Melanin Haircare African Black Soap Reviving Shampoo — 16.5 oz container

Melanin Haircare · African Black Soap Collection

African Black Soap Reviving Shampoo

Shampoo / Gentle cleanser, gentle

Shampoo
Sulfate-free
Silicone-free

Size16.5 fl oz

Price$32seen at one store · 16.5 oz

Price / oz$1.94/ozat 16.5 oz

Where to buy2 stores · $32.00–32.00

Add it to your products. We’ll tell you if it’s ever recalled.

Scent:

No added fragrance on the label, but it contains scenting botanicals. Essential oils have a smell even when they are not labelled as fragrance.

Manufacturer page: melaninhaircare.com

Personal fit

Is this right for you?

Factor Your profile Fit

Best for hair types All types Not in your profile

Moisture level Moderate Not in your profile

Cleansing strength Gentle Not in your profile

Slip / detangling Little Not in your profile

Weight on hair Medium Not in your profile

Fragrance None listed Not in your profile

Protein None Not in your profile

Silicone / wax buildup None Not in your profile

Clarifying wash needed Moderate Not in your profile

Sulfates None listed Not in your profile

Show all 22 factors we check

The rest of what your plan weighs on this product.

Parabens / preservatives None of these listed Not in your profile

Essential oils Present Not in your profile

Fast-drying alcohol None Not in your profile

Vegan / cruelty-free Not yet verified Not in your profile

Animal-derived ingredients Not yet verified Not in your profile

Heavy humectants Not heavy Not in your profile

Hard-water defence None Not in your profile

UV filter None listed Not in your profile

pH adjusted No adjuster listed Not in your profile

Ingredient list 17 ingredientsAbout average Not in your profile

Price tier Masstige Not in your profile

Where to buy it Brand website · Amazon Not in your profile

The consultation builds your hair profile, checks every factor in this table against it, and tells you where this product fits or what to use instead.

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$49 once, with 60 days of follow-up questions and plan updates. Nothing renews, and you never have to buy a product.

Upper-mid price for a shampoo

$1.94/oz at 16.5 oz, more than 59% of the 1544 shampoos , which mostly run $0.79–3.04/oz. The cost less.

Price and stores

Great for

no fragrance (parfum) on the label, but still scented

Colour-treated hairthat fades faster in a sulfate wash

Protein-sensitive hairthat stiffens when protein is added

Frequent washerswho want gentler cleansing

Dry, thirsty hairhumectants and emollients both sit up front

Curly-method routinesno sulfates and no water-insoluble silicones

Maybe skip if

this product has a scent

Heavy product buildupthis is not a clarifying wash

A squeaky-clean feelthis deliberately leaves conditioning behind

Foam-heavy washesit barely lathers

Hair that needs proteinthere is none in this list

Hard waterno chelator here to bind the minerals

How much cleansing you need depends on how fast your scalp gets oily, how much product you layer and your water. The consultation works that out.

What the formula actually does

Read from the label, not the marketing

Each row says where it comes from: F means we derived it from this product’s own ingredient list, S means it is a claim the brand makes that the formula neither confirms nor contradicts.

Cleansing strength Gentle

Removes light dirt and oil without stripping.

Expected lather Low

A thin, quick-collapsing lather.

Slip and detangling Little

Nothing here is built to reduce combing force.

Water-binding (humectants) Moderate

Humectants in the working part of the formula.

Scalp active None

No over-the-counter scalp active.

Hard-water defence None

No chelating agent in the list.

Needs detergent to remove No

Nothing here needs a detergent wash to remove.

Protein None

No protein or amino acids in the list.

Fragrance None listed

No fragrance is listed.

from the formula stated by the brand reported by reviewers Scale: 1 dot low · 5 dots high, within this product type.

Ingredients that matter

The ingredients that change a decision

The workhorse ingredients, plus anything lower down that changes a decision. The chips name what an ingredient does. They are not safety scores, and no ingredient here is rated good or bad on its own.

Ingredient	What it does	Why it matters	Chip
WaterAqua/Water/Eau	solvent	The base everything else is dissolved in	Neutral
Decyl Glucoside	nonionic cleanser	—	Cleanses
Sodium Shea Butterate	cleanser	Does the cleaning	Cleanses
Sodium Cocoate	cleanser	Does the cleaning	Cleanses
Lauryl Glucoside	nonionic cleanser	—	Cleanses
Sodium Palm Kernelate	cleanser	Does the cleaning	Cleanses
Glycerin	humectant	Pulls water into the hair	Moisturizes
Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil	botanical extract	A trace plant extract	Fragrance
Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil	botanical extract	A trace plant extract	Fragrance
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil	botanical extract	A trace plant extract	Fragrance
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil	botanical extract	A trace plant extract	Fragrance

What the list leaves out, and what it carriesNo sulfates, silicones, or drying alcohols. Protein-free: this is built for moisture rather than for strengthening.

Full ingredient list (17)

In the US, ingredients above 1% are listed from most to least. Below 1% they can appear in any order. Each note keeps three things apart: what the ingredient generally does, its role in this type of product, and what its position can tell you.

1 Water · Aqua/Water/Eau

General function
The base of almost every rinse-off and cream hair product. It carries everything else and is normally the first ingredient on the label.

Leading ingredient
Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- solvent
2 Decyl Glucoside

General function
A sugar-derived, low-foam cleanser used in gentle and curly-method shampoos.

Leading ingredient
Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.

May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair
Mild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
A sugar-derived non-ionic detergent, among the gentlest in use. It cleanses with little foam of its own and little sebum removal.

May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routines
Gentle cleansing leaves water-insoluble deposits largely in place; they come off with a stronger wash, not this one.

PubChem
- nonionic cleanser
- cleanser
3 Sodium Shea Butterate

General function
A soap made from shea butter, used as a mild cleansing base with some of shea's softness carried through.

Leading ingredient
Listed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
- cleanser
- emollient
4 Sodium Cocoate

General function
Coconut soap, used in shampoo bars. Being alkaline, it usually needs an acidic rinse to keep the cuticle flat.

Supporting ingredient
Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

May suitBuild-up-sensitive routines
Cleansing is what lifts deposited films off the strand. How completely depends on which detergent it is and how high on the list it sits.

DependsVery dry or highly damaged hair
Every detergent removes some sebum along with the product it is there to wash out. Which detergent it is matters more than that there is one.
- cleanser
5 Lauryl Glucoside

General function
A mild sugar-derived cleanser with a soft, low lather.

Supporting ingredient
Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair
Mild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
A sugar-derived non-ionic detergent, among the gentlest in use. It cleanses with little foam of its own and little sebum removal.

May not suitBuild-up-sensitive routines
Gentle cleansing leaves water-insoluble deposits largely in place; they come off with a stronger wash, not this one.

PubChem
- nonionic cleanser
- cleanser
6 Sodium Palm Kernelate

General function
Palm kernel soap, used as a cleansing base in solid bars.

Supporting ingredient
Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- cleanser
7 Glycerin

General function
Glycerin, also called glycerol, attracts moisture and mixes completely with water.

Supporting ingredient
Listed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.

May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair
High-porosity hair loses water fast; a humectant holds some of it in place for longer than the wash itself would.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
Binds water into the outer layers of the strand, and water is what makes dry hair flexible again rather than brittle.

DependsClimate-sensitive or frizz-prone hair
Water moves both ways. Measured across concentrations, glycerin solutions give water up in some conditions and take it from the air in others. What it does for you depends on how much of it is there and on the air around it.

Scientific Reports
- humectant
▾Below about here, the order stops meaning much. These are usually used at 1% or less.
8 Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil

General function
Peppermint essential oil, used for scent and the cooling feeling on the scalp.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines
Essential oils are fragrance. Several carry constituents on the EU list of declared fragrance allergens, so a label with no fragrance line can still be a scented product.
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
9 Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil

General function
The essential oil of Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia). Essential oils are aromatic — they are in the formula for scent, and they are a common source of declared fragrance allergens.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines
Essential oils are fragrance. Several carry constituents on the EU list of declared fragrance allergens, so a label with no fragrance line can still be a scented product.
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
10 Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

General function
Lavender essential oil, used for scent in aromatherapy-positioned products.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines
Essential oils are fragrance. Several carry constituents on the EU list of declared fragrance allergens, so a label with no fragrance line can still be a scented product.
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
11 Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter

General function
A firm plant butter used for sealing and hold in heavier styling creams.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair
Coarse, porous hair loses water quickly and can carry the weight; a butter slows that loss more than a thin oil does.

May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair
Emollients fill and smooth the surface of the strand, which lowers the friction that lifts the cuticle and reads as roughness.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
A solid fat melts onto the strand at body temperature and stays there, which is the heaviest surface moisture-holding a formula can offer.
- butter
- emollient
- sealant
12 Panthenol · Panthenol (Provitamin B5)

General function
Provitamin B5. It draws in water and penetrates the strand a little, which is why it is the standard ingredient for softness and shine claims.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitFine or easily flattened hair
It hydrates without adding oil or a film, which is the combination fine hair usually needs.

May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair
Deposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.

May suitVery dry or highly damaged hair
A humectant that also penetrates the cuticle, so it holds water inside the strand rather than only on the surface.

PubChem
- humectant
- conditioning agent
- vitamin
13 Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil

General function
Rosemary essential oil, used for scent and its traditional scalp reputation.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May not suitFragrance-sensitive routines
Essential oils are fragrance. Several carry constituents on the EU list of declared fragrance allergens, so a label with no fragrance line can still be a scented product.
- botanical extract
- essential oil
- fragrance
14 Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil · Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil

General function
Argan oil. A medium-weight oil used for shine and softness on the outside of the strand.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair
Coats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.

May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair
A thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.
- oil
- emollient
15 Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil

General function
The oil pressed from Black Cumin (Nigella Sativa). How much weight a plant oil leaves depends on the hair it lands on; coarse hair tends to take more of it than fine hair.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hair
Coats the surface and slows water leaving the strand, which is usually what coarse hair that dries out fast is missing.

May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hair
A thin oil layer lowers friction between strands and flattens the raised cuticle that scatters light and catches on its neighbours.
- oil
- emollient
16 Charcoal Powder

General function
Activated charcoal, used to absorb oil and for a clarifying claim. It also tints the product black.

Estimated lower-concentration zone
It appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.

May suitFine or easily flattened hair
A dry powder takes up oil and adds friction between strands, which is most of what root lift in fine hair actually is.
- absorbent
- powder
17 Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract
- botanical extract
- antioxidant

What the whole list adds up to

5 cleansers
5 botanical extracts
4 emollients
4 essential oils
4 fragrances
2 nonionic cleansers
2 humectants
2 oils
1 solvent
1 butter
1 sealant
1 conditioning agent
1 vitamin
1 absorbent

Ingredient list captured 2026-08-22. Formulas change, so check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.

Price · 16.5 oz

Seen at $32 1 store · checked Aug 30

Good value under $16 Under $0.98/oz it costs less than three-quarters of the 8 products we score as doing the same job

Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $16 line; products that do this job typically go for about $38 at this size.

Show the price ladder

Price for 16.5 ozlower is better

Where we’ve seen it2 listings · 2 stores

Sephora
$32.00

16.5 oz · $1.94/oz

Aug 30Lowest per oz
Melanin Haircare (brand DTC)
$32.00

16.5 oz · $1.94/oz

Aug 22

Sorted by price per ounce. Dated observations from our research, not live prices. Direct store pages, no affiliate links. We don’t sell this product.

How we work this out

16.5 oz is the size stores list most often; every comparison on this page is made at it. Other sizes are shown in the Sizes row and the store list.
Seen at $32 is the price we have observed for the 16.5 oz. We need three stores before we call a price commonly seen.
Good value under $16 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $0.98/oz; at 16.5 oz that is $16. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
About $38 is what those same products typically cost at this size: the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 16.5 oz.

Formula

Formula score

6 of 10

Both the formula and the price land mid-range: it covers the core of what a shampoo does and costs about what shampoos cost per ounce.

How the score is counted

2 products we score as doing the same job cost less per ounce
Costs more per ounce than 59% of the 1544 shampoos we’ve priced
No slip for detangling in the formula
Reviewers mention 4 things they like about how it performs

A working detergent systemWhat actually removes oil and product.3 pts
Slip for detanglingReduces the force it takes to comb wet hair.2 pts
A humectantBinds water into the hair.1 pt
A hard-water chelatorBinds the minerals that dull hair in hard water.1 pt
A pH adjusterBrings the formula to the acidic pH hair prefers.1 pt
No detergent-dependent filmNothing that needs a clarifying wash to remove.1 pt
Fragrance kept out of the top eightScent as a finishing touch, not a major share.1 pt

The formula score measures completeness for the job: a weighted share of the systems this product type is usually built around that we find in this list. It does not rate how well the product works or its quality, and it never compares across product types.

Does the same job, for less

Formulas that do the same things (cleanse, condition, coat or hold) for less per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy them can still differ.

Mielle OrganicsLighter feel Mango & Tulsi Nourishing Shampoo $1.00/oz $0.94/oz less

Sulfate-free
Protein-free
Gentle cleanse

· Close function

Function: Slip and detangling
Film formers
Also: Coconut scent
12 oz bottle

Compare

Taliah WaajidLowest cost per oz Green Apple and Aloe Nutrition Shampoo $0.92/oz $1.02/oz less

Sulfate-free
Gentle cleanse
Curly method

· Close function

Function: Slip and detangling
Protein
Film formers
Also: Drugstore tier
12 oz bottle

Compare

See more alternatives in the product library

These products do a similar job. We haven’t matched them to you. Find the one that fits your hair, routine and budget

Final decision

Should you buy it?

A solid pick for the hair it suits

Best user

People sensitive to fragrance, for a formula with no added fragrance and washing without sulfates

Biggest tradeoff

Not ideal for anyone sensitive to fragrance, heavy buildup that needs a clarifying wash, or anyone who wants a squeaky-clean feel

Best alternative if not

Mielle Organics Mango & Tulsi Nourishing Shampoo for similar results at a lower price

We do not sell products or take placement fees. This page states what the formula and the prices show; the consultation is what matches it to a person.

Claims check

What the brand says, and what the formula shows

Claims are quoted from the brand. We mark a claim supported, partly supported or conflicting only when the ingredient list speaks to it. Everything else stays "stated by the brand". That isn’t a criticism: most claims can’t be checked from a label.

SupportedBacked by ingredients

Partly supportedSome supporting logic

Stated by brandNo clear evidence

Potential conflictFormula works against claim

soothing and refreshing instant lather

This is a marketing claim; an ingredient list cannot speak to it.

—

Stated by brand

Can’t be confirmed from label.

clarifies scalp product build-up

The detergent system is gentle; it is unlikely to clear heavy build-up on its own.

Decyl Glucoside
Sodium Shea Butterate
Sodium Cocoate

Potential conflict

Too gentle for real build-up.

How to read this

We look at the first 10–15 ingredients and what they do in a formula, not at the marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.

Reviewers

What people report

Themes that come up again and again in sourced reviews, written by our researchers in their own words. We don’t store or scrape star ratings.

Reviewers highlight the visible, recognizable ingredient list as a purchase driver

ingredient-conscious buyers

Praised by at least one reviewer as effective enough to replace a men's anti-dandruff shampoo (Head & Shoulders) for their spouse

male household users

Cleanses thoroughly (clarifying) without leaving scalp/hair feeling stripped or overly dry

type-4 textured hair

A little product goes a long way; several reviewers dilute it with water before use

general reviewers

How this page was made

Everything above comes from our researched product record: identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated prices and review themes our researchers wrote in their own words. No part of this page is written by hand for one product.
The value band is a fixed label over two stored numbers: this product’s cost per ounce as a percentile of every product of this type we have priced, each at the size it is most often sold in, and how many products we score as doing the same job cost at least a quarter less per ounce.
Both scores out of ten are defined on this page. The formula score is completeness for the job, computed from a fixed per-format checklist shown beneath the gauge; the price score is cost per ounce against every product of this type we have priced.
The "Is this right for you?" panel reads only your own consultation answers, and it applies exactly the filters our recommendation engine applies. It is computed when you load the page and is never stored on it.
4 sources consulted for this product (3 manufacturer or regulatory, 1 retailer, 0 editorial), last checked 2026-08-25.
Ingredient references are linked for 4 of 13 product-aware annotations on this page. Fit notes are general formulation guidance. They aren’t a verdict on the finished product or on you.
We haven’t tested this product in a lab, and we don’t physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list. Claims about how it behaves are labelled as the brand's.
Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are what we saw on the dates shown and can change.
Ingredient names link to our ingredient library, where each entry shows what it does, which product types use it, and where it usually sits on a label across everything we have researched.
This is cosmetic information, not medical advice, and nothing here diagnoses or treats a health condition.
Formula readings: derivation v23. Record last updated 2026-08-25.