as 100% pure Shea butter and castor oil and doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals.
The Cantu Curl Revitalizer is best used on damp hair to give your next-day curls a lift. The product helps restore curls leaving them smooth and frizz-free.
Some Curly Girls prefer to do a dry refresh and you can absolutely use this product on dry hair too.
Sometimes a conditioner refresh can be too heavy on second-day curls so this spray comes in handy.
The best thing to do is to just test what works for you. Everyone is different and there’s no such thing as one method.
Cantu for Natural Hair Twist & Lock Gel
The Cantu Twist & Lock Gel is another very popular Curly Girl product. Although a gel, the product is white, not transparent, and has a mousse-like texture.
The gel is formulated with many oils such as pure shea butter, avocado oil, almond oil, and jojoba seed oil.
Filled with lots of moisturizing ingredients, this gel would be a better option than a regular ‘clean’ gel. It’s a heavy product however so may not suit fine hair.
This product is, of course, excellent with the twists and curl method, so if you have coily or kinky hair, this is definitely for you.
Cantu Coconut Oil Shine and Hold Mist
The Cantu Coconut Oil Shine & Hold Mist is great to use as a final touch when styling your hair. It smooths out frizz and rehydrates your hair.
As with most Cantu product, the mist contains a lot of different oils which generally isn’t recommended on the method.
However, a little goes a long way and essential oils and oil extracts are fine to use. They can in fact be very beneficial for dry, coarse and high porosity hair.
An essential ingredient is coconut oil which is good for those curlies who are lacking protein.
You can apply the product on wet hair when styling and then reapply to dry air for additional moisture and shine.
Cantu Coil Calm Detangler
The Cantu Coil Calm Detangler is one of the best Cantu products for curly hair and has been formulated with pure Shea butter to help you detangle even the trickiest curls.
It softens and conditions hair for easy styling and ads shine. Created for coily hair but can be used by anyone who is struggling with separating their curls.
Use this product on wet or damp hair in sections. Apply generously before detangling.
Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Conditioning Co-Wash
One of the most important things to get right when following the Curly Girl Method is to find the co-wash that works for you.
Why? Because when you can no longer use shampoo to wash your hair, you’ll need a co-washing conditioner that gets rid of build-up and grease.
This is not only to ensure the cleanliness of your hair but it is important for maintaining a healthy scalp and stimulating hair growth.
The Cantu Complete Conditioning Co-Wash is a gentle curl cleanser that is light in texture.
It effectively removes heavy product build-up from your hair and scalp and is infused with natural butters and oils.
This co-wash is an absolute favorite amongst many curly girls and if you’re in need of additional protein, this co-wash also contains coconut.
For best results, use a scalp massager like this one I found on Amazon. Massage the product into your hair for at least two minutes and rinse.
Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Wave Whip Curling Mousse
The Cantu Curling Mousse is a great alternative to gel. For softer, crunch-free curls, this curling mousse will give you lots of volume and frizz-free locks.
The product is practically weightless and helps moisturize and condition your hair.
Apply the mousse to wet hair and scrunch hair upwards towards your scalp so that your curls begin to form. Air dry or diffuse. For even more hold and shine, finish with Cantu Coconut Oil Shine & Hold Mist.
Cantu Shea Butter Hydrating Leave-In Conditioning Mist
The Cantu Hydrating Leave-in Conditioning Mist is perfect for an additional moisturizing treatment during the day.
It is infused with castor oil and grape seed extract and instantly hydrates.
If used daily, the conditioning mist can help repair damaged curls without weighing your hair down.
For best use, spray on damp or wet hair and leave in. Do not rinse.
Cantu Care For Kids Styling Custard
It’s always nice to find a product that is not only CG safe but also made for kids in mind.
The Cantu Kids Styling Custard has been infused with pure Shea butter, coconut oil, and honey and promises to reduce frizz and hold ponytails in the playground.
If you are unsure of which CG products to use for your child, give this styling custard a go to help maintain curls.
Cantu Shea Butter Max Hold Anti-Shedding Styling Gel
The Cantu Anti-Shedding Styling Gel is another great option for achieving bouncy weightless curls.
Made with 100% Shea butter and honey, the anti-shedding styling gel promises a flake-free curl experience.
The gel gives a flexible hold and can also help elongate your curls.
Furthermore, as the name suggests, the gel is formulated so as to protect against shedding.
Cantu Shea Butter Max Hold Strengthening Styling Gel
The Cantu Shea Butter Max Hold Strengthening Styling Gel is another great gel with a flexible hold for any hair type.
This Cantu Gel is infused with Jamaican Black Castor Oil which helps strengthen your curls while moisturizing damaged hair strands.
This gel can be used on its own or layered with other products. It is important to experiment with various products to see which ones work for your specific hair type.
And that’s it! All the Curly Girl approved Cantu products available at the moment.
Cantu is constantly bringing out new conditioners, gels and other styling products and we will of course update this blog post as and when that happens.
Good luck with your Curly Girl journey!
Disclaimer: This site is not intended to provide professional or medical advice. All of the content on LovedByCurls.com is for informational purposes only. All advice should be followed at your own discretion. Ingredients may change at any time so always check the product label before using. Check our full disclaimer policy here.
