Product Reviews: Shea Moisture vs Kinky Curly

Today I’m putting two of my OGs to the test. In this article, I will compare two popular hair care products, Shea Moisture vs Kinky Curly Knot Today. These products are well-known in the natural hair care community and have garnered a dedicated following. As someone who has spent years experimenting with various hair care products, I understand the importance of finding the right products that cater to your hair’s unique needs.

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Shea Moisture and Kinky Curly Knot Today are both renowned for their natural ingredients and commitment to providing nourishing solutions for curly and textured hair types. Each product offers a distinct set of benefits, and choosing between them can be a challenging task. Therefore, in this comprehensive comparison, I will look into the key features of both Shea Moisture and Kinky Curly Knot Today, shedding light on their ingredients, application, performance, and suitability for different hair types.

Whether you’re seeking a product to enhance your curls, improve moisture retention, or manage flyaways and tangles, this article will help you make an informed decision by providing an in-depth analysis of these two prominent hair care brands. So, let’s dive in and explore the differences between Shea Moisture and Kinky Curly Knot Today to help you achieve the beautiful, healthy hair you desire.

Shea Moisture vs Kinky Curly

The above hair was freshly washed and styled with both products then sealed with a mix of castor and sweet almond oil.

I’ve been using both these products for a couple of months now and thought I’d do a review of them even though you can find tons of reviews online. Every head of hair is different, right?

Kinky Curly Knot Today

Let’s start with The Kinky Curly Knot Today (KCKT) leave-in conditioner. You hear enough bloggers rave about this stuff so I had to pick up a bottle, especially when I saw it locally for an amazing price.

I bought it about two months ago and I still have over half a bottle left so a little goes a long way. I often mix a small amount of it with some fresh aloe juice so this helps to stretch it and of course, aloe does amazing things for my hair too. 

What I love so much about this leave-in conditioner is how lightweight it is. That’s exactly what I think a leave-in is supposed to be. It has lots of organic ingredients, spreads easily and it detangles like nobody’s business on both my curly kinky hair and munchkin’s kinky curly hair.

I used to apply it every day but I’ve cut back to every other day or every two days simply because my hair care practices no longer see me needing to wet my hair daily. My moisture game is on lock plus my big, dry ‘fro is something fierce too.

Kinky Curly Knot Today is celebrated for its thoughtfully curated list of ingredients, many of which offer numerous benefits for curly and textured hair. Let’s take a closer look at the key components and their advantages:

Organic Mango Fruit Extract: Mango extract is rich in vitamins and minerals, providing nourishment to the hair. It helps in strengthening hair follicles, promoting hair growth, and improving overall hair health.

Organic Slippery Elm: Slippery elm is known for its excellent detangling properties. It helps to smoothen the hair cuticle, making it easier to comb through knots and tangles without causing breakage or damage.

Organic Marshmallow Root: Marshmallow root is a natural emollient, which means it has moisturizing properties. It helps in softening the hair, making it more manageable and less prone to frizz.

Organic Lemongrass: Lemongrass has antifungal and antibacterial properties that can keep the scalp healthy and free from issues like dandruff. It also adds a pleasant, fresh scent to the product.

Cetyl Alcohol: Contrary to the name, cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol that is not drying for the hair. It acts as a thickening agent in the product, providing a creamy texture. It also helps to condition and soften the hair.

Behentrimonium Chloride: This ingredient is a powerful conditioning agent. It helps in detangling, reducing frizz, and making the hair more manageable.

Aloe Vera Leaf Juice: Aloe vera is renowned for its soothing and hydrating properties. It helps in maintaining the scalp’s moisture balance and can alleviate scalp irritation.

Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E): Vitamin E is an antioxidant that can protect the hair from damage caused by free radicals. It also promotes hair growth and a healthy scalp.

Citric Acid: Citric acid helps to adjust the pH of the product, ensuring it is at an optimal level for hair health. It can also help in removing build-up from the hair and scalp.

Phenoxyethanol: This is a preservative used to maintain the product’s shelf life. It is considered safe when used in cosmetic products within specified limits.

The combination of these natural and carefully selected ingredients in Kinky Curly Knot Today provides a range of benefits, including deep hydration, effective detangling, reduced frizz, and overall hair health. These elements work in synergy to create a product that is particularly well-suited for those with curly, coily, or kinky hair types, helping them achieve and maintain beautiful, manageable locks.

After I add it to my wet hair, I simply seal it with my oil mix of castor oil and argan oil and I’m out the door. When my hair is dry, it’s fluffy, soft and shiny. This one’s a holy grail product.

Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus

This one is another one that came highly recommended on the blogs as a styling product. It’s the Shea Moisture Organic Coconut and Hibiscus Curl and Style Milk, and Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I asked a friend to pick up the smoothie because that’s the one I kept reading about but when she was in the store, she saw the milk and got both for me to try.

I’m so happy she did!!! The smoothie is way too thick for my light curls but it is still a keeper for my munchkin’s thicker 4b hair. I use it in her hair after I’ve applied the KCKT leave-in to do her twists and braids. It is perfect for that purpose and I may revisit it myself when my hair is longer and I start to do braid-outs and twist-outs. I’ve read where it helps to keep the twists defined but for now it’s way too heavy for a simple wash and go. It smells amazing too.

The milk is great in my hair. I use it after the leave-in to help keep the frizz at bay when my hair dries. Only, I’m not sure if it’s a holy grail product. My hair doesn’t get that frizzy, I’m not sure I really need it. I could maybe use it in place of the leave-in and if I purchased it before the leave-in then maybe it would have been my holy grail. But I’m already in love with the KCKT. It’s not a bad styler, but I’m open to trying other products.

Update: I’ve now quit using Shea Moisture products altogether as you will notice they almost all carry coconut oil in their ingredient list and that oil breaks me out something bad! Now I stick to Cantu or TGIN as a styler.

Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus is another popular hair care product known for its natural ingredients that cater to textured and curly hair. Here’s an exploration of its key ingredients and their associated benefits:

Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is a well-known hair moisturizer. It penetrates the hair shaft, providing deep hydration, reducing protein loss, and preventing breakage. It also adds a natural shine to the hair.

Hibiscus Flower Extract: Hibiscus is rich in amino acids that nourish the hair and stimulate hair growth. It also has natural emollient properties, helping to keep the hair soft and manageable.

Silk Protein: Silk protein helps in strengthening the hair, making it less prone to damage. It adds a protective barrier, reducing frizz, and giving the hair a smoother appearance.

Neem Oil: Neem oil has antifungal and antibacterial properties, making it beneficial for maintaining a healthy scalp. It can help address issues like dandruff and scalp irritation.

Shea Butter: Shea butter is a deeply moisturizing ingredient that seals in moisture, providing long-lasting hydration to the hair. It also helps in reducing dryness and improving elasticity.

Aloe Vera Leaf Juice: Aloe vera soothes the scalp and reduces itching and inflammation. It helps maintain the scalp’s pH balance and promotes healthy hair growth.

Jojoba Seed Oil: Jojoba oil mimics the natural oils produced by the scalp, making it an excellent moisturizer. It can also help in controlling excess oil production.

Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E): Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects the hair from damage and helps maintain a healthy scalp. It contributes to hair growth and overall hair health.

Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5): Panthenol helps in retaining moisture in the hair, preventing dryness and breakage. It also adds volume and shine to the hair.

Vegetable Glycerin: Glycerin is a humectant that attracts and retains moisture, keeping the hair hydrated and preventing frizz.

Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus combines these natural ingredients to create a product that not only deeply moisturizes and nourishes curly and textured hair but also addresses common concerns such as frizz, dryness, and scalp issues. With its rich blend of plant-based elements, it is designed to enhance the health and appearance of curls while promoting overall hair vitality.

So for the throwdown of Shea Moisture vs Kinky Curly Knot Today, I have to say that Kinky Curly is still in rotation after many years for me while I haven’t touched a Shea Moisture product in years. Do you use any of these products? Are they working out for you? Are there any styling products that you think I could switch out the Curl Milk for?