Regardless of your curl pattern, it’s inevitable that the heat can dry out and damage your strands, if the right precautions aren’t taken. That’s why it’s essential that we customise our haircare regime around this time of year, to keep curls strong, shiny and super bouncy.
Thanks to the demand for more diversity on the beauty shelves over the last few years, curl-perfecting products can finally be picked up from the likes of Superdrug and supermarkets across London. ‘The products available for naturally curly and kinky hair is now overwhelming. Hair products can be found in every local hair shop right the way to filling the shelves of major drugstores,’ says natural hair blogger Pelumi Rae.
Now that we have plenty of shampoos, conditioners and styling products to choose from, there’s no excuse for not keeping our curls in check at all time. After hitting the high-street to find out what exactly is on offer, I’ve tried and tested some of the best beauty buys for curly hair, £15 and under, and here’s my verdict…
The Best Shampoos For Curly Hair
Cleansing is an essential step in every girl’s haircare routine, regardless of the texture of their strands. When shopping for shampoo for curly hair, look for products that have been infused with natural ingredients such as coconut oil, jojoba oil or shea butter which are great for locking moisture into each curved strand.
The Best Products For Types 2, 3 and 4 Curly Hair: Reviewed
1 of 11Shea Moisture, Raw Shea & Cupuacu Frizz Defense Shampoo 384ml, £9.99
What is it? A sulphate-free shampoo that has been designed to hydrate thick, wavy and curly hair. Packed with natural ingredients such as Amazonian Cupuaçu Butter and Raw Shea Butter, this nourishing shampoo from Shea Moisture fights frizz and hydrates hair while protecting it from pollution and humidity.How does it work? Apply the product onto wet hair and massage into curls until the product begins to foam-up and then rinse off.How will my curl pattern look afterwards? My curls feel super squeaky clean after rinsing the foam off. I also noticed that my curls had formed into a uniform pattern, which means minimal styling was required.SCORE: 8/10****Best For: Types 2, 3 and 4
2 of 11ORS, Black Olive Oil Shampoo 370ml, £14.95
What is it? A creamy, hard-working shampoo that cleanses and moisturises the hair in preparation for conditioning treatments.How does it work? Apply a generous amount of ORS Black Olive Oil Shampoo onto wet hair and work the product into a rich lather. Rinse off and then towel dry.How will my curl pattern look afterwards? Hair feels soft to the touch soon after rinsing off the product. Although my curls feel super clean, my hair strands are lacking the curved definition that I was hoping for.SCORE: 6/10****Best For: Types 3a to 4
3 of 11OGX, Quenching Coconut Curls Shampoo 385ml, £6.99
What is it? Made with a moisturising blend of coconut oil, sweet honey and a hint of citrus, OGX Quenching Coconut Curls shampoo promises to add shine, soften strands, tame frizz and boost curl definition.How does it work? Apply shampoo generously into wet hair, massaging the product from the root-to-tip until it starts to lather and then rinse-off.How will my curl pattern look afterwards? This shampoo instantly felt extremely lightweight and silky-soft as I applied it onto my hair. I could instantly see defined curls arising as I massaged the product into my mane.SCORE: 10/10****Best For: Types 2a to 4a
4 of 11THE BEST CONDITIONER FOR CURLY HAIR
It has been proven that curly hair looses moisture faster than straight strands, leaving our crowns more prone to breakage and spilt ends. That's why a good conditioner is a must and should be used on regular basis to keep curls strong, and retain a healthy texture and shape.
5 of 11Palmers, Olive Oil Replenishing Conditioner, £4.50
What is it? A shampoo that uses natural olive oil as the key ingredient to promote strong, shiny and soft curls that are frizz-free and bouncy.How does it work? Apply this product onto damp hair, and massage into curls, section by section for the best results.How will my curl pattern look afterwards? My curls felt super soft and lightweight after rinsing off the product. My curls looked defined but still had plenty of movement and bounce.SCORE: 8/10****Best For: Types 3 and 4
6 of 11Curls Unleashed, Shea Butter and Mango Leave-In Conditioner 335ml, £6.39
What is it? A leave-in conditioner that has been made with a blend of mango, shea butter and claims to make curls more manageable by softening strands.How does it work? Simply apply to damp hair, and don't rinse off as this is a leave-in formula.How will my curl pattern look afterwards? I applied this product onto my hair in-between washes as a quick curl-perfecting solution. My lacklustre curls instantly bounced back to life with one application and smelt delicious too.SCORE: 9/10****Best For: Types 3 and 4
7 of 11Phil Smith Be Gorgeous, Curl Perfecting Conditioner, £4.50
What is it? This nourishing formula claims to be a fix for out-of-control curls and frizz. With just one wash, curls are promised to look sleeker, shiner and more uniform.How does it work? Massage this conditioner through the hair, working from root to top. Leave the product on for two minutes, before rinsing and towel-dry.How will my curl pattern look afterwards? For how affordable this conditioner is, I was so impressed with how perfected my curls looks after rinsing. Minimal styling was needed after conditioning my crown with this miracle-worker.SCORE: 10/10****Best For: Types 2, 3 and 4
8 of 11THE BEST STYLING PRODUCTS FOR CURLY HAIR
So, you've washed and conditioned your curls, but now it's time to lock in moisture and secure the shape of your spirals with styling products. For free-flowing curls, less is generally more, so use styling products sparingly and go for products that are lightweight and won't weigh down your hair.
9 of 11Twisted Sista, Dream Curl Gel 354ml, £5.89
What is it? Made with coconut, avocado and almond oils, Twisted Sista's Dream Curl Gel promises to eliminate shrinkage by elongating strands and locking in moisture with a strong hold.How does it work? Best used on wet hair, distribute the product from root to tip and then air-dry for crunch-free curls.How will my curl pattern look afterwards? My first impressions were that the formula was very sticky, however once applied to my curls I did love the instant definition I saw. I would recommend allowing your hair to dry to experience the true curl texture.SCORE: 7/10****Best For: Types 3 and 4
10 of 11Cantu, Natural Hair Moisturising Curl Activator Cream 355ml, £7.99
What is it? A cream formula that claims to detangle curls, eliminate frizz and leave hair feeling virtually weightless and soft to the touch.How does it work? Apply this product damp hair section by section. You can also re-apply the product to dry hair to re-active curls.How will my curl pattern look afterwards? My curls were super-soft and had detangled into separated spirals after applying this product to my crown. Very effortless and stays true to its claim.SCORE: 9/10****Best For: Type 4
11 of 11Smoothing Coconut Oil 443ml, £11.99, Jason, LookFantastic
What is it? A multi-purpose natural coconut oil that's rich in Vitamin E and antioxidants.How does it work? Coconut oil is every curly girl's best friend. Massage this product into your scalp all the way down to the tips of your hair for limitless shine and softness.How will my curl pattern look afterwards? My hair overall looks hydrated, healthy and conditioned. Meanwhile, my curl pattern looks effortlessly tight and supernatural.SCORE: 10/10
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.