I've Tried Over $1000 in Curly Hair Products—These 11 Were My Favorites

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Welcome to I Tried It Month, where we’ll be publishing a new fashion, beauty, or wellness article every day in January that features a first-person account of shaking up an old habit, pushing beyond a comfort zone, or simply trying something new. Follow along for 31 days of storytelling, including everything from going without a cellphone for 40 days to trying the polarizing low-rise pants trend. 

As any woman with curly hair can attest to, finding the best curly hair products can be a never-ending journey. While it may seem like testing new products for your coils would be easier than embracing a makeup routine, that’s not the case. Your curl texture and where you’re at in your curly hair journey dictate everything. Transitioning to your natural texture requires a whole different set of products than finding the best everyday styling routine. It can feel as if your curls require submission to the never-ending test-driving of products. 

If reading that sentence alone drained the effort out of your body, I’m here to tell you that I tried 32 curly hair products in one month and survived. If I can survive it, my friends, I promise you, too, can find the perfect curly hair products for you. Still not convinced? Ahead, you’ll find my honest account of what I’m dubbing my curly hair trials—a detailed report of my pre-test product lineup, the products I did try, and products that became my new favorites.

My Lineup Before 

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(Image credit: @nickslaboratory for @fashionwithjazz)

Before I share what hair products I tried, it’s worth noting that I have a mix of 3b/3c curl patterns, normal elasticity, and low porosity. I share this tidbit because it’s essential to know your curl pattern and porosity before discerning which products need to be injected into your life, as everyone’s curls have different needs. For me, before my little hair experiment, my typical hair routine included the following…

Washday:

Wash-and-go days:

Product Trial #1

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(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

For the first two days of my product trial, I decided to stick to one line of products from the curly hair brand Imbue Curls. Here’s the full lineup I test-drove, my thoughts, and which products ended up being my favorites.

Hero products from the lineup:

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Closing thoughts:
(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Overall, each Imbue product does exactly what the product claims. My only qualm is the fact that my hair follicles still require more moisture than most, but for anyone who doesn’t suffer from notoriously dry curls, I highly recommend you give this lineup a try for yourself.

Product Trial #2

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(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

Next, I decided to try Bounce Curl’s product lineup. I used the products for about three days, as I was unsure how I felt about them. Here’s the full lineup I test-drove, my thoughts, and which products ended up being my favorites.

Hero product from the lineup:

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Closing thoughts:
(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

While I am still searching for the perfect product to keep my ever-thirsty hair hydrated, that doesn’t mean that Bounce Curl’s products aren’t great. They’re not a fit for where I’m at in my curl journey but can be a superb option for others for a few different reasons. The brand's heavier oil, deeply moisturizing deep conditioner, and Defining Butta are made for tighter curl patterns like 3c-4c. And the shampoo and Creme Gel are excellent for women trying to heal their hair’s elasticity or give their curls bounce. As with any curly hair product lineup, you have to take what works for you and keep it bouncin’.

Product Trial #3

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(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

After wearing my curls down for a few days, I decided to break from the wash-and-go and switch to my go-to in-between curly hairstyle: braids. For my braiding routine, I wanted to give a few different products a test run to see how hydrating they were for my hair. I didn’t stick to one line. Instead, I mixed the Black-owned brand Bomba Curls' products with a tester I had from Pattern to see how I felt about each. Here’s the full lineup I tried, my thoughts, and which products ended up being my favorites.

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Closing thoughts:
(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

I loved, loved, loved every product in this lineup, which is a reminder to all (myself included) that the best curly hair routines don’t always stick to one product line—hero products can come from anywhere. Furthermore, having easy curly hairstyles to rely upon while you’re in-between washdays is just as important as finding the products that will ensure you’re protecting your curls at the same time.

Product Trial #4

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(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

After wearing my hair in braids for a few days, I decided to switch it up and test out a loose bun with curly bangs. If I’m being honest, I typically switch to buns when I’m over oiling up my braids every night but am not ready for the full routine that is wash-and-go styling. For this trial run, I wanted to revisit a product from Sachajuan and pair it with a new product to see if that made any difference. Here’s the full lineup I test-drove, my thoughts, and which products ended up being my favorites.

Hero product from the lineup:

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Closing thoughts:
(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

Rating: 4 out of 5 

I still love Sachajuan’s products because they live up to their claims. This is definitely a product lineup I’d recommend for women with a 1-3a texture, oil-prone hair, high-porosity hair, and/or low-elasticity hair, as these products are made for you. As for me, I’ll revisit the line when summertime rolls around, but for now, my curls are too thirsty for a beach day.

Product Trial #5

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(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

Feeling rejuvenated again, I decided to dedicate curly hair trial number five to getting back into a wash-and-go routine. I devoted three days to testing two various lines, the first being Rucker Root’s full lineup. Then, I mixed in The Doux’s products to see how I felt about each. Here’s the full lineup I test-drove, my thoughts, and which products ended up being my favorites.

Hero products from the lineup:

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Closing thoughts:
(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars 

I’m giving this trial lineup this rating because I’m extremely picky about how I want my hair to smell and feel and how hydrated it should be. But please remember that everyone’s hair is different. While this lineup didn’t do it for me all the way, if you’re not as particular about scent or texture, then I’d recommend testing this out, as the products do have a lot of great formulations for making your hair be the healthiest it can be.

Product Trial #6

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(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

I decided to test-drive Hairstory’s signature hair cleansers and its balm on my sixth product trial. I also ended up throwing Mylon’s Natural Hair Care System's deep conditioner into the mix, as I hadn’t tried it yet. Here’s the lineup I test-drove, my thoughts, and which products ended up being my favorites.

Hero products from the lineup:

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Closing thoughts:
(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

I never thought I’d be potentially endorsing a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner product, but here I am. Hairstory’s line is worth giving a go for anyone looking for a new wash-and-go conditioner. Just don’t be afraid to pair it with some of your other favorite products to get the most out of it and to make it work for your hair.

Product Trial #7

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(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

Fellow editors have hyped up Olaplex for a minute, but my product trials were the first time I could get my hands on the brand. I tried two signature bond-building Olaplex products along with two styling products from the small Black-owned haircare brand CurlDaze. This was, by far, the best hair day of all the trial days I went through. There were no hero products because I was obsessed with every single one of them, which is significant given all the curly hair products I’ve tested lately. Here’s why I loved them.

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Closing thoughts:
(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

Clearly, the last day of my curly hair trials was my favorite. It wasn’t just because I could finally stop vigorously searching for the best curly hair products. It was also because, through the process, I found a few more products I loved and learned a lot more about my hair. Ultimately, knowing what your hair needs and not being afraid to test things out to find out what works for your hair is essential. You can’t get to the good hair days without a few bad hair days, fumbles, and test-driving a ton of hair products. So don’t be afraid to take the time to figure out what the best curly hair products are for your hair type because it will be worth it. I promise.

Next: In-Between Washdays? Here Are 12 Easy Curly Hairstyles to Bookmark

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a fashion editor living in New York City. What began as a hobby (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a career dedicated to storytelling through various forms of digital media. She started her career at the print publication 303 Magazine, where she wrote stories, helped produce photo shoots, and planned Denver Fashion Week. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as MyDomaine's social media editor until she was promoted to work across all of Clique's publications (MyDomaine, Byrdie, andBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing ) as the community manager. Over the past few years, Jasmine has worked onBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing 's editorial team, using her extensive background to champion rising BIPOC designers, weigh in on viral trends, and profile stars such as Janet Mock and Victoria Monét. She is especially interested in exploring how art, fashion, and pop culture intersect online and IRL.