Curlsmith Moisture Recipe Review
If you’re like me and relied on Devacurl for all things curly hair related, then you probably experienced the same level of utter heartbreak and confusion at the start of this year when the scandal hit the fan (insert tears and dramatic face palm). Fortunately, the Curlsmith Moisture Recipe turned out to be an amazing alternative, even for a loyal Devacurl buyer like me. Of course it only makes sense to share my first official product review with my fellow curlies.
Let’s jump right into the good stuff, shall we?
The Who, What, Where & How of Curlsmith Moisture Recipe
Who created Curlsmith?
Curlsmith was founded by Michal Berski, and launched only a couple of years ago. Berski has over a decade of experience in personal care and beauty, and developed what the brand refers to as “the first gourmet hair care brand specifically created for curls.” (That’s Google-approved research right there).
Now, when you see the word “gourmet,” you probably think of food, right? Well, that’s exactly what’s listed on the ingredients label, which brings me to my next point, the “what.”
What ingredients are in Curlsmith?
The Moisture Recipe is made with things like avocado oil, organic coconut, and black pepper oil…ingredients that I can not only pronounce, but that sound delicious! This stuff is basically hair food, which brings me to another very important point:
Curlsmith is Curly Girl Approved!
It’s free of sulfates, parabens, silicones, mineral oils and phthalates. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free and organic. Many of us make our product purchases based on either the quality of the ingredients, the transparency of the production/testing process, or the brand’s level of corporate social responsibility. With this brand, it seems, that you get a complete package deal: ingredients that are good for your hair and good for the environment.
Where can you buy it?
As of the date of this post, these products are only available through their website, or at Ulta. As I mentioned, the brand is still fairly new, so its availability is still pretty exclusive. Even though they’re sold at Ulta, the newer products (like a few in the Scalp Recipe line) are only available from their website.
Ok, Laura, this all sounds good, but how do you use this stuff? Glad you asked.
How to use
The full moisture line has 8 products:
Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash (Co-Wash)
Double Cream Deep Quencher (Deep Conditioner)
Curl Conditioning Oil-in-Cream (Leave-In)
Moisture Memory Reactivator (Refreshing Spray)
Hold Me Softly Style Balm (Light Hold Styling Cream)
Curl Defining Styling Souffle (Medium Hold Jelly)
In-Shower Style Fixer (Strong Hold Styling Gel)
Intense Treatment Serum (Hair Oil)
To get started, though, you really only need 4: the co-wash, deep conditioner, and two stylers (one for wash day, and another to refresh).
Step One: Co-Wash
For this step, you’ll use the Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash. The instructions on the bottle are pretty error-proof. In short, apply a generous amount to your wet hair, massage it into your scalp and run it down from your roots to your ends. This is a co-wash, so it doubles as your conditioner. You’ll leave it on for 3-5 minutes (or however long it takes you to shower), then finger-detangle and rinse it out.
P.S. If you’re wondering how it smells, the answer is ahhhh-mazing!
Step Two: Deep Condition
In the next step, you’ll use the Double Cream Deep Quencher. Personally, I deep condition on days when I’m planning on taking a salt bath. I section my hair in four parts, apply the conditioner (it’s pretty thick, so a little will go a long way), throw on a shower cap and leave it in for 15-30 minutes. (Side note: shower caps will be your best friend if you have low-porosity hair because it creates a little bit of heat to let the conditioner really sink into your strands. You’re welcome). After 30 minutes, rinse it out.
Step Three: Style
For the last step, you’ll need your styler. I use the In-Shower Style Fixer because I like an extra strong hold. Divide your hair into sections (I always do four) and use a dime-sized amount for each, running the product from roots to tips using the praying hands method. I use a little bit more than a dime size, but I like having a little crunch on wash day because it means I’ll have really good days 2-4 (sometimes up to 6!) Your hair should be soaking wet when using this product, because if not it will get really sticky and feel gross. The point is for your hair to dry with the product on and form a hard cast that you can either scrunch or diffuse out.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t love this product when I first started using it. I was only using a dime-sized amount and my hair just needs more than that. Once I started using a little more, I could not have been happier with my results. I’m telling you, I’ve gone a solid week between washes and my hair is still wearable!
Step Four: Refresh
This is a step for days two and beyond. Use a curl refresher to moisten your strands, then apply the Hold Me Softly Style Balm. This is a very light hold cream, meant to tame your fly-aways and tame any frizz that might have developed while you were sleeping. I apply a little to the outer layer of my hair, then use praying hands from mid-length to the ends, where I usually have the most frizz.
Optional but not-entirely-necessary products:
Knowing how many different products you actually need is a struggle when you’re first starting out on your natural hair journey (at least it was for me). You can get by with just the products I listed above, BUT I have tried more products from this line:
Curl Conditioning Oil-in-Cream - This is the Moisture Recipe leave-in. It’s very thick, so you only need a little bit. Apply it between steps two and three using praying hands.
Moisture Memory Reactivator - This a curl refresher spray. I’ll be the first to tell you that you can refresh your curls with equal parts water and conditioner and call it a day, but I am a bit of a product junkie, so I had to try the ready-to-use version. This stuff is amazing. It moistens the curls just enough for the styling balm to take hold, but not so much that your hair is actually wet.
And now, for the question on everyone’s mind…
Does it work?
The short answer is yes. The longer, more annoying answer is, it depends. Everyone’s curls are different, and what works for my 3b ringlets might not work for you. What I can tell you, though, is that this line does exactly what it claims to do, which is moisturize and define my curly hair. I absolutely love the way it smells, and my hair lasts such a long time between wash days, which is a mega bonus because I’m just the teensiest bit lazy.
How much does it cost?
I won’t lie to y’all…it’s an investment. It’s pretty comparable to Devacurl, with products ranging from $25-$36 each. Here are the prices, and ounce sizes, of the products I listed:
Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash 12oz - $25
Oil-in-Cream 8oz - $26
Double Cream Deep Quencher 8oz - $28
Reactivator 8oz - $24
Hold Me Softly Balm 8oz - $27
Style Fixer 8oz - $27
That said, I went about two months between purchasing the things I use most, which are the Reactivator Spray and the Hold Me Softly Balm, and have yet to replace the deep conditioner or the oil-in cream, so for me, it’s cost-effective in the long run. (That first time you purchase all of the products though…you’re going to have to brace yourself for that total plus tax).
