20 Best Curly Hair Products to Moisturize and Style Curls and Coils
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The journey to loving my natural curly hair was not easy. It took many failed flexi-rod attempts, hours on YouTube watching how-to videos, and countless trials testing the best curly hair products to find suitable creams, gels, and stylers for my curl type.
Finding the perfect product starts with understanding the ingredients. “Avoid anything with silicones, parabens, or sulfates (you can check for these listed out on the ingredients label on the bottle), says Sabrina Porsche, celebrity hairstylist and Not Your Mother's brand ambassador. “These ingredients can be damaging and cause your hair to become dry. Instead, look for clean ingredients that contain all-natural oils such as coconut, argan, or any other oils that can add hydration to your curls."
Experts note that using products that hydrate and keep your stands nourished is essential. The more moisturized your hair, the less frizz and breakage you’ll have to deal with.
How do you stop curly hair from getting frizzy?
Frizz can ruin a bomb rod set, braid out, twist out — you name it. But, there are a few tricks you can use to fix it. “It all starts with a good cleansing routine. Use a sulfate-free shampoo or co-wash (just a conditioner) to gently cleanse your hair without stripping away the natural oils. Follow up with a moisturizing conditioner to detangle and hydrate your curls,” says Sabrina Osman Ahmed, an Aveda Institute-trained hairstylist and content creator. After washing, apply a leave-in conditioner or curl cream to moisturize and define your curls. You can also use a gel or mousse to provide hold and reduce frizz.
Heat can also cause damage and lead to frizz (you may want to give your flat iron a break). Sabrina suggests trying out hot tool alternatives like air drying, using viral satin hair curling rods (yes, they really do work), or using your diffuser on the lowest heat setting to enhance your natural curl pattern.
What are the best products to bring out your natural curls?
You can use gels, mousse, hair spray, foams, and creams to help enhance your natural curl pattern. The key is to keep your hair moisturized. Once you've settled on the right product, “Experiment with different application techniques, such as scrunching or finger coiling, to find what works best for your curls,” says Sabrina P.
Top Curly Hair Products:
- Best curly hair product for frizzy hair: COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, $28
- Best curly hair product for natural Black hair: PATTERN by Tracee Ellis Ross Heavy Conditioner, $28
- Best drugstore curly hair product: Garnier Fructis Style Curl Treat Defining Smoothie, $14
- Best curly hair detangler: L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths 8 Second Wonder Water Detangling Lamellar Rinse Out, $8
- Best curly hair leave-in conditioner: CURLS Blueberry Bliss Blueberry & Coconut Hair Milk Leave-In Conditioner, $12
- Best for fine hair: L'Oreal Paris EverCurl Sulfate Free Shampoo and Conditioner Kit, $18
- Best curl defining gel: Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Frizz Control Sculpting Gel, $9
“Matrix’s A Curl Can Dream line is great for curly and textured hair," says Michelle O’Connor, global artistic director at Matrix. While she works for them, she uses the product on herself and is partial to this moisturizing cream. "The main ingredients to look for should be humectants. Things with honey and agave that keep moisture in the hair. Matrix’s A Curl Can Dream Collection is great due to it being honey-infused, and it preserves the curl pattern for type 3 and 4 hair," she adds.
- Key ingredients: Manuka honey extract
- Best for: Curls and coils
- Size: 17.0 oz
- Pros: The product does not weigh down the curls, Offers a light hold
- Cons: Some users note that the scent is strong
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For type 4 hair, Sabrina P. loves this shampoo. “It adds hydration and protein thanks to rice amino acids,” she says. The formula also controls frizz and repairs damaged strands by building and strengthening chemical bonds in your hair.
- Key ingredients: Dual Action Curl Power Complex, Rice Amino Acids, Natural Bond Multiplier
- Best for: Works on all curl types
- Size: 8 oz
- Pros: Helps to strengthen and repair damaged hair bonds, Controls frizz
- Cons: Some users note this product makes their hair feel dry.
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For type 2 (wavy) hair, Sabrina OA recommends this styling duo. “The Curl Refresher spray helps reset waves, which can stretch out easily while providing moisture and frizz control without weighing the hair down. The Curl Treat Jelly Shaping Leave-In styler is a lightweight gel that enhances wave patterns and adds shine without weighing down the hair.”
- Key ingredients: Coconut oil
- Best for: Works on all curl types and waves
- Size: 8.5 oz
- Pros: Non-greasy formula, Removes frizz
- Cons: Some shoppers note that it has a strong smell.
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I'm a huge CURLS fan. I've been using the entire Blueberry Bliss collection for years and have noticed it has improved my hair health tremendously. This leave-in hair milk moisturizes, hydrates, and makes my hair feel soft. I apply it during a protective style to ensure my hair gets all the moisture it needs.
Key ingredients: Coconut milk and Blueberry extract
Best for: Works on all curly types.
Size: 8 oz
Pros: Provides a firm hold, Very moisturizing
Cons: Some users note that the smell is strong
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Tracee Ellis Ross did her thing with the Pattern haircare collection. And this heavy conditioner is everything for coily hair types. It has a rich and nourishing cream formula that works wonders on tighter textures. So if your hair is in need of hydration, this is the product you need to reach for.
- Key ingredients: Safflower seed oil, Jojoba oil, Shea butter
- Best for: Curly and coily hair types
- Size: 13oz
- Pros: It can be used as a deep conditioning treatment, The thick formula provides extra moisture
- Cons: Can be too heavy for some curly hair types
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If you want to achieve a bomb flexi-rod or braid-out style, reach for this curl mousse. The formula adds definition, shine, and volume to every hair type and pattern. The best part? When it dries down, it does not leave behind a crunchy feel or flaking. It's my absolute favorite mouse to use for all my protective curly sets.
- Key ingredients: Silk proteins and Natural humectants
- Best for: Works on all curl types
- Size: 7oz
- Pros: Provides great hold for protective sets, No crunch or flaking
- Cons: Some users note that the formula feels very sticky
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For day three of an old wash-n-'go or rod set, you may need something to add some oomph back into your curls. Look no further than this hydrating mist. It has a milky formula crafted from a blend of oils that work to strengthen, define, and hydrate the hair.
- Key ingredients: Aloe vera, Coconut oil, Avocado oil
- Best for: Curls, coils, and tight textures
- Size: 12 oz
- Pros: Great smell, Revives your curls
- Cons: Some users note that the nozzle does not work well
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For type 3 hair, Sabrina P. recommends using this shampoo with the matching conditioner. "Together, the duo will help enhance and define curls while adding moisture to each strand,” says Sabrina P.
- Key ingredients: Mango butter
- Best for: Works on all curl types.
- Size: 15.2 oz
- Pros: Smells great, Improves hair health
- Cons: Some shoppers note that it does not lather well.
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With over 2,100 4.6-star global ratings, this top-rated hair oil deserves a spot in your bathroom cabinet. It can be used as a treatment to seal and lock in moisture. It's also great for soothing dry, itchy scalps, thanks to the peppermint oil. I personally enjoy using it to soothe my scalp when it starts to get dry underneath my braids or wigs.
- Key ingredients: Sweet Almond oil, Soybean oil, Peppermint oil
- Best for: Works on all hair types
- Size: 8 oz
- Pros: Lightweight formula with natural ingredients, Soothes dry scalp
- Cons: Some users note that the product feels very sticky.
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When I first opened up this bottle of hair oil, I immediately fell in love with the scent. The fragrance reminded me of being on a tropical island, and the light texture of the oil made my hair feel soft without causing it to weigh down. The formula is non-greasy, glossy, and filled with fatty acids to promote healthy hair growth.
- Key ingredients: Kakadu Plum Oil, Safflower Oil, Capryl Capric Triglycerides
- Best for: Damaged hair types
- Size: 3.3 or 1.69oz
- Pros: Detangles and fights frizz
- Cons: Some users note that the oil weighed down their curls
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If you've got heat damage or notice your strands keep breaking off, opt for this hydrating and defining hair mask. It has a rich formula packed with hair-loving ingredients like avocado oil, flax seeds, shea butter, and more. Make sure to let it sit on your hair for 10-15 minutes to allow the product to absorb into the strands fully.
- Key ingredients: Rice Amino and Avocado Oil
- Best for: Works on all curl types and textures
- Size: 8 or 32 oz
- Pros: Defines curls, Adds moisture
- Cons: Expensive
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Shea Moisture's coconut & hibiscus curl & shine collection launched in 2015 and has racked up numerous beauty awards since then. The hair cleansers and stylers work to moisturize and strengthen the hair from the inside out, thanks to the unique blend of coconut oils, silk proteins, and fair trade shea butter. One of my favorite products happens to be this shampoo. It has a thick, creamy texture and smells sooo good. After rinsing it out, it leaves my curls feeling soft and clean, not stripped and dry like other shampoos do.
- Key ingredients: Coconut oil, Neem, Silk proteins, Hibiscus flower extracts
- Best for: Thick, curly hair types
- Size: 13 oz
- Pros: Restores shine, Improves hair health
- Cons: Some users note it doesn't work well on tighter and coily curl patterns
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If your curls are feeling super dry, treat them to a hydrating wash day with this shampoo and deep conditioner set. The shampoo has a cool formula that transforms from water to foam and works to remove product build-up and dirt. After rinsing, go in with the deep conditioner and let it sit for 15-20 minutes under a shower cap, so the product can fully absorb into the hair.
- Key ingredients: Aloe and Glycerin
- Best for: 3A - 4C hair types
- Size: Shampoo (16.90z) Deep Conditioner (20oz)
- Pros: It makes the hair easy to detangle and feel softer
- Cons: Some users are not a fan of the strong fragrance.
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“Type 4 hair is known for experiencing major shrinkage and needs a good weighed product to help elongate the strands. This leave-in conditioning cream will work to moisturize, tame frizz, and detangle for easier styling,” says Sabrina OA.
- Key ingredients: Coconut oil + Elasto-protein
- Best for: Curly and coily hair types
- Size: 4.0 oz
- Pros: Works great for detangling knots, No greasy build-up
- Cons: Some users note it does not elongate their curls.
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If your curls are on the finer, flat hair side, experts suggest using products that will help add body. “A volumizing shampoo and conditioner, as well as a deep conditioning mask and leave-in conditioner. Matrix’s High Amplify collection is great for boosting volume,” says Michelle.
- Key ingredients: Protein
- Best for: Fine + flat hair
- Size: 10.1 oz or 33.8 oz
- Pros: Creates long-lasting volume, Silicone-free
- Cons: Some users note this product makes their hair feel dry.
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Those with 4A-C hair types may experience significant shrinkage. Experts say that's becuase the curls are much tighter. And if you're looking for ways to stretch out your coils, look no further than this elongating gel.
- Key ingredients: Flaxseed, Shea butter, and Extra virgin olive oil
- Best for: Coily hair types
- Size: 3 oz, 15 oz, 18 oz
- Pros: Makes the hair feel soft without any crunchy texture, Promotes hair growth
- Cons: Some users note that the gel can leave the hair looking a bit dry
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I try to stick to only a few products when creating my go-to flexi-rod hairstyle. And this mousse right here is a staple! I don't even need to go in with a gel afterward becuase this product offers such a good hold. The formula also dries down clear and doesn't leave my hair feeling crunchy or sticky.
- Key ingredients: Jojoba oil
- Best for: All curly hair types
- Size: 10.5 oz
- Pros: The formula works to hydrate the hair, color-safe
- Cons: Some users note that the sweet fragrance is overpowering
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Are you noticing a lot of hair breakage? It might be time to incorporate a strengthening mask into your routine. This mask features a yummy-smelling blend of rosemary oil, peppermint, amla, and more to help promote healthy hair growth and nourish the scalp.
- Key ingredients: Rosemary oil, Peppermint, Amla, Apigenin, Shikakai, and Biotin
- Best for: All curly hair types
- Size: 8.5 oz
- Pros: The formula works to strengthen the hair, Can be used on wet or dry hair
- Cons: Some users note that the product weighs down their curls
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“Curly hair tends to be dry and lacks moisture due to its structure. The natural oils produced by the scalp have a harder time traveling down the hair shaft in curly hair, making it difficult to retain moisture," says Sabrina OA. "The twists and turns in curly hair create more surface area, increasing moisture evaporation. This is why it's important to use moisturizing and hydrating products specifically formulated for curly hair to combat dryness.”
To help keep my scalp moisturized, I always reach for this daily moisture cream. The leave-in formula is lightweight, and it soothes dryness and itching. It's great for using under protective styles, like wigs, waves, and locs.
- Key ingredients: Coconut oil
- Best for: Natural, relaxed, kinky, and coily hair types
- Size: 5 oz
- Pros: The formula works to prevent dryness, Moisturizes the scalp
- Cons: Some shoppers wished the product would come in a larger size
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We have loved Tia Mowry's curls since her days on Sister, Sister. And now she's given us the tools to help our curls flourish. The 4U leave-in curl cream works as a multi-tasking product, helping to moisturize the hair, tame frizz, and detangle curls. It also has a sweet green apple scent that will leave your hair smelling sooo good.
- Key ingredients: Hemi15 (a patented silicone alternative), Flaxseed oil, Apple fruit extract
- Best for: All curly hair types
- Size: 6 oz
- Pros: Deeply nourishes and moisturizes the hair from root to tip, Safe for colored hair
- Cons: Some users note that the tube design is not functional and makes the application messy
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