Honestly, I never felt all that strongly about Curly Girl Approved shampoos before I used Cantu’s TXTR.
In the past I’ve used a handful of other sulfate free shampoos (including another by Cantu). They all seemed to do a fine job, but I never really felt like it mattered all that much what sulfate free shampoo I used.
That all changed when I came across this product.
My main motivation for giving this a shot was because this is a soothing shampoo, designed to fight scalp itching and dryness. It’s made with apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil, which I know to be good for the scalp.
I’ve struggled with dry scalp for a very long time, and I had a hard time finding a Curly Girl Approved solution when I started the Curly Girl Method. (You can read more about here.) Then I found this shampoo.
Spoiler alert, in case you haven’t guessed, I love this shampoo, so this is going to be a good review. However, we’re going to dig in and take a look at the pros of this shampoo, the cons, how I use it, and why I recommend it.
Keep in mind, I can only speak from my experience with my 3a/3b hair. My hope is that this review will be a good guide for all the curly girls out there, but your results may be very different from mine.
Side note: This page does contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase something using the product links on this page, I may get a small commission. This comes at no extra cost to you and helps keep this site running. Thank you!
Also, I follow the simplified version of the Curly Girl Method most directly derived from the Curly Girl Handbook. This means the only ingredients I look to avoid are sulfates, silicones, and drying alcohols. If you have more ingredients that you look to avoid, it would be a good idea to check the ingredients for yourself before making a purchase.
The Pros
The formula
Apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil are said to be fantastic for dry itchy scalps. Beyond that, the shampoo also touts shea butter for hydration, spearmint oil and oat kernel extract for added soothing, and aloe to detangle and smooth the hair.
It also states that it’s intended to “remove build-up without stripping natural oils” so it was basically made with curly girls in mind.
I’ve absolutely noticed that my hair seems softer after washing compared to when I used other shampoos.
The applicator
Another major pro of this product is its packaging. As you can see in the picture above, the top of the bottle isn’t twist-off cap or a push-button squirt bottle. It’s an elongated targeted applicator.
If you’ve been following the Curly Girl Method and use a sulfate free shampoo, you probably know that when you wash it’s typically recommended that you wash only the scalp.
This way you get your scalp nice and clean without removing the important natural oils from your hair.
This targeted applicator makes it SO EASY to get shampoo on your scalp and only your scalp.
It’s such a great design for anyone following the Curly Girl Method!
The scent
The sent is refreshing, not too strong, and pretty much goes away once you move on to condition your hair. Which, if you ask me, is pretty much everything you can hope for in a shampoo’s scent.
You can smell the apple cider vinegar the strongest, but it’s toned down and balanced nicely with the other essential oils and ingredients. (And this is coming from someone who isn’t a fan of the smell of apple cider vinegar.)
The impact on dry scalp
I absolutely love what this shampoo does to my scalp! It tingles in such a refreshing way when I use. And it leaves my scalp feeling fresh and clean.
Beyond that, it has done A LOT to help my dry scalp. Before I started using this shampoo, I found the only way to really soothe my scalp was to massage it with coconut and olive oils every other night before bed.
Since I started using this shampoo, I really only have to use oils twice a week. And when I do, I use significantly less than I used to.
This is honestly the biggest reason this shampoo has become a staple for me.
The price
This is an affordable, drugstore shampoo!
Prices will likely vary depending on where you shop, but I’ve never seen it listed at more than $10. And honestly, I’ve paid more for Curly Girl Approved scalp shampoos that did so much less than this shampoo does for me.
The Cons
The consistency
The only real con to this shampoo is its consistency.
It’s very liquidy. In a sense that it’s almost like water. So you’ve got to move a little bit quicker to massage it into your scalp before it starts to run down your neck.
However, the targeted applicator definitely makes this manageable!
How I use this shampoo
Currently, I use this shampoo every 3-4 days to remove build-up and soothe my dry scalp.
When I first started using the shampoo, I used it twice a week. This was largely because my scalp was fairly dry and flaky, and seemed to be more susceptible to build up. However, I found after a while, it had helped my scalp enough that I could cut back.
The bottom line
Like we’ve covered, I absolutely love this shampoo! And while everyone’s results will be unique to them, I highly recommend giving this shampoo a try, especially if you’re anything like me and have struggled with a dry, flaky scalp.
You can find the Cantu’s TXTR Shampoo here on Amazon!
And if you want to know more about managing a dry scalp on the Curly Girl Method, you can check out this post!
Click here to find more curly girl approved product reviews.
To check for yourself if a product is curly girl approved, you use isitcg.com.
Looking for more guidance on your curly hair journey?
For beginners
If you’re new to curly hair care and looking for some help, you should check out the No-Stress Guide to Curly Hair Care!
After spending two years learning and caring for my curly hair, I wanted to create my own, in-depth guide to help fellow curlies create incredible curls in the easiest way possible.
It took me a while, but I eventually found an approach that helped me create a curly hair routine that fits into my life in the simplest way possible. And now I want to help you do the same!
For more intermediate/advanced guidance
If you’ve been on your curly hair journey for a while but still have some struggles, check out Curly Hair Problems!
After spending hours scouring the internet looking for solutions to my own curly hair problems, I found myself wishing for an easier, more comprehensive guide to the most common problems.
So that’s what I created!
Curly Hair Problems offers you 78 total solutions to the five most common curly hair care problems, including frizz, curl clumps, limp curls, product issues, and scalp issues.
Sound off: Have you tried this shampoo? Tell us about your experience! Be sure to tell us a little about your hair type too!
I can’t find this shampoo in stores. It looked great for my dry scalp but I was looking for a budget shampoo. I wish it was on Prime and didn’t cost $6 just to ship. Is there any other shampoos that you recommend? I got the Tresemne Botanique Conditioner yesterday to try. Would the Tresemne shampoo that matches be good for my dry itchy scalp? Thanks!
I’m super bummed that it looks they’ve discontinued this line. I still have a decent amount left, so I haven’t started a real search for a new shampoo yet. Because of that, there isn’t really anything I can recommend right now, but I’ll definitely share when I find something new. In the meantime, my best advice would be to look into scalp friendly shampoos that advertise tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar as key ingredients. I’m pretty sure that combo is what made this shampoo so effective. I wish I could be more help!