The wait is finally over, and I’m excited to share with you my thoughts on Whitney White’s new product line, Melanin Haircare.
If you’re not familiar with who Whitney is, “Girl, you better GET YOUR LIFE!” in my Tamar Braxton voice. No, but seriously—Whitney, who widely known as Naptural85 on YouTube, is everything under the sun. She is a graphic designer, a vlogger, a blogger, a natural hair enthusiast, a wife, a mother, and now, the Co-Founder of Melanin Haircare alongside her sister, Taffeta White.
Naptural85 on YouTube:
In August 2009, Whitney made her first appearance on YouTube. The content of her channel consisted of short clips documenting her natural hair journey as she transitioned from relaxed to natural. Her channel garnered a lot of positive feedback from viewers all over the world, which encouraged Whitney to keep uploading and expanding her platform. She was one of the first YouTubers I ever watched and subscribed to. Her content inspired me to take my own hair journey seriously in the later years—and it still does today. With her straightforward tips, informative tutorials, how-to styles, and DIY treatments, it comes as no surprise that she is considered the ultimate “OG” of online natural hair care.
Naptural85 Introduces Melanin Haircare
In October 2018, Whitney made a public announcement introducing the launch of Melanin Haircare—which she had kept a secret for six years! Her love for DIY hair recipes, combined with the overflowing requests from her online community, inspired her to share her formulations on a much larger scale.
Melanin Haircare is a haircare and lifestyle brand. It is also a family and Black-owned business that focuses on high-quality, natural, and safe-synthetic ingredients—yes, “safe-synthetic” for the people in the back who didn’t catch that! These safe-synthetics ensure that the products are shelf-stable and dependable. Every single ingredient has been meticulously evaluated by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) to ensure product safety. Melanin Haircare products contain no silicones, parabens, mineral oil, sulfates, phthalates, petroleum, or formaldehyde. Above all, they deliver exceptional quality and affordability for the everyday woman, man, and child.
Melanin Haircare Product Review
I pre-ordered the collection during the soft launch and received my package during the second week of February, exactly as promised. My package contained the following items:
● 1x Twisting-Elongating Style Cream
● 2x Multi-Use Oil Blend
● Two postcards and a custom Melanin lollipop
My initial reaction to the product packaging was positive. The Twist-Elongating Style Cream comes in a clear, transparent jar, while the Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend in a clear applicator bottle. The packaging aesthetic is simple and clean. Lastly, I found that the typography helped to set the tone for the brand’s message.
Twisting-Elongating Style Cream
16.99 (USD) | 16oz
W/ Shea Butter + Natural Oils
The Twist-Elongating Style Cream is designed to instantly hydrate and seal moisture into your hair, making it more manageable. (But does it really? Keep reading to find out!)
My very first impression of the product was the amount you get in the 16 oz jar. Honestly, you will not be disappointed. It is nothing like buying a bag of chips only to find out it is half-filled with air! This cream is filled straight to the brim, so you are truly getting an ounce for every dollar you spend 😉.
Verdict:
Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend
17.99 (USD) | 8oz
W/ Baobab Oil, Argan Oil + Vitamin E
True to its name, this blend serves multiple purposes. It can be used as a hot oil treatment, an ingredient added to your DIY hair recipes, or a body moisturizer. I purchased two full-sized 8oz size bottles—one intended for my hair as a sealant, and the other for my body.
The formula is designed to soften, nourish, and seal. As well as, detangle, restore and improve the manageability of your hair. It contains a variety of nutrient-rich oils packed with vitamins and minerals that benefit the hair and skin, with a subtle floral scent.
Similar to the cream, the texture is non-greasy, lightweight, and spreads effortlessly. A little goes a long way with this product.
Verdict:
The application itself wasn’t the issue; it was how my hair felt afterward. It left my hair feeling hard, dry, and stiff to the point that I had to rewash my hair, reapply the Twist-Elongating Style Cream, and seal it using olive oil instead.
It is unclear why my hair did not take a liking to the oil. You would assume that an oil blend full of nutrient-rich oils packed with vitamins and minerals, that can be used for all hair types would soften, nourish, and seal my hair. Unfortunately, I did not get my desired results even after giving it another try.
What may work for others may not necessarily work for you.
On a positive note, even though the expectation and experience that I hoped for with this product was not fulfilled, all was not lost — as I was able to use it as a body moisturizer.
Final Thoughts
All things considered, I am happy with the Melanin Haircare line and Whitney’s (Naptural85) accomplishments over the years.
The Twist-Elongating Style Cream definitely performed well; it left my hair hydrated and retained moisture when sealed with the right oil. Also, it increased the manageability of my hair.
As for the Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend (as a sealant), let’s just say my hair did not want it to be great —and that is totally okay. The beauty of a multi-use product is its versatility. Although I do not intend on using this product on my hair moving forward, it performs just fine as a body oil.
I am looking forward to the expansion of Whitney’s product line in the future, and I will definitely keep supporting!
Blog Giveaway |
Multi-Pure Oil Blend
If you made it to the end of this review, I’ve got some exciting news for you! As I mentioned before, I originally purchased two bottles of the Multi-Use Pure Oil Blend—one solely to apply to my hair as a sealant and the other as a body moisturizer. Since the bottle I opened for my hair didn’t perform well, I am now using it as a body oil instead. However, I am left with one completely brand-new, sealed bottle that I would love to give away to one blessed person!
How To Enter:
Either (1) leave a comment below or on my most recent post on instagram of the type of oil(s) your hair responds well to OR (2) leave a comment below to share your thoughts if you purchased any Melanin Haircare Signature Collection items.
Giveaway winner will be announced Wednesday, August 28, 2019 at 6:00 PM (MDT). Make sure to check back to see if your name has been drawn. Good luck!
Hi! I used the cream and the oil, and it took two tries before I loved the cream. I think my hair wasn’t hydrated enough to give it the full benefit of the sealant. Because I’ve been taking better care of my hair recently and moisturizing every day, the cream and oil performed better! I don’t know if that’s your experience or not, but that definitely helped me.
Great blog!
Hair moisture is pivotal in our haircare regimen. I’m glad the products worked for you after taking the necessary action. The only issue I had was how my hair felt after using the oil as a sealant – it made my hair feel dry, hard and stiff. It’s unclear why but my hair didn’t respond well to it.
And thank you!!
xx
Hi There, Just a note on multi-purpose pure oil blend – I used it for first time on 5/9/20 and it made my hair rough and stiff. By the way my silver natural hair is fine with waves. I was hoping for a positive result , needless to say didn’t happen.
Thanks,
xx