MadameNoire Featured Video

After being natural for eight years, I recently decided to do a second big chop. Now I have a teeny weeny afro (TWA), which is something I’ve never had before. Early on in my natural hair journey, I went through the product junkie stage, but during that time I never tried anything from Tropic Isle, the brand famous for their Jamaican Black Castor Oil products. Since I’ve got a new ‘do, I wanted to try some new curl-friendly products so I figured there was no better time than the present to explore this line.

For my first try of their products, I used the Strong Roots Red Pimento trio, which consists of a shampoo, conditioner and oil. The science behind the line is nothing short of miraculous, promising to reduce hair loss and stimulate the follicle to promote growth; moisturize strands and seal the hair shaft to prevent shedding and breakage; and improve hair’s elasticity, luster, and volume. I also used Tropic Isle’s staple product, Jamaican Black Castor Oil. Here’s my experience.

Step 1: I washed my hair with the Strong Roots Shampoo, which is made with red pimento, coconut and jojoba oil. As I applied the shampoo, I was pleased with the thick lather and the subtle but pleasing scent. I was planning on following the instructions and applying the shampoo to my hair three times, but after the second time my hair felt stripped, so I stopped.

Step 2:  I moved on to the Strong Roots Conditioner. Luckily I wasn’t in a rush because the conditioner had to be left in my hair for 10 to 30 minutes. This was the first time I ever left a conditioner that was not a deep conditioner in my hair for longer than five minutes. With Jamaican Black Castor Oil being one of the main ingredients, it dominated fragrance-wise and drowned out the scents of  lavender and lemon oils also present in the product.

Step 3: For my deep condition, I had to mix seven drops of the All Purpose Jamaican Black Castor Oil into the Strong Roots Conditioner that I had previously used and mix it in a bowl. Once again I was greeted by a unpleasant smell, but I poured the mixture onto my hair, massaged it in and covered my hair for 30 minutes with a towel.

Step 4: After I washed the deep conditioner out, my hair already felt super moisturized but I still had to complete the last step which was the hot oil treatment with the Strong Roots Red Pimento Hair Growth Oil. Since the product’s made with coconut oil as well as pimento oil and castor oil, it smelled good and my hair was completely frizz-free once I washed it out and let my curls air dry.

Final Results: After all was conditioned and done, my curl pattern was much more defined and my coils had a great shine. My hair felt silky-soft while the oil definitely helped on the manageability front and made my TWA a no-frizz zone.

One of the major cons of the Tropic Isle Strong Roots line is the smell, but because these products don’t have many additives, there are no added fragrances. Despite the odor, this is a major plus and shows that their products are truly 100 percent natural. The shampoo was the best smelling product out of the bunch, with the lavender and coconut oil cancelling out the castor oil scent. Overall, the smell isn’t enough to keep me from using the product again considering all of the benefits. To experience the line for yourself, click here.

Comment Disclaimer: Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN