
Cantu hair care products are popular because they’re affordable and easy to access. Cantu products are available in many drugstores, and so they are easily accessible to most people.
Cantu is often criticized, and I see people wondering if Cantu will work for their hair. This post will cover Cantu hair products and answer the question, “Is Cantu harmful to your hair?”
Is Cantu Bad For Your Hair
Cantu does not harm your hair.
Cantu is a brand that has received a bad reputation because people misuse the products or use them incorrectly. It’s a case of user error.
Cantu is heavy, and using it on hair that requires lighter products will not be good for you. Not removing the buildup regularly can also lead to hair loss and other problems.
Cantu Hair Products
Cantu offers a variety of products for natural hair. Shea butter and natural oils are used in many of their products, which are very popular for natural hair care. Cantu’s products are designed to moisturize and protect textured hair, whether it is worn straight, raw, or as a protective style.
Ingredients In Cantu Hair Products
You will find that the ingredients are not “bad” for hair or scalp.
They use natural ingredients such as herbal extracts and essential oils, fatty alcohols that moisturize the scalp and hair, and surfactants for cleansing. The products also contain “chemical” components such as fragrances, emulsifiers, and other synthetic substances that are normally found in other hair care products.
Even the most popular “free from” ingredients like parabens and sulfates are avoided. Cantu products are also cruelty-free.
This brand’s products are heavy. It is because of the emollients that make them rich. These ingredients can accumulate over time if you don’t cleanse properly.
Cantu’s products will cause buildup if you follow the Curly Girl method. This is because you are not using enough strong cleansers. This buildup can make your hair look dull, heavy, and greasy and even cause hair fallout.
It is subjective to what people consider “harmful chemicals,” “harmful ingredients,” etc. You should always check the label of each product if you are particular about the ingredients.
Emollients
Emollients are oils, butter, and waxes. Cantu’s range uses a large amount of shea butter and virgin coconut oil. There are a number of different lines, so the ingredients vary for each.
Emollients can be used to moisturize, soften, add shine, reduce frizz, and lengthen curls. Emollients are found in many products for curly hair, including natural oils.
As I have mentioned, emollients may build up in the hair and require stronger cleaners to remove.
Alcohol
Some Cantu products have alcohol in them, which is a popular reason people avoid this brand.
But it’s important to differentiate drying alcohols from good, moisturizing drinks.
Fatty alcohols are good and actually moisturize the hair. These include Cetyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol, Stearyl alcohol, and Lauryl alcohol.
Drying alcohols include Ethanol alcohol, Ethyl alcohol, Propanol alcohol, Alcohol denat, Isopropyl alcohol, Isopropanol alcohol, and Benzyl alcohol. Drying alcohols are used because they help products absorb into the hair, making the product more effective. Sometimes, the alcohol is used to preserve another ingredient, such as an herbal extract, and the amount in the finished product is almost negligible.
While it is true that Alcohol Denat is a drying alcohol, you don’t always need to avoid it. It’s important to look at the full formulation and consider your hair type first.
If the product contains Alcohol Denat towards the bottom of the ingredients list, then this will not have any effect on your hair. If the product has lots of emollients, like coconut oil or shea butter, then you don’t need to worry much about the alcohol.
It would concern me if it were one of the first few ingredients. In that case, the concentration is high enough to dry out your hair.
Petrolatum
Petrolatum, or mineral oil, is a thick, sticky oil used in many beauty products for its softening and moisturizing qualities.
Because it’s so thick and sticky and is not water-soluble, it can be difficult to remove, especially if you’re washing and not clarifying. This can become a problem if used incorrectly in the long term.
Is Cantu Curly Girl Approved?
A few of Cantu’s products are not curly girl-approved, but most of them are. This is because some of their products contain waxes, mineral oil, or drying alcohols.
If you’re not sure, pop the Cantu product into curlscan.com to check if it’s curly girl-approved.
What Hair Type Would These Products Work For?
Cantu products are made for specific hair types, so it’s important to know your hair texture and kind before choosing these products.
Cantu products are designed for textured hair. This includes wavy hair, curly hair, oily hair, kinky hair, and relaxed hair.
But it doesn’t end there. Just because you have natural curls doesn’t mean these products are a good fit.
If you have very fine, thin hair or hair that isn’t dry, then these products would be too moisturizing for your hair and would weigh it down.
On the other hand, dry, thick, curly hair would love the moisture in these products.
Low porosity types may also struggle with most of Cantu’s products. Soft porosity hair gets buildup very easily and needs products that don’t sit on the hair and suffocate it.
And although their website mentions curl patterns as a way to choose products, I do not recommend that. Curl pattern has nothing to do with how much moisture, hold, protein, and other ingredients your hair needs.
Also, reading the customer reviews on each product will help you decide if the product is right for you. You see patterns in the complaints, which allows you to pinpoint qualities of the product that may or may not be a good fit for you.
Is Cantu Bad for Your Hair? Ingredient Breakdown
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