From cleansers to deep conditioners to leave-in products, there's a lot to look for when trying to perfect your curly haircare routine, but familiarizing your locks with a decent shampoo for curly hair is a great place to start, and it'll save you a lot of trouble in the long run.
Meet Our Expert: Tippi Shorter, celebrity hairstylist
When it comes time to wash, some of the best shampoos for curly hair are hydrating ones which are often infused with essential oils and butters. “Using products that have moisture and frizz-reducing ingredients are essential for curly girls to achieve healthy curls,” says celebrity stylist and curl connoisseur Tippi Shorter. Steer clear of “anything that says chelating, clarifying, or deep cleansing,” she adds. They’ll further strip your hair of moisture, which contributes to the frizz-factor.
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Want to put your bad hair days behind you? Here are the best shampoos for every type of curl and styling need.
1. Pattern Beauty Hydration Shampoo
This shampoo from Tracee Ellis Ross's Pattern Beauty is a fan-favorite for a reason: it removes dirt and oil from the hair and scalp without being too harsh on curls and waves. It also features coconut oil and aloe vera leaf juice for optimal hydration.
PATTERN Hydration Shampoo
Pros
- Hydrating
- Great smell
Cons
- Using too much may cause dryness
2. Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo
Treat your tresses without breaking the bank thanks to this sulfate-free formula that leaves curls soft and silky. Shea butter softens and smooths the hair, neem oil controls frizz and restores shine, and coconut oil helps reverse the effects of UV rays, dirt, and pollution, which can lead to dull hair.
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo
Pros
- Affordable
- Protects hair from UV damage
Cons
- Some reviewers say that the shampoo can cause dryness
3. Together Beauty Wash & Co Cleansing Conditioner
When Shorter is styling a client’s curls, she reaches for this hydrating option instead of shampoo because it cleans the scalp without any harsh ingredients. “A co-wash is a conditioner with some cleansing agents,” she explains. “The essential oils help restore moisture that curly hair lacks.”
Together Beauty Wash & Co
Together Beauty Wash & Co
Pros
- Cleanses and softens hair
- Provides color protection
Cons
- Expensive
4. Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo
If you have tight curls you’ll want to reach for this low pH cleanser that’s free of parabens, phthalates, and synthetic dyes, making it a nourishing option for both natural and color-treated hair that won’t tangle post-shower.
Briogeo Super Moisture Shampoo
Pros
- Hydrating
- No harsh chemicals
Cons
- Expensive
5. Renee Furterer Sublime Curl Curl Activating Shampoo
Fine curls can easily fall flat, which is why you should reach for this formula that employs acanthus extract to restore volume, all while strengthening and defining your natural curl pattern.
Rene Furterer Sublime Curl Curl Activating Shampoo
Rene Furterer Sublime Curl Curl Activating Shampoo
Pros
- Protects against frizz
- Defines curls
Cons
- Expensive
6. Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Curl Care Shampoo
This curl type has a mix of S-shaped waves and ringlet curls and requires a special shampoo that's both hydrating and also lightweight. Enter this shampoo enhanced with blend of rice, keratin amino acids, and enzymes that does all of the above.
Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Curl Care Shampoo
Pros
- Lightweight formula
- Gentle
Cons
- Can be drying
7. Kérastase Discipline Fluidealiste Shampoo
While a sulfate-free shampoo is your best bet if you have curly hair, it’s even more imperative if you’ve had a keratin treatment. This gentle formula fights frizz without weighing down your ringlets. Plus, it’s sulfate-free, making it a great option for color-treated curls, too.
Kérastase Bain Fluidealiste Shampoo
Kérastase Bain Fluidealiste Shampoo
Pros
- Fights frizz
- Sulfate free
Cons
- May weigh down fine hair
8. Innersense Hydrating Creme Hairbath
Curly girls will rejoice over this gentle, sulfate-free formula that employs tamanu oil, which regenerates, strengthens, and protects the hair follicle, all while delivering moisturized curls sans product build-up. This certified organic formula is free of parabens and sulfates, too.
Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath
Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath
Pros
- Great for thick hair
- Repairs damage and dryness
Cons
- Some customers reported a strong fragrance
9. Biolage Smoothproof Shampoo
This deeply nourishing formula is great for damaged tresses and will lock in hydration and offer humidity control, all while restoring moisture when your hair needs it the most—without weighing it down.
Biolage Matrix Smoothproof Shampoo
Pros
- Controls frizz
- Lathers well
Cons
- May make the hair feel oily
10. Aveeno Almond Oil Blend Shampoo
This scalp-soothing shampoo employs a combination of natural ingredients, like oat, almond oil, and avocado oil, which moisturize hair from root to tip.
Aveeno Scalp Soothing Oil Blend Shampoo
Pros
- Affordable
- Soothing
Cons
- Can make the hair feel oily
11. Virtue Recovery Shampoo
Less breakage and more bounce is just a shampoo away. This formula contains keratin, which fills in damaged spots and replenishes the vital nutrients hair needs to thrive, creating stronger, softer, more manageable hair with each wash.
Virtue Recovery Shampoo
Pros
- Strengthens hair and prevents breakage
- Color-safe
Cons
- Expensive
12. Tresemmé Moisture Rich with Vitamin E Shampoo
For under $10 you can restore the moisture your curly hair needs, thanks to this affordable option that uses ceramides to infuse each strand with hydration, restoring the life and vitality of your curls.
TRESemmé Rich Moisture Shampoo With Vitamin E
Pros
- Affordable
- Moisturizes the hair with vitamin E
Cons
- Contains silicone
13. Amika Normcore Signature Shampoo
This lightweight formula eliminates product build-up without weighing down your waves and employs coconut acid, sea buckthorn, and vitamins C and A to provide the hair with a satisfying cleanse while moisturizing the hair and scalp.
amika Normcore Sulfate Free Shampoo
Pros
- Removes buildup
- Smells great
Cons
- Some reviews report that hair was left feeling oily or waxy
14. Kinky-Curly Come Clean Shampoo
This gentle, sulfate-free shampoo is specially designed to remove hard-water deposits from the hair, leaving you with squeaky clean hair and enhanced curls.
Kinky-Curly Come Clean Shampoo
Pros
- Removes dirt and hard water
- Sulfate-free
Cons
- May dry the hair out, so follow with a conditioner
15. Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Water-to-Foam Shampoo
The great thing about this shampoo—other than its light water-to-foam formula—is that it's packaged in bottle with a nozzle, making it easy for you to apply the product to every inch of your scalp without using too much and stripping your curls of moisture.
Carol's Daughter Wash Day Delight Aloe Shampoo
Pros
- Easy to apply with nozzle
- Big bottle
Cons
- Doesn't lather well
16. Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Okay, so the product itself wasn't specifically formulated to treat curly hair, but as a best-seller at Sephora and a favorite of tons of hairstylists, this shampoo works just as beautifully for curly hair as it does other hair types. It's a repairing shampoo that works wonders on damaged hair thanks to a special, patented ingredient that relinks broken bonds in the hair and prevents the formation of split ends and breakage.
Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Pros
- Repairs and prevents damage
- A little goes a very long way
Cons
- Can be drying
17. Bread Beauty Supply Hair Wash Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser
This light and milky formula transforms into a gentle, satisfying lather rich with argan oil that moisturizes and softens the hair. It also features a healthy does of lemon tea tree oil to help soothe itchy, irritated scalps.
BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY Hair Wash Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser
BREAD BEAUTY SUPPLY Hair Wash Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser
Pros
- Light, milky formula
- Black-owned brand
Cons
- Small package
18. As I Am Coconut Cleansing Conditioner
With a gentle cleansing formula that practically glides through the hair and takes the hassle out of detangling, this cleansing conditioner is perfect for using in between your weekly shampoos—especially when you want to give your hair an extra hit of moisture.
As I Am Coconut Cleansing Conditioner
Pros
- Very moisturizing
- Has good slip
Cons
- Not an actual shampoo
19. Andrew Fitzsimons Fantasy Curls Nourishing Shampoo
Reach for this shampoo—backed by celebrity hairstylist, Andrew Fitzsimons—on days when you want to add a little volume and extra bounce to your curls. It features jojoba oil to add a boost of moisture to the hair while its special bond-building technology helps to repair damage to strands and improve elasticity.
Andrew Fitzsimons Fantasy Curls Nourishing Shampoo
Andrew Fitzsimons Fantasy Curls Nourishing Shampoo
Pros
- Affordable
- Creamy formula
Cons
- May not be as hydrating for type 4 hair
20. Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo
Want healthy, hydrated curls for under $5? This shampoo transforms into a luxurious lather to cleanse the hair without drying it out further. The best part? Even the smallest dollop goes a long way, so you can get the most out of your purchase and go months without repurchasing.
Aussie Miracle Moist with Avocado & Jojoba Oil
Pros
- Affordable
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Some reviews say the shampoo makes hair more oily
Chelsea Burns is the Beauty Director for Women’s Health and has been writing in the beauty and wellness space for over six years with her work appearing in Real Simple, Health, Fitness, and Byrdie.com. She’s an expert at testing products and is always on the hunt for the best tinted moisturizer.
