How to find the best shampoos for curls

When it comes to caring for your hair, it’s never a one-size-fits-all situation. Every product you use, from shampoo to heat protectant, needs to be carefully curated by you. That's why today we’re focusing on curls and specifically the best shampoos for curls, so you can avoid any, er, curly problems.

We chatted with Global Hairdresser of the Year 2018 Kobi Bokshish about what shampoos you should use on curly hair and what else you can do to keep your curls in peak condition...

Finding your shampoo

For starters, moisture is a must! “Curly hair is about 30% drier than normal hair. However, you have to have the right balance of hydration otherwise the curl will be weighed down and lose its form," Kobi explains. "Therefore, it is important to use professional products that are recommended by your stylist."

When looking for curl-friendly shampoos, there are specific moisturising ingredients that you should seek out. Kobi suggests looking out for jojoba oil, coconut oil and anything high in amino acids.

For a shampoo that will hydrate the heck out of your hair, beautyheaven loves Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Coconut Oil Conditioning Shampoo, Kiehl’s Amino Acid Shampoo and LUSH Curly Wurly. Kobi's pick? Total Results Curl Please by Matrix.

You can also try using shampoos that are sulfate-free, like the Redken Curvaceous Sulfate-Free Shampoo and Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo ($19.99 at Priceline) to avoid stripping any essential oils or moisture from curly locks.

beautyheaven's favourite shampoos for curly hair: Aveda Be Curly Shampoo, OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Shampoo and John Frieda Frizz-Ease® Dream Curls® Shampoo.

Supporting your shampoo

Okay, so you've found your holy-grail hydrating shampoo but what else can you do to look after those curls? According to Kobi, leave-in treatments are the way.

“Leave-in treatments are fantastic for curls as they support curl formation without any of the crunch! Total Results Contouring Lotion in the Curl Please range from Matrix is the perfect partner for your curly hair. It provides lightweight moisture while boosting body, bounce and shine. Use it each time you wet or wash your hair to rehydrate curls."

And Kobi advises that a wide tooth comb should also be your hair BFF. “Always use a wide tooth comb – not a brush! Don’t ever comb the hair while dry to prevent hair from frizzing, swelling and breaking – instead, comb it through in the shower with a conditioner or treatment,” says Kobi. "Rinse it out with the coldest water you can handle to lock the moisture in. It's best to let the hair dry naturally or blow-dry with a diffuser.

"One thing to avoid however is heat styling. Allow curls to do their thing! Too much flat ironing makes for very unhappy curls. Not only does it remove moisture from an already dry hair type it also removes elasticity and makes your curls lose their form,” Kobi advises.

beautyheaven loves the Deep muk - Ultra Soft Leave-In Conditioner, KMS TAMEFRIZZ Curl Leave-In Conditioner, Lady Jayne Two-Tone Detangling Comb, Mason Pearson Comb Rake, TONI&GUY Tools Wet/Dry Detangle Comb, ghd air™ diffuser and Parlux Supercompact Ionic & Ceramic Hairdryer Diffuser Attachment ($22 at Adore Beauty).

Do you have curly hair? What shampoo do you use on your curls?

92 Member Comments

Jay.dogga1986 25 Jun 2020 12:14 PM

but this is an awesome article.

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Jay.dogga1986 25 Jun 2020 12:13 PM

my curls love pantene

SarahKate.theGreat 23 Jul 2019 4:12 PM

The Maui hair masks are awesome as a leave in treatment for wet curly hair! No nasties either. I went from stick straight hair to a beachy perm recently (looks like natural type 2b curls) and this mask really has helped repair my damage.

ThisIsMe 24 May 2019 10:28 AM

Still trying to find the perfect thing for my daughters curls nothing yet :(

Peach perfect 23 May 2019 9:19 PM

Really suroythwt TiGi oatmeal and honey shampoo isn't mentioned anywhere...and more than the shampoo I feel it's always the conditioner that makes bigger difference to my hair

Shop A Everyday 5 Mar 2019 10:22 PM

My hair is really straight but I do love my heated rollers

Ariana82 12 Feb 2019 8:33 AM

I’m very intrigued on a hair diffuser. I use a diffuser at home for my essential oils

Thanks for the great article I need to start looking after my hair and myself again (after my second bubs the self care sort of went out the window)

Neverland 31 Jan 2019 11:14 PM

Argh, that is something I struggle with having curly hair, it always being so dry! I used to always fight the curl, but now I am finally starting to embrace it and use products that help to enhance my natural curl.

Peach perfect 23 May 2019 9:20 PM

That is so true...curls need love and hydration..lot of it ;)

katie975 31 Jan 2019 6:35 PM

I wish I had curls!

JaneyPooh 30 Jan 2019 8:30 PM

I have very curly hair and silicone free shampoo and lots and lots and lots of leave in conditioner works wonders for my hair. Plus deep conditioning with heat is great.

S-P 22 Jan 2019 9:28 PM

Thank you for this article.

Trish_D 18 Jan 2019 11:28 AM

I have always wanted softly wavy hair but that is as far as I've got - just wishing!!

Khajiit 15 Jan 2019 2:11 PM

I have some of the LUSH curly wurly, haven't used it yet but hopefully it helps the dryness while maintaining some form

Petal 21 Dec 2018 4:54 AM

I have wavy hair that is borderline frizzy now that I've grown it long. I have been using sulphate-free shampoos and silicone-free conditioners for a long time.

aoperez 21 Dec 2018 12:25 AM

I had never really thought about using a different shampoo for curly hair - makes sense tho - especially since my dry is so dry normally anyway!

GeeJ 20 Dec 2018 10:32 PM

A wide tooth comb is the only thing that works when I wear my hair curly.

ubd2u 19 Dec 2018 10:16 PM

good article, one extra bit of info, find a hair dresser who has curly hair herself.

I didn't realise that the hair straightener is not good

Lois389 19 Dec 2018 1:41 PM

I don't have curly hair but I have wavy. Have been trying to embrace it more recently, I never used to use conditioner and now I do everytime. The hardest thing to change is not brushing it!

Amdor9 18 Dec 2018 12:11 PM

Great article. I have very thick, wavy, frizzy hair so I find a leave-in conditioner essential. I like the tip about the cold water. Will have to try that.

Paul481 17 Dec 2018 8:38 AM

Great information we are a family of curls always trying new ideas

misfortune8 16 Dec 2018 5:14 AM

My hair is a little wavy, yet I swear by the cold rinse after rinsing out all my shampoo & conditioner. In winter, I carefully avoid my scalp & body, aiming the cold water at my mid-length & ends only. In summer, I do a full-body blast of cold water!

Shop A Everyday 15 Dec 2018 11:36 PM

I have fine hair, and have found a nice styling cream to be better than mousses and gels which just make my hair so sticky

IndieAna 15 Dec 2018 7:14 PM

I have more wavy hair than curly

Sally10 15 Dec 2018 4:58 PM

As someone with fine, curly hair that tends to frizz, this article was really informative, thank you! :)

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How to find the best shampoos for curls

Finding your shampoo

Supporting your shampoo

Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?

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92 Member Comments

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