These Editor-Tested Curl Creams Actually Work for Soft, Defined Spirals
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These Editor-Tested Curl Creams Actually Work for Soft, Defined Spirals
We updated this article in May 2022 to add more detailed information about each featured product as well as expert commentary. We've added four new top-rated products to the original picks, selected by Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts.
Curl creams are like the love child of a leave-in conditioner and a curl styling product. "They help to define and amplify natural curls, eliminate frizz and add soft hold," says Nunzio Saviano, a hairstylist and founder of the eponymous salon in New York City. "Curls need to be moisturized and protected to stay bouncy, separated, defined and smooth, and curl creams can offer the necessary hydration for a perfect style."
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab, our cosmetic chemists and beauty pros have a decades-long history of testing the best hair products for curly hair, including leave-in conditioners for curls, anti-frizz products, diffusers for curly hair and more. Haircare and styling products for curly hair are evaluated on factors including attributes like texture, scent and ease of application and efficacy in achieving the desired look and feel of hair after use. While we haven't Lab tested every pick here, these best curl creams you can buy for all curl types, from 2A to 4C curls. natural hair and more, according to editors and reviewers, vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts:
Our top picks:
Hearst Owned - 2/18
Hydrating Styling Cream
Moroccanoil
amazon.com
$36.00
Don't be fooled by the name: This does-it-all Moroccanoil styling cream is GH's resident curly girl's go-to. "It adds flexible hold that's not crunchy at all and keeps curls intact and fuzz-free for days," says Good Housekeeping Institute Deputy Editor Jessica Teich. "I have high-porosity hair that dries really quickly so to keep it from frizzing up my hair on application, I add a bit of water to the product to thin it down before smoothing onto curls. The result is well-defined, hydrated curls with no crunchiness."
• Key Ingredients: Argan Oil, vitamin E
• Size: 10.2 oz.Moroccanoil - 3/18
Professionals for Natural Hair Curl Defining Cream
Suave
walmart.com
$4.98
Work a dollop of this rich leave-in conditioner/styling cream hybrid from Suave, a GH Beauty Award winner (and less than $5!), through damp waves or spirals. It enhances texture while nourishing with shea butter and coconut oil. “My curls felt soft and held their shape,” a fan reported. “I used it to touch up dry hair too.”
• Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter
• Size: 12 oz.Suave - 4/18
Curl Corps Defining Cream
Amika
amazon.com
$26.00
The ingredients in the Amika's Curl Corps are next-level — the tapioca starch provides definition and the oat peptide forms a protective barrier, amplifying your hair's shine. "I compared a lot of different curl creams but kept coming back to Amika — and for good reason," an Amazon reviewer raved. "I have naturally wavy/curly hair, but it tends to get flat as the day goes on. With Amika, it stays curly and defined with little to no frizz all day."
• Key Ingredients: Oat peptide, tapioca starch, sea buckthorn
• Size: 6.7 fl ozAmika - 5/18
Coconut Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
SheaMoisture
amazon.com
$7.55
If you have dense curls, look no further than SheaMoisture's custard curl cream. “It minimizes frizz, defines curls, and moisturizes, but doesn’t feel sticky or oily,” says GH's former consumer services and Seal manager. “A small amount goes along way which is a plus for curly product-dependent hair — if I were to use just one product it would be this one." Bonus: “It smells like a tropical smoothie,” she adds. Jacqueline Saguin, GH Associate Editor of Products & Reviews, also attests to the wonders of this curl cream. "It has enhanced my waves and made it easy for me to embrace my natural hair texture!"
• Key Ingredients: Coconut fruit juice, coconut oil, avocado oil
• Size: 12 ozShea Moisture - 6/18
Blueberry & Coconut Hair Milk
Curls
walmart.com
$21.41
No crunchy curls with this Curls cream! It's super lightweight and leaves your hair smelling fruity-fresh. "It keeps my curls defined if I air dry or diffuse," says Jodhaira Rodriguez, Good Housekeeping's Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab Analyst. Plus, we love that the brand is Black and woman-owned.
• Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, blueberry seed oil, coconut milk
• Size: 8 oz.Curls - 7/18
Total Recoil Curl Definer
EVO
amazon.com
$32.00
For a curl cream that's a true multi-tasking star, look no further than Evo. "I try a lot of curl creams and hair products with my job. More than often my friends and family don’t notice any major difference like I do, but when I tested Evo’s line of curl products that all changed," says Bianca Rodriguez, a Commerce Editor and Writer at Hearst Magazines Digital Media. "My curls looked THAT amazing. This all-natural product works just as good on dry hair as it does wet, an ideal scenario for someone who’s always on the go like me."
• Key Ingredients: Cacao seed butter, shea butter
• Size: 6.7 oz.Evo - 8/18
Salty Waves Beach Hair Balm
Pacifica
ulta.com
$12.00
Boost bend in wavy hair with this balm-esque Pacifica curl cream, made with soy protein and jojoba seed oil. "Amazing at enhancing waves and actually moisturizing and making my hair softer," an Ulta reviewer reported.
• Key Ingredients: Sea algae, banana, chia
• Size: 4.0 ozPacifica Beauty - 9/18
The Curl Friend Defining Curl Cream
Cake
ulta.com
$8.99
This sweetly-scented Cake curl cream is highly-rated for fine hair on Ulta. "This is without a doubt the best product I have ever used on my fine natural curls," a reviewer said. "It defines even in high humidity."
• Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, soybean oil, shea butter
• Size: 6 oz.Cake Beauty - 10/18
Curly Pudding
Miss Jessie's
amazon.com
$15.99
A cult classic, this Miss Jessie's curl pudding cream is versatile enough to work on everything from waves to twist and braid-out styles. "The best product for curly hair," an Amazon reviewer said. "My curls are no longer frizzy, have great bounce, and are not weighed down."
• Key Ingredients: Soybean Oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil
• Size: 8.5 oz.Miss Jessie's - 11/18
Dove Amplified Textures Shaping Butter Cream
Dove
walmart.com
$6.98
For tightly-textured or coarse curls, turn to this Dove curl butter cream. "Works well to define curly and kinky hair, moisturizes while also providing hold, and smells absolutely divine!" a Walmart reviewer noted. "This works best on super curly to kinky hair so I've used it on my daughter for coils, braids, etc."
• Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, jojoba seed oil
• Size: 10.5 oz.Dove - 12/18
Be Curly Curl Enhancer
Aveda
nordstrom.com
$27.00
Aveda's curl cream boasts over 2,400 reviews on Nordstrom averaging almost five stars and is a great prep step for creating curls in straight hair. "I have very straight hair, but this product really helps when I want to add a bit of curl," a reviewer noted. "It's the best product I've found that makes my normally flat hair hold curl."
• Key Ingredients: Linseed extract, marshmallow root extract, aloe
• Size: 6.7 oz.Aveda - 13/18
Fructis Style Curl Sculpt Conditioning Cream Gel
Garnier
walmart.com
$3.32
A curl cream and gel combo, this Garnier formula is top-rated at Walmart. "My hair is super thick and curly," a reviewer reported. "Other products left my hair very stiff, but I love how this tames my curls and leaves them feeling soft."
• Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, mango glycerides, shea butter
• Size: 5.1 fl oz.Garnier - 14/18
Curl Charisma Rice Amino & Avocado Leave-In Defining Creme
Briogeo
dermstore.com
$20.00
Briogeo's curl cream with rice protein and avocado oil has earned near cult status for defining natural hair textures. "It defines my curls without making them crunchy, eliminates frizz, gives my curls a boost, smells great, makes my hair soft and is so easy to use," a Dermstore reviewer enthused. "I've never had a product work so well."
• Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, soybean oil, rice extract
• Size: 6 oz.Briogeo - 15/18
Styling Cream
Vernon François
amazon.com
$14.99
Created by celebrity hairstylist Vernon François, who specializes in textured hair, this curl-defining cream was made to work especially well for coily and kinky curl types, including 4C hair. "I absolutely love this cream," an Amazon reviewer raved. "It makes my 4B/C hair ultra-soft and bouncy."
• Key Ingredients: Shea butter, coconut oil, argan oil
• Size: 8.5 oz.Vernon Francois - 16/18
Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter
Camille Rose
walmart.com
$15.98
This butter-like curl cream from Camille Rose, rich in botanical oils like almond, sesame, and jojoba, was formulated specifically for twist-out hairstyles. "It transforms my hair from dry to moisture rich and my twist-outs look amazing!" an Amazon reviewer raved.
• Key Ingredients: Almond milk, almond oil, pumpkin seed oil
• Size: 8 oz.Camille Rose - 17/18
Coco Creme Coil Enhancing Moisture Butter
Carol's Daughter
walmart.com
$9.99
Quench dehydrated curls with this intensely nourishing Carol's Daughter curl moisturizing butter cream, made with mango seed butter and coconut oil. "My hair stays moisturized for days and my curls look great," an Amazon reviewer said.
• Key Ingredients: Beeswax, mango Seed Butter, coconut oil
• Size: 12 oz.Carol's Daughter - 18/18
Curl Talk Defining Hair Cream
Not Your Mother's
walmart.com
$7.74
It's affordably-priced, yet this Not Your Mother's defining hair cream is made with a special rice curl complex — a blend of rice, keratin amino acids and enzymes to hydrate, condition, protect and enhance curl retention. "If you have curly hair don't walk, run and buy!" a Walmart reviewer enthused. "You will not regret this purchase. Smells amazing, my curls always look good when I use this line."
• Key Ingredients: Tomato fruit ferment extract, rice extract, keratin amino acids
• Size: 6 oz.Not Your Mother's
