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Smooth 'N Shine Curl Activator Gel, For Extra Dry Hair, 10.5 oz Review

Returned it the same day.

"*My experience is proof that you shouldnt depend on reviews for certain types of products...electronics, sure, but stuff for your hair, not really, since everyone's hair and other stuff they use on their hair is different. I dont know if my hair would be considered "3b" or "4 whatever"...but it grows in very silky and I'd only get a tangle maybe 2 times per month when I finger-comb. But, this past week I've had tons of tangles and Im quite sure thats because of my hair getting dried out/me washing it so often...also, I hadnt combed or brushed it in 3 months until this week. That's because I had a bad experience with combing since going natural (used a tiny-toothed comb), it permanently made me lose my curls..the hair wasnt "straight" but wouldnt spiral anymore and became "puff". Plus my hair was bone dry from trying products then washing, trying then washing, I ended up re-cutting off the hair to start over (it was only an inch long)...that was 3 months ago. But this time around I used a Wide tooth comb and only in the shower with tons of conditioner on it...still have my curls :)*

Anyway, I wish I could tell you this product worked for me...It didnt (I was hesitant to use an "Activator" since I dont want to chemically alter my hair, but I saw that lots of "natural" ladies reviewed it and the ingredients looked mostly natural (on the jar I had, Aloe was the 4th or 5th ingredient, not the 3rd as some users posted...maybe we had different formulas, therefore different results). After trying about 6 other products that didnt work for my hair, and reading the great reviews of this product, I got so happy. I found out from a store manager that it was being discontinued and that the nearest store that had it was 18 miles away (Clinton, MD). Drove to MD, thinking it would be worth it. Since I was excited, I tried a tiny bit on while my hair was dry and I did notice that it made my curls scrunch a little/get tighter...but no fireworks. It simply looked like I had a little bit of gel on my hair. It didnt make my curls clump together/become defined. Oh and contrary to the reviews, this product IS greasy...and nope, not if you use a lot of it...just dab a little on your finger tip and it'll be slick for days. Figured I should wash my hair and apply it while my hair was wet...thought maybe that would give me better results. So I used a clarifying shampoo, Dandruff shampoo, ION Curl Defining shampoo & conditioner, and Paul Mitchell Super-Charged Moisturizer conditioner (since my hair has gotten dry from trying products then washing them out, several times within a few days). Fresh and clean hair, I only put some oil on my scalp and like one-fourth of a teaspoon worth of Royal Roots Detangler/Moisturizer (found it when I used to Relax my hair, fell in love...it made my dry brittle hair feel Soft but now that im Natural, it does nothing for me except give moisture...doesnt change the Feel of my hair. My only guess is that my hair is so healthy now that it cant be improved upon much lol).



Then applied 3 to 4 teaspoons worth of the Curl Activator onto my slightly towel dried (still wet) hair. Rubbed it between my palms, then smoothed it onto my hair and raked it through my curls. I dont know what kind of hair you need to have for this product to work, but you cant have my kind. Once it dried, there was a little less frizz, but my curls were still in afro form, no silky, defined, hanging curls. Once it dried, it didnt feel oily, but did feel a little "producty"...the "softness" that reviews mentioned, simply felt like the product coating/residue not my actual hair being soft. There were white areas as I applied the product and they were still there once it dried. Maybe this would work better on drier and/or thinner hair...I dont know.



I got a buzz cut about 3 months ago to go natural/no more relaxer/have healthier hair (originally had hair 3 inches past my shoulders..never had an actual "hair cut" only very rare trims. So medium length hair was my "comfort zone" but I actually Loved how it looked cut off! I was shocked that I took it so well. I did the cut for a deep, meaningful reason, so even if I didnt "like" it, I was gunna be okay). When my hair grows in, its in silky, moderately oily, very tiny, spiral curls (except the middle of my head, which grows in loose s-curls/waves)...its not in fuzzy afro form until I wash/scrub my hair, have slept on it, etc...so Im just trying to get it back to it's original look. The other gels that I have tried (not "activators") were too light/did not make my curls clump together if I smoothed the hairs together and twisted...or were too heavy/made my spiral curl slightly straight, asymetrical. So I tried creams, which did a better job but it meant I didnt have the luxury of smoothing it all over my head, I had to do each tiny curl 1 by 1...which took HOURS. I used the yellow and clear bottle of Short Sexy Hair Texture Creme and more recently Isoplus' Dread, Locks, Twist Molding Creme, which did a similar job (but it leaves a slight white residue even if I only use one-fourth of a drop and rub it in...but where I got it from doesnt take returns...hate to return stuff, but hey, I live paycheck to paycheck and have no money to waste...yes I have several things for my hair but not several shoes, jewelry, etc..only things I feel I Really Need). But today I washed out the twists that I started back up after the activator didnt work and I was like "NO, Im not sittin' here for hours doing this...No!" lol Im laughing right now, but really this is getting frustrating...I was fine until today, but Im finally getting fed up. Before I go, let me list a couple of others that didnt work for me: Loreal Studio Perfect Curl Shaping Smooth cream - its very light, yet it weighed down my curls/made them asymetrical. Sunsilk Captivating Curls De-Frizz Leave-in Cream - Did basically Nothing. SAMY Big Curls - this DID smooth/moisturize my hair, but did not help At All with keeping strands side by side so that you can actually See a spiral curl versus bushiness. I guess I'll have to give in and go to a salon that knows how to work with natural hair without using chemicals or curling irons, etc. I'll include some photos of when I used the Curl Activator.

Good luck you guys. *Just remembered "Kinky Curly Curling Custard"...saw video reviews of it and thats basically the type of effect Im trying to get but it did turn me off a little because I dont really want a wet/artifical looking curl...but I might try it before paying twice as much at a salon. I just read a minute ago that "Fantasia IC Olive Gel" is supposed to give similar results, but I cant speak on it since I've never used it.

Well here are the photos. They are from my camera phone...not great quality but should still be helpful :) The 7:22pm photo - Newly washed/"before" photo. 7:46pm, etc. "after" photos.

8:40pm photo is after the product dried. Would only let me post 2 pics, sorry. Perhaps this is the longest review you've ever seen. Im not "talkative" actually, but I like to be detailed/thorough in everything I do...and wanted to give you guys some suggestions of other products."

Pre-Activator Gel/Newly washed.

Activator once dried.

• Made with Product