Whether you have tight coils or a looser wave, curly hair comes with a special set of challenges. Curly locks tend towards dryness and dullness; they also tangle and frizz much more readily than straight hair. But treat your hair with the right products and those curls can be luscious, soft and bouncingly beautiful.
Here you'll find our guide to the best curl-care products on the market, with a range of budgets in mind. We'll explain the key products you need, and why, in the bite-size buying guide below, or you can scroll straight past and check out our favourite shampoos, conditioners and treatments. With prices starting from as little as £3, you won't need to spend a fortune to give your hair a boost.
How to choose the right products for curly hair
Are there any essential products I need to buy?
The first weapon in your curl-care armoury should be a gentle, moisturising shampoo that won’t strip vital oils out of your hair. Look out for shampoos that are enriched with natural oils and formulated without drying parabens and sulphates.
How often should I wash my hair?
Ideally wash curly hair once every few days rather than every day – even with a gentle shampoo, overwashing is a recipe for frizz.
What kind of conditioner should I use?
A hydrating conditioner will seal in moisture, ward off tangles and define the shape of your curls. Look for a formulation that suits your hair texture and lifestyle: a heavy conditioner will penetrate thick curls but weigh down finer hair, which prefers a lighter product. Leave-in conditioner is great for curly-heads with busy lifestyles, as it can be applied and forgotten while you get on with your day. It helps to hold your hairstyle in place while conditioning your tresses.
Are there any other products I should consider?
It’s worth investing in a good repairing hair treatment for extra care once a week (or more frequently, if your hair is suffering). Hot oil, treatment masques and overnight leave-in products will all help soften and nourish curly hair, and make for a lovely Sunday night bathroom ritual too. Comb conditioners and treatment products through with a wide-toothed detangling comb that won’t snag or break your delicate curls.
Finally, smoothing styling products can be a godsend for frizzy hair – but resist the temptation to slap on too much, or to layer up too many products at once. Pick one serum, balm or styling wax suitable for your hair type and use it sparingly to promote bouncy ringlets and control frizz and flyaway hair.
The best products for curly hair
1. Paul Mitchell Spring Loaded Frizz-Fighting Shampoo: Best moisturising shampoo
Price when reviewed:£9.99 (250ml) | Buy now from Feel Unique
This hydrating shampoo protects against frizz and dryness as it cleanses and softens. Paraben- and sulphate-free, Spring Loaded gently cleanses away dirt and oil with a rich lather that won’t cause frizz by roughening the cuticle. Like all Paul Mitchell products, it also smells fantastic in the bottle and in the shower. Part of the Curls range of shampoos, conditioners and treatment products, this is your first step to smooth, shiny, healthy-looking locks.
Key specs – Bottle size: 250ml
2. Aveda Be Curly Conditioner: Best hydrating conditioner
Price when reviewed:£21.17 (200ml) | Buy now from Look Fantastic
A nourishing conditioner with wheat protein and aloe vera to dramatically reduce frizz and leave your curls soft and bouncy. Light enough to use every day, a little of Aveda’s conditioner goes a long way – so although it’s not the cheapest one on the market, you’ll find a 200ml tube lasts you a while. Rich and strengthening, Be Curly has a pleasant, refreshing citrus scent and is lovely to use in the morning.
Key specs – Bottle size: 250ml
![Image of Aveda Be Curly Conditioner 200 ml (6.7 oz.) [Personal Care]](http://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31GBAzTFO8L._SL160_.jpg "Aveda Be Curly Conditioner 200 ml (6.7 oz.) [Personal Care]")
3. Kérastase Discipline Maskeratine: Best weekly treatment
Price when reviewed: £23.11 (100ml) | Buy now from Look Fantastic
Kérastase is the hairdresser’s brand of choice for dealing with dry, coarse, rebellious hair, and this salon-style masque brings intense nourishing haircare to your bathroom. Once a week, massage this rich cream through washed and towel-dried hair and leave for ten minutes (or, if you’re like us, the duration of a short Sunday nap) before rinsing out. With keratin and wheat protein, this is a great product for strengthening and de-frizzing brittle, damaged hair, and the smoothing action makes blow-drying a breeze.
Key specs – pack size: 100ml
4. Body Shop Rainforest Radiance Detangling Spray: Best leave-in conditioner
Price when reviewed:£12.50 (250ml) | Buy now from The Body Shop
Part of the Body Shop’s Rainforest range for dry and curly hair, Rainforest Radiance is a spray-in conditioner and detangler that softens and adds shine without stickiness. The spray can be used on damp hair after a wash, or on dry hair that needs a quick pep in the mornings. Containing Fairtrade pracaxi oil and aloe vera, Rainforest Radiance has a distinctive sweet smell that will put your hair in a tropical mood for the rest of the day. It’s also gentle enough to be used on children, and safe for coloured hair.
Key specs – Bottle size: 250ml
5. Palmers Coconut Oil Formula Protein Pack: Best budget treatment
Price when reviewed:£2.84 (60g) | Buy now from Superdrug
Coconut oil doesn’t just smell yummy and summery – it’s one of the world’s most popular natural ingredients for adding shine and moisture to dry and frizzy hair. Palmers Coconut Oil Protein Pack harnesses the power of coconut oil and combines it with healing Vitamin E, to create a low-cost treatment pack that’s rich and nourishing without being heavy. Simply massage it through the hair after washing and leave for 20 minutes; or, if your hair is very damaged, pop on a cap and leave it in overnight for noticeably softer and more manageable curls.
Key specs – Pack size: 60g
6. KMS CurlUp Perfecting Lotion: Best curl-defining lotion
Price when reviewed:£19.81 (100ml) | Buy now from All Beauty
A little of this concentrated styling lotion goes a long way. Work two pumps from the bottle into damp hair in the morning and you’ll enjoy defined curls for the rest of the day – and if your curls need a boost, you can just scrunch again without reapplying. CurlUp creates smooth, shiny ringlets without the stickiness of serum or the drying crunchiness of a gel. Suitable for all curl textures, this lotion has a pleasant smell and will help you achieve your 80s big-hair dreams with a minimum of fuss.
Key specs – Bottle size: 100ml
7. Moroccanoil Treatment Oil Original: Best styling and treatment all-in-one
Price when reviewed:£13.87 (100ml) | Buy now from Look Fantastic
Nowadays, every second product on the shelves now seems to contain argan oil in some concentration – but Moroccanoil remains the original and best brand using this traditional product. The Original Treatment Oil (also available in a light variant for those with fine hair) is a fantastically versatile all-in-one product: you can apply it to damp hair after washing for a conditioning treatment, or apply it as a finishing product to dry hair after styling. For a weekly treatment, you can even wrap a hot towel around your head for 20 minutes to intensify the effect on damp hair.
Key specs – Bottle size: 100ml
![Image of MoroccanOil - Oil Treatment For All Hair Types (25ml) [Misc.]](http://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41bDNqqS9PL._SL160_.jpg "MoroccanOil - Oil Treatment For All Hair Types (25ml) [Misc.]")
8. Bumble and Bumble Straight Blow Dry Balm: Best for straightening curly hair
Price when reviewed:£24 (100ml) | Buy now from Boots
Hopefully, the great products above have given you the confidence to rock your natural curls in style; but sometimes it’s nice to go straight for a change. This gorgeous-smelling blow-dry balm from Bumble and Bumble protects the hair from heat damage and loosens curls effortlessly, leaving you with the glossy shine you want from a straightened style. Work a little of this lightweight balm into rough-dried hair before blow-drying flat in sections for a straight style with some movement; finish with straightening irons if you want a really poker-straight look.
Key specs – Bottle size: 100ml
