The Best Curl Shampoo

Keeping your curls bouncy and frizz-free requires special care and products designed for curly hair. There are several different theories of curl care, and not every product will work well for every curly girl. Curly hair is prone to dryness, so shampoos should be moisturizing. Your hair also should not be shampooed daily, even with one of the best curl shampoos.

Drugstore Shampoos

A number of drugstore brands offer shampoos designed for curly hair. Good quality options available at your grocery, drug or discount store include Pantene Hydrating Curls, Herbal Essences Twisted Curls and Waves, and Garnier Fructis Curl and Shine. If frizz is more of a problem, try Dove Frizz Control Therapy. These shampoos are all quite moisturizing and will encourage your curls to be cooperative. Use these shampoos no more than once or twice a week to keep your curls clean and soft.

Salon Brands

Several salon brands produce shampoos designed for curly hair. Aveda’s Be Curly shampoo is quite gentle on curls and waves, while Tigi Catwalk Curls Rock is a good choice for frizzier curls. If you prefer salon brands, your stylist may be able to help you choose the best curl shampoo for your hair type and curls. While these shampoos are more expensive, some salons do offer sample sizes to allow you to try out these curl shampoo choices before you invest in a larger bottle.

No Poo

More and more people with curls have decided that the best shampoo for curly heads is no shampoo at all, a care plan supported by the book, “Curly Girl” by Lorraine Massey. Instead of washing with shampoo, hair is washed with a sulfate-free conditioner containing fats and proteins. If necessary, as may be true with wavy or soft curls, a tiny amount of sulfate-free shampoo may be used along with the conditioner wash. This care routine creates moisturized soft curls with less frizz and fewer styling challenges. Silicone-based hair products are avoided to reduce the need for harsh shampoos.