HIT: Sally's Cure Care Conditioner.
I was shocked and distrubed to learn that Aphogee reformulated their Green Tea and Keratin Restructerizer which has been my go-to, can't live without, protein treatment for the past year.
But when you've been in the hair game for a minute, you quickly learn to regroup and move on to a new product because, reformulation or not, the hair show must go on and keeping your hair healthy is a must.
So enter the Cure Care Conditioner. A few years ago, I used this to replace Ovation since the CCC has hydrolyzed keratin as the 4th ingredient and doesn't cost nowhere near $60 dollars to purchase. I remember liking the results but because, like Ovation, I really didn't want to add a step to what I felt was already a complicated wash/DC regimen, I quit using it. But once Aphogee broke up with me, I came back. And all Cure Care said was, "Baby, what took you so long?"
This conditioner is outstanding for what I use it for: a(n) (overnight) protein treatment. If you are protein sensitive, this is not for you. If you are looking for moisture, please, look else where. But if you want or need serious detangling and some strong, soft hair, then THIS is your product. Please know that you should follow it up with a moisturizing product or treatment to moisturize and balance your hair and in my case I used my Texas Natural Supply Whipped Shea Aloe Emulsion.
I also love that it's unscented and can be used as a lotion, shave cream and make-up remover although I have only used it as a conditioner and hand lotion (it's ok. Not super moisturizing but it's better than nothing after washing my hands.). Because it is super thin and runny, and provides excellent slip, it would also make a good co-wash conditioner, too.
And the price? At $9.89 for a GALLON it's awesome!
So in review, Sally's Cure Care Conditioner is outstanding as a protein treatment and co-wash conditioner IF YOU ARE NOT PROTEIN SENSITIVE! And after reading some reviews on MUA, some folk even use it as a leave-in (I don't know who they are but those folk must have strands of steel!). Cure Care Conditioner is offically in the line up!
Here are the ingredients: Water, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Bromide, Hydrolyzed Keratin, Polymethoxy Bicyclic Oxazolidine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Citric Acid.
*Fingers crossed that Sally's doesn't reformulate or discontinue it!*