Curl Love Moisture Milk Review: Is It Worth It?

If you have curly hair, you know the struggle. The endless, expensive hunt for a “holy grail” product. I’ve spent more money than I care to admit on leave-in conditioners that promised the world but delivered a head of sticky, crunchy, or—worst of all—still-dry hair.

But then there’s Camille Rose. You’ve seen the bottles. They look like a gourmet dessert, and the “Curl Love Moisture Milk” is always at the top of every “best of” list. If you’re standing in the aisle, wondering if this is the one, I get it. If you’re looking for supreme softness and moisture, you should buy this product.

My Experience With Curl Love Moisture Milk

Let me paint a picture of my hair, so you know where I’m coming from. I have what I’d call 3B/3C curls.

My hair is fine in texture, but I have a lot of it, and it is high porosity. This means it soaks up moisture like a sponge…

and then loses it just as fast. It’s also color-treated. “Dry” is its default setting.

“Thirsty” is its personality. I need a leave-in that is, in a word, heavy-duty.

I was so excited to try the Camille Rose Curl Love Moisture Milk.

The ingredient list alone had me sold: Rice Milk, Macadamia Oil, Slippery Elm Bark, and Aloe. It sounded like a smoothie for my hair.

The price was… a lot. It’s definitely in the premium-natural category.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the bottle was the scent. Oh, the scent. It’s not a “light, fresh” smell. This is a full-on, warm vanilla, birthday-cake-in-a-bottle-with-a-hint-of-something-nutty smell. It is strong and sweet. I happen to love it, but I immediately knew this would be a “love it or hate it” feature for people.

My first use was on a wash day, on soaking wet hair. The product itself is a thick, creamy milk. It’s not watery at all. I applied a good, quarter-sized amount to my first section, and my hair drank it. It just disappeared. This is the blessing and curse of high-porosity hair. I ended up using a lot of product, probably a good eighth of the bottle, just to feel like my hair was fully saturated. The “slip” (how easily a comb glides through) was decent, but not miracle-level. It’s not a detangler, it’s a moisturizer.

I “squished-to-condish” and my curls started to form. My hair instantly felt softer. Incredibly, touchably soft. I let it air dry (with a gel on top, because this has zero hold). The result? My curls were soft, bouncy, and hydrated. The definition was pretty good, but the softness was the real story.

But where this product truly became my “holy grail” was as a refresher. I’m on day three hair as I write this. This morning, I spritzed my hair with water, took a dime-sized amount of the Curl Love, and “prayer-handed” it over my frizz. The frizz tamed, the curls re-clumped, and the softness returned. It re-activates without being sticky, greasy, or flaky. It’s the best “next-day” product I’ve ever used, and that’s what sold me.

Read More: My Thoughts On Drx Spectralite FaceWare Pro 

Pros Of Curl Love Moisture Milk

• Truly “Gourmet” and Clean Ingredients: This isn’t just marketing. When you read the label, you’re not seeing a bunch of synthetic silicones and fillers. The first ingredient is Aloe Leaf Juice, not water. This means you’re getting a base of pure hydration. Then you have Rice Milk, which is rich in vitamins and known for its softening properties. You have Slippery Elm Bark, which is a legendary natural detangler that provides that “slip” and coats the hair in a soft film. And then the oils—Macadamia Nut Oil and Avocado Oil—which are fantastic emollients that seal in all that moisture. It’s free of silicones, parabens, sulfates, and all the other things we curly folks try to avoid. You feel like you’re feeding your hair something healthy.
• The Scent Is a Luxurious Experience: I have to list this as a pro, because for me, it is. If you are a fan of “gourmand” scents (think vanilla, cake, buttercream, warm sugar), you will be in heaven. The fragrance is potent, and it lasts. When I use this, I get compliments on how “good” I smell, and it’s not perfume, it’s my hair. It turns my wash day from a chore into a self-care ritual. It’s a very specific, decadent “Camille Rose” signature scent, and it feels incredibly luxurious. It makes me want to use the product.
• Unmatched Softness and Hydration: This is the core promise of the product, and it absolutely delivers. This is not a “styler.” This is a “moisturizer.” It works from the inside out to make your hair feel… well, loved. If you struggle with hair that feels brittle, dry, or “crunchy” from gels, this is the perfect antidote. It leaves my hair feeling like silk, even on day three. That “touchable” quality is what I’m always chasing, and this product provides it in spades. It’s the perfect base layer to prep your hair for your stylers.
• Amazing Versatility (Leave-In and Refresher): This product is a true multi-tasker. On wash day, it’s the perfect leave-in. You apply it to soaking wet hair to lock in all that water, and it creates a soft, moisturized foundation. But its real magic, in my opinion, is as a refresher. I keep a spray bottle filled with 90% water and 10% Curl Love Milk. On day two or three, when my curls are looking frizzy and undefined, I spritz this mixture, and it’s like a reset button. The milk re-emulsifies, the curls spring back to life, the frizz calms down, and the hair is re-moisturized without having to completely re-soak your head. It doesn’t build up, it doesn’t get flaky, and it doesn’t get sticky. It’s worth the price for this benefit alone.
• Great for Softening and Prepping for Styles: Because it’s so rich in slippery elm, it’s a fantastic product for style prep. If you’re doing a braid-out or a twist-out, you need a product that gives you “slip” and moisture to make the sections smooth and keep your hair from frizzing while you work. This is perfect. It keeps the hair pliable, soft, and detangled as you twist, ensuring that when you take them out, the results are soft and hydrated, not brittle and dry. It’s a “do-it-all” moisture base.

Cons Of Curl Love Moisture Milk

• The Price and Cost-Per-Use Is Very High: Let’s be blunt. This is an expensive habit. An 8-ounce bottle runs in the premium category. If you have thick, long, or high-porosity hair (like me), you don’t use a “dime-sized” amount. You use a “palm-full.” I can easily go through a quarter of a bottle on a single wash day. This means one bottle might only last me a few weeks. When you compare that to a 16-ounce, budget-friendly leave-in, the cost-per-use is astronomical. This is a “treat” for your hair, and your wallet will feel it.
• The Scent Is a Deal-Breaker for Many: I listed the scent as a pro, but it’s one of the most polarizing things about this product. If you are sensitive to strong fragrances, get migraines from smells, or simply prefer fresh, fruity, or unscented products, you will hate this. It is an overwhelming, sweet, vanilla-cake smell. It’s not subtle. It will linger on your hair and your pillowcase, and it will compete with any perfume you wear. If you’re not a fan of smelling like a bakery, stay away.
• Not Heavy Enough for Some 4C/Coily Hair Types: This is a “milk,” and it’s important to remember that. It’s not a “butter” or a “heavy cream.” While it’s perfect for my 3B/3C hair, I’ve heard from many with coarser, 4C high-porosity hair that this is simply not enough. It provides moisture, but it doesn’t provide the seal. The rich oils aren’t heavy enough to lock the moisture into a very coily strand, and the hair can feel dry again just a few hours later. It just “disappears,” and not in a good way.
• Way Too Heavy for Fine or Wavy Hair: On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you have Type 2 wavy hair or very fine, low-porosity Type 3 curls, this product will likely be your worst nightmare. It’s a very rich, oil-heavy milk. On fine hair, it will sit on top, weigh your curls down, and make your hair look greasy, stringy, and flat. It will kill your volume. This is not a lightweight hydrator; it’s a “mid-weight” moisturizer, and it’s built for hair that is thirsty, not hair that is easily weighed down.
• Absolutely Zero Hold or Frizz Control: This is the biggest mistake people make. They see “Curl Love” and expect it to define and hold their curls. It will not. This product has zero hold. It is a leave-in conditioner, not a styling cream. If you use this by itself for a “wash-and-go” and walk outside in 50% humidity, you will be a giant, poofy, frizzy cloud (a very soft, sweet-smelling cloud, but a cloud nonetheless). You must follow this up with a product that provides hold, like a gel or a mousse, to seal the cuticle and define your curls.

Also Read: My Thoughts On Mz Skin Limited Led Face Mask

Maintenance Tips For Curl Love Moisture Milk

• Always Apply to Soaking Wet Hair: This is non-negotiable for me. Do not towel-dry your hair and then apply this. You want to apply it in the shower, when your hair is dripping wet and the cuticle is wide open. This allows the product to penetrate with the water, rather than just sitting on top of the hair strand. Rake it through, then use “praying hands” to smooth it down, and finally “squish to condish” (cup your hair in your palms and squish it up toward your scalp) to help the curls form and press the product in.
• This Is Your “L” (Leave-In) Step: You must think of this product as the first step in your styling routine, not the last. It is the “L” (Leave-In/Liquid) in the L.O.C. (Leave-In, Oil, Cream) or L.C.O. (Leave-In, Cream, Oil) method. It provides the moisture, but it does not provide the seal. After applying the Curl Love, you must follow up with an “O” (a sealing oil like jojoba or argan) or a “C” (a curl cream or gel) to lock in all that hydration. If you don’t, the moisture will evaporate and your hair will be dry again.
• Create the Perfect Refresh Spray: This is my number one tip. Get a good-quality, continuous-mist spray bottle. Fill it about 80% full with lukewarm water. Add a few good pumps of the Curl Love Moisture Milk. Shake it vigorously until it’s a thin, milky solution. This is now your magic elixir for days 2, 3, and 4. In the morning, lightly mist your hair (don’t soak it), scrunch, and let it air dry for 5 minutes. It will reactivate your curls, tame frizz, and add a shot of moisture and scent, all without the buildup or stickiness of a gel refresh.
• Focus on Mid-Lengths and Ends: This product is rich, with a lot of butters and oils. It is not a scalp product. Applying this directly to your scalp can lead to greasy roots, clogged follicles, and scalp buildup. Your scalp produces its own oil (sebum). The hair that needs the love is at your mid-lengths and, most importantly, your ends. Your ends are the oldest, driest, and most fragile part of your hair. Concentrate the majority of the product there.
• Less Is More (If You’re Low Porosity): If you have low-porosity hair (your hair is hard to get wet, products sit on top), you can still use this, but you have to be strategic. You need a tiny amount, emulsified with a lot of water in your hands. Apply it to very wet hair, and do not pair it with other heavy creams or butters. You might even find that it works best for you only as a diluted refresher spray, where its moisturizing properties can be delivered in a much lighter, more absorbable form.

Comparison With Other Brands

• Versus Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
  • Texture and Weight: This is the most obvious difference. The Curl Love is a “milk.” The Shea Moisture Smoothie is a thick, heavy “cream” or “butter.” The Smoothie is significantly heavier, denser, and more opaque.
  • Key Ingredients and Purpose: The Smoothie is a Shea-Butter-based styler. Its primary goal is to define and elongate curls for styles like twist-outs, and its Neem Oil is famous for fighting frizz. The Curl Love is an Aloe-and-Rice-Milk-based moisturizer. Its goal is softness.
  • Who It’s For: You choose the Smoothie when you need hold and definition for a style, and you have thick, coarse hair that can handle heavy butters. You choose the Curl Love when your primary goal is hydration and softness as a base layer. Using them together (Curl Love first, Smoothie second) is a popular, but very heavy, combination.
• Versus As I Am Leave-In Conditioner
  • Texture and Slip: The As I Am Leave-In is a more traditional, lotion-like conditioner. It’s lighter and more watery than the Curl Love. Its number one feature is slip. It’s one of the best detangling leave-ins on the market.
  • Key Ingredients and Feel: The As I Am is water-based and packed with herbal extracts and coconut. It feels like it’s “prepping” the hair and making it manageable. The Curl Love is aloe-based and feels “richer” and more “emollient.” It feels like it’s “coating” and “softening” the hair.
  • Who It’s For: You choose the As I Am when your main concern is detangling and getting a clean, prepped base. You choose the Curl Love when your main concern is pumping rich, “food-grade” moisture and softness into your hair. Many people use the As I Am to detangle, rinse some out, and then apply the Curl Love as their moisturizer.
• Versus Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Leave-In Conditioner
  • Target Hair Type: This is a very close competitor. Both are “milky” leave-ins from a premium, Black-owned brand. The Mielle P&H line, however, is specifically formulated and marketed for Type 4 hair.
  • Key Ingredients and Scent: The Mielle relies on Pomegranate and Honey, which are humectants, to draw moisture into the hair. The scent is very different—it’s a sweet, fruity, candy-like scent, completely different from Camille Rose’s “bakery” scent.
  • Who It’s For: This often comes down to personal preference. Both are excellent lightweight moisturizers. The Mielle is often praised for its “clumping” ability on coily hair. The Curl Love is more known for its “softness.” Usually, the deciding factor between these two is the scent.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

So, is the Camille Rose Curl Love Moisture Milk worth the high price tag? For me, the answer is a resounding yes, but with a catch. It’s not a “one-and-done” styler.

If you’re looking for a single product to define, hold, and moisturize your hair, this isn’t it. But if you, like me, are looking for a foundational moisturizer—a product to make your thirsty, high-porosity hair unbelievably soft, hydrated, and ready for your stylers—then this is your holy grail. If you want a refresher that brings curls back to life without stickiness, you should buy this product today.