Gina just wants to know…I’ve been reading rave reviews of this Mixed Chicks product. Can you tell me how it’s different from Cantu Shea Butter, the leave in I use now? 
The Right Brain replies:
For those of you not familiar with Mixed Chicks, it’s a line of hair care products designed for hair of biracial origin. Their website explains that the line is a “curl-defining system designed for “us” whether you’re black, white, asian, latin, mediterranean, or any glorious combination of the above.”
The Leave-in you asked about is described as a “patented formula penetrates the hair shaft, conditioning as it smoothes the follicle.” I hate to be nit-picky on this point, but the follicle is the tiny tube beneath your scalp that the hair grows from. You can’t “smooth” the follicle but you can smooth the cuticle which is the shingle-like outer most layer of hair. We don’t expect Mixed Chicks to be scientific experts but they should understand basic hair biology so they can explain how their products really work.
Mixed Chicks Leave in Conditioner Ingredients
How does Mixed Chicks compare to Cantu? Let’s take a look at the ingredients for these two products. First the Mixed Chicks leave in and then Cantu. To make it easier to read, we’re leaving out preservatives, colors and fragrance:
Water, Glycerin, Amodimethicone, Emulsifying Wax, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein/pvp Crosspolymer, Stearalkonium Chloride, Methylguceth-20, Hydroxypopul Timonium Chloride, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Jojoba Oil, Safflower Oil, Primrose Oil, Wheat Amino Acid, Crosilk, Hydrolyzed Collagen (Marine)
(Note: this ingredient list came from Amazon.com and has several typos.)
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Glycine Soja Oil (Soybean), Propylene Glycol, Polyquaternium 37, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, PPG 1 Trideceth 6, Cetyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Stearalkonium Chloride, Trimethylsilylamodimethicone, Panthenol, PPG 1 PEG 9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Lanolin Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Acrylamidopropyltrimonium Chloride/Acrylamide Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein
Both are mixtures of water with oils and conditioning polymers. The big difference is that Cantu is based on shea butter and soybean oil while Mixed Chicks is high in glycerin and amodimethicone. Amodimethicone is an excellent conditioner and is one of the primary ingredients in Infusium 23, one of the classic leave in conditioners. Both products should provide a high level of conditioning. We’d expect that Mixed Chicks would provide less greasy curl definition based on the lower concentration of oily materials.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Both Mixed Chicks and Cantu appear to be highly moisturizing leave in conditioners but it’s impossible for us to say which one is better for you without knowing your hair type. If you decide to try both, write back and let us know which one you liked best!
Does anyone in the Beauty Brains community have any curly conditioning tips for Gina? Leave a comment!
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Hmmm.. I’ll stick to my DevaCurl products.
You’re right about mixed chicks being less greasy… It’s a fantastic product, my favourite for my very frizzy hair with a number of curl types united on my head! No grease, but not “crunchy” either.
I was a devoted DevaCurl user until January when my hair became noticably dried out. I began using Mixed Chicks and have since recommended it to several friends. I use the deep conditioner and leave-in conditioner on a daily basis. It does a great job at detangling, moisturizing and defining curl. I still use DevaCurl low-poo to cleanse my hair once a week. Hope that helps!
I have to say that simple things irritate me like follicle/cuticle and the spelling mistakes on the ingredient list.
its a fairly healthy product IMO, not too greasy, i like it
Love mixed chicks! I also use it with Kinky-curly curling custard. Great combo for my hair and really elongate my curls
Beautiful?….what race are you what kind of hair do you habe?…I’ve been trying to find something that doesn’t make my curls too tight…I am full black but I have mixed hair ( weird I know)
I got a sample of this new product and really enjoyed it. I love how soft my hair felt. I have lots and lots of wavy hair so I am always on the lookout for new products and I am happy with the mixed chicks line.
Here is a link to Kim Etheredge & Wendi Levy (Mixed Chicks) on Tavis Smiley’s Radio show: http://www.tavissmileyradio.com/guests10/030510/WendiLevy_KimEtheredge.html
I heard about Mixed Chicks and decided to try it. I really like how it makes my curls soft and not greasy. It works for me and my hair is coarse and color treated.
Actually Danae, it’s not weird. African Americans, like all races, have hair that encompasses a variety of textures.
I’ve been a hairdresser for 17 years and I have naturally curly hair – the Shielo Antioxidant Leave-In Protector works for me – its amazing.
Wash, towel dry, spray it in and go. No frizz, curls are soft & bouncy, amazing! However, I use about a bottle a week! I need it in bigger bottles!!
Since we are comparing….what are the difference between mix chicks and the chaz dean product called wen
This was suggested to me by an employee at ricky’s. I looked at him and went what? I don’t have curly hair but I recently went blonde (have naturally dark straight hair) and this leave in conditioner made my hair soft and shiny. Total score.
Has anyone out there tried the wen products? I did the first time I used it it made my hair afro like. I continued to use it and it got softer, so I thought it just took all the harsh bad chemicals out of my hair but after a month or so my hair was dried out, stripped, and damaged. I wanted to call the guy who makes it, or anyone who has had this happen. I have a years supply and I keep thinking maybe I should try it again to make sure, but I am really scared.
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Need some advice please.
I got a one and half year old daughter (biracial) – can i use mixed chicks products on her hair or can you give me some advice on products to buy.
Your advice will be higly appreciated, my baby’s hair not looking beautiful anymore.
I was talking with my doctor about hair products for me – I have fine-haired wavy and curly hair that needs extra protein. My doctor decided the Antioxidant Leave in Protecter from Shielo Hair Care, and am so glad I tried it! After using it just once, my waves (which had been looking rather straight) curled right up, and it left my hair feeling really soft and lovely.
Several reviewers on other websites had mentioned that the smell is amazing and I agree! It makes my hair smell so fresh – my husband loves the smell.
I also like how this plays well with other hair products. I’ve been experimenting by layering various brands of curl cremes and gels over it, and it doesn’t flake up or act strangely at all.
As for the amount to use, I’ve been using four sprays on my shoulder-length hair. I may increase the amount to make sure I really get all my hair covered. I’ve also just been raking it through my hair with my fingers, but I might try a comb.