Curly hair rarely rewards guesswork, and finding the best curly hair products is less about buying more and more about buying well. Texture, porosity and strand thickness all change how a formula performs, which is why one person’s holy grail can be another’s fastest route to buildup. To narrow the field, we asked the experts, considered curl types and tested the formulas that actually earn their place
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My mother has envy-inducing, princess-like spiral curls. My twin sister, has managed to learn how to care for our natural softly S-shaped texture. As for me, I’ve spent years somewhere in the murkier middle: not straight, not exactly curly, and perpetually unsure whether I’m dealing with waves, heat damage, product buildup or plain porosity denial.
That, of course, is precisely why curly hair products are such a jungle. The wrong formula can flatten a promising wave pattern into limp lengths. The right one can suddenly reveal there was far more bend, bounce and definition there all along. So rather than blindly hoarding creams, mousses and gels in the vague hope of becoming "a curly girl", I turned to the experts. With guidance from Oribe's Norwegian national artist Miriam Johannes and Swedish content creator, curl maven and hairdresser Beatrice Datmo (plus plenty of my own testing) these are the products that actually earn their place in a curly or wavy routine.
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What are curl patterns and how do you determine what type you have?
This is, frankly, where a lot of us get stuck. Especially if you have spent years blow-drying, brushing out bends or treating every hint of texture as an inconvenience. The first thing to establish is whether your hair has a pattern at all when left to its own devices. Johannes recommends observing the hair wet, then letting it air-dry without brushing, heat or styling products. "If the hair forms a bend, an S-shape or ringlets, it indicates a wavy, curly or coily texture," she says, adding that a curl chart can then help define the type more precisely.
From there, the '1, 2, 3, 4' system can be useful, provided you treat it as a guide rather than gospel. Type 1 is straight hair. Type 2 is wavy, usually forming loose bends or S-shapes rather than full spirals. Type 3 is curly, with more visible spirals or ringlets. Type 4 is coily or tightly curled, with denser, springier or zig-zagging patterns. The A, B and C divisions indicate how loose or tight that pattern is within each family: A tends to be looser, B more defined, C tighter and more compact.
The other thing worth noting, because not enough people do, is that you may not have one curl type. Many people have a mixture. Smoother roots, tighter bends underneath, straighter ends from heat damage, random ringlets around the temples are all entirely normal.
Photo: Getty
What is hair porosity and why does it matter when picking your products?
But curl pattern is only half the story. Johannes stresses that "understanding porosity is equally important, as it determines how well the hair absorbs and retains moisture." In plain English, low-porosity hair tends to resist moisture and can be easily overwhelmed by rich formulas. High-porosity hair absorbs moisture quickly but loses it just as fast, so it usually needs more nourishment and support to stay defined. Medium porosity tends to sit somewhere in the middle.
Then there is strand thickness, which Datmo argues people often ignore. "My biggest tip here is to figure out if you have a finer or a thicker, coarser hair," she says. "Fine strands can easily be weighed down from heavy balms or oily creams so a light lotion or mousse will be a better choice here." On the other hand, coarser, thirsty curls could benefit from that same hydrating formulation. That, frankly, is explains half the curly hair battle. Two people can both have waves or curls and still need completely different products because one has fine, low-porosity hair and the other has coarse, moisture-stripped lengths.
How often should curly hair be washed and what products do you actually need in a curly hair routine?
Neither Datmo nor Johannes treats this as a rigid rule, which is sensible. “I don’t necessarily look at curly or straight, I look at the scalp health. Happy scalp, happy hair,” says Datum, but suggests what twice a week is a good starting point. Johannes is slightly more structured, recommending curly hair be washed “2 to 3 times a week” and suggesting that one of those washes can be a co-wash to cleanse more gently without stripping natural oils.
Not all curls need every product category under the sun, despite what your algorithm would like you to believe. But both Johannes and Datmo agree on the basics: a good cleanser, a conditioner, something to treat dryness, and at least one styling product to help the pattern form more smoothly. Datmo is particularly clear that a leave-in should often come first, almost like skincare before make-up, because the condition of the hair underneath will affect the final result. Johannes similarly recommends styling on wet hair, using prep well, and matching formula weight to porosity.
Should you air-dry or diffuse curly hair?
This is one of those beauty debates that becomes weirdly heated. In reality, both have their place. Datmo is firmly in favour of not leaving the hair soaking wet for hours, saying, "Wet hair is weak hair. We want to cut the time from soaking wet to dry as much as we can." She recommends a microfibre towel and diffuser, and notes that diffusing can also help create "added volume or extra curl boost." Johannes is a little more flexible, pointing out that air-drying is often gentler, but that a combination approach, letting the hair air-dry partially before diffusing, can reduce frizz and maintain definition.
Can heat styling damage your natural curl pattern?
Yes. Quite easily, in fact. Johannes says repeated heat styling can alter the natural structure of the hair, leading to rougher texture, more frizz, less elasticity and ends that dry suspiciously straight. In more severe cases, she notes, the damage is irreversible. Datmo echoes that years of straightening can leave curls looser, duller and less able to hold shape.
What is the difference between curl cream, mousse and gel?
A curl cream is usually about moisture, softness and encouraging shape. A mousse tends to be lighter and can be especially useful for finer strands that want bounce without being dragged down. A gel generally steps in when you need more hold, definition and frizz control. Datmo notes that finer hair is often better served by lighter lotions or mousses rather than heavy balms or oily creams, while Johannes says lower-porosity hair also tends to prefer lighter textures. Put simply: cream for nourishment, mousse for airy definition, gel for stronger structure.
Below, find our beauty desk's tried-and-tested hair products for each and every potential curly girl need:
The best curly hair products to buy in 2026:
The best shampoo for curly hair
What it is: A creamy shampoo for wavy and curly hair that cleanses gently while boosting softness, elasticity, volume and shine without flattening the texture.
Why we love it: Davine's Love Curl shampoo cleans properly, but it doesn’t leave the lengths feeling scrubbed raw or your curl pattern confused. It is particularly good if your roots get oily while your ends knot up and go dry, which is a deeply irritating but very common curly girl reality. The texture has enough richness to keep hair supple, yet the finish is light enough that curls to clump rather than slump.
The best conditioner for curly hair
What it is: A curl conditioner with amaranth extract and chia seed oil, formulated to enhance curls, boost elasticity, reduce frizz and help prevent breakage.
Why we love it: A good curl conditioner should make detangling a drama-free experience, and this one does. It gives enough slip for fingers to move through the hair without the usual tug-of-war, but it does not leave curls overly coated or limp once dry. The result is softer, more obedient hair that still keeps its shape. Useful for anyone whose curls are prone to going fluffy in the shower, then flat the moment they dry.
The best leave-in conditioner for curly hair
What it is: A fine leave-in mist that helps reduce flyaways and stubborn tangles, adds softness, and offers heat protection in a non-rinse format that is also easy to throw in a bag.
Why we love it: As far as leave-in sprays go, this is particularly good on hair that frays at the edges, whether from heat styling, dry ends or simple over-handling. The mist is light enough that finer curls and waves can still spring up, while providing enough slip and softness to make a visible difference on coils. I’d use this on rushed mornings, before diffusing, or as a quick revival on lengths that have gone frizzy overnight.
The best co-wash for curly hair
What it is: A moisturising cleansing conditioner for curly hair that combines shampoo and conditioner in one step, using shea butter, jojoba oil, aloe vera and vitamin E to cleanse gently while softening both hair and scalp.
Why we love it: Co-wash can be a slippery category in every sense. Done poorly, it leaves the scalp murky and the lengths overfed. Maria Nila's version nails the co-wash brief and is especially useful when curls feel parched, in need of a refresh and you want supple softness without the need for another foamy wash day. Hair comes out clean enough, with less of that rough, puffed-out feeling that harsh shampoos can leave behind.
The best hair mask for curly hair
What it is: A deeply hydrating, reparative mask for dry or normal-to-thick hair, formulated to strengthen, reduce breakage, fight frizz and boost shine, with benefits claimed to last through up to five washes.
Why we love it: Bleach, heat, winter, neglect, take your pick. No matter the moisture-stripping problem, this mask leaves the hair softer, smoother and easier to detangle. The texture is rich, but not so heavy that the hair loses all movement. What it does particularly well is make rough, thirsty lengths feel smoother and the curl pattern looks less frazzled. Less broom-like. Because we don't want our 'dos to slip into Lyckotroll territory.
The best curl cream for curly hair
What it is: A curl cream that defines and shapes curls with a balance of moisture and flexible hold, while helping lock in softness, control frizz and leave a silky finish; the formula includes avocado, apricot, jojoba and argan oils plus panthenol.
Why we love it: Curl creams often fall into two camps: too soft to actually do anything, or so rich they smother the life out of your texture. This one threads the needle, albeit better suited for a tighter curl and coarser hair. It provides polish and control, and I find it especially useful when I want a more deliberate, less fluffy result without resorting to a hard gel cast. Yes, it is expensive. Annoyingly, it is worth the price.
The best mousse for curly hair
What it is: A lightweight mousse for wavy, curly and coily hair, made with vegetable protein, aloe vera and niacinamide to strengthen, moisturise and define curls with long-lasting hold and minimal frizz aimed at fine to medium hair.
Why we love it: Mousse can be brilliant on waves and looser curls. Historically though, it can also be the culprit behind many a hair tragedy. This is one of the better modern formulation, helping the hair hold its shape without resorting to sticky, crispy or a weirdly dated finish. On finer strands where heavier creams can knock everything flat, it adds body and definition without resulting in accidental poodle pouffe.
The best gel for curly hair
What it is: A curl styling product that defines and hydrates from root to tip, helping curls stay glossy, flexible and frizz-free while keeping their natural movement intact.
Why we love it: This is the product I point to if someone tells me that gel makes their hair crunchy. It has enough grip to actually hold a wave pattern together, but once the cast is broken those coherent curl clumps don't stay frozen. It is actually the first product I tried that coaxed an actual curl (yes, we're talking ringlet) from root to end in my hair, all without the dreaded halo frizz.
The best products for fine curly hair
What it is: A weightless styling spray for wavy and curly hair that boosts thickness, reduces frizz, and helps define and separate waves without weighing the hair down; it is specifically positioned for fine or damaged textured hair.
Why we love it: Fine wavy-curly hair is fuzzy. If your dream is definition, body and separation, it will easily throw a fit the second you use products that are too rich. Kevin Murphy's spray, however, is the sort of spritz that coax out curl patterns and guide waves into serpentines without weighing your hair down.
The best products for curly frizzy hair
What it is: A smoothing leave-in spray for long, frizz-prone hair, formulated with hyaluronic acid, glycolic acid and wild rose oil to hydrate, soften, protect against humidity, smooth the hair surface for up to three days and provide heat protection up to 230°C.
Why we love it: Frizzy curls are not necessarily in need of more hold. Sometimes, all they need is a smoothed out surface to stop the static-charged fluff. This spray is excellent to calm down the hair cuticle. It works particularly well before blow-drying or diffusing, when the hair is prone to expanding into a fearsome cloud halfway through styling. You get more slip, more shine and noticeably less roughness. I would not rely on it alone for curl definition, but layered into a routine it makes a very visible difference.