Best products for dry frizzy curly hair

Please hug yourself and prepare for the knowledge I’m about to drop on you: There’s no such thing as “the best” curly hair product. I know—shock, horror, surprise, etc. But seriously; when you've got so many different curl types, all with their own unique levels of health/damage, or thinness/thickness, it's impossible to pretend that a single curl cream or styler will work as well for your 4a hair as it will for my 2c/3a curls (that are also fine, thin, and easily weighed down). I mean, let's be honest—even the products I use every day still give me different results each time (IYKYK).

Which is why I'm a firm believer in having an arsenal of curly hair products on hand at all times, just to make the curl overlords happy. But since there are approximately six-trillion curl products on the market right now—and probably only a few dozen that work for your actual hair type—I'm here to make the process easier for you with 23 of the best masks, serums, mousses, gels, creams, and conditioners for curly hair, guaranteed to give you really excellent curls.

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But first, a little 101 on what to look for when choosing the right curly hair product for your curl type, plus a quick look at our top picks of 2022, below:

Our top picks for the best curly hair products of 2022

How to choose the best curly hair products

Consider your porosity

The biggest turning point in my hair journey wasn't a product, but figuring out my curl porosity. Your curl porosity, FYI, is how porous your curls are (i.e., how much water they can absorb and repel). Curls with low porosity require lightweight products and heat treatments to look their best, while curls with high porosity need butters, oils, and proteins to keep them healthy. The quickest way to find out your type is with a porosity quiz, and then come back here to find your best product lineup.

Figure out your stance on silicones

Silicones (like dimethicone) are polymers that give your hair a slippery-smooth feel—which, on some hair types, is totally fine and dandy. But on curly hair? Potential trouble-makers. Because most silicones don't dissolve in water, they can quickly build up on your hair cuticle and repel water, leaving your curls dry, tangled, and limp until you strip them away with a clarifying shampoo (which, you know, is also not great). Many of of the products on this list are silicone-free (and Curly Girl Method-approved), but just to be safe, always make sure to run the ingredients list through a formula checker before using.

Now, onto the full breakdown of the very best curly hair products for all different curl types, below. Happy experimenting.

1

Best Overall Curl Styler

Lus All-in-One Fragrance-Free Styler: Curly

2

Best Curl-Defining Cream

Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream

3

Best Drugstore Serum for Curly Hair

Dove Advanced Hair Series Supreme Crème Serum

4

Best Shine Serum for Curly Hair

Vernon François Pure Fro Hold and Shine Serum

5

Best Hair Mask for Frizzy Curls

Living Proof No Frizz Intense Moisture Mask

6

Best Co-Wash for Curly Hair

Pantene Gold Series Deep Hydrating Co-Wash

7

Best Gel for Curly Hair

Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat & Humidity Gel

8

Best Leave-In Cream for Curly Hair

Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Leave-In Defining Crème

9

Best Curl Cream

Ouai Fragrance Free Curl Creme

10

Best Refreshing Spray for Curly Hair

Curlsmith Moisture Memory Reactivator

11

Best Balm for Curly Hair

Qhemet Biologics Olive & Honey Hydrating Balm

12

Best Scalp Scrub for Curly Hair

Kristin Ess Instant Exfoliating Scalp Scrub

13

Best Heat-Protectant Spray for Curly Hair

Cantu Shea Butter Thermal Shield Heat Protectant

14

Best Lightweight Curl Gel

Kinky-Curly Original Curling Custard

15

Best Creamy Gel for Curly Hair

Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Gel

16

BEST AIR-DRY CREAM FOR CURLY HAIR

JVN

Complete Hydrating Air Dry Cream

17

Best Mousse for Curly Hair

Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse

18

Bread Beauty Hair Oil Everyday Gloss

19

Best Detangling Moisturizing Spray

Sunday II Sunday Revive Me Daily Moisturizing Spray

20

Best Deep Conditioner for 4c Curls

Mielle Organics Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner

21

Best Dry Shampoo for Curly Hair

Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Biotin Dry Shampoo

22

Best Conditioner for Curly Hair

DevaCurl Fragrance-Free One Condition Original Conditioner

23

Best Soothing Scalp Serum for Curly Hair

Fable & Mane SahaScalp Amla Soothing Serum

Chloe Metzger Deputy Beauty Director Chloe Metzger is the deputy beauty director at Cosmopolitan, overseeing the editorial content and growth strategy of the hair, makeup, and skin space on digital, while also obsessively writing about the best hair products for every hair type (curly girl here; whattup), and the skincare routines that really, truly work (follow her on Instagram to see behind-the-scenes pics of that magazine life).