I recently had the pleasure of revisiting Pantene’s Relaxed and Natural Line. I tried the Intensive Moisturizing Conditioner (eh…”> and fell back in love with the mask! Below, you’ll find a slightly modified review of the Deep Conditioning Mask (originally posted in 2008″>, and a quick review of the Intensive Moisturizing Conditioner.

Pantene Pro V Relaxed & Natural Breakage Defense Deep Conditioning Mask

(6oz for $5.99 “>

I’ve avoided cones (plastics used in hair and other beauty products that can coat the hair shaft and block out moisture”> like the plague since about 2006. It wasn’t until a couple of months ago that my hair fell in love with Devacare One C (which contains amodimethicone far down the list”> that I decided to look into them further. So, like a true PJ and hair-a-holic, I researched that specific cone and ran across this article. Apparently, the A-cone isn’t all that bad, in fact it is one of the cones that doesn’t build up over time. It actually keeps your hair strong and protects it from breakage and splitting! I still shampoo, but I don’t use a sulfate-based one… a Cocamidopropyl Betaine-based poo will suffice!

I then ran across a thread where lots of naturals on LHCF were praising another A-cone conditioner- Pantene Relaxed and Natural Breakage Defense Deep Conditioning Mask. I picked some up and have fallen in love with it also! If in 2006, someone would have told me that I’d be using Pantene R&N, I would’ve told them they’d lost their mind. This stuff is amazing. I’m obviously on a modified CG routine now.

Have you tried this line? Add your opinion to our product reviews!

Product Description: Created for women of color. Unique Amino Pro-V Complex. Deep penetrating formula. This repairs and protects hair to reduce shedding. Essential oils and moisturizing condition.

Ingredients: water, stearly alchohol, amdimethicone, behentrimonium choride, cety alcohol, coconut oil, jojoba seed oil, panthenol, pathenyl ethyl ether, fragrance, lysine hcl, methyl tyrosinate hcl, histidine, benzyl alcohol, disodium edta, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, sodium hydroxide

My Experience: I use this twice a week after co-washing and detangling. On lazy days, I actually use it to detangle! I slather it on thick…I mean real thick (I go through a jar a week”>, don a plastic baggie, my micro heat cap, and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Upon rinsing, silky, strengthened, shiny tresses are revealed. This is a sure keeper. Give it a try!!!!!!

Pros:

  • Detangles like nothing I’ve ever used…ever! The slip factor is RIDIC!
  • Leaves my hair ridiculously soft and shiny
  • My ends break less– but this could be due to several other factors
  • This drugstore deep conditioner is definitely comparable to its pricey salon counterparts.
  • The price is great!

Cons:

  • I wish it came in a larger size.
  • It contains a cone at the top of the ingredient list- if you experience build-up easy, this may actually be detrimental to your retention.
  • Sometimes it’s hard to find (that’s why I stopped using it”>, it must be very popular!

I can usually find it at Walmart ($5″>, Lowe’s Food ($6.25″>, or in bulk from Amazon.

**As of last week, this conditioner is going back in rotation! I don’t know how I’ve survived without it! It is truly a keeper, and worth a try.

Pantene Pro V Relaxed & Natural Intense Moisturizing Conditioner

(25 oz for $5″>

Product Description: The oil-enriched formula helps seal in moisture. You cam get up to 99% stronger hair against damage.

Ingredients: water, stearyl alcohol, dimethicone, behentrimonium chloride, cetyl alcohol, coconut oil–cocos nucifera, jojoba seed oil–simmondsia chinensis, fragrance, panthenyl ethyl ether, panthenol, lysine HCl, methyl tyrosinate HCl, histidine, disodium EDTA, sodium hydroxide, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, benzyl alcohol

My Experience: Overall my experience with this conditioner was lack luster. I was hoping for a multi-purpose product- – a detangler and leave-in. Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed.

I stepped into the shower, and shampoo’ed to rid my hair of any build-up—my attempt to give this new great smelling conditioner a fair chance. After my hair was clean and soft (thanks to a Poo Bar from Mehandi”>, I generously applied the Intensive Conditioner from root to tip. I allowed it to marinate while I took my shower and after 15 or 20 minutes began the detangling process. As I detangled my hair with my fingers under the shower stream… I noticed something dreadful! My hair felt more tangled than before and had a rough texture. The strands felt stripped of all moisture. I was expecting an experience like the Deep Conditioning Mask, but this was totally the opposite. I had to rinse the Intensive Conditioner, and moisturize and detangle with old faithful. Obviously, I never got around to trying it as a leave-in.

I gave it one more chance a few days later…thinking it was a fluke. I didn’t shampoo this time, and instead applied it directly after water rinsing. Again, my hair became matted and felt stripped/dry. Oh well, this one’s not for me!

Bottom Line: My experience with the Intensive Moisturizing Conditioner is a shining example of how every product is not for every head! I get tons of emails from you gals asking me if I’ve tried this conditioner, and what I think. It’s very popular, and many of you are rocking great smelling, shiny, defined, moisturized curls because of it. Well not me, lol! I need to pinpoint exactly which ingredient my hair detests so much so I can avoid buying similar products in the future.

Later Gators,

Nik

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