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The Shortlist
- Best OverallBriogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating ShampooShop
- Best ValueNot Your Mother's Curl Talk ShampooShop
- Best for Thick CurlsSheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine ShampooShop
- Best for CoilsPattern Beauty Hydration ShampooShop
- Best for HumidityOuidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing ShampooShop
- Best Co-WashAs I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing ConditionerShop
- Best Clarifying ShampooKinky-Curly Come Clean Natural Moisturizing ShampooShop
Curly hair is dry by design. The oil your scalp produces travels easily down a straight strand and struggles around every bend of a curled one, so the ends of a curl are always thirstier than the roots. A shampoo that would be perfectly reasonable on straight hair can leave curls rough, dull and puffed with frizz.
The answer is not to stop washing. A clean scalp grows better hair, and product buildup flattens curls as surely as dryness frizzes them. The answer is a gentler cleanser for most washes, and a stronger one kept in reserve.
What we looked for
- Mild surfactants. Every shampoo here is free of the harsher sulfates. We explain why that matters in Sulfates and Silicones.
- Weight to match the pattern. A formula rich enough for coils will flatten waves. Each pick says who it is for.
- A sensible ingredient list. Conditioning agents that help, without heavy silicones that then need a harsh shampoo to remove.
The picks
How to choose
| If your hair is | Start with |
|---|---|
| Wavy or fine | Not Your Mother's Curl Talk |
| Curly, medium density | Briogeo Curl Charisma |
| Thick and dry | SheaMoisture Curl & Shine |
| Coily | Pattern Hydration, with As I Am between washes |
| Limp or coated | Kinky-Curly Come Clean, once |
How to use it
Shampoo the scalp and leave the lengths alone; the lather rinsing through is enough to clean them. If a gentle shampoo does not seem to be doing much, use less product and more water, and spend a full minute massaging. The complete sequence is set out in The Wash Day Routine.