The ULTIMATE Dry Twist-N-Curl Styler Showdown: Cecred Moisture Sealing Lotion vs. Taliah Waajid Styling Lotion

Styler Showdown: Cecred Moisture Sealing Lotion vs. Taliah Waajid’s Crinkles and Curls Natural Hair Setting and Styling Lotion for the Best Dry Twist-N-Curl

Curlies, gather round because we’ve got a battle on our hands: the new queen of moisture and definition, Cecred Moisture Sealing Lotion, is squaring off with an old faithful from the archives, Taliah Waajid ‘s Crinkles and Curls Natural Hair Setting and Styling Lotion. You know I love me a good hair experiment, so I couldn’t resist putting these products to the test in my quest for the best dry twist-n-curl. Spoiler alert—I might have been forced to tell 2015 Nikki to chill, but we’ll get into why in a bit.

The Prep: Setting the Stage for Greatness

You can’t have a proper styler showdown without a clean slate, so I started with freshly shampooed and conditioned hair. I reached for Hair Bath by Innersense for a thorough cleanse, followed by Aphogee 2-Minute Reconstructor to give my strands some well-deserved love.

Now, here’s where it got nostalgic. I dusted off Curl Rehab by Curly Junkie for my first deep treatment since like 2021—that’s right, y’all, 2021 or thereabouts. Applied it to dry hair for about 30 minutes, hopped in the shower to rinse and gently finger detangle, and ta-da! Naked hair ready for the main event. P.S. I skipped the heat for the deep treatment because… I didn’t remember to do it ’til it was time to rinse. I’m trying, lol.

And since we’re keeping it 100, I have to point out how much clearer my texture is as the greys start to sprinkle through. Yes, you can now see the tight waves in the back and looser waves in the front. Should I rebrand to Swavy Nikki? This is why I say my hair wants to be a bob--it shrinks into a bob naturally, so that’s why I keep it cut that way to enhance who it already is!

fresh out the t-shirt… so it’s like 85% dry, just barely damp to the touch.

With my blank canvas in place, I donned a tshirt for about 15 minutes to soak up excess water and then I blew it out with the Double Shot by Dry Bar and their Liquid Glass Heat Protectant Spray.

I clocked myself– started blowing out at 9:04pm and finished by 9:21 to include stopping to take this pic (took 10 of course lol)

The Face-Off

Round 1: Taliah Waajid Styling Lotion

My 2015 self was determined to throw it back with my good old Taliah Waajid Styling Foam/Lotion. I thought it was a foam! It looks like a foam, it feels like a foam, it’s packaged like a foam, it pumps out like a foam, but I didn’t know until 2 minutes ago that it is NOT a foam.  I did a search for the product to link it here for you, only to find out that it’s a lotion! It wants to be a foam so bad, y’all.

The moment I pumped it onto my hand, I hesitated. I was supposed to also be using the Protection Mist Bodifier Leave-in that I’d purchased to complete the throw-back moment, but my ability to K.I.S.S. has only intensified with age. I couldn’t bring myself to apply two products to my heat-stretched hair, especially two very wet products. I opted to only use the foam. And even with that, I kept thinking– can I just use the Cecred again? I knew the results I’d get with that. I wanted those results.

And whew, the struggle started fast.  On contact, my hair began reverting, and the sticky texture had me fighting for my life my hair into the twists. By the time I was done, the telltale sign hit me—I didn’t like the way my hands felt. Dry (and a little tacky between my fingers– like some gels leave me) versus moisturized and buttery soft, like I get with creamier stylers.

The next day (which is today)– my curls are lightweight, pretty, and voluminous, but they lack moisture and staying power. My hair feels naked, and while some of you may love that “barely-there” styling vibe, it’s not my thing anymore. I have a little frizz, shorter curls due to shrinkage, and I know the style won’t hold long, especially in this Florida humidity. My hair feels like a cloud, tho! Super soft and airy, and the ingredients in her products, including this one are pretty awesome!  Also, the price is so right at $8, like it’s the late nineteen hundreds, or something!

From the website-

What It Does:
Crinkles & Curls™ is a flake-free concentrated setting lotion that is formulated to hold natural hairstyles in place for a longer, stronger hold. Great for straw sets, two-strand twist sets and lock styling sets. It’s specially formulated to give long-lasting hold that can even be used on chemically relaxed hair. Our all-natural ingredients help to hold your hair firmly in place without causing unwanted damage to natural or recently processed hair.

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), VP/DMAPA and Acrylates Copolymer, PEG -33 and PEG-8 Dimethicone and PEG-14,Styrene/Acrylate Copolymer, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-33 and PEG-8 Dimethicone and PEG -14, Sage Extract( Salvia Officinalis), Vitamin E (Tocopherol Acetate), Nettle (Citrus Aurantium Amara), Tea Tree Extract (Melaluca Arternifolia), Jasmine (Jasminum Officinale), Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis), Caprylyl Glycol Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum).

it’s super soft, shiny and fluffy, but still a little flatter than what I like, and I can tell it ain’t gon’ hold for nothin’

And the Winner is…Cecred Moisture Sealing Lotion

Now, enter my new powerhouse, the Cecred Moisture Sealing Lotion. This product is a GAME-CHANGER for my dry twist-n-curls.

Applying it is an experience. It glides on like silk, instantly smoothing my strands and locking in all the good moisture from wash day without feeling heavy or sticky. The twists themselves feel luxurious to make—I don’t wrestle with the hair or deal with tackiness on my hands. It’s like using the best hand cream and styler in one.

The final results? Defined, weighty curls that hang lower (hello, less shrinkage!) and feel soft, smooth, and moisturized for days. Cecred gave me the total package—shine, hold, definition, smoothness, and a luxurious finish that makes me such an awful hair blogger. Once I find something that works, I’m like, ‘that’s it! lol! Wrap it up!’

Final Thoughts and Lessons Learned

I get the nostalgia for old faves, but your current self always knows best. While Taliah Waajid’s Styling Lotion might work magic for someone who loves super lightweight, airy curls (and it did give me legit good results!), it’s just not on the same level as the Cecred Moisture Sealing Lotion for what I need now. I want moisture, a bit of clean-weight, smoothness, and longevity.

Buuuuut… and this is a big “but”… I’m always holding out hope for the one. The styler that magically laughs in the face of Florida humidity, keeping my twists flawless and frizz-free like some kind of unicorn in a bottle. That’s what keeps me in the game, curling and twisting like it’s a whole mission. I know it’s out there, somewhere. stares off dramatically into the horizon It’s out there.

Which products are you loving for your twist-n-curl these days? Drop your faves in the comments—I’d love to know if you’ve found a formula that competes with this powerhouse! And maybe I’ll try it, too!

Until next time, stay moisturized, and ROOTED in Love.

I Love you,

nik

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