DEALING with frizz and lacklustre curls? We’ve found the best curly hair products and put them to the test – so you don’t have to.
If you’re a fan of the curly girl method, you’ll know that it’s possible to enhance and encourage your natural curls simply by using the right products for your hair type and following a set of steps when conditioning, styling and drying your locks.
This means ditching anything containing sulfates and embracing products like curl cream or gel which help with definition, whatever your curl type: be it corkscrew ringlets or gentle waves.
According to Ghanaian-born Wakati Hair expert Jennie Roberts, who has worked with stars like Rita Ora and Ella Eyre, the key is to apply your products to dripping wet hair.
“My top tip is that hair care should always be in the shower. Don’t leave once you’ve washed and conditioned, utilise that moment to apply everything else too,” she explained.
It’s also all about staying hydrated when it comes to curly hair textures. “I find that lots of people throw money at products without thinking about diet,” Roberts continues.
“A good diet is essential for healthy hair. Hair is mainly made up of proteins so a good balanced diet of protein, iron, vitamins and other nutrients feeds your hair deep in the scalp tissue at the blood supply before the hair appears.”
Caring for curly hair even starts when you’re sleeping too. As Roberts told The Sun: “A silk pillowcase or head wrap/bonnet will also help to maintain your texture by avoiding friction when sleeping.”
Looking after your bouncy tresses doesn’t have to feel like a whole lifestyle change when you know what you’re doing. To make things a little simpler, we’ve found and tested out the best curly hair products on the market right now.
Bouclème Hydrating Hair Cleanser, £17
Pros: Lovely scent, curls were conditioned and stayed fresh for days
Cons: None
The Bouclème brand is dedicated to curly hair with their range of curl creams, shampoos, stylers and gels.
For under £20, the Hydrating Hair Cleanser is for those with fine hair and loose waves, using a formula of coconut, mongongo, camellia oils, vitamin C and vitamin E to nourish and moisturise your hair.
My hair perfectly fits the bill for this as I wasn’t blessed with tight curls and instead have frizzy, dry waves, so I was really excited to see the results.
When I started using it in the shower, I wondered how effective it would be as the texture is quite thin and less creamy or soft in comparison to other shampoos – although the herbal scent is lovely.
However, I’ve never seen my curls look as good as they looked after I used this: my waves looked so conditioned and fresh, plus stayed looking clean for a good few days before I had to do another hair wash.
I’m calling it: I’ve found the best shampoo for wavy hair.
Type of product: Hair cleanser, Size: 300ml, How to use: ‘Wet hair thoroughly. Apply to fingertips and massage firmly throughout scalp in a circular motion stimulating blood flow. Rinse well.’
Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil, £28 £20.70
Pros: Not greasy at all, minimal amount required, travel-friendly size, tames flyaways, doesn’t weigh down hair
Cons: None
Loved by the Kardashians, Vicky Pattinson and just about every celebrity hairdresser, Olaplex never disappoints – and their No.7 Bonding Oil is a curly-hair must-have.
This concentrated golden oil repairs broken bonds but also maintains any frizz or stray hairs, leaving your hair soft and well-tamed at all times.
From one curly-haired person to another: once you start using this, it’s hard to imagine life without it.
It’s not greasy at all, and you only need a tiny bit to really get a smooth, glossy finish that makes you feel like your hair is completely under control.
I use it both on wet and dry hair. On dry hair, it works wonders at taming any flyaways whilst not weighing your hair down in the process.
Plus, it’s so tiny that you can take it on the plane in your hand luggage. Ideal.
Type of product: Oil, Size: 30ml, How to use: ‘Apply a small amount to damp or dry hair, style as desired.’
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OGX Damage Remedy+ Coconut Miracle Oil Conditioner, £7.99
Pros: Cheap, lightweight feel, smells great, left hair sleek and nourished
Cons: None
A sweet blend of coconut oil, sweet vanilla bean and tropical flower Tiare, the OGX Damage Remedy+ Coconut Miracle Oil Conditioner is perfect for our curly friends out there.
Apparently, with a dash of this, you can wave goodbye to any frizz and say hello to sleek, smooth fabulousness.
And I can tell you, it smells great and works a treat.
Even from the first use, my hair felt nourished, moisturised and light, so my curls weren’t weighed down at all. It gave the same impact as if I’d just used a curl cleanser.
If you bleach your hair, it’s especially good for giving you really shiny, strong results.
For less than £8, you can’t go wrong really.
Type of product: Conditioner, Size: 385ml, How to use: ‘Smooth through lengths and ends of hair, leaving on for 30 seconds to a minute before rinsing out.’
Aveda Be Curly Shampoo (250ml), £21.50
Aveda Be Curly Conditioner (200ml), £32
Pros: Citrus scent, bonds felt healthier and stronger after a few washes
Cons: Results not immediate, expensive
The Aveda Be Curly range has been formulated to boost shine and reduce frizz, enhancing your curls.
Combining organic lime, lemon, bergamot, orange and other pure plant and flower essences, this delicious citrus shampoo uses protein and aloe blend to strengthen your hair.
Aveda has a strong reputation when it comes to expert haircare, so I had really high expectations for this duo.
After the first use, I wasn’t blown away with the results as my hair is frizzier than most, being in that in-between stage of wavy and curly ringlets.
I found that after a couple more washes though, I started to recognise that my bonds felt healthier and stronger, although, in terms of reducing frizz, I’m not sure how effective this is.
To get shinier results, I recommend also applying the Curl Enhancer on towel-dried hair.
Type of product: Shampoo and conditioner, Size: 250ml and 200ml, How to use: Massage shampoo into your wet hair and scalp. Rinse and repeat process with conditioner.
Christophe Robin Luscious Curl Cleansing Lotion With Chia Seed Oil, £33 £26.40
Pros: Gentle, contains smoothing oils, shampoo and conditioner in one, results get better with continued use
Cons: None
The holy grail in the curly hair world, Christophe Robin is one to have in your best books.
The Luscious Curl Cleansing Lotion with Chia Seed Oil is a gentle, detangling way of washing your locks.
Combining omega three and six, it has smoothing oils which apparently tame frizz.
After using this for multiple hair washes, I can confirm that it definitely is a shampoo-and-conditioner-in-one for curly hair.
I thought that not using conditioner was going to leave my hair extra dry, but it actually did the opposite when using this.
It gets better each time that you use it, leaving your curls feeling nourished and defined. Just make sure that you follow the directions of letting it soak in for two minutes.
Type of product: Conditioning cleanser, Size: 250ml, How to use: ‘Apply onto damp hair, working it from root to tip to cleanse and lather. Leave for 2 minutes, then comb through lengths to detangle and rinse thoroughly.’
Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Hair Treatment Serum, £16
Pros: Easy to use on wet or dry hair, hair felt stronger and less brittle after one week, organic and natural
Cons: None
After seeing countless TikToks showing the power of Argan oil for keeping your hair luscious and thick, I had to try it.
For £16, the Dr Organic Moroccan Argan Oil Hair Treatment Serum is so easy to add to your daily routine.
You can add it to both dry and wet hair, feeding your tresses with natural, organic essential oils and fruit extracts to leave it feeling its best.
After using it for a week, I even noticed the benefits of my hair feeling slightly stronger and less brittle.
Not only is it great for nourishing your hair, but it also helps to detangle hair and fight frizz.
All that and it’s totally natural and organic: what’s not to love?
Type of product: Serum, Size: 100ml, How to use: ‘After shampooing and conditioning, use a small amount in the palm of the hand and massage it through towel dry hair, style as desired.’
Virtue Curl Leave-In Butter, £42
Pros: Leaves curls conditioned and smooth, ideal for adding shine to thick hair
Cons: Expensive, not a product for scrunching up your curls
Virtue might be on the pricey end of the curl spectrum, but the best-selling products are a favourite for a reason.
The leave-in butter combines keratin and delicious ingredients, from kumquat to grapefruit, to give you high-quality hair care.
All you have to do is run it through wet or damp hair from the roots to the ends, then leave it.
It’s not something that is made for scrunching up your curls but it’s definitely good for leaving them feeling conditioned and a lot less frizzy.
As someone with thick hair, this is such a good product for me to control and get that glossy shine that can be really hard to achieve with curls.
Think of it as a leave-in conditioner.
Type of product: Leave-in cream, Size: 150ml, How to use: ‘Work a generous amount of product into wet or damp hair from root to ends. Do not rinse. Reapply as needed.’
Vita Coco Coconut Oil, from £2.99
Pros: Cheap, perfect for dry hair, multipurpose, totally free of chemicals
Cons: None
Coconut oil has so many benefits for curls. It can add protein to your locks, as well as moisturise and generally strengthen the bonds so that you have healthier hair.
The best part? It’s cheap. This one from Holland & Barrett starts from £2.99 for 50ml.
Seeing as some don’t like using this and some do, I was sceptical at first, but I happened to be one of the people who love it.
It’s amazing for those suffering from dry hair on a budget.
Sometimes you don’t have to splash out for the good stuff.
Type of product: Oil, Size: 50ml, How to use: Rub between fingertips and apply to hair to tame ends and smooth down wispies.
VIRTUE Curl Conditioner, £40
Pros: Hydrating without leaving hair heavy, fresh watermelon scent, hair was noticeably shiny and soft
Cons: Conditioning but not overly so, expensive, product runs out fast
One of the newest launches at VIRTUE, the Curl Conditioner hydrates without leaving your hair feeling heavy with unwanted oil or moisture.
Incorporating the brand’s own Alpha Keratin 60ku®, jojoba oil and really lightweight olive oil, this is a premium conditioner crafted to care for curly hair – so I was keen to see if it lives up to its price tag.
First off, the smell deserves some praise: think watermelon breeze. For £40, I was a little let down by the 200ml bottle though, as within two hair washes, it had already gone down a fair amount which suggests that you’re not supposed to use very much at a time.
In regards to results? My hair is in that annoying middle between curly and frizzy, so I usually scrunch with curl creme after a shower which makes it difficult to notice the impact of other products.
However, after using VIRTUE’s Curly Conditioner, my hair was noticeably shiny and soft. It gives you a deep condition but not one that’s extremely drastic, so don’t expect immediate results.
I imagine after long-term use it might be a bit more effective, so I’m looking forward to seeing more results in time.
Type of product: Conditioner, Size: 200ml, How to use: ‘Apply a generous amount of conditioner between palms and massage into hair, starting from the ends and working your way up toward the root. Distribute conditioner through hair using a wide-tooth comb. Leave on for 2–3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.’
For The Love Of Curls Shampoo, £7.99
Pros: Sulphate-free, perfect base for curl cream, ideal for soft hair
Cons: Worked well on my soft hair but might not be great for thicker or coarse hair
Lee Stafford’s sulphate-free shampoo is specifically for those blessed with bouncy waves.
At under £8, it combines shea butter, castor oil and cacao… basically all the best ingredients for taming curls.
I used it with the For The Love Of Curls Conditioner for the full impact and I was definitely happy with how my hair turned out.
Generally, I prefer using curl cleansers when keeping my hair curly because shampooing and conditioning can weigh your hair down, getting rid of the nice tight ringlets.
However, this gave me a really light wash and allowed the perfect base for curl cream to work its magic post-shower.
For soft hair that will work well followed by curl creams and mousses, this is great for your hair wash.
Type of product: Shampoo, Size: 250ml, How to use: ‘Work into a gentle lather, to cleanse curly hair without stripping away precious moisture.’
The general rule for shampooing when you have curly hair?
Use a gentle, low-foaming, sulphate-free shampoo when possible and wash hair infrequently so you don’t rob it of essential oils.
Conditioning those curls is also crucial, so invest in a super-hydrating conditioner or leave-in conditioner to get every inch of hair nourished and hydrated.
A weekly hair mask is another mainstay to strengthen and repair those fragile strands.
When it comes to styling your curly hair, you’ll want a lightweight cream or gel oil that combats frizz, won’t weigh hair down and leaves it looking shiny.
Embracing and caring for your natural curls is a journey that requires the right products tailored to your hair’s unique needs.
Whether you’re looking to enhance your curls, tame frizz, or add moisture and definition, finding the right products is essential – and fortunately, there are various options available both online and offline across the UK to cater to your curly hair needs.
We’ve listed some go-to spots below:
Curl cream has multiple purposes in curly hair care routines, so it’s a must-have product to have on your beauty shelf.
Primarily, it hydrates and moisturizes the hair, helping to combat any frizz and dryness that you might have experienced with your curly hair. It also defines curls, enhancing their natural shape and texture while even reducing tangling and breakage.
Curl creams often contain ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and glycerin, which provide nourishment and hold without weighing down the hair.
Additionally, some curl creams offer heat protection so you can guard your hair from any damage caused by styling tools. Overall, curl cream is a versatile product designed to improve the health, appearance, and manageability of curly hair.
Whether gel or mousse is better for your curls will very much depend on the thickness of your hair.
Mousse may be better for thinner hair; it will be enough to keep your hair steady for hours without weighing it down or making it look greasy.
But gel usually works harder in keeping hair in place, so it’s a better option for those with thicker curls. It will hold them steady no matter the weather and give you more sculpting ability if you’re after a particular style.
There are a few things you can do to get rid of the frizz and get well-defined curls.
First, make sure you keep your hair well-moisturised.
Curls that are too dry will never achieve the same definition as well-moisturised ones.
Try to set some time aside to do a regular hydrating treatment or masque, once or twice a week.
Another tip is to start styling your curls while they are still wet, straight after you’ve had a shower. Start with a leave-in conditioner to control your hair and seal it in moisture before you begin the rest of the styling process.
Finally, make sure you use a diffuser when drying your hair. It can help even out your curl pattern and boost the volume of heavy curls, giving more body to your hair.
