Hair texture and quality vary depending on the individual, and therefore, you need different shampoos for different hair textures. Whether you've got straight hair, waves, cropped coils, bouncy ringlets, or corkscrews, there's a shampoo out there for your hair type. Curly hair needs a different shampoo from normal straight hair because curly hair comes with several problems such as tangles, messy looking hair, unmanageability, or hair breakage while combing.
Different individuals have different curl patterns where some curl patterns may lock natural oils from reaching the scalp making your hair prone to breakage and damage in general. The best shampoos for curly hair have been made to free curly hair from problems such as tangles and coils that can cause damage to the hair.
To achieve a perfect look with shiny and luscious curls, you have to start by getting the foundation right to find the best shampoos for curly hair, which can be a challenge. Below we have compiled a list of the best shampoos for curly hair with their list of pros and cons. Also, we have included a detailed buying to guide you through making an informed decision.
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Best Shampoo for Curly Hair
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Best Shampoo for Curly Hair - Reviews
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice is made of a sulfate-free formula and can be used on different hair types ranging from coils, kinky, wavy, and especially curly. With a sulfate-free formula, it also contains avocado oil and shea butter, which play a part in increasing your hair's body and volume without weighing your ringlets down. The formula also has a tomato fruit ferment that helps to seal the hair cuticles to ensure your hair will dry consistently, which is the secret to maintaining a uniform curl pattern.
The majority of the ingredients are natural and do not include gluten, artificial dyes, or silicone and therefore safe to use on chemically treated and colored hair. The rice amino acids present help in penetrating the hair follicles and locks out frizz, and the avocado oils and shea butter work together to hydrate and smoothen your curls.
Pros
Cons
As the name states, this SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl product contains shea butter, a beneficial ingredient for any dry and curly hair to repair the strands. According to hair experts and celebrity hairstylists, the Hibiscus nourishes your hair while hydrating your scalp simultaneously. Also, it is the best sulfate-free shampoo as sulfates can be harsh and strip moisture off your hair. Still, it also packs additional benefits of a silk strengthening protein in addition to hydrating coconut and neem oil.
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl is rich in vitamin C and collagen, so you don't have to worry about adverse side effects to your hair and scalp when using it to clean your hair. Not only does this hydrating shampoo cleanse, but it also adds back moisture and shine to the hair while fighting frizz. You can also opt for the Shea Moisture Raw Shea shampoo if you have high porosity, color-treated damaged hair strands because the formula locks in moisture and prevent the curls from drying out or shrinking during the day.
Pros
Cons
As the name states, this SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl product contains shea butter, a beneficial ingredient for any dry and curly hair to repair the strands. According to hair experts and celebrity hairstylists, the Hibiscus nourishes your hair while hydrating your scalp simultaneously. Also, it is the best sulfate-free shampoo as sulfates can be harsh and strip moisture off your hair. Still, it also packs additional benefits of a silk strengthening protein in addition to hydrating coconut and neem oil.
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl is rich in vitamin C and collagen, so you don't have to worry about adverse side effects to your hair and scalp when using it to clean your hair. Not only does this hydrating shampoo cleanse, but it also adds back moisture and shine to the hair while fighting frizz. You can also opt for the Shea Moisture Raw Shea shampoo if you have high porosity, color-treated damaged hair strands because the formula locks in moisture and prevent the curls from drying out or shrinking during the day.
Pros
Cons
Your curls will fall in love with the Kerastase Bain Oleo-Curl Shampoo instantly, and the fact that professionals use it makes it a more reliable product to use. It comes highly recommended for all curly heads with sensitive curls and generally works great for all hair types. The shampoo is perfect for nourishing both your scalp, curls, and hair cuticle, and you don't have to use the shampoo every day to maintain results.
The shampoo is a high-quality product that offers a long-term treatment that your curls will thank you for every time. Additionally, this shampoo controls frizz by limiting the penetration of humidity and prevents the deformation of curls.
Pros
Cons
Anyone with beautiful curls should be a fan of this DevaCurl No-Poo shampoo because it is a zero lather cleanser that provides plenty of moisture for your curls. The zero lather condition guarantees you achieve the bounciest and healthiest curls. The shampoo is made of ingredients like grapeseed and peppermint oil that help stimulate and clean your scalp without necessarily stripping oils from your curls.
The cleansing conditioner is a top choice because it also works as a protein treatment, and also it is a vegan, cruelty-free high-quality product that enhances your curls. It is gentle enough to use every day and is an excellent choice if you have fine to medium hair and brings out the life in dry and color-treated hair. Customer reviews say that it can be used as an all-in-one product without using a conditioner as it is very moisturizing.
Pros
Cons
What to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Shampoos for Curly Hair
As a beginner trying to manage their hair, choosing the best shampoo for curly hair might not be that easy, but this buying guide will help you control and keep your curls healthy by helping you purchase the right product for your hair strands.
1. The Type of Curly Hair Shampoo
There are two types of curly hair shampoos, and they include:
i. Cleansing Conditioners
These types are also known as co-washes, and they use an all-in-one formula that is a combination of conditioner and shampoo. The word "Co-wash" is the short form for "condition wash," and it refers to washing your hair using a conditioner. A cleansing conditioner is effective in cleaning your curls gently, but it will not produce a lot of lather and should only be left on the hair for a few minutes.
ii. No-Poo Shampoo
This type of shampoo is made of water and oil-based formula and, as a result, can clean hair without stripping its moisture. The no-poo shampoo does not lather much, so you should opt for a regular curly shampoo if you prefer a shampoo that lathers. Keep in mind that after using a no-poo shampoo for curly hair, you need to follow it with a conditioner.
2. Avoid the Shampoo with Sulphates, Parabens, and Alcohol
Sulfates are a popularly used surfactant because they create a foamy lather; we associate the best shampoos with the significant ingredient being sodium lauryl sulfate. However, sulfates can be drying and harsh on curls or any hair type as they strip down natural oils giving your hair a frizzy look.
Alcohol is a common ingredient in most styling products in the market, but it is a drying ingredient making your hair lack moisture. Some alcohol types can act as a conditioner for your hair, but some leave your curls dry and frizzy. Alcohol usually mixes with water during washing and dissolves the natural oils to give you an easy wash. Still, because they are lightweight, they evaporate and leave your hair dry and frizzy. Some alcohols like cetyl alcohol help make your hair more manageable, but you need to keep careful with short-chain alcohols.
3. Natural Ingredients
Always check the ingredients that make your shampoo, and it is better to choose shampoos based on essential oils. Natural ingredients such as olive oil, jojoba oil, sea kelp, coconut, aloe vera, tea tree oil, or argan oil are fantastic to your hair because they add vitamins but avoid shampoos that contain ingredients like sulfates, parabens, or silicones.
Natural ingredients are vital to curly hair because they nourish it and offer the right type of moisturizer, vital for your curls and scalp health. They also help in moisture retention, helping you maintain a smooth texture, soothe your hair, and at the same time give a neutral PH to your hair.
4. Choose Hydrating Shampoos
Natural curls are negatively affected by humidity, and because they are porous, they quickly absorb water from their surroundings and end up looking frizzy. On the other hand, natural curls in a dry environment will lose water quickly, making the hair brittle and increasing hair-line breakage chances. Curly hair is naturally dry because the curl pattern makes it difficult for natural oils to moisturize each strand; therefore, you need to look for hydrating shampoos that will help you to retain moisture during wash day. According to celebrity stylist and curl connoisseur Tippi Shorter, "Once your hair is hydrated, you need less styling products."
5. Features
Some features are vital to check in your shampoo for curly hair, such as:
i. UV Protection
UV rays from the sun can dry out your curly hair and damage it. Look for a shampoo with UV protection, especially if you have color-treated hair that can dull or fade with sun exposure.
ii. Colour-treated hair
To successfully maintain your hair color, you need to be careful about which products you will use. Make sure you go for the best shampoos for curly hair that have a color-safe formula.
6. Shampoos with Slip
To make hair more manageable, individuals with curly hair should purchase a shampoo that has slip because naturally, with the curly hair type, you often have to deal with coils, knots, tangles, and snarls. Slip shampoos make your hair tangle-free and relatively easy to run your fingers through, reducing the amount of breakage. Using a slip shampoo on your hair will save you both the time and amount of product you need to use to detangle your hair.
7. Balance your use of silicones
Silicones are large molecules that stay on the outside of the hair shaft and are also known to add shine and slip to your hair. However, they are not ideal because they encourage product buildup, which can only be removed using a sulfate shampoo. At first, you see your hair shining but as time goes by, the products with silicone dull and weigh down your curly hair.
There are mixed reactions when it comes to silicones because some articles will praise them while others warn against them. To be safe, use products with small silicone amounts, and when you can, swap them for natural-based emollients like argan oil.
8. Protein Level in the Shampoo
As much as protein is essential, it can make your hair stiff and dry, so you need to avoid hair products that contain proteins. Proteins usually reduce moisture and make it hard to style your curls, but there is no specific method to reduce protein unless you use the trial and error method. Pick a shampoo for your curly hair according to your hair and curl type.
