Table Of Content

Cosmo’s beauty editor-at-large, Julee Wilson, is so in love with this shampoo for her high-porosity 4b curls that she even awarded it a 2022 Holy Grail Beauty Award. When rain clouds are imminent, or if our ringlets and waves are simply experiencing their general frizzy state, we’re lathering up the Bumble and bumble moisturizing shampoo to keep curls from misbehaving. Humectants like shea butter, avocado oil, and sodium hyaluronate (a hyaluronic acid derivative) helped our strands retain moisture, making it less likely to puff out on highly humid days.
An FAQ on Hair Mousses
For tightly-textured or coarse curls, turn to this Dove curl butter cream. "Works well to define curly and kinky hair, moisturizes while also providing hold, and smells absolutely divine!" a Walmart reviewer noted. "This works best on super curly to kinky hair so I've used it on my daughter for coils, braids, etc."
For when you need an oil…
Fighting Frizz? These Are The Best Anti-Frizz Hair Products, According To Experts - British Vogue
Fighting Frizz? These Are The Best Anti-Frizz Hair Products, According To Experts.
Posted: Thu, 25 Apr 2024 11:17:44 GMT [source]
I even recently gifted them to a few friends on a bachelorette trip and everyone was so obsessed they wore them for the rest of the weekend. Byrdie contributor Melanie Rud has over a decade of experience in the beauty industry, writing for some of the biggest magazines and websites out there. She considered dozens of products for this roundup, researched peer-reviewed journals, and consulted our testing insights. Our product testers tried some of the top-rated products for weeks at a time, taking note of how well they delivered results as well as any extra product features. I didn’t test this one, but Richards recommends this mask for those looking to take extra care of color-treated hair. The brand says that this mask, which is their bestseller, by the way, should be used once weekly or every two weeks.
Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair
Different product categories achieve various goals, but generally, the idea is to add moisture, regardless of the formula. Whether you’re detoxing the scalp or restoring shine to your strands, the more hydration you add into your routine, the healthier, shinier, and bouncier your curls will be. When it comes to selecting a shampoo, François recommends looking for a sulfate-free option.
Best for Fine to Medium Curls: Kristin Ess Ultra Light Curl Defining Cream

It’s also super long-lasting, allowing my style to remain virtually unmoved for three days straight. Moreover, it helped add shine to my hair, thanks to its signature Alpha Keratin 60ku blend that’s color-safe, paraben-free, gluten-free and vegan. Both types of products are similar, except foams are usually more lightweight than mousses which tend to have a texture closer to whipped cream. If your kinks are coarse and frizz-prone, reach for this defining cream. It smooths, shapes, and adds shine, so your curls will look their very best for up to 96 hours.
Mizani True Textures Curl Enhancing Lotion
Ten years later, the licensed cosmetologist has gained a vast clientele with expertise in healthy hair care. Now, she’s bridging the gap between hair extensions andnatural hair, retailing for a virgin-hair company that caters to her transitioning curly clients. Modern-day versions are here to debunk the mindset that mousses should be a thing of the past. Plenty of formulas are now made with moisturizing ingredients, like sunflower oil and wheat protein, that are a considerable upgrade from the originals. You can still use film-forming humectants, fatty alcohols and even some simple humectants!
Best Shine Booster: Curls So So Def Vitamin C Curl Defining Jelly
You can usually find her sorting through piles of beauty products — and testing the best ones on camera. Kobets says yes, but warns to be careful not to overdo it if your hair is fine, saying it will decrease volume and weigh fine hair down. Of all the dry hair treatments I trialed, this one takes the crown. Richards tells us it's a game-changer and that she carries it everywhere with her. Upon trying out this leave-in conditioner, I was thrilled with how quickly I could run a brush through my pretty tangled, post-shower hair.
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino & Avocado Leave-In Defining Creme

It won’t leave your hairline looking dry or greasy, but adds a natural sheen and a smooth finish. The second is that, no matter which products or brands work for you, there are seven essential styling products in general that every curly headed person should have in their arsenal. Here are the essentials that I not only love but noticed were a common thread within this story. Consider this a great starting-point list for shopping the best styling products for your curls. This highly rated drugstore buy pulls as much weight as any salon-quality shampoo.
Cantu Curl Activator Cream
With one wash of the OGX curl-defining shampoo, we were tempted to set down our hot tools forever. Our hair air-dried into gorgeous, well-defined S-shaped waves and appeared much healthier and hydrated thanks to a blend of conditioning ingredients like coconut oil and honey. We were pretty convinced this formula would weigh down our ringlets, mainly because we used over a quarter-size amount of the thin, gel-like formula to work it into a good lather, but, our hair felt just the opposite. It was voluminous, bouncy, and had the same lightweight feel as when we receieve a fabulous blowout and chop. This lightweight cream is a drugstore favorite for a reason—its conditioning formula, which contains ginger flower essence and lime fruit, helps you score smooth, defined curls. It's also great for a variety of hair types (from wavy to tight curly), as well as those who are transitioning from permed to natural hair.
Complete with four different attachments, the Pattern Blow Dryer to stretch, smooth and define natural curls. There’s a reason one of these iconic leave-in conditioners is sold every minute, and Kimble also sings the praises of the product as a staple for curly hair styling. “I really like the Milk_Shake Leave in Conditioner as well to help protect curl structure and the hair’s moisture balance,” she says. Of course, the curl cream that works best for you won’t necessarily be the right product for someone else’s spirals—it all depends on your curl pattern and your individual hair’s specific needs. To help you find your perfect match, we rounded up the best curl creams for a variety of textures and concerns.
“Excessive heat is very damaging to curly hair, as are hair ties that aren’t silk or satin as they can stretch curls too harshly or pull out hair,” Sultan says. For Rëzo, tight protective styles that pull the hair at the root, and non-water-soluble silicones are things she advises steering clear of. Aveda's curl cream boasts over 2,400 reviews on Nordstrom averaging almost five stars and is a great prep step for creating curls in straight hair. "I have very straight hair, but this product really helps when I want to add a bit of curl," a reviewer noted. "It's the best product I've found that makes my normally flat hair hold curl."