Hello lovelies! One of my favorite curl enhancing products is the Cantu Curl Activator Cream. This buttery cream enhances my natural curl pattern and provides great shine and moisture. In this post, I’ll share all the details and my favorite tips for using this product.
Read on for my full review of the Cantu Curl Activator Cream and my best tips for using it.
What are the ingredients in the Cantu Curl Activator Cream?
Cantu Curl Activator Cream Ingredients: Water (Aqua, Eau), Glycerin, Propanediol, Fragrance (Parfum), Polyquaternium-10, Stearalkonium Chloride, Stearyl Alcohol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea ) Butter, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Butter, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Melia Azadirachta (Neem) Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Laminara Cloustoni (Sea Kelp) Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Macadamia Ternifolia (Macadamia) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Silk Amino Acids, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate-60, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin.
CG Friendly: Yes
Texture: Smooth, buttery cream
Scent: Coconut
Packaging: Bottle with squeeze top lid
Cantu Description:
What is it?
Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Curl Activator Cream is made with 100% Pure Shea Butter and formulated without harsh ingredients. Defines, moisturizes, and restores curls, leaving them smooth, frizz free and full of life. Cantu for Natural Hair restores your real, authentic beauty.
What makes it special?
- Produces frizz free smooth bouncy curls
- No harsh ingredients
- Delivers volume
- Activates curls
- Adds shine
What does Cantu Curl Activator Cream do?
First, this cream hydrates your curls with a blend of shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, soybean oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, olive oil, mango seed butter, and more! It does contain glycerin, so be aware of that if your hair is sensitive to glycerin.
Next, this product activates your curls and strengthens their natural pattern. It will make your hair appear more curly or wavy. This cream also adds a glossy shine and reduces frizz.
How do you use the Curl Activator Cream?
My favorite way to use the Curl Activator Cream is to layer it under a hair gel. I section my hair into 5 sections (dividing by right/left, top/bottom, and back sections) and use the praying hands method to gently smooth the cream down my hair. I then scrunch upwards to encourage the curl pattern.
You can also use this product to refresh or hydrate dry, frizzy curls. Apply a small amount to your palms, rub your hands together to distribute evenly, and then gently smooth the product through your hair. This can help save a bad hair day very quickly! Bonus points – it has a delicious coconut smell!
Whatʼs the difference between a curling cream and a curl activator?
A curling cream focuses on providing long-lasting hydration for curls. But a curl activator provides hydration and enhances your natural curl pattern. It will help “activate” your curls so they will be bouncy and well defined until your next washday.
Does this product work for wavy hair and curly hair?
The Cantu Curl Activator Cream can work beautifully for both wavy and curly hair. Reviewers on Amazon say:
“Would recommend for tight curls and coils.”
“FINALLY!! I have thick wavy to curly, coarse hair. This product is wonderful to keep the frizz down and holds my curls without weighing it down or feeling crunchy.”
“Smells, moisturizes, and works amazing. Sheer? Absolutely not, but that’s the great part of this product. I have 3B, long, coils, and Cantu products really do help my hair so much.”
My Results
This is one of my favorite curl enhancing products! I like to layer it under my gel to enhance my natural curl pattern. It definitely helps define my curls and make them look curlier! They turn out soft, shiny, and curly!
Does Cantu Curl Activator work on wavy hair?
The Cantu Curl Activator Cream does work on wavy hair, but it depends on your hair thickness and texture. If you have thick, coarse curls, this product will provide hydration and good definition. If your hair is fine and easily weighed down, this product is probably too heavy for you. I would suggest trying a lighter product such as the Love Ur Curls Curl Cream.
Where to Buy Cantu Curl Activator Cream
You may find this product at your local drugstore or in the ethnic hair section of a grocery store.
You can also purchase it on Amazon here!
Letʼs Chat:
Have you ever tried the Cantu Curl Activator Cream? If so, what did you think of it? Please share your thoughts in the comment section!
p.s. Some of the items in this post are affiliate links. I only post about products that I love + think you’ll probably love, too! As an Amazon Associate or affiliate for other programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. When you purchase through my link, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Thank you SO much for your support!
More Curly Product Reviews:
SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie: Full Review
