I love Best of the Best here at NaturallyCurly. I like being surprised by products I have not tried and welcome the return winners that are so loyal to our curls. This year there were also several products that perform well on a variety of hair types.
A good example is DevaCurl Set It Free. This products works great for type 2 hair as a finisher if used in small amounts. Type 3s can use it mixed with DevaCurl Arc AnGel to add a little moisture. Type 3c and type 4’s can use it as a sealer on twists. I am sure there are more ways Curlies are using the DevaCurl Set It Free that I don’t even know about. The creativity and unique ways that curlies use hair products is always an inspiration to me.
The return winners, first being Kinky-Curly Knot Today is a true holy grail product for all curlies. It has won two years running as the best leave-in conditioner. I love this product and panic when I am getting low. I always have that second bottle in the cabinet, ready to go. It is a well-deserving winner. Any kind of styling product works well over it. The smoothing, de-frizzing qualities make it an instant winner to any curly. The Kinky-Curly Curling Custard also won in 2009 and 2010. The loyal following for this product is huge. It can be hard to use when you first give it a try. Once you do get the hang of it, the results are so rewarding. It is a very unique custard that works well for definition and of course it controls the frizz.
Other products that have won two years in a row are Jessicurl Hair Cleansing Cream for best cleanser. It is a cleanser that does everything right. Lots of moisture and it really helps keep the frizz away. The only problem with this cleanser is deciding between the citrus lavender scent or the island fantasy. It is a hard choice. Jesicurl Awe Inspiraling Spray also won again this year. This product is always in my purse, car and desk. It is a real curl emergency answer. I think it works best on frizz and giving curls a midday boost.
Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner is new to CurlMart. We are thrilled to have this line on our shelves. It is not a new line to curlies and it is well loved by many members of the CurlTalk community. This conditioner is another winner two years in a row. It won as the best deep conditioner, but I think it is also a fantastic daily conditioner. You can’t go wrong with this in your shower.
AG Re:coil Curl Activating Balm, is a no-surprise winner two years in a row as well. It has consistent 5-curl ratings on our curl review pages. All hair types have found a way to make it work for them. Some use it alone, some combine it with a leave-in conditioner. This silicone free curl cream is the one product that is hard to beat for curl definition, hold, frizz control and clumping. It does everything you want it to do. The only challenge with this product is how much to use. Once you have mastered that, you are going to have a good hair day!
The Best of the Best winner for best mousse is another two-year winner, Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse. First, it has to be said that mousse is not for everyone. It is difficult to use and only really works for those curlies who like and are familiar with the ways of mousse. Yes, it can be sticky going on. Yes, it can be crunchy, but you can scrunch carefully and get the soft curls you want. I like this mousse because it is affordable, but you have to be a mousse professional to make this your winner.
Another Herbal Essences winner was the Herbal Essences Hello Hydration Conditioner. I had not tried this conditioner before it was a winner. I have read a lot of good things about it, as well as a few not-so-good reviews. I have since used it a couple of times. I am not a huge fan of the cones in this conditioner so I was not very excited about it, but I actually liked it more than I thought I would because it does offer a lot of slip and moisture. I can see how some curlies love this. I only found it to be an okay conditioner for my 2b/2c curls. Not all curly products are for all curlies. This one is for a curly crowd that needs a lot of moisture and slip for detangling. It has a great summer tropical scent.
Last but definitely not least for the two years in a row winners is Miss Jessie’s Curly Pudding. The curlies who are Transitioning love this curly pudding. This product is really a curl creme and pudding combined. It helps stretch out and elongate curls for soft, maximum curl definition. It is versatile and can be used for fingerstyling, TWAs, coiling, transitioning, kinky weaves and more.
The new products on the Best of the Best block are definitely worth trying. I have the Curls Like Us Cloths and use them daily. I even took one on vacation a couple of weeks ago. Just could not imagine getting out of the shower without it. I also use it to scrunch in product. These cloths (more like a mini towel”> help my curls clump, and I get good curl formation.
Carol’s Daughter Hair Milk and Carol’s Daughter Lisa’s Hair Elixer both are new winners for the Best of the Best. Carol’s Daughter products created by Lisa Price, a Brooklyn native, are filled with essential oils and natural moisturizers. They are top of the line products for healthy curls. I can imagine more products from Carol’s Daughter winning next year.
Another new winner was Eco Styler Krystal Styling Gel. I have never tried this gel, which only means that I don’t use gels very often. I think for the price of under $5, why not try it if you like gels? The other winner that I have never tried is the Curly Q’s Moist Curl Moisturizer. Both of my boys have very straight naturally soft hair. I think if I had a curly child this would be a morning detangler that I would undoubtedly be overjoyed with.
For those curlies who voted and for those who want to try something new this is a great list of Best of the Best products. Have fun shopping or reading the reviews, there just might be a new holy grail product for your curls.
