We Have Curly Hair—Here Are the 17 Holy-Grail Products We Swear By for Styling

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As anyone with curly hair can likely attest to, curls are a constant journey of trial and error. Though everyone’s journey to embracing their natural texture is as varied as curl patterns themselves, the one thing that remains constant is that finding the perfect styling products can be a challenge. Sure, there are specific products that help make the transition to natural hair easier, but once you’ve ditched your straighteners, the question becomes what products should you be using for styling? In search of that answer, we decided to reach out to women with curly hair to share what products they swear by for keeping their curls in top shape. Ahead, you’ll find which product works best for them, their curl types and of course, their tips for using their holy-grail product that makes styling a breeze.

For wash days…

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(Image credit: @venswifestyle )

WHO: Renia Jaz 

WHAT: 3C/3B curl type

WEAR: Bouclème Curls Redefined Scalp Exfoliating Shampoo 

Jaz told us, "I wash my hair every two days, and during the week, I use a number of products on my hair. This shampoo is my lifesaver. It removes any dead skin cells and product buildup, leaving my hair fresh and lighter and making my curls looking healthy and bouncy. I also noticed that after using it, my hair is a lot easier to style!”

Shop Jaz's holy-grail curly hair styling product:

For when you need a leave-in conditioner…

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(Image credit: @alannanicolex)

WHO: Alanna Doherty

WHAT: 3C curl type 

WEAR: Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen and Restore Leave-In Conditioner

Doherty professed, "I LOVE this product for styling curly hair! I’ve been using Shea Moisture products for over six years now, and its leave-ins are the only products that consistently moisturise my hair. I started using this one in particular after I dyed my hair blonde, and I’m positive that it's done wonders for the health of my fro!”

Shop Doherty's holy-grail curly hair styling product:

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(Image credit: @curlygallal)

WHO: Lal 

WHAT: 4A/3C curl type

WEARImbue Curl Empowering Crème Gel

Why this product? Lal shared, "I truly swear by the Imbue Crème Gel for curls and kinky hair like mine. It is a true one-and-done product, which means you can use it by itself, as it is a cream, and a gel combined in one! It gives my hair a good base of moisture with lasting definition and volume. It is the only product I own that styles my hair in one. It is also CG-friendly, vegan, cruelty-free and very affordable, which are all really important to me, as my mantra is to make curl care and education accessible for all!”

Shop Lal's holy-grail curly hair styling product:

For daily styling…

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(Image credit: @yvettecorinne)

WHO: Yvette Corinne

WHAT: 4C curl type

WEAR: TGIN Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer 

Why this styling product? Corinne shared, "I love this product because I have low porosity, and it adds a lot of moisture in my dry strands. Also, it pairs well with gel if you're looking for a more defined look.”

Shop Corinne's holy-grail curly hair styling product:

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(Image credit: @enigivensunday)

WHO: Eni Popoola

WHAT: 4C curly type

WEAR: Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker

Popoola shared, "To get my natural curls more defined, I love to use the Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker. I love it because it works wonders for defining my tight 4C curls, but it also works just as well on any clip-ins or ponytails that I wear as well. It defines my curls without weighing them down or giving that unwanted crunchy feel.” 

Shop Popoola's holy-grail curly hair styling product:

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(Image credit: @janibellrosanne)

WHO: Janibell Rosanne 

WHAT: 4A/3C curl type

WEAR: Pantene’s Gold Series Hydrating Butter Cream 

Skeptical? So was Rosanne, as she told us, "I never looked to Pantene for curly hair products, so I was skeptical at first, but this stuff is great! Whenever I use it, my curls are super soft and moisturised. I have a lot of hair, but it's very fine, so I like that this doesn’t weigh my hair down.”

Shop Rosanne's holy-grail curly hair styling product:

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(Image credit: @tach.j)

WHO: Tacha John 

WHAT: 3B/3C curl type

WEAR: Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat & UV Protective Primer

John confessed, "I'm obsessed with Bumble and Bumble's curl products, but I think my one holy grail is its HIO primer because it's so versatile. It works as a leave-in, heat protectant, and the base for just about every style I do. It's also super lightweight without sacrificing moisture, which is important for my fine hair.”

Shop John's holy-grail curly hair styling product:

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(Image credit: @itsashleyreuben)

WHO: Ashley Reuben 

WHAT: 3A/2C curl type

WEAR: Aussie Conditioning Mousse 

Reuben mused, "It's really hard to pick just one, but I would have to choose the Aussie Conditioning Mousse. This mousse has been my go-to for such a long time, and I love it because it is so versatile. I've used it as a one-and-done styler, a refresh for those days I don't feel like washing my hair, and to give me some texture when I just braid my hair if I'm too lazy to fully style it. In all scenarios, my hair has turned out great! It's perfect for fine-normal hair curlies who struggle to get volume, but it also provides great definition and hold.”

Shop Reuben's holy-grail curly hair styling product:

For when those edges need some love…

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(Image credit: @annadominguez)

WHO: Anneliese Nicole

WHAT: 3B curl type

WEAR: Carol's Daughter Black Vanilla Moisture & Shine Edge Control

Fellow WWW editor Anneliese has quite a few favourite curly hair products. But when I slid into her Slack messages, she professed her love for two products, the first being Olaplex’s miracle leave-in cream, and the second being Carol’s Daughter Edge Control. Per the Slack receipts, she stated, "I wear my hair in a snatched ponytail basically any time I go out, and this gel keeps all my flyaways from trying to ruin my look.”

Shop Anneliese's holy-grail curly hair styling product:

For when you’re not sure where to start…

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(Image credit: @curlyloveclub)

WHO: Kristy 

WHAT: 2C/3A curl type

USE: The Original Wet Brush Detangler

Formulas aren’t the only thing you need in your curly hair styling arsenal, and frankly, if you get nothing else from this story, investing in a good brush can make all the difference for styling your curls. As Kristy contested, "I swear by using a Wet Brush! First, I love using this brush to gently detangle my hair while dry to prevent breakage while detangling. I then use it in the shower to distribute conditioner and form curl clumps. Whether I’m using a mousse, gel, or any styling product, using this brush to distribute everything evenly throughout my hair is key to having bouncy ringlet curls!” 

Shop Kristy's holy-grail curly hair styling product:

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(Image credit: @fashionwithjazz)

WHO: Jasmine Fox-Suliaman 

WHAT: 3C/3B curl type high porosity 

I’ll admit gathering everyone’s favourite curly hair products made me realise a few things, the first being that finding the best products for styling curly hair is all about trial and error and learning about your hair texture.

The second is that, no matter which products or brands work for you, there are seven essential styling products in general that every curly headed person should have in their arsenal. Here are the essentials that I not only love but noticed were a common thread within this story. Consider this a great starting-point list for shopping the best styling products for your curls.

#1: A shampoo (that actually works for you)

#2: A trusted hair mask

#3: Hair oil (to lock in the moisture)

#4: A daily styling product

#5: An in-between conditioner

#6: A little something for the baby hairs

#7: A reliable comb

Next: 10 common hair mistakes, according to a curly-haired celeb stylist

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, and Who What Wear) as the community manager. Over the past few years, Jasmine has worked on Who What Wear'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.