20 Curl-Defining Creams for Your Best Curly Hair Yet
We always want what we don't have. Girls with thin, straight hair want volume and waves while girls with curly, thick hair want pin-straight locks. But thanks to a plethora of hair products, styling tools, and tutorials, you can achieve whatever look you want—even if it's just embracing (and enhancing!) the hair you got. No hairstylist required.
From curl-defining creams and lotions to frizz-free balms and mousses, these styling products come highly recommended. And if you want curls, check out these 3 Ways to Create Effortless Waves and Curls Using a Flat Iron.
1. Best for Breakage:
SHEAMOISTURE Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Breakage, be gone, thanks to the coconut oil in this product that hydrates and moisturizes bouncy curls. Formulated with certified organic Shea Butter, this conditioning smoothie is made for hair types 3A, 4A, 3B, 4B, 3C and 4C.
Check out our Ultimate Guide to Every Curl Type to see if this product is for you!
2. Best Cream With Vitamin E:
MOROCCANOIL Curl Defining Cream
Made for wavy to curly hair, this 2019 Allure Readers' Choice Award winner features advanced heat-activated technology and is rich in Vitamin E and argan oil for the most nourishing results.
3. Best Cream With the Most Reviews:
CANTU Natural Hair Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream
With nearly five stars and over 12,000 reviews on Amazon.com, this cream delivers all of the volume and shine with none of the frizz. Plus, it's made without parabens or silicones!
4. Best Pre-Styling Product:
OUIDAD Moisture Lock™ Leave-In Conditioner
A leave-in conditioner that acts like a detangling and hydrating mask, this pre-styling product from "The Curl Experts" plays well with your cremes or custards so you can apply without worry.
5. Best All-Around Cream:
BUMBLE AND BUMBLE Curl Defining Cream
From wavy to coily, all curl types will love this cruelty-free product made for medium to coarse hair. Not only does it de-frizz and define, but it also adds some hold and shine to your locks!
6. Best for All Curl Types:
BRIOGEO Curl Charisma™ Rice Amino + Avocado Leave-In Defining Crème
Rice amino acids, avocado oil, quinoa extract, and tomato fruit ferment extract help lock in moisture for bouncy, soft curls. "It gave an incredible touch to my curls [without] making them feel hard. Highly recommend this," one Ipster writes. Made for all curl types, the cream is also sulfate-free and can be applied before diffusing or air drying your hair!
7. Best Custard:
PATTERN BEAUTY Styling Custard
Formulated with flaxseed oil and agave, this custard by Tracee Ellis Ross' brand for natural hair products is perfect for every style—from flat twists and braid-outs to twist-outs and bantu knots.
For more tips, check out our Guide to Styling Curly Hair.
8. Best Silicone-Free Cream:
OUAI Curl Créme
Whether applying to wet hair or dry hair, this silicone-free cream promises to add curl definition, tame frizziness and make all curl types shine.
9. Best Vegan Cream:
LUSH Curl Power
This vegan styling cream made with argan, coconut and jojoba oils hydrates and protects textured hair types. What's not to like?
10. Best Lightweight Cream:
LIVING PROOF Curl Enhancer
This lightweight formula does what its name implies: enhances your curls in the best possible way. It's color-safe, paraben- and silicone-free, plus cruelty-free so you can feel, um, free in your beautiful curls.
11. Best Activator With Rice Amino Acids:
AG HAIR RE:COIL Curl Activator
Made for those with curly and wavy hair in mind, this hydrating formula with rice amino acids embraces curls while keeping frizz at bay.
12. Best Lotion:
BLOSSOM Jojoba Curly Hair Lotion
Allow the jojoba and argan oils nourish and tame your curls. We like that this lotion can be used on wet hair to shape curls or on dry hair to rejuvenate limp strands.
13. Best Gluten-Free Cream:
R+CO TURNTABLE Curl Defining Crème
Flaxseed extract adds shine without the unwanted grease while chia seed extract conditions both hair and scalp. This gluten-free cream also helps block humidity—the worst.
14. Best From the Drugstore:
HERBAL ESSENCES Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse
We love a great drugstore find, and this foam is it. Dispense into the palm of your hand and scrunch into your hair, making sure that you're lifting away from your scalp for maximum root lift and minimal product buildup.
15. Best for Frizz Control:
IGK Mistress Hydrating Hair Balm
Although this product for curly or coiled hair promises ultimate frizz control, it can also provide extra hydration when applied to your ends.
16. Best for UV Protection:
VERB Curl Cream
With a patented copolymer for volume and natural hold, this cream goes above and beyond. Not to mention its sunflower seed extract ingredient that provides natural UV protection.
17. Best Spray:
TWISTED SISTA 30 Second Curl Spray
Let your natural curls shine with this spray—just remember to shake the bottle well before using and apply from root to tip on wet hair. Whether you choose to diffuse or air dry, your natural curls will look their best.
18. Best for Chemically Processed Curls:
USE ME HAIR Wave + Curl Cream
For those dehydrated and chemically processed curls, apply this cream infused with hydrators like aloe vera leaf juice to combat dryness and soothe your mane.
19. Best 2-in-1 Cream:
CAKE BEAUTY The Curl Friend Defining Curl Cream
Natural curl definition and healthy hair, this way. This 2-in-1 vegan product is both a treatment and a styler!
20. Best for Tousled Curls:
MARC ANTHONY Strictly Curls Curl Defining Lotion
So long, frizz-free fuss. Hello, tousled curls. Tousle with fingers to work through your strands, not a comb or brush. “LOVED this product. I usually scrunch my hair and then twist it to get easy curls, and this product gave me perfect curls with little to no friz,” one Ipster writes. “LOVED it!”
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