Product Review: Ultra Black Hair

Hello loves!

If you’re on Natural Hair/ Healthy Hair instagram, you’ve probably seen some buzz about this American brand: Ultra Black Hair. Created by Cathy Howse, these American products are in the motherland now, and the campaign is fairly serious. Cathy is also an author. Her first ‘Ultra Black Hair Growth Book’ was published in 1989, so even without reading it, big props to her for being invested in the healthy hair movement since before I was born.

I was sent these products (Satin Creme Moisturiser on the left, and the Deep Conditioner on the right) by @ultrablackhairafrica to review. I was not paid for this review, but because we love you guys so much, we convinced them to sponsor a giveaway- which we ran on Instagram (@thekinkandi), and announced the winners yesterday.

This review (like all the reviews you have read and will ever read on this blog) is my honest account of my experience with these products. They have seen me through like 4 washdays and the DC is actually almost finished, so I feel ready to talk about them.

Let’s dive right into it, shall we?

Here, we are #teamPackaging. I admit that I would never have bought these products if they were not sent to me to review. Natural hair products have a certain look. To be fair, the brand is targeting all hair types- natural and relaxed, but the branding could be better. The blue bottle in particular (the leave-in) makes me think of a salon staple when I used to frequent salons in my old days- 911. Is it still used when you wash your hair at the salon? Jokes aside though, now that I’ve made my point about the exterior, let’s go beyond, and go within. To the actual products themselves.

The Deep Conditioner 

I did not expect this Deep Conditioner to impress me. Yes, I judge my products by their covers as a general rule, but I am very very open to being pleasantly surprised. 😀

Ingredients:

Aloe Vera Gel, Stearic Acid, Stearalkonium Chloride, Safflower Seed Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Peppermint  Oil, Menthol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Grapefruit Extract (and) Cucumber Extract (and) Green Tea Extract (and) Bee Pollen Extract (and) Orange Flower Extract (and) Chamomile Extract (and) Sea Kelp Extract (and) Lavender Extract, Vitamin E, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose.

Worth noting: the first ingredient is Aloe Vera Gel, which is pretty awesome for moisture. You want a conditioner with water or Aloe Vera as the first ingredient or one of the top ingredients. It has no silicones, sulphates, mineral oils, this is a very clean list.

Look and Feel:

This DC is thick and white. It comes in a matching white bottle you can squeeze, but I’d prefer it in a tub, since it’s pretty thick. On the website, I see that a pump top is an option, I think that would be helpful.

How I Use

I apply this to my clean, wet hair after shampooing, and wear a plastic cap over it for an hour.

P.S. My hair is pretty thick (high density) kinky 4C, low porosity hair.

The DC has menthol in it so it tinglesssss. Who else is a fan of tingles? Also, it smells minty, which is nice. Each time, I rinsed it off with cold water, and the end result was super soft hair. I really like this deep conditioner. I think it’s great. The only con is the branding, but with this sparkling personality, my hair really can’t hold the packaging against this product! 😀

It claims to give you fuller hair. This was not my experience,and I doubt it could be anybody else’s. I mean. There’s nothing on the list of ingredients I haven’t seen before, and none of the things listed have the super power of increasing one’s hair density.

It absorbs into my hair pretty well, and it’s got decent slip for detangling. Although, I just smooth it into my hair and twist and cover. I do the real detangling after I’ve worn the DC for an hour, so I can’t tell you that it instantly melts away tangles. I mean, it’s nice- but it’s cone free so don’t expect slippery slip slip like Hello Hydration.

Rating on use alone, that is, product itself- not size or cost considerations, I rate this an easy 5/5. My hair likes it that much.

On the flip side,

The Satin Creme Moisturiser 

Hmm, this one.

Ingredients:

Purified Water, Sweet Almond Oil, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Bis-PEG/PPG-20/5 PEG/PPG-20 Dimethicone (and) Methoxy PEG/PPG-25/4 Dimethicone (and) Caprylic/Capric Triglycride, Dimethicone (and) Dimethiconol, Cyclomethicone, Cetrimonium Bromide, PEG-100 Stearate, Panthenol (Vitamin B-5), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxylethanol (and) Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid.

Worth noting: this is a water based conditioner. It also has silicones- as high up as #4 on the list. I’m personally not against silicones, but if you are a cone-free person, this conditioner is not for you

It is creamy too, the leave-in conditioner in the line, but lighter than the Deep Conditioner.

Like the deep conditioner, it is easily absorbed by my hair. It leaves no residue too, but my hair doesn’t love it. For me, it’s just there. I do not moisturise my hair everyday- contrary to popular advice. I love leave-ins that can keep my hair moisturised for days, or even a week (yes, they exist) so for me, I moisturise on Washday and go about my life after I style. I may spritz my hair during the week if it feels dry, and I do moisturise my edges more often. What I’m trying to say is, if you are a daily moisturise (with a leave-in) and seal person, this may be good for you. It doesn’t give me that extended moisture, so it’s not great. It’s okay, but not great.

I’d rate this 2.5/5. 

Random:

I tried to identify the smell of this product. I think it smells like bread (a regular bread loaf). I had my friend smell it too, and she agrees. It doesn’t linger o, I just think it’s a weird fragrance choice. Or maybe this is the no-fragrance fragrance. Hmm.

Where to Find:

Nigeria:

1. Sole Distributor: 50, Ajose Street, Mende, Maryland, Lagos. 08023004862.
2. Akanke Naturals: 08038590024

USA: ultrablackhairafrica.com

How Much Do They Cost?

These products are two from a line of 4. I asked, and was informed that you cannot buy them individually. You can only buy the full set for 10,000 naira that is, shampoo, deep conditioner, leave-in and a spray moisturiser.

Would I Repurchase?

For me, if the products are later sold on their own, the Deep Conditioner is definitely worth getting.

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That’s all from me, guys.

I will reiterate that different strokes go for different folks. If you try the DC and your hair hates it, don’t blame AB! And if your hair loves the leave-in, that’s great!

Okay guys. If you have tried these products, or you are considering trying them, from any angle really, you are welcome (as always) to speak on it in the comments!

Love,

AB,

xx