After 6 hours of research evaluating 49 products, we picked Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls as our top choice.
There are so many products for curly hair on the market right now – it’s hard to know what to choose. You want your curls to flourish and keep up with your busy schedule. You want your curls to stay healthy, moisturized, and manageable. You want your curls to remain vibrant as you go throughout your day.
Yes!
We did the research so you wouldn’t have to and scoured the web to find the best of the best when it comes to making your curls shine.
This Is What I’ve Been Looking For!
Below we’ve compiled a list of the best products for curly hair. If you’re looking for the Best Shampoo for Curly Hair and the Best Conditioner for Curly Hair, be sure to check out our other articles as well!
#1 Best Styling Lotion for Soft, Expanded Curls
Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls
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- A gel that doesn’t leave a crunch
- A little goes a long way
- Leaves curls soft and voluminous
Pros
Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls leaves curls soft and large. Your curls will feel fluffy and manageable and will remain so until your next hair wash.
Cons
This product does contain a very long list of ingredients.
Product Ratings
Application
9.6/10
Apply evenly throughout damp, clean hair either using fingers or a wide tooth comb. Use a diffuser to dry or let hair dry naturally. The formula applies very lightly on hair.
Formula
9.5/10
This formula works almost like a fabric softener for curls. The formula uses nourishing elements like avocado oil to help make curls, well, pillow soft. If you’re looking for a soft hold, that will add volume to your curls, look no further. This product is perfect for tight coils, curly, and wavy hair.
The full list of ingredients is very long, so be sure to check it out in the link we provided to Amazon.
Features
9.5/10
A little goes a long way, and this formula truly works to restore your curls to a soft, voluminous bounce.
Try an 8.5oz bottle on Amazon for $23.20. You’ll notice that this product applies very lightly to hair and is easy to manage.
#2 Best Detangling Creme For Curls
Pantene Detangling Milk Hair Treatment
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- Strengthens hair while detangling
- Sulfate-free and dye-free
- Argan oil leaves curls soft and hydrated
Pros
Pantene’s Detangling Milk is perfect for locking in moisture and giving your curls ultimate hydration. This sulfate, paraben and dye-free milk works to detangle and strengthen damaged hair, leaving it frizz-free and beautiful.
Cons
No need to use a lot of this product, use sparingly throughout hair for best results. Will weigh down curls if too much is used.
Product Ratings
Application
9.4/10
Recommended tips say to apply two pumps of this formula and smooth throughout curls using a wide-tooth comb. Remember that a little goes a long way with this product, and use sparingly so you don’t weigh down hair. When the right amount is used, this product will enable your curls to flourish with ultimate hydration.
Formula
9.4/10
This formula is excellent for tight curls, coils, or even wavy thick hair. It works instantly to detangle and moisturize hair. The formula is infused with Argan oil and is sulfate and dye free!
Features
9.5/10
Give your hair the moisture it needs with this Detangling Milk Treatment. A 7.6oz bottle is selling for only $7.98 on Amazon. The formula is safe to use on curls as often as needed to help strengthen and moisturize hair.
#3 Best Natural Styler for Curls
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk
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- Helps to manage curls
- Hydrates while detangling
- Gives curls soft, natural bounce
Pros
The Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk is infused with coconut oil which hydrates and softens curls. This style-milk can be used to detangle curls and creates naturally soft and voluminous curls.
Cons
The formula is heavy, use sparingly on thin curls so they don’t get weighted down.
Product Ratings
Application
9.3/10
Apply to damp hair after shampooing. Make sure to run through hair from roots to ends. Leave this styling creme in and let it work as a natural conditioner.
Formula
9.3/10
The ingredients for this styling creme are all natural. The list is short and sweet: Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Essential Oil Blend with Hibiscus, Silk Protein, and Neem Oil. This product works best when you let your curls air dry. You’ll notice your curls feel soft, hydrated, and retain their natural buoyancy. This product also works to prevent frizz and keep your curls manageable throughout the day.
Features
9.4/10
Right now you can get an 8oz bottle on Amazon for only $7.89! Watch as this product helps to improve the overall health of your curls. You can use this style-milk as a daily styler and conditioner.
#4 Best Hydrating Leave-in Creme
ORIBE Styling Butter Curl Enhancing Crème
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- Extremely nourishing
- Defines tight coils and curls
- Prevents breakage and controls frizz
Pros
The ORIBE Styling Butter Curl Enhancing Crème is infused with creamy shea butter and avocado oil, leaving your curls super hydrated and soft to the touch.
Cons
The price is very high, for a 6.7oz bottle. You will notice results but at a cost. Definitely worth it if within your budget.
Product Ratings
Application
9.2/10
Work through wet or damp curls and let hair air dry or dry with a diffuser. You’ll notice your hair will feel softened and strengthened.
Formula
9.7/10
The formula is vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and sodium chloride-free. It provides UV protection for hair and is safe on color-treated and keratin treated hair.
This product is filled with a ton of nutritious ingredients including watermelon, lychee, edelweiss flower extract, Murumuru, mango and cocoa seed butter, olive and avocado oils, coconut fruit extract, and Shea and Cupuacu Butter.
Features
8.8/10
The price is the only downside of this enriching softening creme, with a 6.7oz bottle selling for $46.00. If within your budget, this product will work to repair and hydrate your curls. The natural ingredients are the reason behind this pricey item, and your hair will feel stronger and healthier than ever before.
#5 Best Leave-in Conditioner For Curls
Curlisto – Protein Boost
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- Instantly detangles hair
- Strengthens damaged hair
- Leaves hair soft and rejuvenated
Pros
The Curlisto Protein Boost Leave-in conditioner is great to bring on any excursion where your hair may need a little boost. This leave-in conditioner instantly detangles hair and helps to strengthen and rejuvenate damaged hair.
Cons
This product is a leave-in conditioner, not a deep conditioner or regular conditioner for after shampooing.
Product Ratings
Application
9.2/10
With this spray, make sure not to drench your hair with product, as it will become less effective. For best results, spray evenly on wet hair, focusing mostly on the ends.
Formula
9.1/10
The formula is super protein rich. Some of the main ingredients are rice protein, corn protein, and wheat protein. The rice helps to rebuild and strengthen damaged hair, the corn helps add body and volume, and the wheat is what gives your hair that added shine.
Features
9.1/10
This leave-in conditioner by Curlisto works to detangle and strengthen hair. This is an excellent accessory for beach trips! Spray product on hair after a dip in the ocean to help bring your natural waves and curls back to life (and untangle some of that salty sea hair).
An 8oz bottle is available on Amazon for $26.00, and this will last all summer long. Remember that all you need is a few spritzes for this product to work effectively.
#6 Best Leave-in Conditioner For Tight Coils
Kinky-Curly Knot Today Leave In Conditioner
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- Say goodbye to tangles
- Smooths and moisturizes curls
- Herbal conditioner
Pros
A leave-in conditioner that rids your hair of tangles and leaves your curls vibrant and nourished. Kinky-Curly Knot will leave your hair soft and beautiful.
Cons
This detangler might need to be fused with another product if you’re looking to fight frizz.
Product Ratings
Application
9.1/10
You can use this product as a leave-in conditioner or also as a regular conditioner. For curls though, it’s recommended that this product be used as a leave-in conditioner. Apply to wet hair and use a wide-toothed comb to gently and painlessly detangle hair.
For wavy hair, use as a regular conditioner.
Formula
9/10
The formula is straightforward and short. The entire list of ingredients includes Organic Mango Fruit Extract, Organic Slippery Elm, Organic Marshmallow Root, Organic Lemongrass, Cetyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, and Natural Fragrance.
Features
9.1/10
This bottle is quite affordable, selling at $12.54 on Amazon for 8ozs. This herbal detangler nourishes thick and curly hair while leaving curls manageable and healthy.
#7 Best Frizz Fighter
Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper Original
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- Re-activates with water
- Leaves no product build-up
- Gets rid of frizz, leaves the volume
Pros
With the Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper Original, your natural curls will flourish without the frizz. This gel works for tight coils to soft waves, helping to tame frizz and keep your hair hydrated.
Cons
Product is watery (because it’s water based) and takes a try or two to apply evenly throughout hair.
Product Ratings
Application
8.9/10
Finger comb through wet hair from roots to end and apply evenly throughout hair. If you have extremely frizzy hair, use additional product. Allow hair to air dry or dry with a diffuser. Instructions suggest moving as little as possible for the first 15 minutes after applying this product to best fight frizz. Remember that the more you fuss with your hair after it dries, the more frizz it will have.
Formula
8.8/10
The solution is water-based and works in all types of weather. This formula re-activates with water (say hello to the ultimate humidity fighter), and you’ll never feel product build-up.
Features
9/10
On Amazon, you can get an 8oz bottle for $19.00. Because of the water-based formula, you can use this every day without any product build-up or stickiness.
#8 Best For Tightly Coiled Curls
VERNON FRANCOIS Pure Fro Moisture Spray
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- Paraben, sulfate, and phthalates free
- Moisturizes tight coils
- Leaves hair soft and manageable
Pros
The ‘ERNON FRANCOIS PureFro Moisture spray’ is explicitly designed with coiled curls in mind. This light protein-rich formula helps add a light shine to hair and leave it soft and manageable all day long.
Cons
This spray is very light, and more product may be needed for thicker hair. Does not provide an extremely strong hold.
Product Ratings
Application
8.5/10
Shake well before use and apply to damp or dry hair. Make sure to spray evenly throughout hair. The product will feel light and help to protect hair from frizz.
Formula
8.7/10
The formula is vegan, cruelty-free, and safe for color or keratin treated hair. The scent is grapefruit and ginseng. Blended with natural oils, this serum works to encourage hair growth and keep curls healthy.
Ingredients include Ubuntu Kalahari Melon Oil, which provides fatty acids and helps to moisturize hair, and Aquarich®, which works to prevent split ends and improve bounce and natural gloss of hair.
Features
8.6/10
Initially $26.00, you can get this product on Amazon for only $14.00.
This serum is excellent for humid environments as it helps to protect curls from frizz. The formula is protein-rich and ensures a soft hold while keeping hair manageable. Perfect for hair in need of a hydration boost.