Whether you’re styling 360 waves or planning on creating a top fade, the one key product to use on your hair to keep it tight is a good moisturizer. Many men still think that hair moisturizers are meant only for women, but that’s not true.
The best hair moisturizers for black men are those that will keep your hair hydrated, have been made from all natural ingredients, are infused with essential oils and will prevent breakage or damage. My personal favorite is the As I Am Double Butter Cream. It’s affordable, formulated using essential oils, natural butters and even contains Pro-vitamin B5 that strengthens your hair and reduces split ends.
Our team at Mammoth Men have been testing a number of different hair moisturizers over the past couple of weeks and have been able to round up the top 8 best hair moisturizers for black men.
From classics like As I am to Shea Moisture and Cantu, here are some of the best hair moisturizers that you can try if you’re a black man.
Top 8 Best Hair Moisturizers for Black Men | Ingredients | Best For |
As I Am – Double Butter Cream | Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Castor Oil, jojoba Oil, Sugar Beet Root, Wheat Germ Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Wheat Protein, Panthenol and Lanolin | Dry Hair |
Tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer | Water, Shea Butter, Cocoa, Pro-Vitamin B5, Sweet Almond Oil, Olive, Wheat | Dry Scalp |
OKAY Black Jamaican Castor Oil for Afro Hair | Shea Butter, Glycerin, Argan Oil, Castor Oil | Hair Growth |
Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner | Caffeine, Hemp Seed Oil, Shea Butter | Thin Hair |
The Roots Naturelle Hair Oil Moisturizer | Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil, Rosemary Oil, Chamomile Extract, Vitamin E Oil, Tea Tree Oil | Curly Hair |
Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Moisturizer | Soybean Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter, Shea Butter, Beeswax | Braided Hair |
Alikay Naturals Moisture Rich Parfait | Shea Butter, Argan Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, coconut oil, Rosemary leaf extract | Waves |
Maui Moisture Smooth and Repair Vanilla Bean Hair Butter | Rich Vanilla bean, Creamy Cocoa Butter, Lush Kukui Nut Oil | Frizzy hair |
Recommended Read: Best Wave Grease for Black Hair
Here’s how we tested the best hair moisturizer for black men
We put over 50 different hair moisturizers for black men through various tests and have found the following 8 to be truly effective. We carried out tests for moisturization, consistency and even checked whether they’re made from natural ingredients.
Based on the following points, we were able to determine which is the best hair moisturizer for black men.
- Moisturizing Capabilities – A good hair moisturizer should do just that, keep your hair moisturized and hydrated throughout the day. We found that the As I Am Double Butter Cream has the highest moisturizing effects as compared to others on this list.
- Natural Ingredients – Another way we determined which products should fall under this list is by checking their ingredients. A good hair moisturizer will be made only from natural ingredients that promote healthy hair.
- Consistency – Finally, we took viscosity and consistency into consideration before generating this list of 8 best hair moisturizers for black men. We tested this by checking whether the moisturizer is too thick and if it leaves behind a residue or if it’s difficult to wash out.
What are the key ingredients to look for in a hair moisturizer for black men?
The best hair moisturizers for black men are formulated using natural ingredients, are easy to use, don’t leave behind any residue and are affordable. There are hundreds of products that claim to help keep your hair moisturized, but not every product is made from natural ingredients.
Here are a couple of key ingredients to look out for when choosing the best hair moisturizer for black men.
- Shea Butter – Shea Butter is a natural ingredient that contains Vitamin A & E. It’s perfect to use if you have dry hair and tangled hair.
- Argan Oil – Quite like Shea Butter, Argan oil contains Vitamin E and other beneficial anti-oxidants that can help promote hair growth and put a stop to dryness and split ends.
- Coconut Oil – Coconut oil may be a brilliant natural hair moisturizer, but unfortunately it’s not for everyone. It’s a great remedy for dry scalp and itchiness.
- Glycerin – It’s good to have glycerin in hair moisturizers mainly for its ability to draw in moisture from the surrounding atmosphere and will ensure your hair is soft and smooth even in dry environments.
- Other Essential Oils – Apart from these ingredients, there are other essential oils to look out for. Keep an eye out for a moisturizer that contains castor oil, peppermint, avocado, almond oil, aloe vera or cocoa butter.
Table of Contents
Top 8 Best Hair Moisturizers for Black Men
As I Am – Double Butter Cream
The As I Am Double Butter hair cream is one of the most popular products among the black community and is my personal favorite. This hair cream acts as a moisturizer for your hair and is something that you should definitely consider trying, if you’re not using it already.
It’s an affordable product and from the results we noted, it’s worth every cent. This moisturizer is formulated using natural butters and organic oils that helps soften your hair and keep it hydrated.
Apart from the butters and essential oils, this product also has Pro-vitamin B5 that will help strengthen your hair and repair split ends. The main reason why I recommend this product is because it uses water, shea butter, cocoa butter, coconut oil, castor oil and sweet almond oil and is all-natural with no harmful effects.
Key Ingredients
Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Castor Oil, jojoba Oil, Sugar Beet Root, Wheat Germ Oil, Vegetable Glycerin, Wheat Protein, Panthenol and Lanolin
Tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer
The Tgin butter cream daily moisturizer is something that you can use everyday and helps keep your hair soft, shiny and manageable especially if you have thick or long hair. It’s an all natural product that does not contain any lanolin, sulfates, parabens or petrolatum that could damage your hair.
It works wonders and is our second favorite product on this list of best hair moisturizers for black men. Not only does the Tgin moisturizer keep your hair soft and shiny, it even locks in moisture so your hair does not become dry and fragile.
It’s made from Shea butter, Cocoa butter and Vitamin E and reduces frizz by adding a natural shine without turning your hair greasy or rough. If you’re into hair styling, then this cream will be your safest bet. It can be used as a setting cream to touch up your twists and twist-outs.
Key Ingredients
Water, Shea Butter, Cocoa, Pro-Vitamin B5, Sweet Almond Oil, Olive, Wheat
OKAY Black Jamaican Castor Oil for Afro Hair
The Jamaicans swear by Castor oil and it’s probably one of the many reasons why we’re featuring the OKAY Jamaican Castor Oil for Afro hair. This product uses Castor oil to repair and maintain unmanageable hair and is one of the few on this list that is meant to be applied on damp hair only.
After using the OKAY black Jamaican Castor oil, we noticed a significant improvement in the shine, manageability and moisture content of the hair. This was mainly due to the fact that it not only uses Castor oil but even Glycerin, Shea butter and other proteins that are beneficial and promote healthy hair growth.
I would recommend using this oil to moisturize your hair by applying it using your hands. But, if you’re someone who has thick hair then work the oil through your hair using a comb. This leave-in conditioner does not contain any silicone, sulfate or parabens and is safe to use for everyone in the family.
Key Ingredients
Shea Butter, Glycerin, Argan Oil, Castor Oil
Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner
We had earlier listed Cantu as one of the best brands to go for if you’re looking for wave grease and here’s another product of theirs that is known for its hair moisturizing capabilities. The Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In Conditioner is a repair cream that has been designed to repair split ends, mend broken and damaged hair and even keeps the hair hydrated and soft.
It uses Shea butter as the main ingredient and has Caffeine and Hemp seed oil that help hydrate and moisturize the hair. You can use this conditioner daily and thanks to its easy application method, you wouldn’t spend more than 5 minutes applying it on your hair.
Another reason to consider buying this product is that it even contains other essential ingredients such as canola oil, rosemary leaf extract, sage and kiwi extract that are beneficial to your hair and promote maximum absorption. This leave-in conditioner is all-natural and something you and your family should consider using.
Key Ingredients
Caffeine, Hemp Seed Oil, Shea Butter
The Roots Naturelle Hair Oil Moisturizer
If you want to have strong and healthy hair, then you need to take care of its roots and there’s no other oil that can do the trick quite like The Roots naturelle hair oil moisturizer. This product was formulated with a mix of natural oils such as Jojoba, Avocado, Rosemary, Tea Tree and Vitamin E.
It’s ideal for curly hair and helps keep it looking shiny while providing it with a layer of protection from external damage. Apart from those essential oils which have been infused into this product, it even contains chamomile, shea butter and aloe vera that help keep your hair moisturized throughout the day.
This moisturizer works best when applied post your shower, simply apply a bit on your hair and massage down to the base of your hair and once done let your hair dry to achieve the desired results.
Key Ingredients
Shea Butter, Aloe Vera, Jojoba Oil, Avocado Oil, Rosemary Oil, Chamomile Extract, Vitamin E Oil, Tea Tree Oil
Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Moisturizer
Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk Moisturizer is a great product for black men who typically have curls or waves. It’s the type of product you would use on damp hair quite like the OKAY Jamaican Castor Oil.
This product works in two unique ways, first it uses Shea butter to help keep your hair hydrated and moisturized, then with the help of Soybean oil it strengthens and softens your hair. Another essential ingredient in the mix is agave nectar that keeps the moisture locked into your hair.
This is a leave-in moisturizer that can be used for styling and setting any type of hairstyle. It’s all-natural and does not contain any paraben or silicone in it. Great for the hair and ideal for dry, curly or coiled hair.
Key Ingredients
Soybean Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Cocoa Seed Butter, Shea Butter, Beeswax
Alikay Naturals Moisture Rich Parfait
While the name sounds like a breakfast dish, this natural hair moisturizer is one to consider mainly for its ingredients. It’s designed for people with curly or kinky hair and will definitely help manage your hair easily.
Alikay Naturals Moisture Rich Parfait contains Shea butter, Argan oil, Sweet Almond oil, Coconut oil, Apricot, Kernel oil, Rosemary extract and Vitamin E making it one of the most organic and safe-to-use hair moisturizers for black men.
It’s priced just under $20 and a pack of one should last you well into a few months. This hair moisturizer will keep your hair moisturized and you wouldn’t have to use more than a small scoop with your index finger.
Key Ingredients
Shea Butter, Argan Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, coconut oil, Rosemary leaf extract
Maui Moisture Smooth and Repair Vanilla Bean Hair Butter
The Maui Moisture Smooth and Repair Vanilla Bean hair butter is the perfect blend of natural ingredients and leaves your hair smelling great. It has been formulated specifically for those with unruly and frizzy hair.
The solution to any humidity and moisture related issues, this hair butter uses kukui nut oil, vanilla bean and cocoa butter to not only make your hair resistant to humidity, but even locks in whatever moisture is currently present in your hair.
It’s designed to be multi-functional and can either be used as a leave-in conditioner or for deep treatment. Either way, the results are the same – simply amazing. I would recommend you using a small amount of the cream on your hair and make sure to apply it on damp hair.
This product even includes other essential ingredients that help moisturize your hair such as aloe vera, coconut oil, shea butter and glycerin.
Key Ingredients
Rich Vanilla bean, Creamy Cocoa Butter, Lush Kukui Nut Oil
FAQ’s
How does a hair moisturizer work?
Hair moisturizers work by retaining moisture and de-tangling your hair. The ingredients found in hair moisturizers have been known to protect your hair from humidity, retain and lock-in moisture, and make your hair soft and shiny.
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