Anyone with curly hair knows that it is a damn JOB trying to figure out what the heck your hair needs to look...good? Decent? Fine, okay to leave the house? And because finding the best shampoo for your curl type and texture is...a task, we've spent our days decoding ingredient labels, understanding the war on sulfates, interrogating fellow curly-haired editors, and enduring a zillion bad-hair days in the pursuit of the best curl shampoo and conditioner for every curl need. And now, we're bringing all that knowledge to you so you can have moisturized, clumped, and healthy curls every single day. Show
If you're currently losing your mind trying to find a moisturizing curl shampoo and conditioner that doesn't make your fine hair lank and oily or a lightweight cleanser that doesn't strip the heck out of your curls, allow us and a few experts—curly hair specialists, Daisy "Daze" Henson, and April Story—to help you out of your Goldilocks situation. Below, here are the best shampoos and conditioners for curly hair. Let's get started, shall we? Our top curly hair shampoo and conditioner picks of 2022Check out this quick lil breakdown, then keep scrolling to find the full list of curly hair shampoos for every hair need.
And on to the good stuff... Best No-Poo Curl Shampoo Hair Rules No Suds Cleansing Cream Best Curl Shampoo for Fine Hair LUS Gentle & Moisturizing Shampoo Best Curl Shampoo for Irritated Scalps Rizos Curls Hydrating Shampoo Best Shampoo for Chemically Treated Curls Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo Best Curl Shampoo for Thin Hair Playa Every Day Shampoo Best Curl Shampoo for Oily Hair Creme of Nature Clay & Charcoal Shampoo Best Clarifying Shampoo for Coils Pattern Hydration Shampoo Best Shampoo for Repairing Curls Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo Best Shampoo for Wavy Hair TPH By Taraji Serene Queen Best Shampoo for Oily Scalps Bouclème Hydrating Hair Cleanser Best Shampoo for Thick, Frizz-Prone Curls Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo Best Shampoo for Reviving Curls Malibu C Un-Do-Goo > pH 9 Shampoo Best Curl Shampoo for Dense Hair Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Shampoo Best Cleansing Conditioner for Type-4 Hair Curlsmith Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash Best Clarifying Shampoo for Waves and Curls Eden BodyWorks Peppermint Tea Tree Clarifying Shampoo Best Drugstore Curl Shampoo and Conditioner Not Your Mother's Naturals Sicilian Blood Orange Smooth and Soften Shampoo + Conditioner Set Best Volumizing Curl Shampoo and Conditioner Vernon François Shampoo & Conditioner Set For Curly Hair What shampoo and conditioner is best for curly hair?There's no right answer here because everyone's curls are different. In fact, hairstylist April Story's favorite quote is, "every head of curls is different, and every curl is different on every head.” So, you should customize your routine based on your hair’s characteristics, she explains. But in general, "if you have a looser curl pattern, low density, or fine hair, opt for a
lightweight combo. If you have tighter, more dense, or thick hair, opt for a heavier, more nourishing combo," says Story. If you're not sure if you should swap your current product for a new one, here are a few tips to help you troubleshoot:
What shampoo is bad for curly hair?There's not necessarily a "bad" shampoo for curly hair—what makes your hair feel like straw may make another person's curls feel light and bouncy. Maybe your current curly hair shampoo and conditioner are filled with sulfates and silicones, but it seems to be working for you. Awesome—keep on keepin' on. However, generally speaking, "avoid sulfates because they actually strip your hair of its natural oils, which dehydrates your curls and causes dryness and frizz," says Story, and re-consider using shampoos that contain silicones, says Henson. Most silicones—i.e., polymers that coat your hair to give it slippery smoothness—can quickly build up on your strands, preventing water from penetrating your hair cuticle. Unless the silicones in your shampoo are water-soluble (meaning they're easily washed away with a sulfate-free shampoo), you'll need to use harsh sulfates to remove them—thus putting you in a vicious build-up/strip-down cycle. Not ideal. I like to use this silicone list from Science-y Hair Blog to cross-check the soluble vs. non-soluble silicones, but if you're already super overwhelmed, I highly recommend copy/pasting the ingredients of your current shampoo into Is It CG?, which will tell you if your shampoo has "bad" sulfates or silicones in it. What to look for in a shampoo and conditioner for curly hair:Look for moistureAnd more moisture, moisture, moisture. But don't think that just means heavy butters and oils (yup, even if you're working with dry 4a hair). According to Henson, you’re going to want to look for a curly hair shampoo that: (1) contains natural humectants, i.e., ingredients that help pull water into your hair (like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and aloe vera), and (2) contains natural emollients, like fruit, nut, and vegetable oils, to soften curls and smooth your hair cuticle. Evaluate the ingredientsYou should also pay attention to what type of surfactants (cleansing agents) are in your shampoo, which can be found in the first 4-5 ingredients on the label. In general, unless your curls are in need of a clarifying rinse, you should avoid shampoos that contain harsh sulfates, like sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, and sodium laureth sulfate. If you need a handy-dandy list of good vs. "bad" surfactants to crosscheck your shampoos against, I personally use this cleaners list by Curlsbot. Know your hair's porosity"The porosity level, or the ability for your hair to retain and absorb through the cuticles of your hair shaft, is key when determining what products and routines to adopt for your curly hair," says Story. If you don't know what your hair porosity is, don't worry we gotchu, check out our guide, but in the meantime, here are some general tips:
Meet the experts:
Why trust Cosmo?Siena Gagliano is a contributing beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, and has two years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She’s an expert at researching and writing hair and skin stories, like the best shampoos for thinning hair and the best purple shampoos. She regularly tests and analyzes curl shampoos and conditioners on her own hair for efficacy, while working with the industry’s top hairstylists to assess new formulas and brands. Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan with nearly 10 years of experience researching, writing, and editing skin, makeup, hair, and nail stories across print and digital, including how to determine your hair porosity and how to do the Curly Girl Method. Her shampoo and conditioner for curly hair picks were based on product reviews, ratings, and personal testing, along with information from experts. Siena Gagliano Contributing Editor Siena Gagliano is a contributing editor at Cosmopolitan, where she primarily covers beauty in the makeup, skin, and hair spaces. Chloe Metzger Deputy Beauty Director Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing the editorial content and growth strategy of the hair, makeup, and skin space on digital, while also obsessively writing about the best hair products for every hair type (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare routines that really, truly work (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life). Is sulphate free good for curly hair?The bottom line is, sulfate-free shampoo can be a great choice for natural hair. Without sulfates, you're able to get your curls clean and let them keep the natural oils that are so critical.
Is siliconeOver time, silicone can make your hair appear dull and lifeless. It can be terribly difficult to remove the buildup and cause breakage if not washed off properly. This is why we suggest alternating between a silicone-free conditioner and one with silicone in it.
Does curly hair need silicone?It's not good for curly hair because the coating on the hair acts as a sealant, and builds up over time- blocking moisture from entering- not good as curls desperately need moisture and hydration. Nutrients cannot get in, and over time curls can become brittle and break.
Which conditioner is best for curly hair?The best hair conditioners for curly hair in India.. Tresemme Keratin Smooth. Buy Now- INR 187. ... . Fix My Curls Hydrating Deep Conditioner. Buy Now- INR 873. ... . Anveya Curls Ultra-Moisturizing Conditioner. Buy Now - INR 697. ... . Spantra Curly Conditioner. Buy Now - INR 314. ... . BBLUNT Curly Hair Conditioner. Buy Now: INR 374.. |