Best Shampoo for Curly Hair

When you have curly hair, you need a shampoo that won’t just cleanse your scalp but also help you manage your hair’s texture. Additionally, because curly hair tends to be drier, you need something that nourishes and doesn’t cause dryness. But is it enough to go for anything labeled for curly hair? Unfortunately, it isn’t since shampoos differ significantly in terms of formulation. To get your curls looking their best, you need to know what to look for in a shampoo. Also, it helps to get recommendations from others who have found the products that best manage their curls.

Image	Name	Top Choices	Latest Pricing
	Maui Moisture - Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo	Our Favorite	Amazon
	DevaCurl - No-Poo Original	Premium Pick	Amazon
	L'Oreal - Ever Curl Hydracharge Shampoo	Great Value	Amazon
	Carol's Daughter - Coco Creme Curl Quenching Shampoo		Amazon
	Kinky-Curly - Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo		Amazon

Qualities of a Good Shampoo for Curly Hair

Rather than picking up a random bottle labeled “for curly hair,” try scrutinizing the packaging and look for the following attributes in order to find the perfect shampoo for your curly hair:

1) Sulfate-free

Sulfates are used in shampoos to create a dense lather, which many mistakenly think is better for cleansing. A rich lather isn’t necessarily an indication that a product is good at removing dirt, grime, and excess oils. Plus, sulfates cause dryness, which, in turn, makes hair frizzy, straw-like, and dull. The effects are even more pronounced on curly hair.

2) Clarifying

Many shampoos leave residue on the hair and scalp, but a good clarifying shampoo will help remove residue build-up. Consequently, your scalp becomes healthier, and your hair shinier and full-bodied.

3) Nourishing

When you have curly hair, it’s especially important to use products that provide ample nourishment, or you’ll quickly end up with curls that are dull and lifeless. Find a shampoo that’s filled with ingredients to keep your hair and scalp healthy and moisturized. 

4) No Anti-Static Chemicals

Many shampoos for curly hair will boast anti-static properties. While combatting static might sound beneficial for people with curly and frizzy hair, synthetic ingredients that produce these qualities are better avoided because they can cause dryness and damage over time. Among these ingredients are ammonium chloride and trimethyl alkonium chloride.

Best Shampoos for Curly Hair

Here are the top 5 shampoos for curly hair that help thousands cleanse, nourish, and manage their curls on a daily basis:

1) Maui Moisture – Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo

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The Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo by Maui Moisture boasts a vegan and gluten-free formulation that lists pure aloe juice as its most dominant ingredient. It also contains coconut water, coconut oil, papaya fruit extract, and plumeria alba flower extract. These ingredients work together to help hydrate, nourish, and defrizz thick and curly hair. It is sulfate-free and contains no parabens, silicones, dyes, nor sulfated surfactants. This shampoo is creamy rather than bubbly. That makes it better at repairing and smoothing each strand, so you end up with soft, shiny, and bouncy curls. Whether your locks are wavy, curly, or kinky, this is an excellent choice for you.

2) DevaCurl – No-Poo Original

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The No-Poo Original by DevaCurl is technically not a shampoo because it doesn’t contain the same ingredients as your typical shampoo. Rather, it is identified as a conditioning cleanser. Its non-lathering formulation boasts extracts of yarrow, chamomile, geranium grass, hops, lemon balm, and rosemary. These botanical ingredients work together to stimulate and cleanse the scalp while keeping it hydrated. It also contains grapeseed oil for additional moisturization. At first, a zero-lather shampoo might feel odd. But, you just need to massage it into your scalp and then allow it to run down your hair as you rinse it off. You’ll notice that it’s especially good at cleansing without stripping off your natural oils. Additionally, it contains no parabens, sulfates, nor silicones. As expected from DevaCurl, this product is effective on all curl types. 

3) L’Oreal – Ever Curl Hydracharge Shampoo

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The Ever Curl Hydracharge Shampoo by L’Oreal was formulated specifically to provide curl definition for up to 48 hours. It does so using L’Oreal’s trademarked Hydracharge system, which works with coconut oil to minimize frizz, hydrate hair, and make curls more manageable. Unlike many shampoos for curly hair, this one doesn’t contain any parabens, harsh salts, nor sulfates. For a sulfate-free shampoo, however, the lather it produces is remarkable. So, it gives you a luxurious cleansing experience in the shower while cleansing your scalp and hydrating your curls. Additionally, it helps repair and protect color-treated hair. To complete the EverCurl Hydracharge experience, it helps to use the conditioner of the same variant.

4) Carol’s Daughter – Coco Creme Curl Quenching Shampoo

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The Coco Creme Curl Quenching Shampoo by Carol’s Daughter is an excellent choice for people with tight curls to super kinky hair. It is especially beneficial for hair that looks dull due to dryness and breakage. What this creamy cleanser does is clarify the scalp while also providing deep moisturization to each strand, leaving your locks extra-soft from the roots all the way to the ends. This shampoo is free of parabens, sulfates, and artificial dyes. It harnesses the natural power of coconut oil, coconut milk, mango butter, and murumuru (a palm whose extracts provide incredible moisturizing benefits). Over time, the intense hydration this shampoo provides makes hair more manageable and full of life.

5) Kinky-Curly – Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo

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The Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo by Kinky-Curly is formulated with extracts from mandarin oranges to provide gentle yet effective clarifying benefits to the hair and scalp. It also has sea kelp, which nourishes the hair and provides intensive moisture. Its other ingredients include coconut-derived cleansers, marigold extracts, and white willow bark extracts. This is an especially good option for people living in areas with hard water, which could leave dulling residue and make hair harder to manage. To combat that, this shampoo is formulated with phytic acid, which helps wash off hard water minerals like magnesium and calcium. Additionally, it is guaranteed sulfate-free and pH-balanced.

Tips for Cleansing Curly Hair

Washing curly hair is different because you’ll want to take care not to disturb your natural curl pattern. Here are some tips to keep your locks looking gorgeous and bouncy:

• Focus on your scalp. Use your fingertips to lather your shampoo into your scalp. Unless you’ve been exposed to excessive dirt and pollution, you don’t really need to shampoo the entire length of your hair. By doing this, your hair is more likely to dry with gorgeous, bouncy curls.
• Use cold or lukewarm water. Hot water can strip your hair of its natural oils and cause severe dryness and frizz. 
• Never skip the conditioner. Even if you use a moisturizing shampoo, a conditioner will provide the boost of hydration your hair needs to become lustrous and healthy.
• Don’t towel dry. Towel-drying will disturb your natural curl pattern, which ends up being a mess when dried. Additionally, rubbing your hair with a towel causes unnecessary friction that can damage your hair and cause irreparable frizz. Instead, use a microfiber hair wrap or a t-shirt to absorb excess water. 
• Use a wide-toothed comb. Don’t brush your hair while it’s still wet. Instead, use a wide-toothed comb to straighten out tangles. If you have no tangles, leave it alone. Curly hair will look better with less handling.

Finding the right shampoo for your curly hair is critical to looking your best and feeling more confident every day. With the right product, you’ll be able to enjoy soft, bouncy, and voluminous hair rather than looking frizzy, dull, and unkempt. Plus, using the right hair care products will make it easier for you to style your hair and keep it looking healthy.