The Best 10 Shampoos for Naturally Curly Hair

During the 1970s and 1980s, curly hair became a popular fashion statement at discos. Those with straight hair wanted curly hair, and those with curly hair wished to have straight hair. However, each person is born with a unique hair type, and those who have naturally curly hair find it a challenge to maintain. Curly hair tends to be more prone to tangles, dryness, and frizz. However, today, there are an array of products to help manage your natural curly curls.

Choosing the right shampoo is key to maintaining bouncy curls and a radiant shine. It is best to look for shampoos that can benefit strand health and maintain the scalp. Additionally, shampoos contain sulfates, which can drastically dry out the hair and leave you with an itchy scalp. It is best to look for moisture-rich shampoos that contain honey and oils. Here are some recommendations for the 10 best shampoos for naturally curly hair. If you don’t know what type of curl pattern you have, use this chart to find out.

10. Virtue: Curl Shampoo

• Cost: $17
• Size: 2 fl oz
• Hair type: curl-optimizing, textured
• Rating: 4.2

Virtue Curl Shampoo gently cleanses and hydrates the hair, all while removing buildup and excess oils. It is silicone-free and creates a nice lather. According to an Amazon customer on Amazon’s review, “This product works wonders for my naturally seriously curly hair! Even in this Texas heat and humidity. You won’t be disappointed!”

9. Adwoa: Baomint Moisturizing Shampoo

• Cost: $12
• Size: 3.3 fl oz
• Hair type: wavy, coily, kinky, and curly
• Rating: 4.2

With a lovely mint fragrance and a blend of essential oils and aloe, Adwoa’s Baomint Moisturizing Shampoo revives the scalp, detangles, and promotes growth. It doesn’t strip the hair, is sulfate-free, and adds shine. According to Cordiela on Amazon’s review “I wasn’t expecting to see any type of hair results when I started using Adwoa, but after 3+ months, I realized my baby hairs had finally grown out. No matter what, they would never seem to grow, until using this shampoo. I then realized that this shampoo has so many oils that are good for hair growth, such as black Castro oil, and rosemary and peppermint oil, which are known to help promote circulation to the scalp! I was so impressed with Adwoa that I ordered their entire hair collection.”

8. Aussie: Miracle Moist Shampoo

• Cost: $7.99
• Size: 30.4 fl oz
• Hair type: all curly hair types and damaged hair
• Rating: 4.5

Aussie Miricle Moist Shampoo is perfect for thirsty, dry, curly hair. Soak your strands in the rich shampoo infused with jojoba seed oil and avocado. According to porsham1 on Aussie’s review, “This shampoo works wonders. It keeps the hair soft and hydrated and it smells really good. It’s a very cheap price and it does exactly what it claims to do. This shampoo is one of the best.”

7. Odele: Curl Defining No-Lather

• Cost: $11-99
• Size: 13 fl oz
• Hair type: curly to coily
• Rating: 4.5

Odele Curl Defining No-Lather is a salon-grade wash that gently removes buildup and locks out frizz while strengthening your hair. It is suitable for all types of curly hair and has a lovely cucumber, ylang-ylang, and oakmoss fragrance. Furthermore, it is artificial fragrance-free, paraben-free, dye-free, phthalate-free, formaldehyde-donor-free, and vegan. According to Curly Sam on Odele’s review, “This stuff is amazing, along with the conditioner. My curls look SO good, and they’re so bouncy and soft. Haven’t felt this happy with my hair in a long time. The air-dry product with it?! Chefs KISS.”

6. SheaMoisture: Curl & Shine Coconut & Hibiscus Shampoo

• Cost: $13.99
• Size: 13 fl oz
• Hair type: dry, curly
• Rating: 4.5

With SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Coconut & Hibiscus Shampoo, you can turn your dry, brittle hair into vibrant, bouncy curls and waves. It has a blend of neem oil, which improves the elasticity of the hair and restores its shine. Furthermore, it does not contain any petrolatum, phthalates, parabens, silicones, or mineral oils. According to glammbynour on Walgreen’s review, “Lovee this shampoo; my niece has very curly hair, and it would always be dull looking and her curls looked dead. We used this for about a week and noticed a change in her hair, the shine and curls.”

5. Not Your Mother’s: Curl Talk Bond Building Shampoo 

• Cost: $7.74
• Size: 8 fl. oz
• Hair type: all curl types and controls frizz
• Rating: 4.5

Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Bond Building Shampoo will help keep your curls looking healthy from root to tip. It has a dual-action curl power complex and a blend of rice amino acids that helps repair damaged hair. It has a wonderful fragrance of sandalwood, rose water, lemon, sunflower, and jasmine. Furthermore, this gentle shampoo is made without gluten, dyes, silicones, surfactants, drying alcohols, or parabens. It is suitable for colored or natural hair. According to Rochester NY on Not Your Mother’s Curl review, “I have spent hundreds of dollars buying expensive curl brands which promised well defined curls; many of which are not sold in stores. I got tired of paying for shipping and not getting orders delivered on time and not getting results, etc. In looking at products in the store, I was intrigued by the name, took a chance and tried Not Your Mother’s Curl shampoo and conditioner. BEST thing I did. It does what I’ve been looking for enhances my curl type. AND, it’s very affordable, I can just buy it in the store. PLEASE don’t change the formula. I love it.”

4. Carol’s Daughter: Wash Day Delight Sulfate-Free Shampoo

• Cost: $15.99
• Size: 16.9 fl. oz
• Hair type: dry, frizzy, and damaged
• Rating 4.5

Carol’s Daughter Wash Day Delight Sulfate-Free Shampoo deeply cleanses the hair and doesn’t cause it to tangle. Micellar water is used and acts like a magnet to lift away any buildup. It also features an applicator for easy access to the scalp, which allows the liquid to flow through your curls. This water-to-foam shampoo is free of artificial colors, silicone, sulfate, and a vegan-friendly formula. Furthermore, this shampoo has a lovely aloe vera scent. According to CAEdwards on Amazon’s review, “I gave 5 stars for moisture and softness because it IS THE PERFECT AMOUNT OF EACH FOR MY MICROLOCS! I chose the product specifically for my microlocs after seeing it highly recommended and demonstrated by several influencers on YouTube. A little goes a long way!! One bottle lasted 2.5 months doing 2 shampoos weekly!!! The “water” consistency distributes fast and easily throughout my locs. It lathers really well but rinses out surprisingly well too.”

3. L’Oreal: Evercurl

• Cost: $9.99
• Size: 8.5 fl. oz
• Hair type: dry and frizzy
• Rating: 4.6

L’Oreal Evercul shampoo is gentle on your curls. It is surfactant-free, sulfate-free, and salt-free, making it suitable for color-treated hair too. Evercurl with coconut oil provides deep moisture for up to 48 hours of curl definition. Apply it to wet hair and massage it into a lather. According to C. Coffey on Amazon’s review, “Trying this as an alternative to more expensive salon products for color-treated curly hair in a humid climate. Nice scent. Leaves hair soft, and seems to knock down some of the normal frizz. Summer in FL will be the real test. So far, satisfied with the results.”

2. Aveda: Be Curly Shampoo

• Cost: $27.79
• Size: 8.5 fl oz
• Hair type: wavey, curly, and kinky
• Rating: 4.7

Aveda’s Be Curly Shampoo is best for wavey hair because it contains a blend of organic aloe and wheat protein. It retracts when dry to improve your curl or wave and expands when hair is wet. Features a lovely citrus scent of orange, lime, and lemon. It increases the shine and tames the frizz of your hair. According to Charlotte on Amazon’s review, “I love this line of products. I’ve been using it for about 8 years. It works beautifully. My hair never gets frizzled. I recommend it every time I get compliments on my hair.”

1. Camille Rose: Coconut Water Curl Cleanse

• Cost: $11.99
• Size: 12 fl. oz
• Hair type: all hair types for soft, bouncy curls
• Rating: 4.7

Camille Rose Coconut Water Curl Cleanse is made with a blend of rosemary, coconut, and castor oils, this shampoo will strengthen and soften your hair and prevent breakage. Furthermore, it is weightless and sulfate-free. Easy to apply: simply wet your strands in the shower and apply it throughout the length of the hair. For thicker hair sections, section the hair first, then apply. According to lisa on Amazon’s review, “This shampoo is so freaking good for any hair types ranging from straight to curly/coily hair. The smell is so good but not too strong and leaves your hair soft and hydrated without stripping your scalp. THIS IS A BANG FOR YOUR BUCK.”

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