I’ve been researching and experimenting with different curly hair products for most of my life. And I’m happy to say, I finally found the best products that I use daily! These products are not only high quality but also very affordable.
I have a mix of 2B & 2C curls, but I’ve heard from many of my curly-haired friends that these products work amazing for them as well. PS: if you don’t know your hair type, check out this article on hair types & finding your texture. 🙂
How Do You Decide Which Curly Hair Products Are Top-Notch?
Most of these are natural products, curly girl method approved, and smell incredible. I have high standards when it comes to the products I use, especially on my hair.
I’ve been trying to get to the point where all of my beauty products are natural products. I’m not quite there with everything yet, but I’ll get there! My skin is sensitive to many different products, so natural has been the way to go for me.
Another thing that makes a good product is simply if it works! I’ve been through so many curly hair products that just didn’t do anything for me. They left my hair flat, frizzy, greasy, or (the worst for my curly-haired girls) crunchy.
All of the products that I’ve listed are high quality, affordable, and I use them daily. (Well, most of them daily, some of them aren’t products you would use every day!)
My 2B & 2C curly hair!
My Recent Favorite Brand in the Curly Hair Products World
I just got into using SheaMoisture products recently. I had used their hair mask for years, but for some reason never tried anything else.
This company is amazing because they only use natural, sustainably produced ingredients. This makes me love their products even more because I know they’re great: 1. for my hair 2. for the environment.
Their products are also never tested on animals, which is another big win! They put their ingredient list on their website, so you know exactly what you’re putting on your hair.
I love that they are so straightforward about what goes into their products. That builds a level of trust for me, that I don’t always get with other companies.
The 12 Best Curly Hair Products
I compiled this list of all the curly hair products I use daily (or as often as the product needs to be used). These babies have worked wonders for me over the years and I hope that they can do the same for you!
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1. SheaMoisture Manuka Honey Hair Mask
I’ve been using this hair mask for years because it’s incredible! My hair is SO soft for days after using it. It helps with split ends, frizz, and doesn’t weigh down my hair.
You know how it feels when you use a mask or deep conditioner and your hair feels heavy afterward? Not with this mask. My hair is soft, full of volume, and smells amazing after.
The Manuka honey has healing properties and leaves your hair deeply moisturized and conditioned.
I only use this about once a week, because more than that would be overdoing it. So I’ve literally had this one tub for years. It lasts forever!
You can get the SheaMoisture Manuka honey masque on Amazon ($10). I would recommend this for anyone looking for more smoothness, shine, and softness in their hair!
2. Microfiber Curly Hair Towel (One of the most essential curly hair products)
I only started using a microfiber towel about a year ago. I was using a t-shirt before that… And I’ll never go back!
Using a microfiber hair towel (instead of a regular towel) to dry your hair has many benefits. It reduces breakage, decreases frizz, and leads to overall better hair texture. This one specifically is also the perfect size to throw your hair up on top of your head, while it dries.
The lilac purple color is so cute as well! This towel is so convenient and easy to travel with. I bring it with me anytime I go on trips. I just don’t like how my hair feels after being dried with a normal towel anymore.
If you want frizz-free, soft hair, this is an amazing place to start. Especially for my curly haired girls, this is an essential product to have in your arsenal.
You can get the Curly Girl microfiber towel on Amazon ($16). You can find cheaper ones out there… But in my opinion, this is the highest quality towel and will give you the best results.
I have multiple of these towels at home now because I use them every time I shower. I even travel with them because I can’t imagine using a normal towel anymore! These are so high quality and leave your hair feeling amazing.
3. Living Proof Dry Shampoo
This is the best dry shampoo I’ve found. I can go for days (3+) without showering and it leaves my hair looking good as new!
Especially after workouts, this is essential. I don’t like washing my hair more than 2-3 times a week, so a good dry shampoo is a must-have. It’s not good for your hair to wash it every day and it will dry out.
If you don’t want to shower every day, but want to avoid greasy hair, this is the perfect product! Out of all the curly hair products mentioned… I’d say dry shampoo is the best for fulfilling my laziness needs. 🙂
You can get Living Proof dry shampoo on Amazon ($25). It’s a little more pricey than others, but the quality is well worth it.
4. OGX Coconut Miracle Oil Dry Shampoo (budget-friendly option)
If you’re looking for a more affordable dry shampoo, this one takes the cake! This coconut miracle oil dry shampoo is amazing for curly hair. And falls at a much lower price than others.
You can get OGX Coconut Miracle Oil Dry Shampoo on Amazon for under $7. That’s a lot of bang for your buck! It’s an amazing choice for refreshing day 2, day 3, or even day 4 curly hair.
5. SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Shampoo & Conditioner
Guys… I just started using this shampoo/conditioner duo a couple months ago and I LOVE it! They smell so yummy and my hair feels amazing after using them.
I talked earlier about how I only shower 2-3 times a week. I like to go for day 2 and day 3 hair. I’m not lazy, I swear…
And although I still take body showers after working out, I just put my hair up in a messy bun. Washing your hair every day can really dry it out. So I try to avoid that as much as possible.
But seriously, the SheaMoisture curl & shine duo is fantastic. It leaves my hair frizz-free, smooth, and silky. And it doesn’t weigh my hair down like other shampoos/conditioners have in the past.
You can get the SheaMoisture Shampoo and Conditioner through these links. It’s under $20 to buy BOTH products, which is an amazing deal for being natural & high quality!
Conditioner Update!
While I still highly recommend both SheaMoisture shampoo and conditioner, I had to update this because I’ve switched conditioners. I now use Matrix Biolage Exquisite Oil Conditioner, which is the conditioner I’ve used for years prior!
This conditioner is to die for and I’ve loved it for years! I wanted to switch things up and try out SheaMoisture’s conditioner because I love their line, but this is always the conditioner I go back to.
It leaves my hair feeling SO SOFT and never greasy. I buy the huge 33 oz jugs of it, because they last forever.
I can’t even talk enough about how amazing this conditioner leaves my hair feeling. I can’t stop touching it and playing with it all day long.
It also doesn’t weigh my hair down at all, which is essential for curly hair if you want that volume!
You can get this huge jug on Amazon for $30, which is honestly a steal based on how long this lasts and how high quality the product is.
6. Beautify Beauties Flairosol Ultra-Fine Spray Bottle (Hair Mister)
Okay… I can’t believe I just started using one of these hair misters within the past couple years. It’s amazing!
Every morning in the past, I would dunk my head into the shower, and try to get my hair wet without getting my face/body wet. Then I would take my sopping wet hair and apply product, try to scrunch it, and walk around with dripping wet hair… Sounds like a great time, right???
But seriously, this spray bottle made my mornings so much easier. It’s not like a normal spray bottle, it has an ultra-fine mister to perfectly cover all your hair.
You wouldn’t think the ultra-fine mister would make a difference. I was skeptical at first! But it honestly makes all the difference in the world.
It now takes me under 10 minutes to fully spray down and fix my hair in the morning. I sleep with it up in a scrunchie and then spray it with my bottle in the morning. I don’t even have to apply any more product, just the water does the trick!
You can get the Beautify Beauties Ultra-Fine Spray Bottle on Amazon ($15). Mine has held up really well over the past couple of years. And I use it every single day, so it’s been put to the test!
7. Tangle Teezer Thick & Curly Detangling Hairbrush
Ladies, if you don’t have one of these yet – GET ONE NOW. I’ve been using my detangling hair brush for as long as I can remember. It changed my life, not even kidding.
My curly haired women out there know what it’s like to try and brush/comb a matted mess of hair after a few days. It’s not fun, to say the least! But luckily for you, this brush is amazingly pain-free and easy to use.
It’s been about 10 years since I’ve been using this hairbrush and it’s lasted me this long easily. I use it right before I shower and my hair gets brushed through in a couple of minutes.
It’s also really simple to clean out. Every couple of weeks, I just pull the hair out of it and throw it in the trash. It only takes a few seconds, which is insane compared to some other brushes I’ve had in the past.
I would recommend this brush to anyone, but especially women with curly hair. It’s so gentle and doesn’t tug at your hair, even when it’s matted. I’ve also seen a major difference in my split ends since using it, which is definitely a plus!
The Tangle Teezer curly hairbrush is on Amazon. I have the version I just linked (in pink), but they have a Tangle Teezer brush with a handle as well! It’s all about personal preference. 🙂
8. Scrunchies! (Believe me, these are essential curly hair products)
Scrunchies have become a lifestyle for me. I don’t even f*** with normal hair ties anymore, because scrunchies are so much comfier (and cuter!). They don’t pull at my hair or get caught, and they add a little pop to your look. 🙂
“But how are these a curly hair product??” I thought you’d never ask! To make sure my hair stays volumized after I sleep on it, I keep it in a scrunchie on top of my head overnight.
It’s important to get it really high up there! It may look goofy, but I swear by this technique. When you take it down in the morning, all it takes is a little water misting and it’s good as new!
Sleeping with my hair down kills my volume and makes my hair flat. By leaving it in a loose scrunchie overnight, it stays voluptuous. They’re also really comfortable to sleep in.
I love the suede scrunchies because I think they’re so cute! But I’ve also dipped my toes in the water with velvet scrunchies and regular scrunchies. Whatever your style, you can find a scrunchie to fit it!
9. Professional Hair Cutting Shears
So, we’ve all been going a little crazy in quarantine, right? And some of us may have slipped into the phase of quarantine where we’re cutting our own hair. I mean, we can’t go to a salon right – so what else are we going to do?
I started cutting my own hair long before quarantine. I’ve never been one of those people who really loves going and getting their hair done. And often, it can be pretty overpriced.
So I decided to take matters into my own hands! I watched this video on Youtube to learn how to cut my own curly hair.
I’m not gonna lie, it was really scary at first… But I just went for it. And honestly, I loved the results!
It looked the same as it does after I get it cut at a salon. And I didn’t have to pay for an overpriced haircut!
I’ll still schedule a hair appointment whenever I need my highlights touched up. That happens about once a year. Otherwise, I just use these professional hair shears and take care of it myself!
I know it can be scary to cut your own hair for the first time. But if you mess it up, you can always go into a salon and have them fix it right away!
10. SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
This curl enhancing “smoothie” is an amazing curl defining product! I use it when I get out of the shower after I’ve scrunched some of the water out of my hair (with my microfiber towel). I scrunch it all the way through my hair, but not too much on my roots.
Once I’ve applied the product, I wrap my hair on top of my head (with the microfiber towel). I leave it there for 20-30 minutes and then let it loose and scrunch my hair with my hands.
I’ll try to flop my hair back and forth on each side of my head as it’s drying, to increase volume. I absolutely love how it ends up looking using this product.
Post shower this is the only product I really need. When I travel, it’s the only hair product I pack (besides shampoo & conditioner).
A Previous Similar Product I Used
The WaveMaker from DevaCurl had been my go-to for years and I never personally had any problems with it. I decided to stop using their products altogether for the time being, due to the lawsuit filed against them.
While I have never had an issue with DevaCurl’s products, I feel like I need to mention the lawsuit. The lawsuit was filed against DevaCurl for causing some women problems with hair loss. While I have not personally had a problem with any of Devacurl’s products, I would not feel right about recommending one without sharing this information.
I’ve tried other products from this brand (volumizing foam, shampoo *or as they call it “no-poo”*, conditioner). I didn’t like any of these products as well. But I didn’t experience any hair loss or other problems from them either.
Everyone’s hair is different though and although I have never had a problem with their products, other people might. I would still recommend the WaveMaker based on my personal experience with it. But if you use it and started to notice any hair loss or other negative side effects, I would definitely recommend stopping using it.
11. A Blow Dryer Diffuser
I hardly ever used to blow dry my hair all the way. With a regular blow dryer, it leaves my hair looking puffy, frizzy, and my curls looking sad. This all changed when I discovered a diffuser.
The diffuser evenly distributes the warm air throughout your hair, so it’s far less damaging. The diffuser leaves your hair feeling lightweight, full of volume, and frizz-free.
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who needs to dry their hair. Whether it be in the morning before work (because you don’t want to go out with wet hair). Or at night before bed, because let’s face it – sleeping on wet hair is cold and awful.
The diffuser is much better in terms of hair health and appearance for curly hair. You can get the Hairizone Diffuser Attachment on Amazon ($20).
12. Moroccan Gold Series Argan Oil
Argan oil is incredible for moisturizing dry hair. This helps to give your hair a smooth, sleek look, while still having volume! It also helps to reduce frizziness and give your hair a nice shine.
I received this Moroccan gold series Argan oil in a subscription box and fell in love with it. You can find other less expensive versions, but I would recommend this one because it’s top notch!
It leaves my hair smooth, shiny, and frizz-free. I usually only use it once a week, because that’s all my hair needs. But you can use it to your preference. 🙂
That’s All Folks!
I hope this list helped you discover some new curly hair products to test out! These have been amazing for my hair. But I would love to hear how they work for you guys! 🙂
Comment below with:
1. What curly hair type are you? (2B, 4C, etc.)
2. Your absolute favorite hair product you’ve ever found.
3. Did you ever go through a phase where you would straighten your hair every day? (I did all through high school. I can’t believe looking back how much time I wasted on straightening my curly hair!)
Most people I talk to have no idea that scalp therapy shampoos for fast hair growth (obviously with no sulfates, no parabens or DEA) are even a thing. People can now possess longer hair and enjoy more alternatives. For sure worth checking out.
If you’re dealing with alopecia, damaged hair, avoiding skin disorders, hair growth, hair care at large, similar ideas apply.
In general, you have to stay away from hair treatments and products that include chemicals like parabens, DEA and sulfates.
What is healthy for your hair is healthy for your skin all the same.
Obviously the content here is so useful for multiple reasons. It avoids the usual traps and pitfalls most fall into- utilizing defective alternatives. Keep up the great content!