Best shampoo for curly hair
Curly hair can be stunningly beautiful, but it requires the right products to keep it healthy and manageable. Choosing the right shampoo is a crucial step in any curly hair care routine. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to know which one to choose. In this blog post, I’ll explore the best shampoo for curly hair that can help keep your curls looking their best. Whether you’re dealing with frizz, dryness, or breakage, I’ve got you covered with my shampoo recommendations for your curly hair type. So, if you’re ready to take your curly hair game to the next level, keep reading!
Beautiful, healthy hair starts with a clean scalp. Cleansing your scalp is a crucial part of your haircare regimen that you shouldn’t neglect. If you disregard cleansing your scalp, you can experience a build-up of product, bacteria, and fungus. This build-up can contribute to scalp inflammation and parched strands, resulting in premature hair fall and breakage! Curly hair’s natural tendency to be dryer can cause it to be highly susceptible to damage from shampoo. A stripping or harsh shampoo can strip curly hair of its essential oils, leading to excessive dryness, tangles, and breakage. That’s why choosing the correct shampoo for curly hair is so important.
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The best shampoo for curly hair
Below, I’ve listed my recommendations for the best shampoo for curly hair!
01 Curlsmith Core Strength Shampoo
Curlsmith Core Strength Shampoo is a protein-enriched curl shampoo that gently cleanses your hair while strengthening its bonds. Although it is a traditional shampoo, it contains gentle surfactants that dissolve dirt and build-up without stripping your hair of its natural oils and is suitable for all curl types and thicknesses, but is best for damaged or damaged hair. It is best for medium to high porosity hair, but can also be used on low porosity hair as the product is low in protein.
Brand: Curlsmith
Size: 355 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: yes
02 Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Shampoo
Ouidad makes excellent products for curly hair, and this hydrating shampoo is no exception. The Curl Quencher Moisturizing Shampoo is exceptionally gentle, with a sulfate-free hydrating formulation. In addition, the formula contains excellent occlusive ingredients such as panthenol, corn oil, and wheat protein which will hydrate and soften curly hair. It’s also safe for color-treated curls!
The Curl Quencher line is the best shampoo is for tight curls. If you have extremely loose curls or wavy hair, this shampoo’s moisturizing components may be too heavy for your hair.
Brand: Ouidad
Size: 250 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
03 All About Curls Lo-Lather Cleanser Shampoo
This mild shampoo will gently cleanse curly hair with its slightly sudsy formula. It’s free of sulfates, silicones, parabens, drying alcohols, and mineral oils. Instead, it has excellent hydrating ingredients such as shea butter, coconut, marula, and soybean oil that nourish the hair and de-frizz curls.
Brand: All About Curls
Size: 443 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes-
04 Kinky Curly Come Clean
This sulfate-free shampoo is perfect for dehydrated hair that’s been damaged from exposure to hard water. This innovative shampoo is powered with Phytic Acid, a natural chelating agent that will remove damaging minerals caused by hard water. Mandarin orange extract will power through build-up while nourishing Sea Kelp will restore moisture. No wonder, that it is among the best shampoos for curly hair.
Brand: Kinky Curly
Size: 237 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes 
05 Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo
Frizz control starts in the shower! So, if you live in a humid climate and need a little help keeping your curls frizz-free, this shampoo by Ouidad will make an excellent addition to your haircare regimen. It’s gentle, sulfate-free, and will bust frizz by sealing the hair’s cuticle. Shea butter, murumuru butter, and ceramides repair the hair’s cuticle, while Ouidad’s Anti-Frizz Nano Technology and silk-derived protein form a barrier around your hair. It also has a UV filter that protects your strands from the sun’s harmful rays!
Ouidad’s Advance Climate Control collection is excellent for all curl types suffering from excess frizz.
Brand: Ouidad
Size: 250 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
06 Curlsmith Essential Moisture Cleanser (Shampoo)
Curlsmith’s Essential Moisture Cleanser is an excellent shampoo that is exceptionally gentle on the hair. It’s a cream-based cleanser that won’t foam up but will effectively remove excess sebum, dirt, and debris from the hair and scalp.
It has a powerful botanical blend of sunflower seed oil, resurrection flower, Andriroba, and aloe that nourishes and deeply hydrates the hair. It’s also protein-free, making it an excellent option if you need to wash your hair more frequently or if it is protein sensitive.
It’s gluten-free and doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, silicones, mineral oil, or phthalates. This gentle moisturizing shampoo is perfect for all curl types.
Brand: Curlsmith
Size: 355 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes07 Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo
Frizz control starts in the shower! So, if you live in a humid climate and need a little help keeping your curls frizz-free, this shampoo by Ouidad will make an excellent addition to your haircare regimen. It’s gentle, sulfate-free, and will bust frizz by sealing the hair’s cuticle. Shea butter, murumuru butter, and ceramides repair the hair’s cuticle, while Ouidad’s Anti-Frizz Nano Technology and silk-derived protein form a barrier around your hair. It also has a UV filter that protects your strands from the sun’s harmful rays!
Ouidad’s Advance Climate Control collection is excellent for all curl types suffering from excess frizz.
Brand: Ouidad
Size: 250 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
08 Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Sulfate Free Shampoo
If you’re experiencing excessive dryness and tangles, Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Moisturizing Shampoo will quickly hydrate and soften the hair. What sets this shampoo apart from others is its slip, allowing you to detangle your hair quickly and easily in the shower!
The formula is free of sulfates, parabens, paraffin, and mineral oils. The Almond & Avocado collection will work for any curl type. It’s especially beneficial for damaged, chemically treated hair!
Brand: Design Essentials
Size: 355 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
09 Curly Girl Curl Definition Shampoo
This sulfate-free formula doesn’t have a strong lather and will quickly remove impurities from your scalp and hair without stripping it of its natural moisture.
Cucumber fruit extract and witch hazel will help regulate the scalp’s sebum production while nourishing avocado oil and panthenol will soften and hydrate the hair strands.
This shampoo doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, formaldehyde, DEA, and MEA. It’s excellent for all curl types.
Brand: Curly Girl
Size: 335 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
10 Rizos Curls Hydrating Shampoo
This excellent sulfate-free shampoo will gently cleanse your hair while treating a dry scalp. It’s enriched with Moringa Oil which has anti-inflammatory properties that will soothe a dry, irritated scalp. In addition, Shea butter and a blend of vitamins will hydrate the hair and seal in the moisture.
This shampoo doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, or silicones. It’s one of the best shampoo for curly hair and also suitable for all curl types.
Brand: Rizos Curls
Size: 296 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
11 Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo
This gentle sulfate-free shampoo will gently remove dirt, debris, and sebum from your hair and scalp without stripping it.
What’s different about this curly hair shampoo is that it contains no additional oils or moisturizers. As a result, it’s perfect for individuals who suffer from a highly oily scalp. It’s also protein-free which is excellent if your hair is sensitive to protein-enriched products. However, follow up with a good lightweight or leave-in conditioner throughout the length of your hair to prevent dryness.
It’s available in two different fragrances: Island Fantasy and Citrus Lavender. If fragrance isn’t your thing, it’s available in an Unscented option.
Brand: Jessicurl
Size: 237 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
12 Carol’s Daughter Wash Day Delight Shampoo Rose Water
This innovative water-to-foam shampoo harnesses the power of micellar technology to cleanse the scalp and hair gently and thoroughly. The micellar technology acts as a magnet, attracting dirt and build-up. Apply the liquid to your scalp and massage it until it foams up.
Rose water will boost the hair’s natural luster and shine.
This cleanser can be used on all curl types, but it’s especially beneficial for individuals with high hair density, making it difficult to cleanse the scalp thoroughly. It’s also the perfect cleanser for individuals wearing protective hairstyles such as braids and extensions, as it allows you to target and dispense the product directly onto the scalp easily.
Brand: Carol’s Daughter
Size: 500 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
13 Ouidad Unbreakable Bonds Bond Building Shampoo for Curly Hair
If you’re noticing a sudden surge in breakage, this reparative shampoo will help get your curls back on track! This gentle sulfate-free shampoo will gently cleanse your hair without damaging it further. Ouidad’s patented Bond Building Complex will deeply penetrate and repair the hair on a deeper level by creating new hydrogen and ionic bonds. In addition, vegan collagen, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid will increase the hair’s elasticity and restore moisture.
It’s gluten-free and doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, phthalates, or petroleum.
It’s also fragrance-free. This shampoo is among the best shampoos for curly hair and is excellent for any curl type.Brand: Ouidad
Size: 250 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
14 Ouidad Curl Shaper Good As New Moisture Restoring Shampoo
Are your curls misbehaving and not curling like they typically do? This revitalizing shampoo will gently cleanse your scalp, add hydration, and restore your hair’s natural curl pattern. Safflower, meadowfoam, and rice bran oil nourish the hair strands, while pro-vitamin B5 will repair and strengthen them.
It’s gluten-free and doesn’t contain parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, phthalates, and petroleum.
The Curl Shaper collection is ideal for waves and looser curl patterns.
Brand: Ouidad
Size: 355 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
15 Not Your Mother's Curl Defining Shampoo
This gentle sulfate-free shampoo will gently cleanse the hair, eliminating frizz and enhancing your natural curl pattern. Mango seed butter smooths away frizz and restores curl elasticity, while Tahitian Gardenia flower works to soften the hair. This shampoo doesn’t contain sulfates, phthalates, or silicones. It’s also suitable for all curl types.
Brand: Not Your Mother’s
Size: 473 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
16 Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo
Are you noticing a lot of breakage? Restore your hair’s strength with this biotin-infused shampoo!
A potent botanical blend of rosemary, peppermint, and ginger will stimulate the scalp, increase circulation, and stimulate hair growth. In addition, Biotin will strengthen the hair while nourishing castor seed oil, coconut oil, babassu seed oil, and panthenol will restore and maintain the hair’s moisture.
This shampoo doesn’t contain sulfates, parabens, or mineral oil. It’s suitable for all curl types and especially beneficial for individuals with extremely brittle hair.
Brand: Mielle Organics
Size: 355 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
17 Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Shampoo Aloe
This innovative water-to-foam shampoo harnesses the power of micellar technology to cleanse the scalp and hair gently and thoroughly. The micellar technology acts as a magnet, attracting dirt and build-up. Apply the liquid to your scalp and massage it until it foams up.
Aloe vera is highly hydrating and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it perfect for irritated, itchy scalps.
This cleanser is one of the best shampoo for curly hair can be used on all curl types, but it’s especially beneficial for individuals with high hair density, making it difficult to cleanse the scalp thoroughly. It’s also the perfect cleanser for individuals wearing protective hairstyles such as braids and extensions, as it allows you to target and dispense the product directly onto the scalp easily.
Brand: Carol’s Daughter
Size: 500 ml
Curly Girl Method suitable: Yes
What does curly hair always need?
Because of the texture of curly hair, it’s more difficult for the natural sebum produced by the scalp to travel down the strands to the ends. This results in curly hair naturally being dryer than straighter hair types. This dryness can lead to breakage, frizz, and fragility.
Curly hair always needs haircare formulas that will infuse moisture, aid in lubrication for detangling, and slow the evaporation of moisture from the hair follicle.
What should I look for in a shampoo for curly hair?
A good curly shampoo will not strip the hair of its natural oils. It will also contain enough moisturizing ingredients to lubricate the hair strands to reduce friction and allow the hair to be more easily detangled.
Look for shampoos that contain suitable humectants such as glycerin, honey, seaweed, panthenol (Vitamin B5), and hyaluronic acid. Humectants are vital because they will draw moisture into the hair.
A great shampoo for curly hair will also contain moisturizing occlusive ingredients that will restore moisture levels and add shine. Great occlusive ingredients include avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, argan oil, castor oil, and shea butter.
What should I avoid in shampoo for curly hair?
When shopping for a shampoo for curly hair, you should avoid harsh ingredients that strip your hair of its natural oils. Excessive dryness can cause your curls to become dry, brittle, and tangled!
When shopping for shampoo for curly hair, avoid the following ingredients:
- Water-insoluble silicones
- Sulfates
- Drying alcohols
- Parabens
- Parafin
- Mineral oil
- Formaldehyde
What makes shampoo for curly hair different?
Because curly hair can quickly dry, curly shampoos are often gentler than others and typically contain less surfactant. The lower concentration of cleansing agents will produce a shampoo formula that doesn’t lather as much and will not strip the hair of its natural oils.
Should I always avoid sulfates in shampoo for curly hair?
Sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), are surfactant agents that give shampoo its lather. They strip away oil, dirt, and sebum from the surface of the hair strands and scalp.
You may notice that most clarifying or detox shampoos contain sulfates. If your hair needs a deep cleanse due to product build-up, shampoo with sulfates may be necessary.
However, due to its potentially stripping nature, it’s best to use these shampoos only when you absolutely need them.
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