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A guide to the best curly hair products for defined and luscious locks

Are you a curly-haired girl looking for the right hair care products? Here’s everything you’ll need for bouncy, fizz-free locks.

Published Oct 23, 2023
4 min. reading time
four of the best products for curly hair including amika, Shea Moisture and WOW

Ready to channel your inner Beyoncé and declare, “I woke up like this?”

It all starts with your hair.

But if you’re the proud owner of curls, you know that your locks require a little extra care to maintain their vibrancy, strength and shine.

Luckily for you, we've scoured the web and handpicked the best curly hair products to ensure every day is a good hair day. Keep scrolling to get yours.

Read more: Get healthier locks with the best keratin treatments

Curly hair must-haves, at a glance

a twin set of Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner
Best shampoo and conditioner
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner Set
$25.95 at Amazon
pink, purple and baby blue amika blowout spray bottle with a black
Best heat protectant
amika Brooklyn Bombshell Blowout Spray
$24 at Walmart
white and purple tube bottle of Not Your Mothers Curl Talk Frizz Control Sculpting Gel
Best hair gel
Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Frizz Control Sculpting Gel
$7.74 at Walmart
blue and black tub of Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask
Best hair mask
Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask
$41.98 at Walmart

Shop top hair products for curly hair

From moisturizing creams to rich oils, you’ll find all of the best curly hair products to maintain your lovely locks here.

Best shampoo and conditioner

a twin set of Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner
Photo: Amazon

Curly-haired girls have relied on shea moisture for years because it’s proven to help with dry locks, tangles and frizz. So, if you're looking for a shampoo and conditioner set boasting this hydrating ingredient, this is the one.

Designed for curly, natural and over-processed hair types, this set is enriched with shea butter and argan oil to thoroughly cleanse and nourish the scalp and hair.

For more intense treatment on damaged hair, it can also be used as a deep leave-in conditioner to restore shine, bounce and health to your locks.

Using hot styling tools regularly requires a heat protectant that can shield your hair from ongoing heat damage. This hairspray can provide that protection.

It contains sea buckthorn, which is a powerful antioxidant for the hair and provitamins to promote moisture retention and healthier-looking locks, making it a great pre-styler primer.

Plus, its blend of warm vanilla and spicy sweet clover will leave your hair smelling lovely, too.

Looking for a gel that won't leave your hair feeling crunchy or dry? This option is the perfect choice.

Suitable for all curl types, this formula of rice, keratin amino acids and enzymes shape and sculpt your curls with a firm yet flexible hold.

But what makes it one of the best hair gels for curly hair is its flake-free finish, which locks in your curls without leaving a dry or crunchy feel.

Moroccan oil is known for its nourishing and moisturizing properties. So, if your hair needs an extra boost of hydration, choose this mask.

Infused with argan oil to improve elasticity, linseed extract to promote hair health and glycerin to enhance moisture, this creamy formula will help you achieve your hair goals when used consistently.

If your hair is prone to shedding and breakage, this nourishing oil is a great remedy to restore it to its healthiest state.

With rich ingredients such as manuka honey to provide deep hydration and ceramides to strengthen brittle strands, this multi-use oil works to repair and boost each hair bond.

Use it as a pre-shampoo step, on the scalp as a conditioner, or as a leave-in care treatment. It can be used anywhere in your hair routine to provide impressive results for your curls.

Our editor swears by this touch-up cream for taming her frizzy and wavy hair — without weighing it down or leaving it feeling greasy.

It works by smoothing down your hair, as well as protecting it from humidity. This way, your mane is less likely to become unruly once you step outside, saving you from every curly girl's worst nightmare.

A little goes a long way with this cream, so just a pea-size amount is necessary to tame frizz, static and pesky flyaways.

If you have dry hair, a leave-in cream is great for defining your curls and adding moisture back into your locks. 

With a number of gentle and vegan ingredients, this formula tackles hydration, frizz, and curl strength in one powerful formula.

Rice amino acids help lock in moisture in the hair cuticle, avocado oil nourishes and conditions the hair and the tomato fruit ferment ensures that curls are retained and defined all day.

Looking for magic in a bottle? This pick is your closest bet.

Developed by dermatologists, this fragrance-free serum promises to visibly improve the health and appearance of your hair in just seconds after application.

Best of all? With its clean and cruelty-free ingredients, it still provides the hydration that all hair types require without causing skin irritation, making it ideal for sensitive skin and scalps.

You don't need to be a professional stylist to create a hairstyle that looks effortless. This pick proves it.

With this humidity-proof spray, you can achieve glossy, bouncy and smooth-looking locks as if you’ve just stepped out of the salon.

To activate its advanced formula, apply the product to damp, washed hair and blow-dry it with a brush. The definition in your curls will last for three to four to four washes.

You may be thinking, mousse in 2023? But once you see all that this product has to offer, you'll be joining the wave.

Designed by the curl hair advocate and celebrity, Tracee Ellis Ross, PATTERN promises to help women feel confident no matter their curl pattern and hair texture.

Its secret? Its modern formula!

Featuring an ultra-lightweight formula enriched with marshmallow root and castor oil, it promotes hair growth, creates weightless, voluminous volume and adds shine to the hair.

What are the best products for curly hair?

All of the products in our roundup of the best curly hair products are worthy of a place in your hair care collection, but we do have a few favorites that stand out above the rest.

Shea Moisture's nourishing blend of shea butter and argan oil hydrates the scalp and locks, making it one of the best shampoo and conditioner sets for curly hair.

Thanks to a moisture-proof formula that provides salon-worthy bounce, gloss and shine to curly hair, the COLOR WOW dream coat is one of the best stylers for curly hair on the market.

Lastly, if you have frizzy and dry hair, John Frieda's Frizz cream can smooth down your locks without weighing them down, making it a must-have haircare product to keep in your collection.


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Prices updated on 10/23/2023. We are not responsible for any changes to the prices mentioned above.

Lauren Pascal Professional Headshot
Written by
Lauren Pascal

A self-proclaimed ‘obsessed TikTok user,’ Lauren Pascal uses her knowledge to help readers shop for trendy new products. Lauren is also an experienced travel writer and recently wrote informative pieces for travellers during the pandemic.