I've Used This Shampoo and Conditioner to Repair My Brittle Hair Every Winter for 6 Years

It cut my hair wash routine in half.

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Photo:

InStyle / Marcus Millan

If you have naturally curly hair, you understand how exhausting wash days can be. Before you even get to actually washing your hair, you have to pre-detangle, because if you don't, your hair will get matted as soon as it makes contact with the shampoo. You then cleanse twice because the first round only breaks the surface, and there are still caked-in gels, creams, and oils leftover. Then, you apply your conditioner, let it sit for about 10 minutes, and rinse it out. Once all the conditioner is out, you detangle again. This process would take me nearly two hours, and I would still experience an immense amount of shedding. My hair would still be tangled, and once it dried, it was brittle to the touch — and even more so in the winter.

That was, however, until my hairstylist introduced me to Design Essentials Honey Creme Cleansing Shampoo and Natural Almond and Avocado Leave-In Conditioner. It was the only product for over a decade that would repair and restore life to my tresses, and cut my wash and style time in half. And while I’ve since loc’d my hair, it still provides it with the added nourishment and moisture it needs — hence, I’ve added it back to my winter hair care routine.

Design Essentials Honey Creme Cleansing Shampoo 

Design Essentials Honey Creme Cleansing Shampoo

Amazon

Buy on Amazon $14

Design Essentials Honey Creme Cleansing Shampoo is a non-stripping and detangling shampoo that softens and smoothes the hair cuticles. The star ingredient is the honey creme, which is said to hydrate and leave hair manageable for easy styling. It has a gentle formulation suitable for daily use for those who wash their hair more frequently, so it won’t damage or dry out strands, and a little goes a long way to get a good lather throughout. There’s also a fresh and sweet fragrance that leaves the hair lightly scented without being too overpowering. 

Design Essentials Natural Almond and Avocado Leave-In Conditioner

Amazon Design Essentials Natural Almond & Avocado Leave-In Conditioner, 12 Ounce

Amazon

Buy on Amazon $14

The Natural Almond and Avocado Leave-In Conditioner is formulated with almond, avocado, shea butter, and coconut milk. They all work together to deliver intense moisture, soften and smooth the cuticle, offer frizz control, and strengthen the strands from within. The coconut milk even acts as a natural detangler. It comes free of parabens, which can be detrimental to most hair types, and even boasts that it’s crafted specifically for those with wavy, curly, coily, and kinky textured hair, as well as color-treated or chemically relaxed textures. And the best part? You don't have to wash the conditioner out. Gently detangle, style, and go.

I’ve been using this shampoo and conditioner for more than six years, and it has done wonders at repairing my brittle and fraying strands. The shampoo has a great lather, and a little goes a long way. My bottles would last me months in comparison to other brands. After rinsing it out my hair doesn’t feel stripped, and all the build-up from products was cleared — I didn’t even need to double cleanse. It’s incredibly soft, tangle-free, and super moisturized even before adding in conditioner. 

My favorite step, though, is the conditioner. I love that I can put it in detangle, style, and go. No need to sit, wait, and rinse it out. I can just move on with my routine. It doesn’t weigh my hair down and leaves a light, clean scent when brushed by a breeze. Detangling is so much easier, and I have way less shedding. The product absorbs quickly, so my hair feels soft and manageable without being left oily. It also worked miracles at soothing and healing my itchy and flaky scalp in the winter.

Shop Design Essentials Honey Creme Cleansing Shampoo and Natural Almond and Avocado Leave-In Conditioner at Amazon.

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