Thousands of NaturallyCurly community members have taken the time to share their favorite products, tools and necessities for curly, coily and wavy hair. We have compiled the votes and are excited to announce 2013’s list of holy grail, must-have items that every curly girl should try out.
Favorite Shampoo
SheaMoisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Retention Shampoo
You say: “This is by far the best shampoo I have ever used. Before this product, my expectations of shampoo in general were pretty low. I expected them to clean my hair and that was it. I never knew a shampoo could moisturize and detangle like a conditioner! Well this product DOES. It even lathers really well, even though it’s organic. My favorite product by Shea Moisture.” – curlyfries1989
Favorite Cleansing Conditioner
As I Am Coconut Cleansing Co-Wash Conditioner
You say: “Oh yea this stuff is AWESOME! As soon as it’s applied and you start scrubbing your scalp it instantly softens your hair and cleanses it beautifully. It’s good enough to use throughout your hair, but I still follow up with a conditioner afterwards. Best stuff EVER” – CurlMart purchaser
Favorite Daily Conditioner
Tresemme Naturals Nourishing Moisture Conditioner
You say: “HG (Holy Grail”> conditioner currently. I stockpile is as it’s hard to find around here and I tend to use a lot. Great slip, combing is no problem whatsoever. I use it in a bottle of water to spray down my second day hair before styling. Just a great, cheap conditioner.” – memphiscurls901
Favorite Leave-In Conditioner
Kinky Curly Knot Today
You say: “This is the best leave in conditioner ever!!!! I can use it as a leave in with nothing else, or with other products. It also works well as a rinse out conditioner too. This does not weigh down fine curls. It’s super moisturizing and lightweight.” – Curliness
Favorite Deep Conditioner
SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque
You say: “This masque worked SOOOO well for me!!! My hair felt like butter even before I rinsed it out! I have mostly 3c hair with some 4a parts in the front and it gets sooo dry so fast but this left my hair super moisturized and feeling fantastic! I applied it all over and got under the dryer for 15 minutes and rinsed throughly. Doing my braid-out was a dream and the results were amazing! I was afraid to try this because the Curl Enhancing Smoothie didnt work for me AT ALL so I thought I wouldnt have much luck with the other Shea Moisture lines but Im glad to say I was wrong. Totally recommend!” – MelE1092
Favorite Styling Gel
EcoStyler Olive Oil Styling Gel
You say: “This product is my holy grail for wash and go’s, it can keep my hair frizz free for about 3 days. However if you put to much it will be to crunchy and/or flake. To combat this problem I break the gel casting (what makes your hair feel crunchy”> by applying a NON-sealant oil, eg. olive oil. It doesn’t leave a white film when used with a creamy styler, smell greats and aids curl definition. Love this product.” – cchantayy
Favorite Edge Control Gel
Organic Root Stimulator Edge Control
You say: “I have thick curly natural hair and when I do certain styles, strands tend to stick up. A friend of mine recommended this product to me and I LOVE IT. IT’S THE BEST EDGE CONTROL GEL I’VE EVER USED. The package states that the gel is for permed or natural hair and that is the TRUTH.” – Lore
Favorite Styling Cream
Cantu Shea Butter Coconut Curling Cream
This all-natural shampoo ticks all of the curly girl boxes: sulfate-free, moisturizing and gentle. This product is one to watch as it won both your favorite shampoo and best sulfate-free product!
You say: “Definitely hands down my favorite shampoo. It is very moisturizing and helps to stretch my 4c hair which is great since I have a lot of shrinkage. Also it gets my hair sooo soft where I’m able to just run my fingers through my hair in the shower. Lovely smell and love that its all natural.” – 4B User love2323
Favorite Styling Pudding, Butter or Custard
Kinky-Curly Curling Custard
You say: “I love how this product defines my curls!!! I’m in the TWA stage and the curl pattern this custard gives me is just unbelievable. Everyone asks me how I got my hair to curl like this. I have to make sure I order another jar so that I won’t run out. This curling custard is a MUST HAVE!!!!!” – CurlMart guest
Favorite Styling Mousse
Jane Carter Solution Wrap & Roll
You say: “I love this stuff. I use it to roller set my hair when I want a sleek look. I section my hair and add the product section by section. I then roll it all up, sit under the dryer and an hour later….wahlah! A beautiful roller set. What I love is that you cannot use too much. It dries smooth and clean with no leftover product feel. And the price is great too!” – curliegracie
Favorite Oil
Sunny Isle Jamaican Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
You say: “I love love love this coconut oil!! I use it as a sealant after my leave-in conditioner; it’s not heavy and leaves my hair very soft.” – CurlMart guest
Favorite Frizz Fighter
Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper
You say: “Works just like it said it would. I live in the south and have to put up with a lot of humidity and with Curl Keeper, my curls look great all day. I can even sleep on my curls and spritz with a little bit of water and I’m good to go!” – CurlMart guest
Favorite Straightening/Smoothing Product
Paul Mitchell Skinny Serum
You say: “This product helps quench the curls’ thirst leaving it smooth and soft. You can use it wet or dry! Smells like a tropical paradise!” – nenee1219
Favorite Hair Coloring Product
L`Oreal Paris Superior Preference Fade Defying Color
The combination of its light-reflecting color gel and illuminating reflects creates ultra-chic shades that flow with ultimate brilliance. Each shade expertly-crafted by a master colorist to brighten your look. It comes with a rich luminous conditioning colorant and care suprême conditioner with shine serum help keeps first day color vibrancy and provides silky, resilient hair.
Favorite Professional Salon Brand
DevaCurl
You say: “Love this!!! I love how soft they made my hair feel. After my Deva cut, my hair transformed before my eyes. Love it. Will definitely reuse.” – curlicious13
Favorite Finishing Product
Shea Moisture Hold & Shine Moisture Mist
You say: “I LOVE love love this spray. It gives me perfect 2nd/3rd day hair, plus it’s perfect at any time for added moisture. It kills frizz instantly, and makes my curls pop. It doesn’t get hard or build-up, so I carry it with me everywhere. Great price too!” – gardencurls
Favorite Second-Day Product
Oyin Handmade Hair Dew
You say: “The best leave-in moisturizer I have ever used. My hair stays moisturized for days. By the way I have multi-textured hair. Oyin makes wonderful products that I will continues to buy.” – CurlMart purchaser
Favorite Transitioning Product
Carol’s Daughter Transitioning 1-2-3
You say: “I ordered this product while transitioning from relaxed to natural and loved how soft it made my hair feel and the ease of handling two textures. In addition, I had minimal to no breakage. I didn’t transition for long (3 months and then did the big chop!”> because I was anxious to see my natural hair. However, I noticed that my scalp was very sore at times and then very itchy at other times. I was told that my scalp was sore and healing after many years of relaxers, itchy due to new hair growth and relaxer withdrawal. So I decided to revisit this transitioning kit and must say my hair and scalp felt amazing! I cowash my twa daily but will be adding this product to my list of staples for biweekly shampoos/deep conditioning. Highly recommend this product!” – CurlMart guest
Favorite Product to Cocktail
Coconut Oil & Shea Butter
Favorite Styling Tool
CHI Flat Iron
You say: “So I absolutely LOVE my CHI! Although I have lessened the usage of my straightener since high school I still occasionally brake my straightener out! I have used other straighteners and no other straightener compares to the CHI. It always gets my hair as straight as I want it and I don’t feel like my hair brakes off as easily as it does with other straighteners. I have never regretted purchasing my CHI!” – cszabo
Favorite Curly Hair Necessity
Satin Pillowcase
You say: “These pillowcases do make a difference for 3C hair. After sleeping on these for a months, I decided I was going to sleep on my cotton pillowcases: big mistake! My curls were dry, the cotton pillowcases sucked all the moisture out of my hair. I sleep on these every night even when I travel. ” – CurlMart guest
Favorite Product for Curly Kids
Shea Moisture Kids Line
You say: “I use the moisturizer and I like it because it’s really light weight and has no buildup. It also smells great like coconut.” – jadegameplay13
Favorite Overall Brand that Launched in 2013
Eden Bodyworks Coconut Shea Line
You say: “Best Cowash I’ve tried!! It smells amazing! Like coconuts and pineapples. It cleanses my hair really well and my curls feel rejuvenated and hydrated like crazy. I love this cowash it’s definitely in my H.G. (Holy Grail”> list now!!” – katextina
Favorite Product for Wavy Hair
Jessicurl Spiralicious Styling Gel
You say: “Love this product! It is my new go to. The first day I used this product alone it was windy and it was drizzling all day. This product stood up to the weather and my hair did not frizz at all! I do prefer to pair it with rockin ringlets although you do not have to.” – CurlMart guest
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Favorite Product for Curly Hair
DevaCurl One Condition
You say: “I loved this conditioner. From the first time I used it on my hair, I could tell the difference immediately after I began styling my hair. My hair is so dry, that usually product just disappears quickly, but the deva curl one condition, left my hair SOOOO soft!!! I couldn’t believe it was my hair that was so soft and manageable. I thought for the price it should be good, and it did not disappoint.” – CurlMart guest
Favorite Product for Coily Hair
Shea Moisture Organic Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
You say: “If I could give 10 stars I would! I love love LOVE this product, it was the 4th product I tried when I went natural and I wish I didn’t even buy the other products at all! It gives you insane moisture and just smells heavenly. It’s $10 for a decent size so it is very cost friendly :”>, definitely try it out!” – Zippytatiana9
Favorite Book About Curly, Coily and Wavy Hair
Curly Girl Handbook by Lorraine Massey
You say: “This Book is amazing! I follow it “religiously”! My hair is no longer frizzy and hard to detangle. I follow the curly girl hair routine for my corkicelli/corkscrew hair. I use DevaCurl´s no-poo, one-condition and light-defining gel. I never want to blow-dry or straighten my hair again!” – CurlMart guest
Favorite Wavy-Haired Celebrity
Sofia Vergara
Favorite Curly-Haired Celebrity
Shakira
Favorite Coily-Haired Celebrity
Viola Davis
Favorite Trend for Wavy, Curly or Coily Hair
Natural!! Wash & wear, embrace your curls, air dry, natural-n-go, loose & wild
