I Finally Embraced My Natural Hair, and These 22 Products Made It So Much Easier
Ready to revamp your curlcare routine?


Admittedly, my hair hasn't gotten the love and attention it deserves from me over the years. Throughout my childhood years, I used to wear it tucked up and out of the way in a picture-perfect ballet bun to get me through hours of dance classes. Later on, I began to chemically straighten it using a relaxer in hopes of spending less time washing, detangling, and styling my tight coils and more time on the things I wanted to do during my teenager years. By the time I reached college, I decided that returning my hair to its natural state was the best thing to do after experiencing major breakage. Then came the big chop.
To this day, one of the toughest transitions I've experienced during my 20-something years on Earth has been learning to work with my hair again without the help of any hot tools, chemical straighteners, or extensions. The challenge of styling my coils after years of not having to think much about them forced me out of my comfort zone and inspired me to try every new natural hair product that came my way. Naturally, I fell in love with a few that made even the most awkward stages of transitioning from relaxed hair back to my natural texture a little less scary.
Six years later, I've found comfort in my protective styles (box and knotless braids have become my go-tos), but in the few weeks between wearing them, I return back to my roots and treat my hair to some much-needed TLC. Below, I'm sharing the products I've discovered since going natural that have completely revitalized my haircare routine. There's something for everyone here—from curl creams that support length retention to treatments that can extend the wear time of your favorite curly styles.
How can I figure out my hair type?
One of the best ways to ensure the health of your curls and coils is to shop for products that are designed with your specific hair type and texture in mind. The Andre Walker Hair Typing System, popularly known across the beauty industry as the hair-typing chart, created in the '90s by celebrity hairstylist Andre Walker was developed to help his clients (specifically those with natural hair) understand how to care for and style their strands. By understanding what a specific curl type needs for it to thrive, shopping for the best products to deliver the results you want is made that much easier.
Put simply, "curly hair" is an umbrella term that can be used to describe the textures and patterns of an individual hair strand. Under the Andre Walker Hair Typing System, textures are organized into categories of fine, coarse, and medium coarse. From there, each is determined by the circumference of individual strands, and a hair type is assigned to determine how the hair will act, from type 1a all the way to type 4c.
Maria Sotiriou, curl specialist and founder of Silke London, explains, "1a, 1b, and 1c hair is straight hair and will probably be difficult to style and hold a curl, whereas 4c-type hair will be coily, but the texture can be fine and delicate even though you might not think it is." It's also possible for a person to be working with more than one curl type on their head and for their curl pattern to change over time due to anything from heat damage and chemical use to the hormonal supplements in their diet.
What is hair porosity?
Another major thing to pay attention to while determine which products will work the best for your hair goals is hair porosity, as it can determine how your strands will respond to moisture. "Hair porosity will play a big role in how much product you need. Depending on how well your hair retains water, you may have to use a more hydrating leave-in," celebrity hairstylist Sophie Rose Gutterman explains. While it can be hard to determine the porosity of hair while it's dry, there are expert-approved ways to know for sure.
The float test is an easy way to determine your hair porosity and can make a big difference in how you shop for curl-friendly products. To do it, place a product-free strand of hair in a clear glass of room-temperature water and pay attention to how it behaves. If your strand floats, you have low porosity, and if it sinks quickly, your hair is high porosity. If the strand sinks slowly or remains suspended in the middle of the glass, then your hair is medium porosity. Curls and coils can be found across all porosity levels, so it's important to know yours and shop accordingly.
The Best Curly Hair Products, Listed
- Shampoo and Conditioner: Carol's Daughters Black Vanilla Luscious Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner
- Leave-In Conditioner: Curlsmith Hydrate Plump Leave In
- Mask: Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino and Avocado Hydrating and Defining Mask
- Curl Cream: Davines Love Curl Cream
- Styler: Pattern Palo Santo Curl Mousse
- Treatment: Color Wow Dream Coat for Curly Hair
- Styling Tool: Mane Wets Get It On Wet Brush
Cleansing the Scalp and Strands
No matter what curl type you have, it can be challenging to land on a washday routine that addresses all your concerns. Luckily, there are shampoo-and-conditioner sets that can make the job easier. Infused with botanicals (aloe, neem, and rosemary oil), this shampoo-and-conditioner duo gently removes impurities from the hair and scalp while keeping your curls frizz-free.
Another helpful shampoo-and-conditioner set I always have in my shower for a fuss-free washday is this one from Carol's Daughter. The color-safe shampoo gently cleanses your strands and scalp while replenishing moisture levels, and the hydrating conditioner gently detangles your hair, leaving curls and coils soft, shiny, and easy to style.
The right conditioner for your curls will gently detangle them while offering the elasticity and volume they need to look their best. Part of Davines's line of essential curly hair products, the Love Curl Conditioner works overtime to add ample volume and shine with a blend of protein, B vitamin, and Noto almond extract.
Hydration Through Leave-In Conditioners
Is there anything better than having plump, hydrated curls? Using this best-selling leave-in conditioner is key to creating them. It nourishes the cortex with a plant-based stem cell complex, jojoba oil, and ivy leaf, leading to hydrated and voluptuous curls in minutes. If you like this one, try pairing it with Curlsmith's Full Body Milk Conditioner ($26).
When it comes to ultra-hydrating leave-in conditioners, this one sets the bar high. It has a weightless formula that reduces frizz, adds shine, and defines texture. A blend of nourishing Tsubaki Meadows, field mustard flower extract, and sugar beet extract condition the hair and tame frizz. It also has spa-like notes of sparkling yuzu, green tea, bergamot, and sandalwood.
Growing up, I was told that air-drying my tight coils would lead to frizz and a loss of definition, so when I found Curlsmith's Weightless Air Dry Cream, I was beyond excited to try it out. Not only did my hair dry frizz-free after using this hair cream, but it also enhanced my hair texture and kept my curls hydrated all day without weighing them down using a unique blend of babassu oil, murumuru, and hyaluronic acid.
Curl-Reviving Hair Masks
I was introduced to this hair mask years ago by another curly girl when I was on the hunt for a mask that could reconstruct my damaged post-relaxer curls. Using a nourishing blend of manuka honey and ceramides, this rich mask coats your curls with moisture for defense against breakage and split ends. If that weren't already enough, it also promotes elasticity, leaving the hair shiny and smooth.
If achieving endless shine and definition is your goal, snag the Oribe Curl Gelée. It combats frizz, defines curls, and adds shine without leaving your hair crunchy. It's formulated with the Oribe Signature Complex (watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss-flower extracts), a nourishing butter complex (murumuru, mango, and cocoa-seed butters), and so much more for healthy, nourished curls.
This nourishing hair mask by Briogeo has been one of the most affordable ways to revive my 4c curls after wearing protective styles for weeks on end. It can be used as a weekly protein-free curl treatment to define your curls with avocado, castor, chia, and flaxseed oils. It's also formulated with rice amino acids and tomato-fruit ferment to promote a consistent curl pattern.
Adding Definition to Curls and Coils
The best advice I ever got from a stylist was to use a curl mousse for all-day hold, volume, and definition. Pattern's Palo Santo Curl Mousse is my top pick for achieving all of that and more because it's powered by two of the best ingredients for curls: marshmallow root and castor oil. The two work in tandem to hold curls and set styles with volume and shine.
In case you missed it, Olaplex launched one of the best curl-friendly gels on the market. Its No.10 Bond Shaper Curl Defining Gel uses the brand's patented Bond Building Technology and Curl Retention Compound to quickly repair and strengthen broken bonds. It enhances curl definition while also reducing breakage and promoting shine.
If you struggle with finding ways to add volume to your fine hair, try using a flexible hair foam. This one is a lightweight, protein-enriched styler that promotes hold and volume using nourishing hempseed and a rice protein complex. Your hair will have the volume you've always dreamt of and the extended wear time of curly styles, including wash-and-gos and twist-outs.
Curl Creams for Length Retention
To promote length retention and curl definition, consider adding this curl-enhancing leave-in cream. Infused with vitamin and protein-rich Noto almond extract to elasticize the hair, it moisturizes your strands from root to tip for a boost of hydration while also minimizing frizz. In the end, your curls will be soft, defined, and shiny.
Issa Rae's Sienna Naturals offers a wide selection of beginner-friendly curlcare products, including the Dream Curl Cream. It uses the brand's unique Curl Memory Technology to revive your natural curl pattern as well as shea butter and mango-seed butter to moisturize and fortify the scalp and strands. The best part? You'll have multiday hold without crunch or a white cast.
For high-porosity hair, having a heavier curl cream on hand can make a huge difference in extending the wear time of styles. The Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream, for example, gently detangles your curls and coils with silk amino acids, honey, and shea butter for healthy hair. Not only is the formula uniquely designed to be buildable, but it also provides a soft to medium hold that's ideal for wash-and-gos.
Extending Style Wear Time
If you've been on the hunt for a curl-defining spray to make your curls pop, you'll want to get your hands on Mizani's Coco Dew Curl (P)restyling Spray. It can be used to prep the hair before natural styling and revive your day-two curls. It has coconut extract to moisturize, strengthen, and nourish the hair follicles while leaving behind a light tropical fragrance.
Yes, there's a Color Wow Dream Coat treatment formulated with curls and waves in mind. The lightweight all-in-one styler delivers definition and uses a proprietary Tri-Polymer Complex, hydrolyzed keratin, and glycerin to moisturize and repair your strands while adding bounce and shine. It also plays defense against frizz while keeping your curls soft and flexible.
Adding shine to your strands has never been easier. Pattern's ultralight Shine Spray contains castor oil and plumeria-flower extract to enhance the natural luster and softness of your curls. The spray also helps combat dryness and frizz while protecting your curls from humidity. It also happens to have a refreshing and light floral scent.
Effective Tools for Detangling and Styling
Without the right products in your tool kit, having to detangle your curls can be a daunting process. This Mane brush prevents tangles while moving with (not against) your natural hair type and texture. Plus, it can be used on wet or dry hair and has bendable bristles that prevent tugging and snagging. Its flexible base helps the brush glide through knots.
When I'm not slicking down my curls with gel, I prefer using a lightweight wax-based styling stick. Using a vegan formula enriched with castor-seed oil, this styling stick instantly tames flyaways and frizz to create a satin finish with a medium hold. It's ideal for effortless styling on the go without having to get your hands covered in product.
This might seem like a simple one, but our curly-haired beauty editors and network of experts agree that having an easy-to-use, multipurpose spray bottle on hand like this one by Alpree can be extremely helpful for any styling process. It's an aerosol and leak-free bottle that distributes water evenly, creating ultrafine mist that covers large areas quickly.
Incorporating a hair steamer into my routine was one of the best things I could have done in my haircare journey. Not only did it help revive my curls post-braids by leaving them hydrated and shiny, but it also made sure my products could work the way they needed to, especially when it came to making sure hair masks and deep conditioners could penetrate deeper.
What to Look For
Depending on which ingredients you incorporate into your haircare lineup, your chosen products can either make or break a curly hair routine. That's why knowing how they impact the health of your strands (and how to get the most out of them) can revamp your approach to haircare. The products that made my list meet and surpass all expectations since they address my biggest problem areas—breakage, dryness, and lack of length retention. As you shop for curly hair products, keep your personal hair goals in mind and use products powered by ingredients that will address them.
How I Chose
As with all of our buying guides atBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , we compile our edits based on original testing and expert recommendations. To decide on the best curly hair products, I tested each product on my 4c strands while also leaning on my unique expertise in the beauty space as an editor. I'm aware of how important curl-enhancing formulas, all-natural ingredients, and intentional use are while making smart shopping decisions, so I made sure to list out all the helpful details. Of course, customer reviews and expert guidance are also kept in mind. That said, I scoured the internet for sleeper hits and trending products when compiling my list.
Why Trust Us
Since 2006,Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover Wholesale Replica Bag brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think ofBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing as your most trusted style and shopping resource.

Maya Thomas isBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's Associate Beauty Editor based in New York City. Her strong love for all things beauty and fashion stems from a strong childhood interest in the fine arts. During a gap year spent in Paris studying the history of French fashion, she shifted her focus to English literature and journalism as a student at Loyola Marymount University with the goal of one day pursuing a career in fashion. After graduating in May 2021, Maya began freelancing for Parade.com as a contributing commerce writer while also building a following on her lifestyle blog, Itsmayalala.com. When she's not writing, Maya spends her free time catching up on reading, perusing art galleries, and enjoying a night out at the ballet every now and then.
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