Best Curly Hair Products by Curl Type

The right curly products for your curl type-or curl-types if you’re lucky enough to have more than one!-can dramatically impact the way your curls look, feel, and react. Wavy, curly, and coily hair ranges in its definition, density, dryness and styling needs, meaning one product might not work quite the same way for all the hair in the world. The key to finding the right products will ultimately boost your natural curl pattern and tackle your individual concerns such as dryness, definition, breakage or buildup.

Rather than relying solely on reviews, considering these factors is going to have a greater positive impact than relying solely on trendiness-curl type, hair density, porosity, moisture requirement, and finish desired are a couple of the biggest influences to consider.

In this article, you’ll be guided on what kinds of products might work for each curl type and also how to begin creating basic curls-curling regimes that encourage naturally healthy looking defined curls

Understanding Your Curl Type

Four major categories of hair texture fall into the curly category generally:

Type 1: straight hair

Type 2: wavy hair

Type 3: curly hair

Type 4: coily or tightly curled hair.

Types 2, 3, & 4 are the most critical ones for a Curly Hair Product Guide. With each type, patterns will still vary between loose waves and curls, to tight coils.
Your curl type is not the only determinant of your product selections, as two with same curl type, will have vastly different needs based on their hair density and thickness, as well as hair porosity, damage level and scalp condition.

Best Curly Hair Products for Type 2 Wavy Hair

Type 2 hair will usually have waves, never full curls. Products heavy in butters/oils and richer in creams tend to weigh down waves- especially if fine.

Products recommended for waves

A light cleanser designed to clean excess dirt and product without drying out hair to a bone, yet clean enough.
Lightweight conditioner that helps with manageability without any extra weight on the hair.
A lightweight leave-it can increase moisture, improve your detangling routine.
Mousse or foam is especially handy at bringing out your natural wave pattern with lighter products.
A gel but of a lighter formula so as not to weigh down hair but enhance it’s wave with added definition, while still allowing waves to be flexible.
For Type 2s, start out with small amounts of styling product because too much product will flatten your wave and make your hair look greasy and limp.

Best Curly Hair Products for Type 3 Curly Hair

Type 3 hair: Typically produces visible curls or loops, this texture often requires a balance of hydration and structure.
Curled hair can be prone to frizz, as well as dry because of lack of moisture (since the scalp can have difficulty distributing oil evenly from root to ends).

Recommended products for Type 3 curls

• Moisturizing shampoo: A cleansing conditioner that is moisturizing will keep your curls clean as well as keep a suitable level of moisture in them.
• Rich conditioner: Conditioner should help soften the hair and also help to detangle it.
• Leave in conditioner: Apply a lighter weight leave in or a medium weight one to your damp hair as more added conditioner.
• Curl cream: A curl cream will help to define and soften curls, also reducing any frizz and help with shape enhancement of the curls.
• Gel for styling: A gel can help hold hair into shape while it dries.

Many a Type 3 curls can profit from using leave-in conditioner + curl cream + gel combinations. Thinner curls will perhaps want to use only two or one product and will most likely require lighter formulas.

Best Curly Hair Products for Type 4 Coily Hair

Hair of Type 4 involves a variety of tightly curled and coiled patterns. These types of hair textures can be quite prone to dryness and breakage, so moisture retention as well as delicate handling will be essential.

Recommended products for coily hair

• Moisturizing cleaner-a cleanser which has enough ability to cleanse the scalp and can still maintain enough moisture on the hair as well.
• Deep conditioner- regular deep conditioner could give your hair some further conditioning and manageability benefits.
• Leave in-conditioner-it may be capable of helping to keep hair soft and assisting in detangling.
• Moisturizing cream- you might consider getting a heavy-duty curl cream or hair butter once your hair has reached the need for more conditioning and moisturizing.
• Styling gel-if you need to define your hair with coils or want to create different protective styles your hair can definitely use some styling gel.
• Light weight hair oil- the oil could be used on each portion of hair if its feeling very dry with the benefit of added shine, but its dependent upon your individual hair needs as to whether you will need this.

Don’t automatically apply the heavy product your trying to fix a dryness problem and overload your hair on product; because too much conditioner on already coily hair can be just as harmful.

Best Products for Mixed Curl Types

Most curly girls have more than one curl pattern on their head of hair. Sometimes hair on the crown of the head is looser and styles in waves, whereas the top and back have tighter curls.
That’s totally fine!
Don’t apply the same thick, heavy products all over; the better approach here is to adapt your styling, section by section, depending on where in your hair:
Apply lighter products: on wavier areas of your hair
Moisturize hair: on drier regions of your hair
Add hold: where curls may struggle to hold shape
Use a more conservative amount of product: where hair is more fine and susceptible to being weighed down
You will see a lot more definition as sections are tackled individually and treated accordingly to meet their own individual needs

Best Curly Hair Products for Dry Curls

Moisture is something that many curl types struggle with. To overcome dry brittle, or tangly curls use methods that help maintain moisture in your hair, this is most often by using products like;

• Moisturizing shampoo
• Moisturizing conditioner
• Deep conditioner
• Leave-in conditioner
• Curl cream
• Hair oil or serum

Typical moisturizing ingredients contain things like; Glycerin, aloe vera, shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil or Panthenol. Remember that the ingredient only really works according to what is mixed in the whole product.

Best Curly Hair Products for Frizz

How frizz develops: hair can be dry, high in humidity, brittle or physically worked.

How an anti-frizz regimen is established:

1. Gentle shampoo
2. Frequent conditioning
3. Leave-in conditioner
4. Curl cream
5. Styling gel
6. Limit manipulation and friction when styling and drying.

Do not brush dry curls; instead work products in while damp to prevent frizz and breaking up the pattern, thus not creating so many frizzy pieces. A satin or silk bonnet or pillowcase could further assist in reducing frizz at night.

Best Curly Hair Products for Fine Curls

Fine curly hair might want moisture without too much heavy residue.

Try

• Light weight leave-in conditioner
• Light weight conditioner
• curl mousse
• Light styling cream
• Flexible styling gel

Do not use all the heavy styling products together. Start with one, then apply the others incrementally.
Flat hair after styling, will likely require cutting back on cream or oil and a light styling mousse or foam might be the trick.

Best Curly Hair Products for Thick Curls

For thicker curls, greater conditioning and more control will be necessary.

The following can be very beneficial:

• Conditioning Shampoo
• Richer Conditioner
• Leave-in Conditioner
• Curl Cream
• Styling Gel
• Deep conditioner (weekly)

sectioning of the thick hair makes the product distribution much more manageable, and can help in ensuring that the overall length is conditioned adequately.

How to Choose Curly Hair Products for Your Curl Type

• Curl pattern should be your jumping-off point, and not necessarily the only deciding factor. Prior to choosing products, factor in:
• Hair thickness: Very thin hair will need very light products while very thick hair will handle many thicker products with ease.
• Hair porosity: The texture of hair’s absorbability and hold will dictate need for different products-if hair drinks up products instantly or quickly weighs down.
• Hair density: Dense hair might take a lot more product to yield a good result or careful product distribution will be needed through careful sectioning.
• Current hair condition: Chemically compromised or heat damaged hair often needs increased conditioner levels, or gentler products all together.
• Desired outcome: consider if you want More body, a higher level of volume
  A defined curl, less “fuzzy” curl Frizz management
• To boost moisture levels
• A firmer, more permanent style holding to curls
• A more tactile softness to curl

Curly Hair Product Routine by Curl Type

Common Mistakes When Choosing Curly Hair Products

Over-application of product

You do not automatically make your curls better with more product. Layering can cause build up and create heavy curls.

Only looking at curl numbers

Curl type does not tell the whole story. Hair thickness, porosity, density, and damage also determine your hair type.

Not considering your scalp

Looking good usually starts with having a good scalp that can hold onto that moisture. Take care of your scalp by keeping it clean and ensuring that products do not build up onto your scalp.
Changing all your products and methods over at the same time
Add products to your regimen slowly and so that you can pinpoint each product, or method, that makes or takes away from your curls.

Brushing dry curls

When brushing dry curls, you will just start disrupting the pattern and will likely increase the fizz factor of your curls.

Final Words

The best curly hair products by curl type are those that meet your specific curl type’s needs instead of following what a universal product list has said they need. Type 2 waves will need lightweight products that will set curl definitions without flattening their curls. Type 3s will need moisture along with definition hold while Type 4s will need heavy condition products that will boost moisture absorption and the manageability of Type 4 curls.

Consider not just curl type but hair porosity, density, thickness, damage from treatments and dye jobs, and where you live.

Have a basic routine of cleansing, conditioning, moisturizing, and styling as you introduce hair products into the wash and go. Your journey with product usage can increase the beauty of your natural curl definition.