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The Best Curl Products For Natural Hair

Last updated on February 11, 2022

We looked at the top 6 Curl Products For Natural Hair and dug through the reviews from 10 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Curl Products For Natural Hair.

Our Review Process

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Curly, natural hair is a beautiful thing, but it takes some work to keep it looking great. A big chunk of that work comes in finding the right curl products for natural hair. With so many different kinds of products to choose from, such as creams, mousses, oils, gels and sprays, how do you know which one is right for your locks?

The first step to finding curl products for natural hair is to have a detailed understanding of what type of hair you have. For example, is your hair long or short, damaged or healthy, fine or course? In order to find the right product, it has to offer the right amount of moisture and hold. It’s important to understand the porosity of your hair or how well it absorbs curl products.

If your hair is damaged, it will likely have low porosity and will be difficult for it to hold moisture. In this case, you will need curl products that offer a higher amount of protein to help heal your hair.

Typically, coarse hair is rich in keratin, which is a type of protein. On the other hand, fine hair does not have a lot of keratin and can use curl products that have added protein. It also helps to know the density of your hair, which is how much hair you have per square inch on your head. The more hair you have, the more product you will need to use.

Our Picks For The Top Curl Products For Natural Hair

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 We Also Like

Thank God It’s Natural Coconut & Vitamin E Curl Products For Natural Hair, 12-Ounce

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Thank God It's Natural

Coconut & Vitamin E Curl Products For Natural Hair, 12-Ounce

Get smooth and shiny curls with this cream. It hydrates each strand and defines curls. The cream does not contain any parabens, petrolatum, lanolin or other harmful products.

Overall Take

Smooth, Shiny LookThis curling cream offers long-lasting curl definition.

Pros
" Infused with coconut oil and vitamin E, this curl cream is like a glass of water for extra-thirsty hair, moisturizing your curls while also smoothing out any flyaways. Plus, it’s perfect for anyone with very thick hair—the formula doesn’t just..."
 Top Pick

Cantu Shea Butter Enhancer Curl Products For Natural Hair, 12-Ounce

Cantu

Shea Butter Enhancer Curl Products For Natural Hair, 12-Ounce

You can get beautiful curls quickly with this wash-and-go curl activator cream. It reduces frizz while adding volume. The cream contains coconut oil to protect hair.

Overall Take

Quick and EasyThis curl product is ideal for a wash-and-go look and is made for natural hair.

Pros
" Great slip & coats the strands well so makes detangling incredibly easy. Fragrance lasts for a long time on my curls."
 Runner Up

OGX Moroccan Argan Oil Defining Curl Products For Natural Hair, 6-Ounce

OGX

Moroccan Argan Oil Defining Curl Products For Natural Hair, 6-Ounce

This curling cream is versatile and works for all types of natural hair. It tames frizzy locks while adding moisture. It does not contain any sulfates or parabens.

Overall Take

Versatile ChoiceYou can use this curling cream on all types of natural hair.

Pros
" The hero ingredient in this cream? Argan oil, which not only brings life back into your curls through shine and hydration but also keeps them defined and soft all day."
 Strong Contender

SoftSheen-Carson Mango & Bamboo Curl Products For Natural Hair, 12-Ounce

SoftSheen-Carson

Mango & Bamboo Curl Products For Natural Hair, 12-Ounce

Get big, defined and soft curls with this lightweight moisturizer. It contains mango oil and bamboo milk. The cream offers a long-lasting hold.

Overall Take

Lightweight MoisturizerThis curl product for natural hair defines and softens curls, while avoiding shrinkage.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
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Products Considered

We identified the majority of the curl products for natural hair available to purchase.
6

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Cosmopolitan, The Curious Jalebi, Curly Bun Mom, Curls and Beauty Diary, Best Reviews Guide.

226,332

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 6 Curl Products For Natural Hair and also dug through the reviews from 10 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Curl Products For Natural Hair.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Bang For Your Buck

Cantu Shea Butter Enhancer Curl Products For Natural Hair, 12-Ounce

Our Expert Score

0.0
3 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

9.0
16,603 user reviews

Our Take

You can get beautiful curls quickly with this wash-and-go curl activator cream. It reduces frizz while adding volume. The cream contains coconut oil to protect hair.

What other experts liked

Great slip & coats the strands well so makes detangling incredibly easy. Fragrance lasts for a long time on my curls.
- The Curious Jalebi
Amazingly, even though this cream is thick, it doesn’t weigh down curls at all. After scrunching out the crunch, my results have always been soft and bouncy curls.
- Curly Bun Mom
A great curl defining and moisturizing cream for hair types that don’t get weighed down easily.
- Curls and Beauty Diary

What other experts didn't like

You have to be careful with the amount you use. If you apply too much, your natural hair can feel weighed down.
- The Curious Jalebi

What to Look For

  • If you want to really bring out your curls, stop using rough towels to dry your hair after washing. Towels are highly textured and can separate your curls and cause them to frizz out. Instead of a towel, use an old t-shirt that is soft and smooth. This way, you won’t end up roughing up your curls while drying your hair.
  • You don’t have to stick to just one curl product. Many natural-haired people use a mix of products to get the right look and feel. For example, you can mix gel and oil to get defined curls that aren’t crunchy or brittle. If you want to moisturize your curls without weighing them down, consider a deep conditioner and a sulfate-free shampoo. You can also use a curling cream and a leave-in conditioner for a long-lasting look.
  • If you want to refresh your curls in the morning without having to wash them again, you can just spray them with water and add a refresher spray to help define the curls. To keep your curls bouncy through the night, consider sleeping on a silk pillowcase.

More to Explore

Some curl products for natural hair will state that they are for a specific curl type. Do you know what your curl type is?

Examples include Type Two, which is wavy hair that is bendable with a curl pattern but stays close to the scalp instead of looking bouncy and full. Type Three hair can be loose curls or tight ringlets. They are prone to being frizzy without the right care. Type Four curls are coiled and kinky. This type of hair can feel dry without the right products. Within each type of curl, there are A, B and C variations ranging from loose to tight curl patterns.

More to explore