If you have curly hair, then there's a good chance that you know how time consuming wash days can be—and don't even get us started on all of the products that are involved. From cleansers to deep conditioners to leave-in products, there's a lot to look for when trying to perfect your haircare routine but familiarizing your locks with a decent shampoo for curly hair is a great place to start, and it'll save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Show
“Products are key, starting with the shampoo,” says celebrity stylist and curl connoisseur
Tippi Shorter. “Once hair is hydrated, less styling products are needed.” When it comes time to wash, some of the best shampoos for curly hair are hydrating ones which are often infused with essential oils and butters. “Using products that have moisture and frizz-reducing ingredients are essential for curly girls to achieve healthy curls,” says Shorter. Steer clear of “anything that says chelating, clarifying, or deep cleansing,” she adds. They’ll further strip your hair of moisture, which contributes to the frizz-factor. Another tip stylists swear by: Comb your hair out while it's soaking wet and don't touch them again until they're dry. Fussing with them too much roughs up the hair follicle and leads to more frizz. Want to put your bad hair days behind you? Here are the best shampoos for every type of curl and styling need.
1. Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine ShampooTreat your tresses without breaking the bank thanks to this sulfate-free formula that leaves curls soft and silky. Shea butter softens and smooths the hair, neem oil controls frizz and restores shine, and coconut oil helps reverse the effects of UV rays, dirt, and pollution, which can lead to dull hair.
Best For Restoring Shine Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo SheaMoisture target.com $9.99 2. Together Beauty Wash & Co Cleansing ConditionerWhen Shorter is styling a client’s curls, she reaches for this hydrating option instead of shampoo because it cleans the scalp without any harsh ingredients. “A co-wash is a conditioner with some cleansing agents,” she explains. “The essential oils help restore moisture that curly hair lacks.”
togetherbeauty.com Best For Daily Cleansing Wash & Co Together Beauty togetherbeauty.com $29.00 3. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Super Moisture ShampooIf you have tight curls you’ll want to reach for this low pH cleanser that’s free of parabens, phthalates, and synthetic dyes, making it a nourishing option for both natural and color-treated hair that won’t tangle post-shower.
briogeohair.com Best For Coils Super Moisture Shampoo Briogeo briogeohair.com $39.00 4. Renee Furterer Sublime Curl Curl Activating ShampooFine curls can easily fall flat, which is why you should reach for this formula that employs acanthus extract to restore volume, all while strengthening and defining your natural curl pattern.
dermstore.com Best For Fine Curls Sublime Curl Curl Activating Shampoo Rene Furterer dermstore.com $30.00 5. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Curl Care ShampooThis curl type has a mix of S-shaped waves and ringlet curls and requires a special shampoo that's both hydrating and also lightweight. Enter this shampoo enhanced with blend of rice, keratin amino acids, and enzymes that does all of the above.
ulta.com Best For Type 3 Curls Curl Talk Curl Care Shampoo Not Your Mother's ulta.com $8.99 6. Kérastase Discipline Fluidealiste ShampooWhile a sulfate-free shampoo is your best bet if you have curly hair, it’s even more imperative if you’ve had a keratin treatment. This gentle formula fights frizz without weighing down your ringlets. Plus, it’s sulfate-free, making it a great option for color-treated curls, too.
kerastase-usa.com Best For Keratin-Treated Curls Bain Fluidealiste Shampoo Kérastase kerastase-usa.com $38.00 7. Innersense Hydrating Creme HairbathCurly girls will rejoice over this gentle, sulfate-free formula that employs tamanu oil, which regenerates, strengthens, and protects the hair follicle, all while delivering moisturized curls sans product build-up. This certified organic formula is free of parabens and sulfates, too.
innersensebeauty.com Best Organic Shampoo Hydrating Cream Hairbath Innersense innersensebeauty.com $9.00 8. Shu Uemura Shusu Sleek Smoothing ShampooThis deeply hydrating formula is free of parabens and silicones and works on the coarsest curls to deliver frizz-free tresses thanks to a high concentration of antioxidants and omegas 3, 6, and 9. The result? Smooth texture instantly.
sephora.com Best For Smoothing Shusu Sleek Smoothing Shampoo shu uemura sephora.com $49.00 9. Biolage Smoothproof ShampooThis deeply nourishing formula is great for damaged tresses and will lock in hydration and offer humidity control, all while restoring moisture when your hair needs it the most—without weighing it down.
ulta.com Best For Frizz Control Smoothproof Shampoo Matrix Biolage ulta.com $24.99 10. Aveeno Almond Oil Blend ShampooThis scalp-soothing shampoo employs a combination of natural ingredients, like oat, almond oil, and avocado oil, which moisturize hair from root to tip.
amazon.com Best For Itchy Scalps Scalp Soothing Oil Blend Shampoo 11. Virtue Recovery ShampooLess breakage and more bounce is just a shampoo away. This formula contains keratin, which fills in damaged spots and replenishes the vital nutrients hair needs to thrive, creating stronger, softer, more manageable hair with each wash.
neimanmarcus.com Best For Strengthening Recovery Shampoo Virtue neimanmarcus.com $40.00 12. Tresemmé Moisture Rich with Vitamin E ShampooFor under $10 you can restore the moisture your curly hair needs, thanks to this affordable option that uses ceramides to infuse each strand with hydration, restoring the life and vitality of your curls.
target.com Best Budget Buy Rich Moisture Shampoo With Vitamin E 13. Amika Normcore Signature ShampooThis lightweight formula eliminates product build-up without weighing down your waves and employs coconut acid, sea buckthorn, and vitamins C and A to provide the hair with a satisfying cleanse while moisturizing the hair and scalp.
sephora.com Best For Wavy Hair Normcore Sulfate Free Shampoo 14. DevaCurl No Poo DecadenceKinky curly hair requires an extra boost of moisture to maintain its shape and its integrity. This non lathering shampoo is a boosted version of the brand's cult class, offering more nourishment thanks to chufa milk and quinoa protein.
target.com Best For Type 4 Curls No Poo Decadence DevaCurl target.com $21.99 15. Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam ShampooThe great thing about this shampoo—other than its light water-to-foam formula—is that it's packaged in bottle with a nozzle, making it easy for you to apply the product to every inch of your scalp without using too much and stripping your curls of moisture.
target.com Best For Thick Hair Wash Day Delight Aloe Shampoo Carol's Daughter target.com $10.99 16. Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance ShampooOkay, so the product itself wasn't specifically formulated to treat curly hair, but as a best-seller at Sephora and a favorite of tons of hairstylists, this shampoo works just as beautifully for curly hair as it does other hair types. It's a repairing shampoo that works wonders on damaged hair thanks to a special, patented ingredient that relinks broken bonds in the hair and prevents the formation of split ends and breakage.
sephora.com Best For Damaged Curls No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo Olaplex sephora.com $30.00 17. Bread Beauty Supply Hair Wash Gentle Milky Hair CleanserThis light and milky formula transforms into a gentle, satisfying lather rich with argan oil that moisturizes and softens the hair. It also features a healthy does of lemon tea tree oil to help soothe itchy, irritated scalps.
sephora.com Best Hydrating Shampoo Hair Wash Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY sephora.com $20.00 18. As I Am Coconut Cleansing ConditionerWith a gentle cleansing formula that practically glides through the hair and takes the hassle out of detangling, this cleansing conditioner is perfect for using in between your weekly shampoos—especially when you want to give your hair an extra hit of moisture.
target.com Best Co-Wash Coconut Cleansing Conditioner
Chelsea Burns Chelsea Burns is the Beauty Director for Women’s Health and has been writing in the beauty and wellness space for over six years with her work appearing in Real Simple, Health, Fitness, and Byrdie.com. What conditioner and shampoo should I use for curly hair?Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo. ... . Together Beauty Wash & Co Cleansing Conditioner. ... . Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! ... . Renee Furterer Sublime Curl Curl Activating Shampoo. ... . Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Curl Care Shampoo. ... . Kérastase Discipline Fluidealiste Shampoo. ... . Innersense Hydrating Creme Hairbath.. What drugstore shampoo is best for curly hair?Check Out The Best Drugstore Shampoos for Curly Hair. SheaMoisture Shampoo Curl And Shine For Curly Hair. ... . L'Oreal Paris EverCurl Sulfate Free Shampoo for Curly Hair. ... . Aussie Shampoo Miracle Curls. ... . Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo. ... . Garnier Fructis Style Curl Nourish Conditioner for Curly Hair.. What is a good shampoo brand for curly hair?Editor's pick:. John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Shampoo.. Living Proof Curl Power Trio.. Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo.. Virtue Curl Shampoo.. OUAI Thick Hair Shampoo.. Kérastase Nutritive Shampoo for Dry Hair.. Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Luscious Moisture Shampoo.. What shampoo should not be used for curly hair?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.
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