Taking care of your hair can be frustrating, especially when you’ve been blessed with thicker, coiler strands than most. It’s easy to hide your mane under a hat or tied it up in a ponytail or bun, but no matter what style you choose, you need an arsenal of products to maintain a healthy head of curls. Problem is, not every hair product you see can give your curly strands the proper care it deserves. Just as there are thickening products for fine hair or hydrating shampoos for dry hair, there are a slew of products that can revive, define, and moisturize curly hair. Every hair type can not be treated with the same tools.
“Curly hair needs to be treated differently than straight hair because of the shape of the hair follicle. Straight hair grows down while curly hair grows at an angle,” Sabrina Ahmed, Garnier curly hairstylist, tells ELLE.com. Thickness and tight coils can make it difficult for certain products to penetrate deep into the hair shaft, and “why curly hair people don’t have to wash their hair as often,” she adds.
However, if you’re on the market for new shampoos and conditioners, as well as styling creams, mousses, and oils, scroll down for the 25 best curly hair products you never knew you needed.
1
Best Heat Protectant
Mizani
Heat Screen Hair Protectant Spray
2
Best Mask For Thick Hair
Mielle Organics
Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque
3
Best Conditioner For Low Porosity Hair
Pattern
Intensive Conditioner For Tight Textures
4
Best Multi-Use Styler
Ouidad
Curl Recovery Whipped Curls
5
Best Styling Mousse
Rucker Roots
Texture Hair Styling Mousse
6
Best Moisturizing Shampoo
Aussie
Miracle Moist Shampoo
7
Best Curl Definer
Nikki Maar
Curl Defining Custard
8
Best Clarifying Shampoo
olaplex
No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo
9
Best Heat Cap
Gold-N-Hot
Professional Conditioning Heat Cap
10
Best Blow Dryer
Conair
Performa Series Ionic Ceramic Dryer
11
Best Curl Cream
SheaMoisture
Curl Enhancing Smoothie
12
Best Daily Leave-In
Mizani
25 Miracle Milk Leave-In Conditioner
13
Best Curl Cream For Thick Hair
Alodia Haircare
Curl Enhancing Butter Creme
14
Best Co-Wash
Shaeri
Co-Wash
15
Best Hair Towel
Curl Factory
Large Microfiber Hair Towel Wrap
16
Best Detangling Comb
HYOUJIN
Black Large Wide Tooth Comb
17
Best Long Hair Ties
Goody
Ouchless Thin Hair Headwrap, Black
18
Best Curl-Defining Mousse
The Doux
Mousse Def Texture Foam
19
Best Curl Refresher Spray
Garnier
Curl Refresher Spray
20
Best Pre-Poo Treatment
African Pride
Moisture Miracle Aloe & Coconut Water Pre-Shampoo
21
Best Scalp Oil
Alikay Naturals
Essential 17 Hair Growth Oil
22
Best Satin Scrunchies
Vaga
Cute Scrunchies For Hair 6 Colors Set
23
Best Hair Milk
Adwoa Beauty
Melonberry Hair Milk Leave-In Conditioner
24
Best Dentangling Set
Brushzoo
Detangling Brush Set
What ingredients should people with curly hair look for?
When dealing with curly hair, hydration should be the top priority. “The most important ingredient to look for in curly hair is water. You need the first few ingredients to be water and natural ingredients,” Ahmed explains.
How should you layer hair products for curly hair?
In skincare, you layer your products from lightest to heaviest. However, when it comes to your curly hair routine, you should do the opposite Ahmed says. “The best way to apply products is to layer them from the most moisturizing to the least,” she adds. For example, you want to layer in a leave-in cream before your gel.
26 Why trust ELLE Beauty?
Nerisha Penrose is the Beauty Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Since joining ELLE.com in 2017, she has interviewed countless skincare professionals and has personally tested the latest and greatest products across makeup, skincare, and hair care.
Nerisha Penrose
Beauty Commerce Editor Nerisha is the beauty commerce editor at ELLE.com, covering all things beauty (and fashion and music).
