As any curly-haired girl would know, being blessed with curls comes with its unique challenges. It is more prone to frizz, dryness, and breakage, which is why it's essential to get the right hydrating shampoo for curly hair to be able to tame your tresses.
To help you out, we've created a buying guide and ranked the best shampoos for curly hair you can get online—with comments and insights from board-certified dermatologist Dr. Katrina Erika Habaluyas Luz! From local picks and drugstore favorites to more luxurious options, each of these hair products is sure to leave you with effortlessly soft, smooth, and bouncy curls.
Quick List - Top Shampoos for Curly Hair
SheaMoisture
Nourish Your Curly Hair with Hibiscus and Coconut Oil
Briogeo
Achieve Frizz-Free Curls with Rice Amino Acids and Avocado
Dr. Katrina Habaluyas Luz is the face behind Ask Your Derma. She is a board-certified dermatologist in Metro Manila. She is also an educator and digital creator on all things skin, hair, and nails. She is a Diplomate of the Philippine Dermatological Society and offers online video consultations. You can also catch her on her Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube channel.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
When seeking the perfect solution for your hair care regimen, find nourishing ingredients that are just right for your unique hair requirements, especially if you have curls. Opt for a shampoo infused with protein to effectively strengthen and fortify your hair strands, promoting overall health and resilience for your curls. Additionally, avoid any ingredients that could potentially damage your curly hair. Read more about this below:
Curly hair often tend to become frizzy and dry, especially when exposed to extreme temperatures and harsh weather conditions. That's why the first thing you should look for in a shampoo would be hydrating and moisturizing ingredients.
Natural oils such as argan oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil can calm down frizz, balance oil production, and lock in moisture into the hair shaft. They also add natural gloss to your strands and promote healthier hair growth.
Meanwhile, avocado oil and marula oil ensures that your hair is hydrated so that it stays soft and shiny for a healthy bouncy look. On the other hand, tea tree oil helps the nutrients in your products reach your hair follicles more easily, which is great for overall hair health.
Applying hair oil is helpful in protecting the hair from damage. Some oils penetrate the hair and reduce the amount of water absorbed in the hair, leading to less swelling. This can reduce the cycle of repeated swelling and drying, a factor that can damage hair.
Hair oils can also fill in gaps between cuticle cells and prevent the penetration of substances such as surfactants into the follicle. Also, applying oil on a regular basis can enhance lubrication of the shaft and help prevent hair breakage.
Shea butter is a rich plant-derived emollient that not only moisturizes hair but also alleviates skin conditions such as redness, itch, and irritation. It contains a high level of antioxidants including vitamins E and A that help heal and nourish the scalp.
Since it's an all-natural ingredient, shea butter is safe to use even on damaged or color-treated locks. Moreover, with the help of its vitamin E component, it will maintain hair growth, so if you're trying to get long hair, you can achieve that with these ingredients in your shampoo's blend.
Shea butter is an emollient that contains 5 principal fatty acids: palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidic. Did you know that shea butter is frequently incorporated into soaps, moisturizers, and, guess what, even hair care products? Shea butter isn't extensively studied in scientific journals. However, similar butters and oils have been researched with potential benefits for the hair.
Glycerin is known for its moisturizing properties. An effective humectant, glycerin takes in moisture in the air and absorbs it into your locks, resulting in healthier and more defined curls.
It's water-soluble and generally regarded as non-toxic, so it's a lifesaver for curly-haired individuals on typical humid days. Just take note that since glycerin does attract moisture from the atmosphere, it should only be used in normal, non-extreme climates.
Glycerin is a humectant commonly found in moisturizers. While its beneficial effects of drawing in water and moisture into the skin is more studied, it has also be postulated to have similar effects on the hair.
Green tea helps the hair absorb vitamin B, which helps in preventing split ends. The same goes for plant extracts, helping your hair become stronger and avoid breakage. Some more benefits that green tea has for your hair are that it promotes hair growth and regrowth.
This is beneficial for those with curly hair, since it can be quite hard to grow out. But with green tea, you'll be able to get the extra support that you need to get the long flowy tresses of your dreams in an all-natural way.
Vitamin B5 is used in many hair products because of the amazing benefits that it gives. This includes protection against breakage, reduction of hair loss, and a boost in volume that those with curly hair will surely appreciate.
It's also hydrating, so it will make sure that your hair looks soft and shiny all day. You can find this component in many shampoos as is or as panthenol, an excellent source of vitamin B5. If you're looking for extra protection for your hair, keep an eye out for this ingredient.
For those who are not familiar, 80 to 85% of our hair strands are actually made up of a specific protein called keratin. However, the protein levels of your hair may not be ideal, so before getting any products, be sure to check your curls. If you have dry or brittle hair, it means that you have too much protein in it.
If your hair is limp or greasy, it means that your hair is lacking protein. If your hair indicates a protein deficiency, then it's best to get a protein shampoo. It can get a little tricky to identify protein ingredients in most shampoos, but the most common ones are wheat protein, silk protein, and vegetable protein.
Did you know that our hair is composed primarily of protein, particularly keratin?
With this, a lot of hair care products have been incorporated with amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) and marketed as improving hair strength.
Oshimura, E., et al., in a journal entitled Hair and Amino acids, identified that certain hair products incorporated with alanine, an amino acid, improved the water-repellant properties of hair while histidine and phenylalanine improved its tensile strength.
If your hair is on the curly or wavy spectrum, then chances are you’ve already been told that some popular shampoo ingredients such as sulfates, silicones, and alcohol are ultimate no-no's.
Sulfates are aggressive foaming agents that strip away hair's natural moisture and oils, leaving it dry, frizzy, and brittle.
Since curly hair is already prone to dryness, it's crucial to avoid shampoos that contain any kind of sulfate including the most common ones such as sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, and ammonium laureth sulfate.
We commonly see shampoos labeled as "sulfate-free" nowadays. What are sulfates anyway? Sulfates (e.g. sodium lauryl sulfate) are a class of anionic surfactants (molecules that remove sebum and dirt from your hair).
Anionic surfactants strongly remove dirt and sebum from hair and the scalp, but they increase the net negative charge of hair after rinsing and this may leave the hair dry. However, you still have to be careful of other ingredients, as other anionic sulfate-free surfactants can leave the hair dry as well.
There are two types of silicones that are used in shampoos: non-soluble and water-soluble. Non-soluble silicones cannot be removed or penetrated by water, leaving behind a layer that prevents your hair from absorbing the nutrients that it needs. They can build up over time and weigh down your curls.
On the other hand, water-soluble silicones can be dissolved in water, so they can be washed away easily. They can help detangle the hair and fight frizz, which is great for those with curly hair. Although to be on the safer side, it is best to avoid silicone-based shampoos.
Silicones are a common add-on in shampoos these days as it is able to provide smoothness, softness, and shine to dry hair. Examples include dimethicone, dimethiconol, and amodimethicone.
In an article by J. Yang entitled Hair Care Cosmetics, a comparison between silicone treated and untreated hair showed silicone treated hair to appear smoother with a thin protective layer.
As mentioned, curly hair needs all the hydration and moisture it can get. For this reason, those with curly hair should stay away from shampoos with alcoholic ingredients.
Alcohols work with water to dissolve oils and other residues during cleansing but since they evaporate quickly, they in turn make your hair even drier and more susceptible to breakage.
Alcohol indeed can be drying to the skin, and thus, same for the hair. However, it's also important to keep in mind that the dose affects the overall effect of a product. As with starting any new ingredient for the skin, the same care should be done for products applied to the scalp and hair. Best to try a product out, test it, and listen to your hair's response.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | Details | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Key Ingredients | Protein Content | Sulfate-Free | Silicone-Free | Alcohol-Free | Best for | |||||
1 | SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo | ![]() | Nourish Your Curly Hair with Hibiscus and Coconut Oil | Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Panthenol (Vitamin B-5), Hibiscus Flower Extract, Neem Oil, Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Flower Extract | Silk Protein | Yes | Yes | Yes | Color-treated, Curly Hair, Dry Curly Hair, Frizzy Curly Hair | |
2 | Kérastase Paris Curl Manifesto Shampoo | ![]() | Reinforce Weakened Hair Strands With Ceramides | Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate,Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl, Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycol Distearate, Manuka Honey, Ceramide | unknown | Yes | Yes | unknown | All Types of Curly Hair | |
3 | Aveda Be Curly™ Shampoo | ![]() | Boosts Your Hair's Strength and Amplifies Curls | Organic Aloe, Wheat Protein, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Palmamidopropyl Trimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citric, Acid, Alcohol Denat | Wheat Protein | Yes | Yes | Yes | Curly Hair, Dry Curly Hair, Frizzy Curly Hair, Wavy Hair | |
4 | Briogeo Curl Charisma™ Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo | ![]() | Achieve Frizz-Free Curls with Rice Amino Acids and Avocado | Rice Amino Acids, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Tomato Fruit Fement | unknown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Curly Hair, Dry Curly Hair, Frizzy Curly Hair, Wavy Hair | |
5 | Davines LOVE Curl Enhancing Shampoo | ![]() | Gently Cleanses and Enhances Hair's Volume | Noto Almond Extract, Unsaturated Fatty Acids, Biotin and Magnesium | unknown | Yes | unknown | unknown | All Types of Curly Hair | |
6 | Virtue Labs Curl Shampoo | ![]() | Nourishes and Hydrates Curls While Protecting Them From Heat and Humidity | Water-soluble Jojoba Oil, Specialty Carob Gum (Ceratonia Siliqua), Alpha Keratin 60ku®, Grapefruit Extract, Kumquat Extract, Peppery Greens | Alpha Keratin 60ku® | Yes | Yes | Yes | All Types of Curls | |
7 | Luxe Organix Curl Define Intensive Hydration Daily Shampoo | ![]() | Revive Natural and Permed Curls With This CGM-Approved Shampoo | Avocado Oil, Jojoba Oil, Morrocan Oil, Organic Mandarin Orange Fruit, Organic White Willow Bark, Organic Sea Kelp | unknown | Yes | Yes | unknown | All Types of Curls | |
8 | Zenutrients Curls Avocado & Tea Tree Sulfate-Free Shampoo | ![]() | A Gentle Formulation That Improves Scalp Health and Reduces Hair Fall | Avocado, Tea Tree Oil, Aqua, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Coco Diethanolamide, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Essence, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Oil | None | Yes | Yes | Yes | All Types of Curly Hair | |
9 | Hask Curl Care Moisturizing Shampoo | ![]() | Protects Curly and Permed Hair From Damage and Frizz | Coconut Oil, Argan Oil, and Vitamin E, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamide MEA, Glycerin | unknown | Yes | Yes | Yes | Wavy Hair, Curly Hair |
Whether you have naturally curly or permed hair, you can enjoy bouncy, healthy curls with this shampoo from Shea Moisture. With coconut oil as its base, it delivers ample hydration to curly hair prone to dryness. It is also paraben-free, sulfate-free, and color-safe, so you can use it if you have chemically dyed hair.
Its special blend of silk protein, coconut, and neem oils gently cleanses and detangles hair while restoring moisture, body, and shine. Moreover, it contains hibiscus flower essence, which improves hair elasticity and significantly minimizes the risk of breakage.
Key Ingredients | Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Panthenol (Vitamin B-5), Hibiscus Flower Extract, Neem Oil, Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle) Flower Extract |
---|---|
Protein Content | Silk Protein |
Sulfate-Free | Yes |
Silicone-Free | Yes |
Alcohol-Free | Yes |
Best for | Color-treated, Curly Hair, Dry Curly Hair, Frizzy Curly Hair |
This product from Kérastase is truly a heavyweight when it comes to benefits. With its expert formulation of ceramides and honey, you get a curly hair shampoo that combines innovation and luxury. Its main star is ceramide, an ingredient known for improving hair strength, elasticity, moisture, and shine. This is especially helpful for permed and curly hair, which are prone to brittleness and dryness.
It also contains manuka honey for an extra boost of hydration and for taming frizz. The texture of the shampoo is creamy and feels quite luxurious, too. Another plus is that this shampoo provides moisture without weighing your curls down. Instead, it enhances the curl patterns of your hair, leaving you with defined and bouncy curls!
Key Ingredients | Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate,Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Lauryl, Sulfoacetate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycol Distearate, Manuka Honey, Ceramide |
---|---|
Protein Content | unknown |
Sulfate-Free | Yes |
Silicone-Free | Yes |
Alcohol-Free | unknown |
Best for | All Types of Curly Hair |
Be Curly Shampoo by Aveda utilizes the benefits of wheat protein and organic aloe to strengthen hair, reduce breakage, and intensify curls. This unique blend also nourishes your locks while combating frizz, resulting in beautifully defined, shiny hair.
Since it has the ability to enhance curls by up to 57%, it is a good choice for those who want defined curls or those with wavy hair who wish to embrace their natural curls. It's worth noting, though, that while it has garnered positive reviews for its impressive results, some users reported that it may not be suitable for all hair types due to its potential to be either too drying or too heavy.
Key Ingredients | Organic Aloe, Wheat Protein, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hydrolyzed Corn Starch, Palmamidopropyl Trimonium Methosulfate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Citric, Acid, Alcohol Denat |
---|---|
Protein Content | Wheat Protein |
Sulfate-Free | Yes |
Silicone-Free | Yes |
Alcohol-Free | Yes |
Best for | Curly Hair, Dry Curly Hair, Frizzy Curly Hair, Wavy Hair |
Key Ingredients | Rice Amino Acids, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Vitamin E, Tomato Fruit Fement |
---|---|
Protein Content | unknown |
Sulfate-Free | Yes |
Silicone-Free | Yes |
Alcohol-Free | Yes |
Best for | Curly Hair, Dry Curly Hair, Frizzy Curly Hair, Wavy Hair |
Davines LOVE CURL is a creamy shampoo designed to enhance your curly or wavy hair. Enriched with Noto almond extract renowned for being rich in vitamins and proteins, it not only removes tangles but also elevates the volume and moisture of your curls.
It also provides deep cleansing that leaves your hair feeling clean and soft. What's even better is that users commend this product, saying that it cleans their scalp well without drying out their hair. Some of them also pointed out that it's long-lasting, as a little amount goes a long way.
Key Ingredients | Noto Almond Extract, Unsaturated Fatty Acids, Biotin and Magnesium |
---|---|
Protein Content | unknown |
Sulfate-Free | Yes |
Silicone-Free | unknown |
Alcohol-Free | unknown |
Best for | All Types of Curly Hair |
Key Ingredients | Water-soluble Jojoba Oil, Specialty Carob Gum (Ceratonia Siliqua), Alpha Keratin 60ku®, Grapefruit Extract, Kumquat Extract, Peppery Greens |
---|---|
Protein Content | Alpha Keratin 60ku® |
Sulfate-Free | Yes |
Silicone-Free | Yes |
Alcohol-Free | Yes |
Best for | All Types of Curls |
Key Ingredients | Avocado Oil, Jojoba Oil, Morrocan Oil, Organic Mandarin Orange Fruit, Organic White Willow Bark, Organic Sea Kelp |
---|---|
Protein Content | unknown |
Sulfate-Free | Yes |
Silicone-Free | Yes |
Alcohol-Free | unknown |
Best for | All Types of Curls |
The secret to this shampoo's magic? Avocado and tea tree! This powerful combination gets rid of dirt and dead skin cells without leaving any damage to your curls. It also improves scalp condition and helps hair grow stronger and healthier with every wash!
Suffering from dandruff or hair fall? No worries! This low-foam shampoo also nourishes your tresses using all-natural ingredients. Free from parabens, sulfates, silicones, and proteins, this Zenutrients shampoo is definitely a curly girl's best friend!
Key Ingredients | Avocado, Tea Tree Oil, Aqua, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Coco Diethanolamide, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Essence, Phenoxyethanol, Persea Gratissima Oil |
---|---|
Protein Content | None |
Sulfate-Free | Yes |
Silicone-Free | Yes |
Alcohol-Free | Yes |
Best for | All Types of Curly Hair |
Key Ingredients | Coconut Oil, Argan Oil, and Vitamin E, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamide MEA, Glycerin |
---|---|
Protein Content | unknown |
Sulfate-Free | Yes |
Silicone-Free | Yes |
Alcohol-Free | Yes |
Best for | Wavy Hair, Curly Hair |
Here are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by Dr. Katrina Luz! Keep on reading to find out more!
The frequency of washing the hair should be adjusted based on the hair type. The American Academy of Dermatology states that washing curly hair every 7 to 10 days and after heavy sweating or swimming is enough. One can then fine tune it accordingly.
Normal shampoo is not necessarily bad for curly hair. Rather it just might not adequately address the particular concerns associated with curly hair such as dryness and brittleness.
This depends on how much hair one has. One should use enough shampoo that when lathered is sufficient to be massaged onto the scalp till the tips of the hair strands.
Tip#1: Listen to your hair! Different hair types require different frequencies of washing. Curly hair generally can be washed less often compared to straight hair.
Tip#2: Follow-up shampoo with a conditioner! Make sure to especially coat the ends of the hair with conditioner, as the ends are the most fragile part!
Tip#3: Use a wide-toothed comb and always be gentle with your hair!
Want to put bad hair days behind you for good? Here are some of our other hair care picks that will help bring out your best curl every day!
Author: Marion Angeli Flores
Re-Editor: Samantha Tidalgo
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: SheaMoisture|Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo
No. 2: Kérastase Paris|Curl Manifesto Shampoo
No. 3: Aveda|Be Curly™ Shampoo
No. 4: Briogeo|Curl Charisma™ Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo
No. 5: Davines|LOVE Curl Enhancing Shampoo
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Beauty
Health
Household goods
PCs and laptops
Home appliances and electronics
Cameras
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Mom and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, and DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Home improvement and tools
Smartphones and tablets
Banking and finance
Insurance
Audio
Smartphone applications
Others