Natural Hair Styling Products For Curly Hair

kamu04253 December 08, 2023 Comment

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From a restorative leave-in conditioner to serum loaded with shea butter, these are the products that work for my curly hair. Kara Birnbaum/ ; Courtesy Kristina Lopez; Courtesy Jillian Ortiz

Embracing your naturally curly hair is a personal journey. As women with different textures of curly hair, we've had various points in our lives when, in our quest to figure out what embracing means for us, we ended up causing more harm than good to our hair.

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For example: Jill started straightening her hair on a daily basis in the fifth grade, but didn't realize how damaged, dry and lifeless it made her curls. Kristina used to have retexturizing relaxers done from about 4 years old until her college years, when she realized those treatments weren't just an equivalent to an intense, deep conditioner.

We discovered that patience is the name of the game when it comes to bringing damaged curls back to tip-top shape. The first step? Start with getting to know your hair type and curl pattern.

Nailing down your hair type will help you figure out which particular ingredients and products keep your hair the most healthy and defined. There's a wide spectrum type and pattern combinations:

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Jill's curl pattern falls somewhere between 2B and 2C, while Kristina’s curls have a mix of 3B, 3C and even 4A. Your particular curl type depends on factors like health, age, damage, environment and more.

Another concern to keep in mind in your search is whether your curls are damaged, and how. Mechanical damage is one of the most common for curly hair, especially when you’re just beginning to figure out what brushes, tools and treatments work best for your locks. In Jillian's case, for instance, the years spent using various hot tools on her hair negatively affected her curl pattern.

Kristina, on the other hand, experienced chemical damage: The longstanding routine she thought was nourishing her hair instead led to breakage in the long term — due to years trying dozens of products with the wrong ingredients, not to mention living in different climates.

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Luckily, we've learned from our experience, and we're here to guide you through the process of creating a hair care routine — one that will repair damage and encourage healthy growth. Based on years of trying an array of products, days of research, and hours of sifting through ratings and reviews, the Shop team curated a list of the best curly hair products that'll make you fall in love with your curls all over again. Scroll on or use the links below.

KRISTINA: When I received this as a sample to try out, I didn’t think it would work for my thick, curly hair — but I’m glad I was wrong. Though I don’t use the shampoo every wash day, I find to be a great clarifying shampoo at the two- or three-week mark. My scalp feels clean but doesn’t dry out as quickly as when I use sulfate shampoos. The scent smells like a spa, but the real gem is the probiotic-rich fulvic acid that balances my scalp’s microbiome.

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JILL: I space out my shampoos, and I love using Ouidad's cleansing conditioner on the days when I wash my hair. I was worried that the cleansing conditioner (I had never tried one before) would dry out my hair; fortunately, it delivered intense hydration instead.

The formula is just creamy enough to still feel like a conditioner, so it feels like the product is actually cleaning my hair rather than just sitting on my strands. I apply it in a scrunching motion to help form my curls while I'm in the shower. Then, I brush the conditioner out with a wide-tooth comb and let it sit in my hair for a few minutes before rinsing. My hair is practically detangled by the time I step out of the shower, making it less of a pain to style.

KRISTINA: I love exfoliating when I can. Not only do I find Cermonia’s Papaya Scalp Scrub a gentle one with super nourishing ingredients, but as a Latina, I also feel connected to the brand’s mission to connect sustainable ingredients and cultural recipes with modern day rituals and healthier hair.

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This whipped shampoo comes with exfoliating fruit enzymes like papaya extract, guava leaf and prickly pear cactus. The Bolivian pink salt gives a satisfying exfoliating sensation. It’s great at removing product buildup, as well as both balancing an oily scalp and hydrating a dry scalp (like mine!).

KRISTINA: It’s hard to find leave-in conditioners with the right amount of slip and moisture. This was one of the first leave-ins where, after use, I could actually feel and see the difference in my curls' manageability, shine and definition.

The certified organic blueberry extract and coconut oil fortify my curls when they need some extra love. I definitely lose less hair when I detangle and style with this product. It also pairs well with quite a few gels, so it’s convenient to mix-and-match when I’m in a pinch.

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JILL: I started using this leave-in conditioner one summer to revive my heat-damaged and color-treated hair, and it worked its magic in just one use.

After having straightened my hair frequently during the winter, my hair became more frizzy than curly, and I nearly lost my curl pattern. Because this product is packed with nourishing ingredients such as shea butter, apple cider vinegar and Jamaican black castor oil (JBC), it was able to effectively repair and smooth out my hair without leaving a greasy feeling afterward.

I apply it in a scrunching movement after I wash my hair, and then comb through with a wide-tooth comb to detangle my hair once more.

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JILL: Years ago, I thought gel that made my hair crunchy was the only product I needed in order to lock in my curls. I eventually learned that it's actually supposed to be the final touch for your styling routine, and should leave your tresses bouncing instead of standing still.

I finally swapped out my gel for this hair jelly from Ouidad. The formula is lightweight, and even when I fear I've used too much, my hair says otherwise. Even after it dries, my hair still feels like hair, not straw. It also helps give my curls some volume — even though it is meant for finer hair — and I like using it on second-day hair to help tame frizz.

KRISTINA: This curl control jelly is highly rated for a reason: It holds my curly hair style like no other. It also doesn’t flake, it promotes shine and enhances my spirals.

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The organic blueberry extract helps prevent breakage, and the formula seems to hug my curls, rather than just coat them. I like to use it on wet, conditioned hair; I rub it in my hands first, then smooth it onto each section. You’ll save on product if you section your hair in four to six parts first, and then use enough product to layer onto each section

KRISTINA: Florida humidity is real, speaking as someone with high-porosity hair. Needless to say, I need a stronger hold when hurricane season starts.

Ouidad is known as the curl experts, and I get it now! This Stronger Hold version of their original Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel is a game-changer as my go-to gel when my curls need that extra hug against the elements. It’s also great if I diffuse my hair with low heat and a little goes a long way when I style in sections.

How To Layer Products On Curly Hair

JILL: Stumbling upon this curl mousse was a blessing in disguise. Mousses I've used in the past because the formula was were either too thick and made my hair crunchy or left behind a lot of residue. The formula SheaMoisture uses, though, is lightweight and airy, making it easy to style my locks while dramatically enhancing my curl pattern.

I usually divide my hair into four or five sections and apply two to three pumps of the mousse to each. Though I find it works best when I apply it to wet hair, I also like mixing this with a little bit of water and misting my hair with a spray bottle; this helps minimize frizz and offers my curls a bit of a boost.

JILL: I couldn't be more pleased with this serum from Trader Joe's. While this formula can only be purchased in stores or on Amazon, the coconut oil serum from SheaMoisture, another one of my go-to brands, boasts similar ingredients and can be purchased online.

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I typically apply this to the ends of my hair as the final step in my routine. Not only does it offer my curls some much-needed hydration, but it also tames frizz when it seems like no other product is helping.

KRISTINA: This

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