Best Conditioner for Curly Hair
Image | Name | Top Choices | Latest Pricing |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | 1. DevaCurl - One Condition Original | Our Favorite | Amazon |
![]() | 2. ArtNaturals - Argan Oil Conditioner | Premium Pick | Amazon |
![]() | 3. Maui Moisture - Curl Quench + Coconut Oil | Great Value | Amazon |
![]() | 4. SheaMoisture - Curl & Shine Conditioner | Amazon | |
![]() | 5. Carol’s Daughter - Coco Creme Curl Quenching Conditioner | Amazon |
When you have curly hair, it’s critical to choose the right hair products. For conditioners, it’s especially important to find one that will combat dryness and frizz in order to bring out the beauty in your natural curls. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to find a conditioner that’s labeled for curly hair. It pays to scrutinize labels not only to look for the most beneficial moisturizing ingredients but also to make sure they don’t contain anything sinister.
How to Choose the Best Conditioner for Curly Hair
For curly hair, the most crucial consideration in finding a good conditioner is its moisturizing ingredients. Because curly hair tends to be dry, brittle, and frizzy, it’s essential to find hair products that are hydrating and nourishing. Here are some of the best moisturizing ingredients to look out for in a conditioner for curly hair:
1) Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is one of the most valuable natural ingredients for hair health. In 2003, the Journal of Cosmetic Science published a study wherein researchers proved the superiority of coconut oil in preventing hair damage. They found that rather than just coating hair strands, coconut oil is absorbed into the hair shaft and provides nourishment as well as protective and reparative properties.
2) Argan Oil
Argan oil is rich in essential fatty acids as well as antioxidants that help soften and moisturize your hair. When applied regularly, it helps repair dull and lifeless hair, restore shine, and reduce frizz. Additionally, it helps make hair stronger and improves elasticity, which is essential to minimizing breakage and split-ends.
3) Glycerin
Glycerin is generally known as a humectant. That means it draws moisture from the air and retains it. In combination with another moisturizing ingredient (e.g., coconut oil or argan oil), it provides excellent hydrating benefits that can bring dull or frizzy curls to life. Over time, it helps hair become strong enough to resist split ends as well as heat or chemical damage from excessive styling.
4) Shea Butter
Shea butter is best known as an excellent skin moisturizer. But, it actually provides the same hydrating benefits when applied to the hair and scalp. Additionally, it acts as a natural sealant so that each strand becomes smoother and shinier, without interfering with your natural curl pattern. With consistent use, shea butter can make all types of curly hair softer, bouncier, and more resilient to styling damage.
5) Aloe
For the scalp, aloe vera helps prevent itching and flaking caused by severe dryness. On curly hair, its benefits are even more impressive. That’s because its composition is similar to that of keratin — a type of protein that’s essential to hair health. Because of their similar chemical makeup, it is easily absorbed into the hair shaft where it provides ample nourishment to enhance smoothness and shine.
As with all hair care products, it’s not enough to find the right ingredients. You also need to know what to avoid. For curly hair, you need to steer clear of ingredients that can cause dryness, or those that are considered generally unhealthy. Two of the most critical components to avoid are sulfates and parabens. Sulfates are considered harsh and incredibly drying. On the other hand, parabens do not just cause frizziness but bring up some serious health concerns because they are absorbed by the body and can interfere with hormonal systems.
Top 5 Conditioners for Curly Hair
Many hair moisturizers are marketed towards people with curly hair. But, here are the best conditioners that have amassed a loyal following among others that used to have unhealthy and unmanageable curls:
1) DevaCurl – One Condition Original
DevaCurl is a company dedicated to making curls look their best. So, it’s no surprise that their conditioner is considered as one of the best out there for all types of curls. The One Condition Original combines the hydration powers of olive oil and glycerin to make hair soft, bouncy, and frizz-free. It also contains rosemary, which stimulates hair growth and combats dandruff. Plus, it boasts a vegan formulation that’s also free of sulfates, parabens, and silicones. Its impressive nourishing effects combined with its luxurious lemongrass scent leaves you feeling refreshed and gorgeous after every bath.
2) ArtNaturals – Argan Oil Conditioner
Argan oil is easily absorbed into hair follicles where it helps repair and protects the hair from daily stresses, including sun exposure and styling heat. The Argan Oil Conditioner by ArtNaturals is even more nourishing than other argan oil products because it is formulated with other carefully selected botanical products. That includes neem seed extract, aloe vera juice, coconut extract, and macadamia oil. All these ingredients work together to nourish the scalp, strengthen hair, and restore shine. Additionally, it is has a certified vegan formulation that’s also free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.
3) Maui Moisture – Curl Quench + Coconut Oil
The Curl Quench + Coconut Oil by Maui Moisture is a creamy conditioner formulated to hydrate and soften your hair while also minimizing frizz. Rather than water or some kind of chemical, it lists aloe leaf juice as its most active ingredient. That combined with coconut oil makes it an especially effective conditioner for all types of curly hair. Apart from aloe and coconut oil, it contains papaya fruit extracts, which is rich in hair-nourishing enzymes and antioxidants. Plus, it is formulated with plumeria extracts, which helps improve the texture of hair and also protects it from heat damage. With continued use, you can expect well-defined curls that are shiny, bouncy, and full of life.
4) SheaMoisture – Curl & Shine Conditioner
The Curl & Shine Conditioner by SheaMoisture is a good option for all types of curls but is especially beneficial for thick, curly hair. Apart from coconut oil to promote optimum hair and scalp health, it contains hibiscus flower extracts, which is known to strengthen hair and boost growth. Its other ingredients include shea butter, jojoba oil, mango seed butter, and aloe juice, which are all ingredients that help you work through tangles, eliminate frizz, and improve shine. Plus, it is formulated without any sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and other harsh chemicals.
5) Carol’s Daughter – Coco Creme Curl Quenching Conditioner
The Coco Creme Curl Quenching Conditioner by Carol’s Daughter offers dramatic effects to people with extremely dry, damaged, or kinky hair. Because of its intensely moisturizing formulation of coconut oil and coconut milk, its moisturizing effects are instantaneous. But its nourishing effects are even more impressive as it softens hair, defines your natural curls, and improves manageability over time. Its supporting ingredients include mango seed butter and shea butter, which makes it even more hydrating. Plus, this conditioner has no silicones, parabens, and artificial colors.
Tips for Using Conditioner on Curly Hair
It’s common to think that conditioning your hair is an easy process that doesn’t require any thought. But, its not really enough to find the best hair conditioner for curly hair. The way you use it and how you take care of your hair can make all the difference. Here are some tips to make the most out of your conditioner:
- Start with the ends. When applying your conditioner, start with the ends and work your way up. Your natural oils are already concentrated in your scalp, so applying conditioner on your roots might make it more oily.
- Comb it through. You can use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb to spread the conditioner evenly throughout your hair and make sure that each strand is coated. This will also help you work through tangles.
- Give it time. Check the directions for the recommended length of time you should leave your conditioner on. If it’s not indicated, try leaving it on for at least five minutes. Or, apply it before you wash your body and rinse it off after.
- Use a hair mask. If your hair is extremely dry and brittle, supplement your hair conditioner with a deep conditioning hair mask. You can use this once a week as a hair treatment to repair your hair more quickly as well as to boost moisture and minimize frizz.
There might be a little bit of trial and error involved in finding the best conditioner for your curly hair. Hopefully, it helps to know what products other people with curly hair swear by as well as what ingredients to look out for. You’ll know you’re using the right product when your hair is manageable and your natural curls are shiny, bouncy, and healthy overall. Also, keep in mind that repairing your hair and bringing it to life will take some time. The best conditioner will give you instantaneous results but also continue to improve the condition of your hair over time.