Do you want to start using leave in conditioner on a regular basis? Then you may want to check out the product we are reviewing today, the Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner.
View the full Shea Moisture range on Amazon.com >
Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner will nourish and shine your hair. It contains natural ingredients including raw shea butter, black castor oil, and peppermint. It repairs hair and it is non-greasy.
Things to Consider When Trying Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner
When trying Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner, you may want to consider some things. Because it is a leave in conditioner, it may weigh your hair down if you apply too much.
Consider if you really need this conditioner if you are blessed with healthy hair.
This product is best suited for dry or frizzy hair.
Also, consider how much you are wanting to spend on conditioner.
Who Should Buy This Product
Anyone who has dry or brittle hair may want to buy the Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner.
Who Shouldn’t Buy This Product
If you have naturally moisturized hair, you may not want to buy this product. It could weigh down already healthy hair.
Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner
As with most products, there are both pros and cons. I’ll go over some of those here.
Pros
- Moisturizes hair
- Leaves hair shiny
- Contains natural ingredients such as raw shea butter, black castor oil, and peppermint
Cons
- Has strong fragrance
- Could weigh hair down
Features and Benefits
- Nourishes and shines hair
- Contains natural ingredients including raw shea butter, black castor oil, and peppermint
- Repairs hair
- Non-greasy
- Moisturizes hair
Social Proof
I’ve scoured the internet and also read through the customer feedback on Amazon for Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner. I’ll share some of what I found:
“I’ll start by saying that this product is high quality and makes my hair feel like an angel’s leg hair. The amount of product you receive is commendable. I have put the jar through some abuse and it’s stood up to both heavy impact and long drops. Gotta follow up all that positive and say that I hate how this smells, but that’s a very personal preference thing. The smell is rather strong but maybe that’s because it’s located on my hair. Reminds me of some kind of salad dressing but I think that’s just the apple cider vinegar standing out too much. Too bad. I’m going to buy this for as long as they keep making it, despite the fact that I smell like grandma’s chicken marinade.”
“This is one of the only conditioners I’ve found that actually helps get rid of (perhaps hide/smooth) my split ends. I don’t use it as a leave-in. Instead, I put it on, detangle in the shower, then rinse out. I have super fine hair and it’s too heavy as a leave-in, but using it this way it’s been a dream. If I use anything else I can see my split ends–with this, it’s like the vast majority don’t exist. I also like that it’s all natural and I know what I’m putting in my hair and down the drain. Wonderful product.”
“I use this in combination with the Shea Moisture Strengthen, Grow, and Restore shampoo and my hair is beautiful. After two years of chemo my hair was a dry, frizzy, bushy disaster and had never recovered. I tried countless products but none that helped and the ones that did help at all left a my hair heavy and weighed down. I found Shea Moisture by accident and I’m so glad I did. My hair has stopped falling out, has started growing back in and is getting thick again. One of the best things is that it leaves my hair soft and manageable with lots of body and not heavy or oily. I’ll never use another product on my hair again!”
FAQs
1. What Is SheaMoisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner?
The full name is quite a mouthful, but the idea behind it is straightforward.
It’s a leave-in conditioner for dry, damaged, chemically treated and textured hair that’s designed to stay in your hair rather than being rinsed away.
The product is part of SheaMoisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil collection, which is aimed at strengthening and moisturising hair.
The brand specifically recommends it for hair that is regularly:
Coloured
Straightened
Relaxed
Permed
Heat styled
It is also intended for wavy, curly and coily hair types.
That immediately tells me this isn’t really aimed at someone looking for an ultra-light finishing spray.
It’s a rich, nourishing leave-in designed for hair that needs some serious conditioning.
2. What’s in the Formula?
This is where the product gets interesting.
The current official ingredient list includes Jamaican Black Castor Oil, shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, baobab oil, buriti oil, macadamia oil, panthenol, hydrolyzed keratin and hydrolyzed rice protein, among other ingredients.
That’s quite a collection!
Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Castor oil is one of the headline ingredients, and it’s traditionally associated with nourishing and conditioning hair.
I wouldn’t expect castor oil to magically make hair grow faster, though.
That’s an important distinction.
This product is better thought of as a conditioning and protective treatment rather than a proven hair-growth treatment.
Shea Butter
Shea butter is another star ingredient, and it helps explain why this conditioner feels considerably richer than a lightweight spray.
It’s particularly appealing if your hair tends to feel dry, coarse or rough.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is included as another nourishing oil.
It can help hair feel softer and more conditioned, although some people’s hair responds better to coconut oil than others.
If your hair tends to become stiff or heavy with coconut oil, you’ll want to pay attention to how your hair reacts.
Protein
The formula contains hydrolyzed keratin and hydrolyzed rice protein.
This is worth knowing if you have very dry or damaged hair.
Protein-containing products can be useful for some damaged hair routines, but more isn’t always better.
If your hair starts feeling unusually stiff, rough or straw-like after frequent use, I’d reduce how often you’re using protein-rich products.
3. What Does It Feel Like?
This isn’t the sort of leave-in conditioner I’d describe as barely there.
It’s rich and creamy, which is exactly what I’d want if my hair were dry or damaged.
You don’t need to use a huge amount, either.
SheaMoisture’s instructions say to apply a generous amount to clean, towel-dried hair from roots to ends, comb through and leave it in. Additional product can be applied depending on the length and condition of your hair.
I’d still start with a modest amount.
You can always add more.
If you have fine hair, I’d concentrate on the lengths and ends rather than loading the roots with a rich leave-in.
4. Does It Help Dry Hair?
This is where I think the product really shines.
If your hair is dry, rough or difficult to manage, the combination of shea butter, oils, fatty alcohols and conditioning ingredients gives the formula plenty of richness.
It should leave hair feeling softer and more moisturised, particularly when used on hair that genuinely needs extra conditioning.
SheaMoisture specifically positions it as a product for dry hair and says it helps soften and moisturise while improving manageability.
For extremely dry hair, I can see this being much more satisfying than a watery leave-in spray.
5. Is It Good for Damaged Hair?
Yes, but let’s be careful about the word “repair.”
Damaged hair is damaged hair. Once the hair shaft has been seriously compromised, a conditioner can’t turn it back into completely untouched, virgin hair.
What a good conditioner can do is make damaged hair feel smoother, softer and more manageable, while helping reduce some of the friction and breakage associated with combing and styling.
That’s what I’d expect from this product.
SheaMoisture says the leave-in helps support elasticity and resist breakage during detangling, while also providing a protective layer that improves the appearance of dry split ends.
That’s a much more realistic expectation than believing the product can permanently mend split ends.
If your ends are genuinely split, they’ll eventually need trimming.
6. Does It Help With Breakage?
This is another area where I think the product makes sense.
Breakage can be a nightmare when you’re trying to grow your hair longer.
Your hair may actually be growing normally at the roots, but if the ends continually snap, you never seem to gain length.
A leave-in conditioner can help make hair more manageable and reduce the amount of tugging and friction involved in detangling.
SheaMoisture specifically says this formula supports elasticity and helps hair resist breakage when detangling.
I’d consider that a useful benefit, particularly for curly, coily, dry or chemically treated hair.
7. Is It Good for Curly Hair?
Absolutely worth considering.
SheaMoisture specifically says the product is suitable for wavy, curly and coily textures.
Curly hair can often benefit from richer conditioning because the natural oils produced at the scalp don’t necessarily travel down the bends and curves of the hair shaft as easily.
This leave-in can provide additional softness and slip, making curls easier to detangle.
It may also help reduce the dry, fuzzy appearance that can make curls look less defined.
However, curly hair is incredibly individual.
One person’s perfect leave-in can make another person’s curls limp and greasy.
I’d experiment with the amount.
8. What About Frizz?
I think this is another potential strength.
Dry, dehydrated hair often looks frizzier, and smoothing the hair with conditioning ingredients can make a noticeable cosmetic difference.
SheaMoisture specifically describes the leave-in as helping to reduce frizz.
If you’re dealing with serious humidity-related frizz, however, I wouldn’t expect one conditioner to solve everything.
Your styling products, drying technique, hair porosity and the weather can all make a difference.
Still, starting with well-conditioned hair is certainly helpful.
9. Is It Suitable for Fine Hair?
This is where I’d be cautious.
SheaMoisture Strengthen & Restore is a rich formula, and fine hair may not need quite as much product as thick, coarse or highly textured hair.
If your hair is fine, I’d use a small amount and apply it primarily to the mid-lengths and ends.
Too much could leave your hair:
Flat
Heavy
Oily-looking
Less bouncy
Difficult to style
This isn’t necessarily a criticism of the product.
It’s simply a case of matching the product to your hair.
If you have fine but very damaged hair, you may love it.
If you have fine, healthy hair that becomes greasy easily, I’d probably choose something lighter.
10. Is It Suitable for Chemically Treated Hair?
This is actually one of the situations for which the product is specifically intended.
SheaMoisture recommends it for people who regularly colour, straighten, relax, perm or heat-style their hair.
That’s a pretty good match for a rich leave-in conditioner.
Chemically treated and frequently heat-styled hair often needs help with softness, manageability and detangling.
I’d particularly consider it if your hair has become dry after bleaching or colouring.
Again, though, remember that conditioning products improve the feel and appearance of damaged hair; they don’t reverse every form of chemical damage.
11. Is It Silicone-Free?
This is an interesting feature.
The current Canadian product description specifically states that this leave-in conditioner is formulated without silicones, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil or petrolatum.
That may appeal to people who deliberately avoid silicones in their haircare routines.
However, I’d check the ingredient list on the bottle you’re purchasing because formulas and labelling can differ between markets.
12. Does It Make Hair Greasy?
It can if you use too much.
That’s probably my biggest warning with this product.
It’s packed with rich conditioning ingredients, so I wouldn’t treat it like a lightweight spray that you can casually spritz all over your hair.
I’d start with a small amount.
If you have thick, coarse, curly or coily hair, you may find you can use considerably more.
If your hair is fine or straight, I’d be much more conservative.
The good news is that the brand specifically says the product can be reapplied depending on hair length and condition.
In other words, you don’t need to use the same amount as somebody with a completely different hair type.
How Do You Use SheaMoisture Leave-In Conditioner?
The instructions are wonderfully simple.
After washing your hair:
Towel dry it gently.
Apply the leave-in conditioner from roots to ends.
Comb through gently for even distribution.
Don’t rinse it out.
Style as usual.
SheaMoisture says additional product can be applied depending on the length and condition of your hair.
Personally, I’d pay particular attention to the ends if they’re dry or damaged.
And don’t yank a comb through wet, tangled hair.
Work from the ends upwards and gently loosen knots as you go.
Can You Use It Every Day?
You can potentially use it regularly, but I don’t think everyone needs to.
If your hair is very dry or textured, you may find frequent application useful.
If your hair is fine or easily weighed down, you might only need it after washing.
I’d let your hair be your guide.
If it feels soft and bouncy, you’re doing well.
If it starts feeling coated, sticky or heavy, you’re probably using too much product or applying it too frequently.
Does It Make Hair Grow?
This is something I’d like to clear up because castor oil often gets associated with hair growth.
I wouldn’t buy this product specifically to make your hair grow faster.
The product is designed primarily to condition, moisturise, detangle and strengthen the feel of vulnerable hair.
There isn’t good reason to assume that applying this leave-in will make your hair follicles suddenly produce hair faster.
What it may do is help you retain more of the hair you’re already growing by reducing dryness, tangling and breakage.
And that can make a huge difference if your goal is longer hair.
What Does It Smell Like?
The product contains fragrance, and the official ingredient list identifies it as a fragrance/essential-oil blend.
The scent has a distinctive SheaMoisture feel, with the Jamaican Black Castor Oil range having a richer, herbal/spicy character rather than smelling like a light fruity hair mist.
If you’re sensitive to fragrance, that’s something I’d consider before buying.
Pros and Cons
What I Like
Rich conditioning: Excellent if your hair is genuinely dry and thirsty.
Good for damaged hair: Particularly appropriate for hair that has been coloured, chemically processed or heat styled.
Excellent detangling potential: The conditioning formula provides plenty of slip.
Suitable for curly and coily hair: The richness can be particularly useful for textured hair.
Lots of nourishing ingredients: Castor oil, shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba, baobab and other oils feature in the formula.
Protein included: Keratin and rice proteins may be useful in a damaged-hair routine.
No rinse required: It’s an easy extra step after washing.
What I Don’t Like
Potentially too rich for fine hair: You may need to use very little.
Can be heavy if overused: More isn’t necessarily better.
Fragranced: Not ideal if you prefer fragrance-free haircare.
Won’t actually repair split ends: It can improve their appearance and feel, but genuinely split ends still need cutting.
Castor oil isn’t a magic hair-growth ingredient: I’d buy it for conditioning rather than expecting accelerated hair growth.
My Verdict
I can see why SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner has become such a popular choice for people with dry and damaged hair.
It’s not trying to be a lightweight, barely-there finishing mist.
It’s rich, creamy and nourishing, and the formula is packed with ingredients that make sense for hair that needs additional conditioning.
I particularly like the combination of Jamaican Black Castor Oil, shea butter, coconut oil and other plant oils, alongside conditioning ingredients and hydrolyzed proteins.
I’d be most likely to recommend it for dry, thick, curly, coily, chemically treated or heat-damaged hair.
If your hair is fine and easily weighed down, I’d still give it a try if you’re dealing with significant dryness, but I’d use a much smaller amount.
What I wouldn’t do is expect it to permanently repair split ends or make hair grow dramatically faster. It’s a conditioning treatment, not a miracle cure.
For me, that’s perfectly fine.
Sometimes what I really want from a hair product is for my hair to feel softer, detangle more easily, look less frizzy and stop snapping every time I brush it.
And that’s exactly where this leave-in conditioner makes sense.
My Rating: 4.5/5
SheaMoisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner gets 4.5 out of 5 from me.
It’s particularly impressive for dry and damaged hair, and I think it’s a strong choice if your hair needs moisture, softness, slip and extra protection from everyday breakage.
If your hair is thirsty, this is one I’d definitely put on my beauty shopping list.
Conclusion
Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner is made to nourish and shine your hair.
This leave in conditioner contains natural ingredients including raw shea butter, black castor oil, and peppermint.
Because it is a leave in conditioner, be careful to not put too much on your hair, or it will weigh it down.
I hope my review of the Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner can help you decide if this is a leave in conditioner you should try!
For more information, check out the rest of our hair conditioner reviews.
