Are you tired of trying shampoos that leave your hair worse off than before? This is an issue that many people with natural hair have to deal with because many shampoos on the market are just not formulated for curly hair.
Even shampoos that are marketed towards curly folk don’t always have the ingredients necessary to effectively cleanse your mane without drying it out. If you’re looking for a high-quality shampoo for curly hair, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll introduce you to four of the best.
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Best Shampoos for Curly Hair
The best shampoos for curly hair are SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo, Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo, Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo, and Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo.
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1. SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo
When it comes to washing curly hair, hydration is crucial, and SheaMoisture got the memo when formulating their Intensive Hydration Shampoo. It’s a shampoo that strikes the perfect balance between cleansing power and deep hydration. Those who have hair dryness issues find that this shampoo is exactly what they need.
Overview
SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo is a premier choice for people with thick, curly, or damaged hair. Though its main function is to cleanse the hair, it is equally good at hydrating and nourishing it. It’s sulfate-free and contains some amazing ingredients to baby your strands.
Key Ingredients
When it comes to shampoos, the label can provide a lot of information. This hydrating shampoo contains goodies like manuka honey, fig extract, and Mafura oil. The Manuka honey acts as a hydrating humectant that draws moisture from the surrounding environment.
The Mafura oil smooths and moisturizes dry strands to enhance their elasticity and protect them from the environment. Fig extract contains antioxidants for lasting hair protection and also plays a role in making your hair luscious and full of life.
In addition to the ingredients it does have, there are several ingredients you won’t find in the shampoo. The shampoo is sulfate-free and leaves out harsh chemicals like propylene glycol, phthalates, parabens, and more.
How to Use It
SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo is very easy to use. To start, you’ll hop in the shower, wet your hair down, and dispense some of the product into your hands. Rub your hands together and apply the shampoo to your hair, focusing on your scalp and roots.
Then, use the pads of your fingers to work the shampoo in. Rinse your hair thoroughly, leaving no shampoo behind. Right before rinsing, pull the shampoo down the length of your strands. And you’re all done!
Pros and Cons
As you might think, this is a top-notch shampoo by all accounts. But it does have a couple of quirks that you should know about before using it. Below we’ll get into the pros and cons of SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo.
Pros
- The shampoo won’t leave your hair dry, frizzy, or crunchy. It acts as a moisturizer and shampoo simultaneously.
- The shampoo is for all curly hair types.
- Most love its light yet impactful scent.
Cons
- The formula could be drying to some hair types.
Customer Reviews
This shampoo is a big hit among the vast majority who try it. Among those who love the product, many said that they love the scent of the shampoo, felt like their hair got really clean, and loved that their hair remained hydrated throughout the washing process.
Negative reviews, on the other hand, stated that the shampoo left their hair feeling greasy or dry. Chances are you won’t experience these effects, considering that they are very rare among users.
Should You Try It?
Anyone who has curly hair or deals with chronic dryness should definitely try SheaMoisture Intensive Hydration Shampoo. It has exactly what your hair needs to eliminate dirt and debris and prepare it for the rest of your hair care and styling process.
But it is formulated to help you retain moisture, and it promotes hair health long after you’re done shampooing. This means that those with damaged hair will benefit as well. So, if you were looking for a shampoo that’s gentle and effective, this is definitely one to try.
2. Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo
When you go outside, does your hair frizz up right away? Here’s a shampoo you need to check out. Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing shampoo is one of the top-rated shampoos on Amazon for frizz.
Overview
Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo boasts several benefits for curlies who can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to frizz. The shampoo has Anti-Frizz Nanotechnology to keep your styles sleeker and ward off the dreaded poofiness that comes along with curls.
Aside from that, the shampoo gets your curls clean without drying them out – that’s often the case with sulfate-free shampoos like this one. And the benefits don’t stop there. Let’s jump into things a little further.
Key Ingredients
The main ingredients that make Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo great include ceramides, sericin, a sulfate alternative, and more. The ceramides, also called lipids, work to smooth the hair shaft, effectively reducing frizz.
In addition to that, they help to increase your hair’s elasticity so that it doesn’t break as easily. The product also contains sericin, which is the main ingredient associated with its Anti-Frizz Nanotechnology.
It’s what enables the shampoo to block out humidity and decrease frizz.
And as far as the cleansing part goes, the main sulfate alternatives used in the shampoo are cocamidopropyl betaine and decyl glucoside. They both have the power to get your hair clean while leaving some of its natural moisture behind to stave off dryness.
How to Use It
To use Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo, you’ll start by wetting your hair down in the shower. You’ll then dispense some of the shampoo into your hands and massage it through your wet hair.
Focus mainly on the roots of your hair and only pull the shampoo down towards your ends right before rinsing. Ensure that there’s no shampoo left behind after rinsing.
Pros and Cons
Now, it’s time to get an even closer look at this shampoo by reviewing the pros and cons associated with it. Once you know the good and bad, you’ll be able to decide with confidence whether it may be a good fit for you.
Pros
- The shampoo not only cleanses your hair but helps to smooth and defrizz it.
- You can use it on color-treated hair.
- The shampoo is sulfate-free and gentle on dry and damaged hair.
- Anyone with curls can use the shampoo, given that it’s formulated for all curl types, from 3A to 4C.
- The shampoo can help with curl definition, which is virtually unheard of with shampoos.
Cons
- The shampoo is on the expensive side, costing about twice as much as the typical shampoo for curly hair.
Customer Reviews
Those who were happy with the shampoo stated that it leaves their curls soft and helps to combat frizz. Some even call the shampoo their holy grail and state that it’s the best shampoo they’ve ever used. Those who don’t love the shampoo state that their hair feels brittle and dry or dull after using it.
Should You Try It?
Those who deal with frizz on a regular basis will welcome the benefits that come along with Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo. The shampoo is a game changer in the frizz department.
Though you’ll use other products in addition to this one, you’ll notice a difference when you use this shampoo versus another. We recommend anyone with curly hair to try this shampoo if frizz is one of their main issues.
3. Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo
Curly hair is dry by nature, so if your curls are crying out for moisture, don’t be discouraged. There are shampoos out there that can soften those curls right up and make them as smooth as butter. And Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo is one of them.
Overview
To start, this is a Redken shampoo – the manufacturer has been around since 1960, and since then, they have been creating science-backed formulations that target specific hair issues and provide salon-quality results.
The shampoo is formulated especially for dry, brittle hair, and that means that you won’t experience the dryness associated with typical shampoos. In fact, Redken asserts that the shampoo boasts a special Moisture Complex formula powered by argan oil.
Key Ingredients
As briefly mentioned earlier, the key ingredient in Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo is argan oil, which is an amazing oil with two main purposes. It can penetrate the hair to provide intense moisture to thirsty strands (softening them in the process), and it can seal and protect the hair from damage and moisture loss.
In addition to argan oil, it contains aloe vera juice powder, which acts as a humectant to draw moisture into the hair from the surrounding environment. That’s not all, of course, but these are a couple of the main ingredients that make the shampoo great.
Full disclosure: This shampoo is NOT sulfate-free. So, if you want to avoid sulfates, this is not the shampoo for you. Sulfates can sometimes dry your hair out, especially if a particular shampoo is not formulated in a way to combat the potential drying effects of the ingredient.
However, with this shampoo, there are loads of hair-loving goodies that counteract that effect. It also contains a few other ingredients that you’d usually avoid on the Curly Girl Method (fragrance, silicones, etc.).
How to Use It
You’ll use Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo as you would any other shampoo. Wet your hair down in the shower and apply the shampoo to your damp roots.
Use the pads of your fingers to work the shampoo in. Pull the shampoo down the length of your hair and then rinse. Rinse until there’s absolutely no shampoo left in your hair.
Pros and Cons
Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo may be polarizing to some, considering that it isn’t totally natural and contains some controversial ingredients. Here are the full pros and cons to consider before purchasing this one:
Pros
- The shampoo leaves your hair shiny, moisturized, and soft.
- Redken, an industry leader, is the creator of the product.
- The formula is pH balanced, so it won’t disrupt your scalp chemistry.
- The product is targeted toward those who struggle with dry, brittle hair.
Cons
- The shampoo contains some ingredients that you may want to avoid, including sulfates, silicones, and an artificial fragrance.
- The shampoo is definitely on the pricier side.
Customer Reviews
The happiest customers state that the shampoo smells delightful and softens their hair as promised, and these comments come from people with thick (and often unruly) curls.
On the other end of the spectrum are those who hated the shampoo. They state that the shampoo is too expensive for the amount you get. Others state that the shampoo stripped their hair of moisture.
Though these opinions are valid, they encompass only about 3% of the total reviews. So, chances are you won’t experience dryness from this shampoo.
Should You Try It?
There are two things to consider when deciding whether you should try Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo. The first question is, “Are you okay with the formulation?” As mentioned earlier, it contains some ingredients that curly folk try to avoid, like the plague.
The second question is, “Are you willing and able to pay the price?” The shampoo isn’t cheap, so you’ll have to decide whether it may be worth your investment.
Other than that, it’s clear that customers really like this shampoo, and you just might too. The only way to know whether you’ll like a product is to try it for yourself.
4. Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo
Mielle Organics is one of the most loved haircare brands in existence. It’s super popular for its natural product formulations targeted toward those who want to achieve healthier hair that grows bountifully.
When they brought their Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo to the public, curly heads all over were ecstatic, and they still are today. We’ll tell you why.
Overview
Every twist, turn, and kink in your hair is a weak point in your strand. What’s more is that daily manipulation, heat styling, and chemical treatments can all make your hair weaker and more brittle over time.
Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo can help with that. It is not only formulated to give your hair a thorough cleanse, but it leaves your hair stronger than it was before.
Key Ingredients
A few of the key ingredients in Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo include rosemary, mint, biotin, and cocamidopropyl betaine. The rosemary and mint in the formulation help to stimulate blood circulation in the scalp, facilitating faster and thicker hair growth.
Biotin aids in strengthening the hair and promoting healthy hair growth. And, of course, you have Cocamidopropyl betaine, the main cleanser and sulfate alternative, to give you a really gentle cleanse.
How to Use It
As with all the other shampoos on this list, you’ll wet your hair down, lather with the pads of your fingers, and then rinse. Focus the shampoo on your scalp and then smooth it down to your ends right before the rinsing step.
Pros and Cons
Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo is near perfect, but it still has a couple of quirks you should know about. Let’s get into the pros and cons of the shampoo.
Pros
- The shampoo contains rosemary and mint to facilitate healthy hair growth.
- The biotin in the formula helps to strengthen brittle hair and promote length retention.
- The mint in the formula produces a tingly feeling on the scalp, which can promote relaxation and make your shampoo sessions feel spa-like.
- The shampoo’s price is on par with other natural shampoos on the market.
Cons
- Some might not like that their scalp tingles during their shampooing sessions.
Customer Reviews
Those who love the product state that it saved their hair, stopped it from falling out or made it stronger. They also state that it smells amazing and cleanses their hair well without leaving it dry.
The most critical reviews state that the shampoo didn’t mesh well with their scalp chemistry or made their hair fall out.
Note: Since the product does contain peppermint oil, it’s important to do a patch test to see if you’re allergic to it. Mint is more likely to cause an allergic reaction than some other essential oils.
Should You Try It?
If you have curly hair that’s a little on the brittle side, Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Strengthening Shampoo could turn out to be your lifesaver.
If you’re thinking about giving it a try, that’s a great choice. There are lots of benefits you stand to gain, and you won’t know if the product will work for you unless you test-drive it on your own hair.
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So, there you have it – 4 of the best shampoos for curly hair. We hope you found all the information you needed and that one of the shampoos on this list is exactly what you were looking for.