Finding the absolute best products for curly hair requires seeking out items that cover an incredibly wide range of different needs, concerns and issues. Just because a product technically states it’s designed for curly hair doesn’t mean it will work properly for your curly hair, so scoring the right shampoos, conditioners, creams and treatments to help your specific curls shine is incredibly important.

If you haven’t had luck with nailing down your ideal curly haircare routine, you’ve come to the right place. Whether your hair is wavy or coily, fine or thick, or if you have absolutely no idea what type of locks you’re working with, there are products specifically designed for your tresses which will give you the curls of your dreams! The search may seem intimidating, but there are plenty of options for you to explore, and we’ve provided an excellent range below which is ready for you to shop. Read on to discover which of the best products for curly hair you may have been missing to complete your regimen!

The 17 Best Products for Curly Hair

Finding the Best Products for Curly Hair: A Buyer’s Guide

Curly hair is absolutely gorgeous, but it’s often much more difficult to maintain than straight hair for a slew of different reasons, which is why this breakdown of the best products for curly hair was created to help you figure out exactly what you need! This isn’t merely a product guide, but also an explanation of what specifically to look out for if you have absolutely no clue about which type of hair you’re shopping for.

With straight hair, there’s generally just one type, but with curly hair, there are different curl patterns which have different needs that should be addressed when shopping for the best products. Not everyone actually knows which curls they’re dealing with, so with the help of the expert sources we’ve pulled while researching for this handy guide, you’ll get a better sense of your own hair and be able to shop smarter in the future!

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Products for Curly Hair

When choosing the best products for curly hair for your needs, it may help to consider the following features:

Price

As there are multiple types of products to use that are best for curly hair, consider how much you’re willing to spend on each one. Maybe you can swing a more affordable shampoo and conditioner, which you use more frequently, and spend more on an oil or leave-in treatment that’s usually used more sparingly. Think about your budget and your lifestyle, and choose accordingly!

Size

After you consider how much you can spend on different products for curly hair, make sure to take a look at the amount of product you’re getting for the cost. Some pricier products may have a smaller amount in the bottle, which you may decide is not worth the expense. But the good news? Some of those pricier products have smaller trial sizes which you can test out to see if they wind up working for your hair — in which case you can upgrade to the larger size when your budget allows!

Hair Type

When you break down hair types into general categories, there are four main ones you may fall into — straight, wavy, curly and coily. But within these broad categories, there are even more specific types, especially for the last three we mentioned. It can be helpful to understand your specific curl pattern and figure out what types of products work best for the specific type of hair!

Hair Texture

Do you have a lot of hair, or is it on the thinner side? Do you find that your hair is dryer and more prone to breakage — or is it fairly healthy? These are important questions to ask yourself when shopping for the best products designed for curly hair, and you want to find treatments which address these different concerns.

Ingredients

It’s always important to be super informed regarding the ingredients in hair products, especially for those of Us with curly hair. The best rule of thumb to follow is to look for formulas which are all-natural or vegan so you’re not using anything which may cause your hair damage. But beyond that, you also want to consider whether or not the elements in the products you’re considering purchasing are too heavy and rich — or alternatively, not quite rich enough to impart the proper amount of moisture to your strands.

What are the Different Types of Products for Curly Hair?

The following are the most common types of products for curly hair.

Shampoos and Conditioners

This is stating the obvious, but shampoos and conditioners are the first step in any haircare routine, and there are specific formulas which are made for curly hair types! These products will typically have extra hydrating properties that curlier hair needs to stay healthy and looking on-point. Locking in moisture helps prevent frizz, which curly hair types are especially prone to!

Leave-In Treatments

Not every curl type or hair type will necessarily need to use an additional leave-in treatment for their maintenance, but some will use them to help give their hair better hold and extra smoothness! Whether or not you decide to add a leave-in conditioner, cream or gel will depend on your whether or not you think your hair will benefit, and hopefully you’ll be able to figure that out with this guide.

Styling Tools

The extra care curly hair needs also requires specific tools which can help tresses look their absolute best. This includes using diffusers instead of regular hair dryers, which don’t impart as much aggressive heat to help curls stay intact, and specific brushes and combs which don’t disturb the natural curl. It’s best to use a wide-toothed comb or a brush which has sparser bristles as opposed to a denser one, so the curls don’t poof out and become less manageable.

What are the Different Uses for Curly Hair Products?

The following are the reasons why people use products for curly hair.

Curl Definition

The last thing anyone with curly hair wants is their tendrils to look like one giant rat’s nest, which can happen if you don’t use the right curl defining products! These different creams, mousses and other leave-in treatments can help separate each curl and lock in your style, so they won’t get messy after a mere day or two.

Moisture

Many different curl types require extra moisture because it’s difficult for natural oils in your hair to run from root to tip, which can cause locks to become increasingly dry. So, to counteract that, the best products for curly hair are designed to provide balance and give your hair the hydration it’s missing out on! Depending on how curly your hair is, you may need products which are more intensely hydrating to help promote the ideal softness to help your tresses thrive.

Frizz-Control

Curly hair is definitely more prone to dryness, which can also make it more prone to frizziness, so finding products to help control that is imperative — especially in the summer. Depending on your hair type, you may need more hydrating products to lock in moisture so your curls don’t get out of control and will stay fresh for more than just one day.

Additional Questions and Tips to Choose the Best Products for Curly Hair

When narrowing down your list, ask yourself these questions and consider these buying tips help to ensure you pick the best products for curly hair for your needs. 

What is my hair porosity?

If you have absolutely no idea what your hair porosity is, it’s actually pretty easy to understand and determine for yourself. Essentially, what it means is how many gaps your hair has on its outer cuticle layer, which determines how much moisture your hair can absorb. Hair is naturally porous, but if you’ve exposed your locks to chemical treatments, chances are it’s even more porous. Depending on which category you fall into, you’ll want to find the right treatments which can either fill in the more porous gaps in your hair or help break through a stronger outer cuticle layer in order to deliver deep moisture into each strand.

What’s my hair structure?

This refers to how thick your individual hair strands are, and there are notably three general categories: Fine, medium and coarse. Hair which has a finer structure may get weighed down a lot easier, and many hair products designed for curls are incredibly rich and moisturizing. Evaluate how thin your strands are and keep that in mind when picking out which products won’t give your hair a flat appearance.

What ingredients should I be avoiding?

The three main ingredients which tend to interfere with the health of curly hair famously include sulfates, silicones and parabens. Any combo of one or more of these elements can cause curls to get damaged and appear frizzy — or dry them out completely. You may find curly hair products which work for you that contain these ingredients, but if you can, do your best to avoid them as much as possible. This actually applies to most hair types, but is particularly important on your search for the best products for curly hair.

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