13 Of The Best Curl Creams For Textured Hair
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Bouclème Curl Cream, £19
If you have fine hair and suffer with frizz, this product is worth a try. You only need a small amount as it contains nourishing ingredients like kukui nut oil, coconut fruit extract and castor oil, to combat humidity and add moisture. Best used on wet hair, run a few pumps through the lengths and ends using a brush, before styling – we suggest drying it with diffuser afterwards for extra volume. Once dry, expect your hair to be far more manageable.
Available at LOOKFANTASTIC.com
Bumble And Bumble Curl Defining Cream, £24
Those with textured hair will already know about Bumble & Bumble for its gently effective formulas that help tame and style hair. The curl defining cream can be used on all hair types, depending on what you want to achieve. Those with fine hair will find that a small amount tames and hydrates strands, while those with thick or afro hair can use a generous amount for styling. If you want to add volume, use a brush or comb to tease out curls, then smooth them out with a little more product on top. A great all-rounder.
Available at LOOKFANTASTIC.com
ORS Olive Oil Incredibly Rich Oil Moisturizing Hair Lotion , £4.28
Those with thick curls or afro hair will love this hair lotion, which is full of castor and olive oil to add in plenty of moisture. Ideal if you have heat-damaged hair, it helps protect against further breakage and adds extra shine. After washing, run a generous amount through your hair before air drying or using a diffuser. You can also apply a small amount to the ends to prevent and protect against split ends. It might feel slightly greasy, but trust us when we say it’s a saviour for dehydrated hair types.
Available at HouseOfBeautyWorld.com
OUAI Curl Crème, £25
Ouai’s bestselling dry shampoo is loved by beauty insiders, and its Curl Créme is just as good at locking in moisture and adding bounce. Ideal if you have wavy or curly hair (up to curl type 3b), linseed and chia seed extracts work to enhance your natural wave pattern, while coconut and babassu oil add moisture and shine without making hair feel greasy. Use it like a leave-in conditioner after washing your hair, or run a generous amount through your strands when dry if they look dull or dehydrated. The light scent is addictive too.
Available at FeelUnique.com
Cantu Shea Butter for Natural Hair Coconut Curling Cream, £7.99
There’s a reason Afro-Caribbean hair stylists love Cantu – the affordable range caters to all hair types and does exactly what it says on the tin. One of the brand’s bestsellers is this curling cream, made with plenty of shea butter for a big hit of moisture. Made for those with 3b to 4c curls, the slightly stretchy consistency means you can use it liberally without leaving your hair feeling greasy, and you can reapply it throughout the day if needed. It’s also great if you have your hair in protective styles, like twists or braids.
Available at Boots.com
Christophe Robin Luscious Curl Defining Cream With Chia Seed Oil, £19.60
Haircare pros swear by Christophe Robin for its natural formulas, and this curl defining cream is a good option if you want to go back to basics. Formulated with a nourishing blend of flaxseed oil – plus chia and nigella seeds to help tame frizz and add shine – think of this as a one-step styling product. Apply a generous amount to clean, washed hair and dry it as normal for bouncy curls that don’t feel crunchy or stiff. For added volume, use a wide-tooth comb to distribute a small amount into dry hair, then use your hands to zhuzh it up.
Available at ChristopheRobin.co.uk
DevaCurl Styling Cream, £22.05
If you’re looking for a styling cream that doesn’t leave hair feeling greasy, this curl definer is a must. Containing jojoba oil and tapioca starch to add shine and gloss, it’s best used to create slicked-back hairstyles like ponytails and buns. Helping to smooth down flyaways and baby hairs, the cream has good hold, so you needn’t worry about following up with hairspray afterwards. Plus, it’s sulphate and silicone-free.
Available at FeelUnique.com
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Gelée Curl Contour, £22.60
Kérastase has a whole range dedicated to curly hair. Our favourite? The Gelée Curl Contour hydrates like a cream with the flexible hold of a gel. Ideal for curly, wavy and coily hair, the formula works to enhance your natural curl pattern without weighing it down. Manuka honey prevents dryness, while added ceramides leave hair feeling healthy and nourished. After applying your go-to product or leave-in conditioner, comb through one pump and style as normal.
Available at LOOKFANTASTIC.com
Living Proof Curl Enhancer, £33
We love Living Proof’s hair products, which are gentle enough to use on even the most sensitive of scalps. This curl enhancer promises to improve the strength of your hair from the inside out. Made for those with wavy hair that doesn’t need much moisture, it contains jojoba extract and sunflower seed wax to smooth down flyaways. Once dried and styled, your hair will look noticeably smoother and waves or curls will be bouncier. Great if you like to scrunch your hair into curls before drying.
Available at SpaceNK.com
Mixed Chicks Daily Hair Dress, £7.95
American brand Mixed Chicks was created by two friends who were tired of using too many products to tame their afro hair. Alongside the brand’s bestselling leave-in conditioner, its Daily Hair Dress is a deeply nourishing cream that contains avocado, safflower and almond oil to help repair split ends and tackle fizziness. Best used on dry hair, rub a small amount in your hands before applying it to the lengths and ends. It’s also rich enough to be used as a styling product when you want to slick your hair back or lay down your edges.
Available at Cosmetize.com
Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream, £25.45
One of our favourite discoveries from this brand, Moroccanoil’s curl cream was made for 3b to 4b hair types. Kernel and argan oil are the key ingredients that keep hair moisturised and define curls – run one pump through the lengths and ends of your hair before diffusing it with a hair dryer for bouncy curls. It’s nourishing enough to use on its own, but follow it up with your go-to hair serum or oil for extra shine. For a more relaxed curl, let your hair dry naturally before styling as normal.
Available at FeelUnique.com
Philip Kingsley Curl Activator, £18.75
Regular SL readers will know how much we love the Philip Kingsley Elasticizer, but the brand’s Naturally Coiled & Curly range gets top marks from us, too. If you have thick, curly hair – or struggle with year-round frizz – the Curl Activator does a great job at separating curls to give them definition and shine. You can also use it to top up moisture when needed, as it sinks in quickly and doesn’t leave behind any sticky residue. It’s not over-fragranced, so it’s gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin.
Available at FeelUnique.com
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Styling Cream, £10.99
If you have particularly thick or afro hair, Shea Moisture’s styling milk hydrates and minimises breakage at the same time – largely thanks to a generous amount of shea butter and coconut oil. Use it as a leave-in hair treatment after conditioner, or apply it dry if you need to detangle and restyle your hair a few days after washing it. Because the texture is quite thick, you only need to use a small amount – we suggest parting your hair into sections and working it through before styling. You’ll find curls are more defined, and you won’t need to add more product later in the day.
Available at Superdrug.com
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