We’ve got your curls and coils covered with these award-winning and expert-approved picks.
If you’re currently on the hunt for the best curly hair products, you’ve come to just the right place. As beauty editors, we know there are a lot of options out there, so determining each step of your ideal wash day routine can be tricky whether you want to defrizz your hair, define your curls, keep your curls moisturized, or give them a little lovin’ after a super sleek blowout.
We combed through all the jams, jellies, puddings, custards, gels, and creams to come up with some of our favorite foolproof products for curls. There’s a bottle of something for everything here — loose ‘fros, crisp braids, bouncy ringlets, or cropped coils. So, what are you waiting for?
Scroll to find the best hair products for curly hair, including the best shampoos, conditioners, bubbly mousses, and penetrating oils that will help give you the gorgeous curls you deserve — no matter how thick or slim your wallet is. Consider your curly hair routine upgraded.
Best Shampoos, Conditioners, and Co-Washes for Curly HairBest Shampoo & Conditioner: Rizos Curls Hydrating Shampoo & Deep Conditioner
Why We Love It: This 2023 Best of Beauty-winning duo excels at locking in moisture, and combating dandruff and split ends — all while remaining silicone, sulfate, and cruelty-free. Latinx-founded brand Rizos was created to celebrate the natural texture of curls, coils, and waves everywhere. If you have thick, dense hair that’s best detangled in the shower, consider this a must-try.
Best Cleansing Oil: Ouidad Curl Recovery Ultra Nourishing Cleansing Oil
Why We Love It: Need a deep cleanse but afraid a clarifying shampoo will be too harsh on your dry hair? Ouidad’s water-activated Curl Recovery Ultra Nourishing Cleansing Oil may become your new favorite, thanks to its innovative formulation that gently removes dirt and buildup without stripping your strands. Designed to cleanse while preserving hair’s natural moisture, it’s a welcome departure from harsh sulfates and boasts marufa butter and Kalahari melon for improved elasticity and a smooth finish.
Best Scalp Rinse: DpHue ACV Rinse
Why We Love It: Leaving your hair’s natural oils alone for a bit and letting them do their thing is an essential part of any solid hair-care routine. That said, too much oil can lead to weighed-down curls, scalp irritation, and looking like you just went swimming when you most certainly did not. DpHue’s ACV Rinse takes the place of your regular shampoo when you need a clarifying boost.
Best Co-Wash: Kristin Ess Ultra-Hydrating Curl Co-Wash
Why We Love It: Launched as part of a silicone-free curly hair-care collection in 2020, founder Kristin Ess said products like the Ultra Hydrating Curl Co-Wash align with the Curly Girl Method. This 2020 Best of Beauty-winning formula has hydrating glycerin and hydrolyzed linseed, which is rich in omega fatty acids, to keep curls from drying out as it gets rid of grime on your hair and scalp. The non-sudsy formula — free of drying alcohols, sulfates, and parabens — is prime for curly and kinky textures alike.
Best for Stimulating Hair Growth: Pantene Gold Series New Length Root Stimulating Shampoo & Conditioner
Why We Love It: Formulated by a team of Black PhDs and hairstylists, Pantene’s Gold Series Root Stimulating Shampoo and Root Rejuvenating Conditioner cleanses and conditions hair while encouraging and maintaining new length.
Best-Smelling Treatment: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Conditioner
Why We Love It: This beloved drugstore conditioner is cherished for its lightweight formula that’s ideal for every day. Silk protein restores and revitalizes damaged ends, resulting in softer, more supple curls, while shea butter adds a silky shine. What’s more, we can’t get enough of its subtle hibiscus and coconut aroma.
Best Detanglers and Leave-In Conditioners for Curly HairBest Heat Protectant: Mizani 25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
Why We Love It: If you’re on the hunt for a product that can add moisture and definition and protect hair against heat (up to 450⁰F), this hybrid Miracle Milk is the leave-in treatment that’s editor- and hairstylist-approved. On busy days, reach for this one-and-done formula for detangling, defrizzing, and prepping hair before other products.
Best for Porosity: Innersense Sweet Spirit Leave-In Conditioner
Why We Love It: This clean (a.k.a. sulfate-, paraben-, and silicone-free, among other qualities) and weightless leave-in conditioner detangles and hydrates freshly washed curls while boosting shine and equalizing porosity, making it easier for strands to absorb moisture. It boasts serious versatility and can be spritzed as a refresher in addition to its post-wash application. Thanks to plant extracts (hi, lavender and honey), you’ll be left smelling delectable, too.
Best Hair Mask: Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Deep Conditioning Mask
Why We Love It: This ultra-nourishing mask is a staple in so many beauty routines. Famous for its restorative properties that combat damage from even the hottest of heat tools, it includes a delicious blend of essential oils (bonus points for biotin!) to quench parched curls and leave them luscious, smooth, and lively.
Best Luxury Leave-In: Ouai Leave-In Conditioner
Why We Love It: No matter what your hair type is, you’ll love the Ouai Leave-In Conditioner’s moisturizing formula. After all, it is a three-time Readers’ Choice Award winner. This detangling frizz-fighter contains hydrolyzed proteins to protect hair against environmental damage while tamarind seed extract, panthenol, and vitamin E condition hair so you can easily detangle knots and curls. Plus, this sweet-smelling spritz has lingering floral notes that can double as a light perfume.
Best Blow-Dryers and Diffusers for Curly HairBest Splurge: Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer
Why We Love It: You’re likely no stranger to the iconic hair dryer that’s been a fixture on social media feeds and bathroom counters since 2016. With patented technology, a lightweight motor, quick drying time, and the ability to keep heat damage at bay, this is worth the hype and the splurge. The best part is the Supersonic comes with a detachable diffuser that distributes heat more evenly, causes a bit less damage, and helps curls stay supple and frizz-free.
Best Under $200: Curlsmith De-Frizzion Dryer
Why we love it: Meet your new favorite tool to make unruly frizz a thing of the past. With its precision engineering on your side, defined, voluminous curls are here to stay. Enjoy expertly diffused results thanks to 360-degree airflow and a porcelain ceramic element for even heat distribution. And it’s the little luxuries, like the hands-free stand, that make styling almost as breezy as a salon visit.
Best Curl Creams for Curly HairBest Drugstore: SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Why We Love It: SheaMoisture has been a trusted name in natural hair care for years, and this decadent curl cream is a star of the assortment. Loaded with certified organic shea butter, it has the power to breathe life into lackluster waves, curls, and coils — resulting in nothing but bouncy, frizz-free hair days ahead. Not to mention, its cost-effective price point fits right into any budget-conscious beauty routine.
Best Mousse: Authentic Beauty Concept Amplify Mousse
Why We Love It: Who says mousse is passé? While you may not be channeling ’80s hair icons of yore, a quality mousse remains a solid addition to any curly hair routine. Just ask celebrity hairstylist Mia Santiago, who always keeps this lightweight, non-crunchy pick on hand. “I rely on this mousse to define and volumize curls while keeping frizz at bay,” says Santiago. With its lightweight blend of green tea and lime extracts, Authentic Beauty Concept’s Best of Beauty-winning Amplify Mousse is ideal for zhushing up finer curl patterns and ensuring your look holds all day.
Best for Protective Styles: Pattern Styling Cream
Why We Love It: We love a product with a long, honest resumé, and Tracee Ellis Ross isn’t afraid to list out exactly what her hard-working, curl-conscious Pattern Beauty haircare can do. Pattern’s Styling Cream for Curly & Coily Hair is good for twist-outs, braids, bantu knots — deep breath — locs, air-drying, and more.
Best for Wash and Go: Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream
Why We Love It: There’s no doubt that Allure readers love Moroccanoil’s Curl Defining Cream. If you need further proof, know that 2022 marks the fourth Readers’ Choice Award win for the product. “For me, the real test of a curl cream is if it can keep your hair defined as the days go by, while also fluffing out to its former, voluminous glory,” former Allure digital editor, Jihan Forbes, previously shared. “This one did just that.”
Best Hair Gels for Curly Hair
Best Overall: Bread Beauty Supply Hair Gel
Why We Love It: Cool girl brand Bread Beauty Supply made magic yet again with a reimagined hair gel (and 2023 Best of Beauty winner, no less!), boasting an innovative formula that delivers a glossy shine free of flakiness or stickiness. Rake it through damp hair, add water as needed as you work it through, and finish off by finger-coiling or plopping the hair. Whether you want to air-dry, diffuse, or blow-dry is totally up to you.
Best Luxury: Oribe Curl Gelée
Why We Love It: Oribe Curl Gelée is as nourishing as a hair oil — but it also preserves your style with all-day hold and frizz control. Formulated with curl-enhancing neem seed oil and cuticle-strengthening avocado butter, this Oribe styling product is ideal for tight and coily curl types who want added shine and definition without any unwanted crunch. Smooth this 2020 Best of Beauty Award over damp hair before diffusing or air-drying, and you’ll see the difference for yourself.
Best-Smelling: Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream
Why We Love It: Adwoa Beauty’s cream-based Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Gel is the real deal when it comes to moisturizing dry curls. Formulated with baobab, cactus, sweet almond, and vitamin-E-rich pumpkin seed oils, it’ll leave your hair feeling pillowy-soft and conditioned.
Most Vitamin-Rich: Curls So So Def Vitamin C Curl Defining Jelly
Why We Love It: It’s easy to mistake the ingredients in Curls’ So So Def Vitamin C Curl Defining Jelly for your favorite face cream. Laced with vitamins A, B, and C, this 2020 Allure Best of Beauty winner introduces moisture into thirsty curls and keeps it there so that your curl definition springs to life and doesn’t dry out.