The best curly hair products do more than style your strands. They help smooth, hydrate, and most importantly, define your curls. The spiraling shape of a coil makes it harder for moisture and styling products to reach the entire strand evenly, from root to tip. That’s why the perfect mix of creams, leave-ins, gels, and oils can be the difference between limp, stretched-out curls and juicy, defined ones.
Before overhauling your product lineup or jumping into a new curly hair routine, know that the key to maintaining and styling curly hair has less to do with your curl pattern and more with how porous and dry it is, says Michael Dueñas, celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of AROVE haircare. “More porosity is going to make it lose moisture faster. Wavy textures need lighter, faster-absorbing products to avoid weighing it down or flattening the curl, and tighter curl textures can handle richer oils and heavier/thicker conditioning.” Basically, if you have very tight curls, you need a thicker, heavier product packed with more oils and heavier conditioning agents to moisturize properly. Finer hair or looser waves need the same ingredients, just in smaller amounts. And if there’s one staple every curly-hair routine needs, it’s conditioner. “Even if you do nothing else—wash your hair and leave a bit of conditioner in—you’re already doing your curls a favor,” says Suzzette Boozer, a celebrity stylist. “It keeps them soft, defined, and way less frizzy. Simple, but major.”
To help build or refine your curl routine, we asked haircare experts for their favorite products across every category—from shampoos and conditioners to curl creams, mousses, gels, oils, and heat protectants. These are the absolute best curly hair products that actually deliver healthy, defined, hydrated curls.
The best curly hair products, at a glance
How we tested
Curly hair requires particular attention, care, and a carefully tailored cocktail of products for specific curl patterns and porosity. To test the best hair products for curly hair, we started by asking curly hair experts who have worked with a wide range of clients with different curl patterns and who have many years of experience using different curly haircare products to share their product recommendations. From there, we had Glamour editors and contributors with curly hair test and share the curly hair products they use and love at home. The factors considered when compiling this list were ingredients and how moisturizing, frizz-reducing, and defining each formula was on a mix of curl types. The texture and format were also important, since some products apply more easily to finer curls than to thicker ringlets, and vice versa. Lastly, we looked at the results and efficacy of each product. We considered not only how defined, moisturized, and smooth curls looked right after applying the product, but also how well hair held up for two and three days. Once all of these factors were considered, we narrowed down the list to these top picks.
Best Shampoo: Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo
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This curly hair shampoo works as a two-in-one to de-gunk scalp and hair of product buildup. It’s infused with rosemary oil an antioxidant that supports scalp health for hair growth. The cleanser is sulfate-free, so it won’t strip the scalp of its natural oils. It’s also packed with proteins, which help strengthen strands. “It left my scalp feeling really clean without drying it out, and it performed as well as my usual salon shampoos,” Glamour tester Maura Benton previously shared.
- Best for: All curl types
- What we loved: Refreshing tingling sensation; safe for color-treated hair; helps with hair growth.
- What could improve: Pricier than other shampoo options.
- Key Ingredients: Rosemary, plant proteins, ceramides
- Size: 250ml/8.4 fl oz
Best Conditioner: Arove Aerious Waterless Powder Conditioner
Arove’s water-activated conditioner is highly concentrated with 12 different oils, including broccoli seed oil for shine, abyssinian oil to reduce breakage and detangle, and frizz-reducing marula oil. The blend sinks deep into hair. Dueñas says it’s customizable: “If you have finer hair, you can thin the conditioner out; or if you have thicker, coarse hair, you can add more to adjust to your curls. It penetrates the hair shaft and doesn’t live on top, so it’s ultra lightweight with a ton of control.”
- Best for: All curl types
- What we loved: Powder formula is eco-friendly and ideal for travel; deeply nourishing; detangles
- What could improve: Pricey; harder to find
- Key Ingredients: broccoli seed oil, abyssinian oil, marula oil, moringa oil
- Size: 2.3 oz
Best Curl Cream: African Pride Curling Cream
Curl creams are the backbone of most curly haircare routines, and for good reason: It’s the step that’s most customized to your curl pattern. Yes, you’ll get moisture and definition from these stylers, but one of the main purposes of a curl cream is to help sculpt your curls. This affordable option has benefits for both porous and non-porous hair. With the combination of aloe and coconut water, it delivers hydration, slip, and curl definition without heaviness. “This is the main product I use to get curls hydrated and formed,” says Bianca Bazante, owner and creative director of The Artist Loft hair salon in Westport, CT.
- Best for: All curl types
- What we loved: Sculpts and defines curls; blends easily into hair; smells great
- What could improve: Shine tends to fade by day two or three.
- Key Ingredients: Aloe, coconut water
- Size: 340g/12 oz
Best Gel: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel
Gels for curly hair can be tricky. On one hand, you want the strong hold these stylers provide, but so many leave hair sticky and crunchy. Ouidad’s gel, formulated specifically for curly hair, is practically tailor-made for frizz-prone curls. Made with hair-strengthening wheat protein and flexible styling polymers, the gel glides onto hair easily, doesn’t feel gooey, and dries without flaking or leaving a white residue. This formula is meant to keep frizz at bay, even in extreme humidity. Apply it to wet hair after a leave-in conditioner and before a mousse or curl cream.
- Best for: All curl types
- What we loved: No flaking; smooth, natural-looking definition
- What could improve: More expensive than many other hair gels.
- Key Ingredients: Silk, wheat and soy proteins, ceramides
- Size: 250 ml/8.5 fl oz
Best Hair Oil: K18 Molecular Oil
Curly hair is more prone to dryness compared to other textures, and it’s also more fragile. K18’s Molecular oil strengthens weak strands at its core with bond-repairing peptides and penetrates deep into hair to nourish and rehydrate with avocado, sunflower, and castor oils. Bazante loves using this curl-friendly hair oil as a finishing step:“ After styling and drying, I use this hair oil to separate curls, and it gives zero frizz and beautiful shine.” The fast-absorbing formula also doubles as a heat protectant if you diffuse your curls.
- Best for: Dry or damaged hair
- What we loved: Unscented; disguises split ends; adds major shine
- What could improve: Small bottle; may weigh down very fine curls
- Key Ingredients: K18PEPTIDE, squalane, avocado, sunflower, and castor oils
- Size: 30ml/1 fl oz
Best Sculpting Mousse: Kiss Color & Care Foaming Mousse
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Mousse serves many purposes, but many formulas feel drying on the hair right away. This one pumps out into a dense foam, evenly distributes onto hair, and absorbs quickly without leaving a residue or a dry and stiff feeling. “I can tell by how easily it glides into my hair that it’s going to help moisturize it,” says Glamour contributor, Nykia Spradley. “It really helps to clump my curls and gives more chunky, sculpted definition, and I can shape and scrunch my curls exactly how I want them before setting with a diffuser.” The mousse is packed with organic Jamaican black castor oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, and olive oil, so it deeply moisturizes hair as it styles.
- Best for: All curl types
- What we loved: Great for clumping curls; moisturizing
- What could improve: Slightly sticky during application, but dries soft
- Key Ingredients: Organic Jamaican black castor oil, peppermint oil, rosemary oil, olive oil, biotin
- Size: 251 ml/8.5 fl oz
Best Light-Hold Mousse: Joico Curls Like Us Smooth & Bounce Curl Hydrating Foam
A good mousse should enhance curl shape without turning strands crunchy. This one hits that sweet spot. Recommended by Bazante, the formula taps ultra-hydrating moringa seed and algae oils to smooth the hair shaft and eliminate frizz, while keeping curls soft and bouncy. “This gives a lightweight hold but no crunch, and I can use it on any type of curl,” says Bazante.
- Best for: All hair types
- What we loved: Doesn’t leave a crunchy finish.
- What could improve: Too lightweight for thicker, denser textures.
- Key Ingredients: Algae oil, moringa seed oil
- Size: 200ml/6.7 fl oz
Best Leave-In Conditioner: Hask Twist Tamer Leave-In Conditioner
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Leave-in conditioner is to hair what makeup primer is to the face. Hask’s Twist Tamer lays a foundation for smooth, well-shaped curls. The cream repairs breakage using a plant-based fiberbond technology, while coconut oil seals in moisture and smooths frizz. “This is the perfect weight for my fine but dense hair. It feels very moisturizing but not too oily or heavy to layer other styling products on top of,” says Spradley.
- Best for: 3C to 4C curl types
- What we loved: It’s the perfect weight for both fine and thick hair textures; moisturizing but not heavy or greasy; great scent
- What could improve: Too heavy for super fine hair.
- Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, olive oil, castor oil
- Size: 198ml/6.7 fl oz
Best Heat Protectant : Rizos Curls Multivitamin Leave-In Heat Protection
If you diffuse your curls even occasionally, you need heat protection. This leave-in shields hair from temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and delivers vitamins, shea butter, and rose water for softness and shine.
- Best for: All curl types
- What we loved: Delicious lemon, lime, coconut milk, vanilla, and amber scent; adds a high-gloss, shiny finish to curls
- What could improve: The heavier oils in the product can weigh down fine hair.
- Key Ingredients: Amino acids, mango butter, shea butter
- Size: 200ml/6.8 fl oz
Best Curl Refresher: Dippity Do Girls with Curls Light Hold Gelee
Gel may not be the first thing you reach for to refresh curls, but Deisy Alfaro, a Dippity-Do curly hair expert, suggests using this light-hold product to do just that. “Mid-week, revive curls with a mix of water and Girls With Curls Gelée,” says Alfaro. Add the mixture to a spray bottle, mist hair, and finger coil strands as needed. You can air-dry from there or blow-dry with a diffuser.
- Best for: All curl types
- What we loved: No crunch or flaking; affordable; alcohol- and silicone-free, non-drying
- What could improve: Used alone (without water), it delivers a stronger hold than advertised
- Key Ingredients: Aloe, vitamin E, wheat protein
- Size: 30ml/11.5 fl oz
Best for Humidity: Color WOW Dream Coat for Curly Hair
Think of this as a curl cream, gel, and serum in one lightweight spray. It forms a humidity-blocking barrier on curls without stiffness.The spray, when misted on damp hair, keeps each curl smooth and defined without sticky residue. Bazante and Spradley note that the leave-in also delivers impressive volume and shine. “Even in humid weather, I can layer this with a curl cream and get the most voluminous and glossy curls that hold up for days,” says Spradley.
- Best for: All curl types
- What we loved: Long-lasting frizz protection; great shine; heat-safe
- What could improve: Nozzle can clog; small bottle
- Key Ingredients: Polymers, hydrolyzed keratin
- Size: 200ml/6.7 fl oz
Best for Fine Hair: DevaCurl SuperCream
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Lightweight but effective, this cream melts instantly into looser curl patterns without stretching them out. Alfaro explains that looser curls in the 2B to 3A range often need lightweight moisture and weightless definition, whereas coily hair in the 3B to 4C bracket benefits from richer, creamier products that deliver intense hydration and hold. DevaCurl’s SuperCream is ideal for looser curl patterns, even dense but full heads of curls like Spradley’s. “This cream melts into my curls and instantly helps them take shape like a mousse does. It feels really moisturizing and one of the few products I can use before air drying that’ll keep my curls smooth and bouncy,” says Spradley.
- Best for: Coarse waves and curls
- What we loved: Defines, clumps, and sculpts hair; doesn’t make hair feel dry or greasy; makes curls bouncy.
- What could improve: You need more product per use; the bottle is small
- Key Ingredients: Coconut, glycerin
- Size: 88 ml/3 fl oz
Best for Thick Curls: Curls Crème Brule Whipped Sculpting Cream
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Here’s a rich, whipped cream that actually delivers for 4A–4C textures. It’s thick, but blends easily and gives curls shape without greasiness—even with sunflower and jojoba oils packed in. A little goes a long way, and the denser texture really helps shape and clump curls. “I use this right after silk press season when my curls need more moisture and help reshape from my consistently straight styles,” Spradley shares.
- Best for: 4A to 4C hair types
- What we loved: Very moisturizing; delicious scent; defines well
- What could improve: The thick texture makes squeezing from the bottle difficult
- Key Ingredients: Organic almond milk, shea butter, aloe
- Size: 8 fl oz
Frequently asked questions
How can I bring out my natural curls?
If your natural curls aren’t popping or falling right, Bazante suggests seeing a curly hair specialist as a starting point. “Make sure to do your research on the stylist before you go. You want someone to cut your hair dry, and ask you to come in with your hair in its natural state,” she says. At home, she says you’ll have to take time to restructure the curls, twisting them individually and then letting them set. Boozer also points out that the process of bringing out your natural curls can be overwhelming, so don’t feel pressed to find the right cocktail for your curl type immediately. “It really comes down to trial and error. Finding the right wash day routine takes time and patience; what works for one person might not work for you. A beauty supply store can feel overwhelming because there are so many options, and while it’s great to get recommendations from friends or your hairstylist, the truth is, it’s all about what works best for your hair and your personal preferences,” says Boozer.
How can you address frizzy curly hair?
For a slightly longer-lasting fix, Bazante says a gloss treatment, usually done at a salon, is one option to help with frizz, since it closes and smooths the cuticle. At home, Alfaro says that a leave-in conditioner is the secret to frizz-free curls. “It’s the foundation of every great curly routine. It gives curls the moisture and protection they need before styling and helps prevent breakage and frizz,” she points out. Also, wearing bonnets and using silk pillowcases can help reduce curl frizz. Boozer also suggests adding a hair oil to help keep hair from frizzing throughout your day. “Oils help eliminate frizz, fight dryness, and prevent breakage. If you want healthy, shiny, defined curls, saying yes to oils is a must,” says Boozer. However, Bazante notes that oil alone isn’t enough to fight frizz. “You will need something to really coat the curl. That’s why I like using something with shea butter or flaxseed oil. I find that combination helps with frizz,” says Bazante.
Is castor oil good for curls?
Yes—for thicker curl types. Castor oil has many proven benefits, including sealing in moisture and boosting hair growth, but, like any other product, consider your curl type before incorporating it into your regimen.“I like castor oil in curls for that weekly deep conditioning. It’s very thick, so I wouldn’t recommend it on thin or wavy hair at all. It will not be fun washing that out.” Bazante says.
Meet the experts:
- Michael Dueñas is a celebrity hairstylist and Co-Founder of AROVE haircare
- Suzette Boozer is a celebrity hairstylist and Dippity-Do curly hair expert
- Bianca Bazante is the owner and creative director of The Artist Loft hair salon in Westport, CT
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