The Best Products for Curly Hair Care
Enhancing the beauty of curls and coils.
Olaplex
In our evolving era of redefining what is beautiful, curls and coils are finally getting the attention they deserve. “Caring for curly and textured hair is an art form,” says Naeemah LaFond, an Olaplex global brand ambassador and the founder of Texture On Set, an educational initiative for hairstylists that fills a void for inclusive skills and information. “But one of the most persistent misconceptions is that it’s inherently difficult to manage,” she notes. “The truth is, it’s only challenging if you don’t understand it.”
Arming yourself with knowledge about effective ingredients, the ins and outs of the right routine and proper maintenance can help transform your hair type. For Yusef Williams, Rihanna’s personal hair stylist and a global ambassador for Fenty Hair, it all starts with a less is more approach. “Using too much product can weigh down your curls and prevent them from achieving their natural bounce and definition,” he says. Here, the New York City-based hair-care professionals share their best tips to help curls and coils thrive.
Learn to Layer
Suppleness is a covetable quality for all hair types, but these textures are inherently dry. Bends in the hair strands make it challenging for the natural oils secreted from the scalp to reach the ends. “Maintaining moisture is often the biggest challenge,” LaFond says. A key tip to ensure curls stay soft, bouncy, and healthy for longer is to “pay attention to the order in which you layer your products.” She recommends starting with a hydrating leave-in treatment, then follow up with a product that focuses on moisture retention and use a moisture-locking product or oil as the final step to prevent other products from sneaking past the cuticle.
Mind the Weather
If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that curls will behave differently from one day to the next. Williams notes seasonal changes play a major role in hair-care routines, shifting curl patterns with the weather. “For example, on drier days, a rich curl-defining cream can hydrate and shape your curls beautifully. On humid days, adding a touch of strong-hold gel paired with diffusing can help maintain definition and combat frizz.”
Achieve a Wash Day Win
While what is put on curls to style them during the week is key, a refresh on wash day can also be a game changer, especially if you rethink your shampoo schedule. Williams suggests to stop washing your hair every week. “Forgoing shampoo occasionally can help preserve your hair’s natural oils and maintain moisture. Depending on your daily activities, washing every other week might be enough to keep your curls fresh without overdrying.”
Experimentation will also lead you to the cleansing formula that’s up to the task. “The only way to truly know if a shampoo is right for your hair is to test it out,” says LaFond says, adding that it’s important to pay attention to how your hair feels after washing.
Being unable to comb through your hair while shampooing or feeling residue after rinsing are clear markers for Williams that the shampoo isn’t the right fit. “It’s not always about the lather,” he says. “What matters most is how your hair feels—hydrated, soft, and clean.”
Add Nourishment
Oils “are powerhouse ingredients for curly and textured hair, offering unparalleled benefits for hydration, nourishment, and protection,” LaFond advises. Her top picks to maintain natural shape, shine, and bounce are avocado oil, which is rich in vitamins and penetrates deeply to strengthen and moisturize, coconut oil, because it works wonders as a natural sealant, locking in moisture and preventing dryness, and olive oil, which softens strands and enhances elasticity. “Incorporating products that include these ingredients into your routine can make a noticeable difference in the health and vitality of your hair,” she says.
For an ideal amount of moisture, Williams avoids alcohol-based products and ones that contain silicone. With use over time, both ingredients can be drying on your scalp and hair, he says. For a trifecta of nourishment, strengthening and hydration, Williams unsurprisingly swears by the blend found in all Fenty Hair formulas. It contains Barbados gooseberry, upcycled jackfruit extract, amino acids, green tea extract, and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. “Together these ingredients are the holy grail for all hair textures especially for curly hair,” he says.
Be a Bit Snippy
Beyond dedication to at-home care, those with the best-looking curls don’t shy away from salon visits. LaFond considers regular trims to be non-negotiable–even if your ends appear fine. “Breakage can easily hide within the volume and texture of curly hair, making it less obvious than on straight hair,” she says. Consistent trims can look like a booking every few months, with a payoff that yields beautiful results. “You’ll notice not just healthier ends but also improved length retention over time. Healthy curls grow better, and keeping your ends fresh is the secret to length goals,” she says.
With an emphasis on hydration, the products listed below give curls and coils the care they deserve.
An award-winning formula from Beyoncé’s hair-care line, strengthening fermented keratin, moisturizing hyaluronic acid and African oils, such as baobab and black seed, gently remove dirt and product buildup while leaving hair soft.
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Fenty Hair The Richer One Deep Conditioner
Ideal for extra dry and damaged hair, including colour-treated strands, this ultra-hydrating conditioner aids with detangling and reducing breakage.
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Frizz & Co. Repairing Hair Mask
A luscious yet lightweight whip of vegetable proteins, moringa butter, and fatty acids hydrate curls and coils, increasing softness and shine without weighing hair down.
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Fable & Mane MahaMane Detangling Leave-In Conditioner
Infused with hydrating aloe vera and amla, an antioxidant-rich botanical, this silicone-free milky spritz sets up dry hair with a much-needed moisture boost, heat protection and more.
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Joico Curls Like Us Smooth & Bounce Curl Hydrating Foam
Designed for use on its own or as a primer for additional curl stylers, a mix of vegetable proteins, moringa seed, and algae oils delivers hydration, lightweight hold, and humidity protection.
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Olaplex No. 10 Bond Shaper Curl Defining Gel
Suitable for all curls and coils, this multitasking gel makes detangling easier, helps control frizz for up to 72 hours, and enhances curl retention.
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Nexxus Curl Define Climate Control Gel Cream
Formulated with silk proteins and hyaluronic acid (a moisture magnet), this hybrid styler just needs one to two pumps to give curls weightless definition with a long-lasting shield against humidity and frizz.
