You may recall a couple months back, I was obsessing over the Carol’s Daughter Marula Curl Therapy line – well here is the review! I was itching to try it, but had put the brakes on purchasing new hair products. In my Black Friday Mini-Haul post, I noted I had a chance to exchange some previously purchased wares and snagged the 3 piece starter kit without actually purchasing additional hair products (a technicality, I know, LOL). Well Monday was wash day, and I decided to give the starter kit a try.
The line has a familiar scent, something from my childhood that I was not quite able to place. I can’t say that I like it, but I also can’t say that I dislike it. I’m still trying to place it. It is floral-y, likely due to the rose oil, but it is not as fragrant, or strong, as Carol’s Daughters’ Monoi line.
Step 1: Marula Curl Therapy Gentle Cream Cleanser
As the name indicates, this is a very “soft” cleansing. Monday was actually my second wash day this week (Sunday being the first) as I was attempting to correct a shea butter snafu from the previous day. It took a couple of lathers before it felt like my hair was rid of most of the product in my hair. The lather was smooth and the cleanser had decent slip.
Step 2: Marula Curl Therapy Softening Hair Mask
When I approached wash day #2 I had not intended on deep conditioning since I had done so the day before, and I try to be sensitive about the possibility of hygral fatigue in my hair. Before opening the kit, I had it in my mind this was a pre-poo treatment, but it is in fact a deep conditioner. Since I was already committed to trying out the set, I generously applied the hair mask in sections, finger detangling as I went. The mask carries through the scent from the cream cleanser, has a soft, creamy texture, and seemed to really define my curls. I only left this on about 10 minutes (compared to my normal 30 minutes to an hour deep conditioning) since I had already deep conditioned that week, and I did not cover with a plastic cap.
I again finger detangled my hair as I rinsed the product out. The hair mask has decent slip and detangling was easy. The hair mask is definitely my favorite product in the kit.
Step 3: Marula Curl Therapy Diffusing and Styling Lotion
Though not horrible, this was my least favorite item in the kit. It was much lighter (weight) than I anticipated, and I immediately began to question if it would provide enough lasting moisture in the cold, dry weather we had been experiencing. The scent is stronger in the lotion, and seemed a tad bit more chemically to me. This made me nervous, but I forged ahead anyway. I applied the product in sections, again finger detangling as I went, and this where I really fell out of like with the product. I will admit that I am in need of a trim (nothing too serious), but I found that the lotion did not make detangling easy, most especially on my ends. This step took me a bit longer than normal because I felt like I needed to take extra precaution when using the lotion.
In my mind, I equate product weight with moisturizing capabilities (I can’t be certain this is true). Something like shea butter is way too heavy, but water used without a sealant or moisturizing product is too light to maintain moisture in my hair. As I noted earlier, I doubted the lotion’s ability to keep my hair moisturized in the days ahead, so I sealed with some coconut oil and Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker. The directions indicate that you should scrunch and diffuse, or twist and let air-dry. I choose to three strand twist my hair (I don’t have a good blow dryer with diffuser anyway).
The initial results were okay (there is seemingly no therapy that will help the heat damaged pieces). And, I am still rocking the same twist out days later.
Overall, I think the line is okay; I’d give it a 7/10. My impression is that it is likely best for someone with a looser curl than mine (I’m a type 4) and who doesn’t have a hard time maintaining moisture. I would definitely use (and buy) the softening hair mask again, and I will likely use the remainder of the cleansing cream every now and again when I need a light/gentle cleansing. I’m not sold on the lotion (yet), but I may keep it around to try again next when it is warmer/when my hair is in less need of moisture. The Softening Serum is not part of the starter kit, so I was unable to try it out. I’m still on the product ban, so a test drive of the oil will have to wait for a while.
WHAT IT SAYS ON THE BOTTLE
We love our curls to be bouncy, shiny and flow freely, but they get a bad reputation when they start misbehaving, naturally becoming dry, hard and unmanageable. Take control and train them to spiral into perfection, staying soft, manageable and easy to define. This therapeutic set is packed with Marula—a rich oil harvested for 12,000 years in Madagascar that instantly restores and softens your curls.
• The Marula Curl Therapy Gentle Cream Cleanser is a luxe pampering sulfate-free cleanser that nourishes hair for easier detangling and styling.
• The Marula Curl Therapy Softening Hair Mask is a rejuvenating deep-conditioning treatment that gives curls the extra moisture they need to be restored and stay soft.
• The Marula Curl Therapy Softening Serum is a nutritious blend of hair-softening oils that leaves you with glossy, well-behaved spirals that make any style easy to perfect.
• The Marula Curl Therapy Diffusing & Styling Lotion is a rich styling cream that adds supreme definition to curls and waves for perfectly styled hair that is never stiff or dry.
PLUS, No Parabens, No Petroleum, No Mineral Oil, No Artificial Colors
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