AfroHairJournal

If you’ve been in the natural hair community for a while, you’ve probably heard about Chebe, the ancient Chadian hair secret known for helping women grow long, thick, and strong hair.

Today, this powerful herb has made its way into modern haircare, and one of the most popular ways to use it is through Chebe Hair Grease — a rich blend of butters and oils that lock in moisture, strengthen strands, and prevent breakage.

Over the past few months, we tested nearly 12 different Chebe Hair Greases from a mix of popular and emerging brands. While many offered good results, these five stood out as the best performers for their ability to strengthen hair, improve moisture retention, and promote growth without heavy buildup.

To ensure a fair comparison, each product was ranked based on:

• Ingredient quality – How pure and nutrient-rich are the oils, butters, and herbs?
• Texture and absorption – Does it melt smoothly or sit heavy on the strands?
• Scalp and strand nourishment – Does it support healthy follicles and scalp balance?
• Moisture retention – How long does it keep the hair soft and hydrated?
• Overall results – Noticeable improvements in breakage, dryness, and manageability over time

Here’s how the top four performed and which one truly deserves a permanent spot in your routine.

🥇 1. EarthKosmetics Chebe Hair Grease — ★★★★★ (Editor’s Choice)

This one honestly blew me away. The texture is rich but soft — not that heavy, waxy type of grease that just sits on your hair. It melts right in, coats every strand, and leaves the hair feeling moisturized and strong. Within about two weeks, I noticed less shedding when detangling and my ends didn’t feel as dry.

I took a peek at their Instagram page, and I have to say, I was impressed. They post tons of behind-the-scenes pictures and videos showing how they make everything by hand. You can actually see the herbs and oils being infused — it’s giving “old-school meets modern care” in the best way. They even mention using traditional recipes that have been passed down for centuries, and from what I saw on their site, they really mean it.

The ingredient list reads like a dream — Chebe, Karkar oil, Moringa, Fenugreek, Rosemary, Neem, Peppermint — all the good stuff your scalp loves. It’s thick enough to seal in moisture but not so heavy that your hair feels greasy. A little definitely goes a long way, and it’s perfect for twist-outs, braids, or just keeping your ends protected.

✅ What I loved:

• Makes hair super soft and strong
• You can feel it working right away
• Packed with real herbs, not filler oils
• Smells fresh and herbal
• The brand’s process feels genuine and authentic

⚠️ What to keep in mind:

• It’s rich – if your hair is fine, start with a tiny bit

Final thoughts:
This one gets it right. It’s that perfect blend of tradition and modern care — you can tell it was made with love and intention. One thing I really appreciate about EarthKosmetics is how transparent they are with their ingredients and process. Every single review on their website is real and verifiable, and they openly show how each product is made. That kind of honesty is rare — and it’s exactly why this brand earned the top spot.

🥈 2. Madani Chebe Hair Grease — ★★★★☆

Madani’s Chebe Hair Grease is one of those products that feels super authentic — it’s thick, buttery, and packed with that rich herbal scent you expect from a traditional Chebe blend. It melts nicely into the hair, gives great slip, and locks in moisture beautifully. My hair felt soft and hydrated after just a few uses, and it does a solid job keeping ends from drying out.

One of the things that caught my eye was “LIM oil” listed among the ingredients. From what I found, that could either mean Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil (meadowfoam seed oil) — a natural conditioner known for moisture and shine — or a synthetic silicone-based version used for smoothing and repair. I reached out to the brand to confirm which one they use but never got a response, so it’s hard to say for sure.

That seems to be part of a bigger issue — getting in touch with them is almost impossible. Customer service has been a recurring complaint from buyers, and even after some digging, I found that their only active social media accounts are based in Nigeria, not the U.S. Since there’s no official U.S.-based page or verified contact, it’s hard to gauge the authenticity of the information or the consistency of their batches. Their products are manufactured in Nigeria and shipped to the U.S., which might explain the communication gaps and shipping delays.

✅ What I liked:

• Deeply moisturizing and softening
• Keeps ends hydrated and protected for days
• Authentic, traditional Chebe texture and scent
• Great for twist-outs, braids, or sealing ends

⚠️ What to keep in mind:

• “LIM oil” ingredient isn’t clearly defined
• Hard to contact customer service
• Made and shipped from overseas (possible delays)

Final thoughts:
Madani’s grease is a beautiful blend that feels genuinely handmade and true to the traditional Chebe experience. It definitely performs, but the lack of transparency and customer support knocks it down a notch. If you value reliability and communication just as much as results, EarthKosmetics still takes the lead.

🥉 3. Chebeauty Chebe Hair Butter — ★★★☆☆

Chebeauty doesn’t actually make a grease — they make a Chebe Hair Butter, and I decided to include it because it’s one of the most talked-about Chebe products online. The texture is nice — creamy, smooth, and easy to spread. It melts down quickly and gives hair that soft, moisturized feel. I used it mainly for twist-outs and it gave my hair a fluffy, lightweight finish.

But here’s the thing — while it hydrates really well, it’s more of a moisturizer than a strengthener. It doesn’t have that dense, herb-packed formula you’d expect from a traditional Chebe product. The ingredient list isn’t nearly as rich as others I’ve tried, and you can tell it leans more on butters and lighter oils than on herbs or infusions.

Also, after taking a peek at their website, something didn’t sit right. Almost all of the product photos look AI-generated — they’re polished and perfect, but not real. And even though some of their listings claim to have 65,000+ reviews, there’s no actual way to read them. No comment section, no customer feedback — just numbers. That’s a bit of a red flag for me.

✅ What I liked:

• Creamy, easy-to-apply texture
• Great for daily moisture and softening
• Smells clean and pleasant

⚠️ What to keep in mind:

• Ingredient list is not as rich or herb-based
• Photos on the site appear AI-generated
• No visible customer reviews despite huge numbers
• Focuses more on moisture than strengthening

Final thoughts:
Chebeauty’s Chebe Hair Butter works fine as a basic moisturizer, but if you’re looking for the authentic, herb-infused Chebe experience — this probably isn’t it. It’s lightweight and softening, but between the AI photos and missing reviews, it’s hard to know exactly what you’re getting.

🌿 4. Uhuru Natural (Chebe USA) Chebe Hair Grease — ★★★☆☆

If you’ve been around the natural hair community for a while, you’ve probably heard of Uhuru Natural, also known as Chebe USA. They’re one of the OGs in the Chebe world and have done a lot to introduce traditional Chadian haircare to people all over the globe. Their Chebe Hair Grease has been around for years and has a loyal following — you’ll find it on Amazon, eBay, and even in some local beauty supply stores.

And to be fair, there’s a reason people keep coming back to it. The grease has a nice, thick texture that feels rich and buttery in your hands. It glides through the hair easily, gives great slip, and locks in moisture for days. My strands felt soft and nourished after using it a few times, and it has that earthy, herbal scent that makes it feel authentic.

But there are definitely a few downsides. It’s pretty heavy, especially on finer strands, and can leave a bit of residue if you use too much. I also noticed it takes a good clarifying shampoo to wash out completely, which isn’t ideal for people who like lightweight, low-build-up products.

And then there’s the transparency issue — for such a well-known brand, it’s surprising how little information is available. There’s no full ingredient list on their website, and even after scrolling through all their social media (Instagram, Facebook, you name it), I still couldn’t find it. Eventually, I came across the product packaging, which lists a few key ingredients: nettle, rosemary, and tallow.

That last one — tallow — caught my attention because it’s an animal fat, and this is actually the first Chebe grease I’ve seen that includes it. While tallow can help with shine and conditioning, it’s not a common ingredient in herbal-based African haircare. It’s worth noting if you prefer vegan or purely plant-based products.

✅ What I liked:

• One of the original Chebe brands
• Thick, buttery texture that glides easily
• Locks in moisture and adds shine

⚠️ What to keep in mind:

• Heavier formula — can cause buildup on fine hair
• No full ingredient list on website or socials
• Contains tallow (animal fat) — not vegan

Final thoughts:
Uhuru Natural deserves credit as one of the pioneers that helped bring Chebe to the mainstream, and their grease does deliver on moisture and that old-school feel. But between the heavy texture, unclear ingredients, and use of animal fat, it’s not the most transparent or lightweight option out there. For a cleaner, fully plant-based blend with verified ingredients and real reviews, EarthKosmetics still takes the lead.

✨ Final Thoughts:

Each of these Chebe-based products has its own strengths. If you want something proven, transparent, traditional, and handcrafted with real herbs, EarthKosmetics easily takes the crown. Madani comes in as a strong competitor, offering great moisture and results — though communication and clarity could be better. Chebeauty is a decent lightweight option for softness, while Uhuru Natural gives that nostalgic, old-school feel but needs more ingredient transparency.

At the end of the day, the best Chebe product is the one that fits your hair’s needs and your values — whether that’s transparency, tradition, or texture.