By Katrice
I received a 5 oz. container of Qhemet Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee in an event gift bag a while back, and have finally gotten around to using it. I promised a product review after trying it in conjunction with my normal twist out routine. So, here are my thoughts.
The product: Cocoa Tree Detangling Ghee promises to restore manageability, softness and elasticity to normal to very dry hair; smooth cuticles, improve combing ability and reduce breakage.
What I liked: The product says it can be used for simple detangling on damp hair; and as a leave-in conditioner, which is how I intended. And it really does detangle to the point of a smoothness that I haven't noticed with any other conditioner I've used. I could actually comb through my thick afro with very minimal hair shed in the process. The white residue that coats the hair can be misleading, but no worries. When it dried, my hair had a wonderful sheen, and was amazingly soft and pliant. (Tip: Follow directions for the amount needed; I believe I used too much.)
What I didn't like: After styling, my hair turned out frizzy in most spots and defined in just a few areas. Generally, if I use a leave-in conditioner prior to a dry twist out, the individual pieces are extremely defined when I take them down. The frizzy areas were dull and quickly lost definition as I manipulated pieces of my hair. (Tip: If this happens when styling with a new product and you're in a time crunch, fill your bathroom with steam and allow it to even out your 'fro so that you don't miss a beat.)
Bottom line: It is a great moisturizer for when I'm intending to keep my hair in an afro. But, I won't be able to use it for twisting styles. The one challenge many people with naturals experience is keeping our hair moisturized. So, if for nothing else but moisturizing, it may be a worth a try.
Bonus: The 5 oz. container is just $5.50 on the Qhemet website, if there isn't a store that carries the Qhemet Biologicals line near you.
