As anyone with curly hair knows, there's a bit of trial and error when it comes to figuring out wtf your hair wants from you. Which is why finding "the best" curly hair product is, annoyingly, an unrealistic myth. A curl cream that leaves your friend’s coarse, 3b hair with major definition may leave your fine, curly hair looking greasy and lank. Because in reality, the right curl formula depends on your hair type, porosity, damage levels, density, and even the hairstyle you’re frequently wearing (like waist-length micro braids that give you an itchy, dry scalp).
But! That’s where Cosmo’s deputy beauty director Chloe Metzger and the industry’s top hairstylists (see: Haiya Eliza and Sabrina Rowe Holdsworth) come in. We’ve gotchu covered on the best curly hair products for a variety of hair types, needs, and preferences, including the best mousses for curly hair, hair gels, serums, shampoos and conditioners, deep conditioners, and creams. Get ready to have the best curly hair of your freakin’ life. Here’s a bb sneak peek:
✔️ P.S., This is new, up-to-date info! We updated this article in January 2023 to add new curly hair products our editors are buzzing about, delete outdated oldies, and check in with new experts for tips on building the best curly hair routine for you.
Our top picks for curly hair products in 2023:
Now keep scrolling for 27 (!) curly hair products editors and experts are obsessed with. Then, I’ll get into all of your top FAQs, like how to enhance your curl pattern, what to avoid in a curly hair product, and how to choose the best curly hair product for you.