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.
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
Scent:
No added fragrance on the label, but it carries scenting botanicals — essential oils smell even when they are not labelled as fragrance.
Manufacturer page: melaninhaircare.com
Personal fit
Is this right for you?
Complete the consultation to see exactly how well this product fits your hair and your goals. With 2,400+ products in our library we can match exactly the right products to you.
- In 10 minutes we can identify your exact hair condition and traits.
- Every product matched against your hair across the 22 factors we check.
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- Your goals, scalp, damage history, water, budget, and scent preferences all shape your plan.
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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, then reads every factor in this table against it — and tells you where this product fits, or what to use instead.
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Your avoid-list
Upper-mid price for a shampoo
$1.94/oz at 16.5 oz — more than 61% of the 805 shampoos , which mostly run $0.81–3.01/oz. The cost less.
Great for
no fragrance (parfum) on the label — 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 carries 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
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. These 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)
US labelling rules put ingredients above 1% in descending order of amount; below 1% they may be listed in any order. Annotations keep three readings separate: the ingredient's general function, its role in this product type, and what its position can support.
-
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 ingredientListed 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 ingredientListed in the first three ingredients, it is likely a structural part of this formula.
PubChemMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairMild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA 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 routinesGentle cleansing leaves water-insoluble deposits largely in place; they come off with a stronger wash, not this one.
- 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 ingredientListed 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 ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
May suitBuild-up-sensitive routinesCleansing 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 hairEvery 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 ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
PubChemMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairMild cleansing leaves more surface lubrication in place on hair that dries out quickly.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA 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 routinesGentle cleansing leaves water-insoluble deposits largely in place; they come off with a stronger wash, not this one.
- nonionic cleanser
- cleanser
-
6
Sodium Palm Kernelate
General function
Palm kernel soap, used as a cleansing base in solid bars.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
- cleanser
-
7
Glycerin
General function
A small water-loving molecule that draws moisture into the hair and holds it there. It is the most common softening ingredient in conditioners and leave-ins.
Supporting ingredientListed in positions 4–8, it likely makes a meaningful contribution alongside the formula's main ingredients.
Scientific ReportsMay suitDry, coarse, or high-porosity hairHigh-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 hairBinds 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 hairWater 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.
- humectant
- ▾Below about this point, order stops being meaningful — these are typically 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 zoneIt 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 routinesEssential 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 zoneIt 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 routinesEssential 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 zoneIt 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 routinesEssential 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 zoneIt 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 hairCoarse, 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 hairEmollients 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 hairA 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 zoneIt appears around or below the estimated 1% line, where label order no longer indicates relative amount; its role may be minor or technical.
PubChemMay suitFine or easily flattened hairIt hydrates without adding oil or a film, which is the combination fine hair usually needs.
May suitFrizz-prone, damaged, or high-friction hairDeposits a lubricating layer that makes combing easier, which is most of what stops mechanical damage adding to frizz.
May suitVery dry or highly damaged hairA humectant that also penetrates the cuticle, so it holds water inside the strand rather than only on the surface.
- 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 zoneIt 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 routinesEssential 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 zoneIt 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 hairCoats 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 hairA 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 zoneIt 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 hairCoats 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 hairA 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 zoneIt 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 hairA 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 — check the package in your hand when an ingredient matters to you.
Price · 16.5 oz
Seen at
$32
Good value under
$11
Priced above the products that do the same job. Stores sell it above the $11 line; products that do this job typically go for about $17 at this size.
Show the price ladder
Where we’ve seen it2 listings · 2 stores
-
Sephora
$32.0016.5 oz · $1.94/ozAug 30Lowest per oz
-
Melanin Haircare (brand DTC)
$32.0016.5 oz · $1.94/ozAug 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 $11 comes from the 8 products we score as doing the same job as this one. A quarter of them cost less than $0.64/oz; at 16.5 oz that is $11. Under that line you are paying less than most of them.
- About $17 is what those same products typically cost at this size — the midpoint of their prices per ounce, scaled to 16.5 oz.
Formula
6
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
- 3 products we score as doing the same job cost less per ounce
- Costs more per ounce than 61% of the 805 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 is completeness for the job: the share of the systems this product type is normally built around that we can find in this list, weighted. It is not efficacy, not quality, and it never compares across product types.
Does the same job, for less
Same derived functions — what it cleans, conditions, coats or holds — at a lower cost per ounce. Scent, texture and where you buy it can still differ.
Mielle OrganicsLighter feel
Mango & Tulsi Nourishing Shampoo
$1.00/oz $0.94/oz less
- Sulfate-free
- Protein-free
- Gentle cleanse
- Function
- Also
SuaveClose function
Nourishing Shampoo Tropical Coconut
$0.10/oz $1.84/oz less
- Hard water
- Low lather
- Budget
- Function
- Also
SuaveLowest cost per oz
Refreshing Shampoo Ocean Breeze
$0.09/oz $1.85/oz less
- Hard water
- Low lather
- Budget
- Function
- Also
See more alternatives in the product library
These are functional neighbours, not personal recommendations — they are close on formula, not chosen for anyone. Get the one that fits your hair, routine, and budget
Final decision
Should you buy it?
A solid pick for the hair it suitsBest 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, against what the formula shows
Claims are quoted from the brand. We only mark one supported, partly supported, or conflicting when the ingredient list actually speaks to it; everything else stays "stated by the brand", which is not a criticism — most claims simply cannot be read off a label.
0
SupportedBacked by ingredients
0
Partly supportedSome supporting logic
1
Stated by brandNo clear evidence
1
Potential conflictFormula works against claim
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 marketing. If the list doesn't speak to a claim, we don't assume.
Reviewers
What people report
Recurring themes our researchers wrote in their own words from sourced reviews. We do not store or scrape star ratings.
Reviewers highlight the visible, recognizable ingredient list as a purchase driver
ingredient-conscious buyersPraised by at least one reviewer as effective enough to replace a men's anti-dandruff shampoo (Head & Shoulders) for their spouse
male household usersCleanses thoroughly (clarifying) without leaving scalp/hair feeling stripped or overly dry
type-4 textured hairA little product goes a long way; several reviewers dilute it with water before use
general reviewersMore from Melanin Haircare
How this page was made
- Everything above is generated from our researched product record — identity, the ingredient list as printed, the brand's own claims, dated price observations, and review themes written in our researchers' own words. No part of this page is written per 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 conditional formulation guidance, not a conclusion about the finished product or about you.
- We have not tested this product in a lab and we do not physically test your hair. Formula readings come from the ingredient list; behaviour claims are labelled as the brand's.
- Ingredient order tells you relative amount only above roughly 1%. Prices are observations on the dates shown and change without notice.
- 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 v22. Record last updated 2026-08-25.