Home goods
Home electronics
PC
Camera
Beauty
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen
Fashion
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior
Hobbies
Outdoor
Home, garden, and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Media
Games
Apps
Automotive
Gifts
Mobile devices
Sylvia started her natural hair journey over 10 years ago. Back then, she struggled with a dearth of information about natural hair, hair care, and hair products. And now, in 2018, she knows that people are overwhelmed by the opposite: hoardes of online information, with no way to separate truth from fiction. And that's why she founded Curls Understood, a site that curates content from around the web so you know just what to do with your hair. Her success as a blogger has also led her to write 2 ebooks about natural hair, as well as contribute to platforms such as Allure and Buzzfeed. Learn more about her and your curls at her site below.
mybest US' editing team consists of experienced members who have backgrounds in writing, editing, translation, and more. We are dedicated to researching what makes a product or service the best to users in the US in order to create top-quality articles. From skincare, to kitchen appliances, and to DIY supplies, our mission is to find the best ones for you.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
If you do prefer a curl-defining gel, be careful not to apply too much; otherwise, it’ll leave your hair looking quite wet and crunchy. And if you have fragile hair, gel might be too harsh. There are also spray gels, which gives your hair a little more bounce.
Most curly girls use gels for finishing a style. I think it works great for women who have a looser curl pattern or beach waves, as opposed to someone who has an afro. If you have an afro, you can't actually see the curls until you get really close, which means the curls are smaller.
For those smaller curls, gels don’t work as well. People who have kinky hair or who are in the 4a, 4b, or 4c scale probably don’t have as much success using gels.
Unfortunately, though, a lot of mousses contain drying alcohols, so if you choose a mousse to help define your curls, make sure it doesn’t contain those alcohols.
You would use a mousse to encourage softer curls. After it dries, the hair isn’t going to feel as crunchy. But more so for people with looser curls, as opposed to afros.
I don’t know many people with the 4a, 4b, or 4c hair who would use a mousse. If you have thicker curls, you’d have to use more product. If you have looser curls, it makes your hair softer and bouncier and light.
Creams generally provide the most moisture, but only offer a light hold. They can be advertised as leave-in-conditioners, as well. They can even help add some volume and bounce, but only if you avoid applying at the root. They’ll add control to any curl type; however, if you’re looking for a strong hold, they probably won’t deliver.
Make sure that when you’re using a cream, you apply it when your hair is still damp. Get one with moisturizing botanical ingredients, like chamomile, jojoba, or olive oil. Sylvia also mentioned to look for water as the first ingredient and something that isn’t drying as the second ingredient. She likes glycerin because it’s moisturizing.
Creams are great for enhancing the curl. You would have to spray water to activate the curl, then you would use a cream to enhance the curl, and then maybe a little gel to hold. If you want a strong hold that lasts, you'd use a cream and then a gel. Some of the creams that I use are even marketed as leave-in conditioners.
All curly girls probably deal with frizz, but if you’ve got tighter curls, it’s typically harder to tame frizz, especially in humid climates. Women with looser curls typically will find more success using an anti-frizz curl defining product.
If I have to wear my hair out, I will maybe use more gel and a lot of water while styling my hair, to encourage the curl pattern. Some people use frizz control serums. I would say if you have a looser curl, then frizz serums or a light natural oil are really good. Gel is definitely more effective for frizz control than cream.
We all know we have to protect our skin when we go out on a sunny day. But UV rays can be just as detrimental to hair as it is to skin–chemically-treated hair in particular. UV rays can dry out the hair, resulting in brittle, frizzy hair. Not to mention, they can disrupt chemical processing in permed or colored hair.
Also, avoid creamy formulas, since they can weigh the curls down. Mousses and light creams complement a permed do. If your hair has gone through chemical processing, or if you simply spend a lot of time out in the sun, look for a lightweight curl defining cream containing SPF.
With permed curls, you would still use a water-based cream—the same as someone whose curls are natural. It's necessary to deep condition when you bleach or perm your hair so you can put moisture back in and limit chemical damage. For straight hair, the natural oils that our scalp secretes just runs down.
But for curly hair, it's harder for those natural oils to get from the scalp to the ends, so a lot of us suffer from dry ends. If you're worried about sun damage to your hair, look to see if it specifically says that it helps with UV. Otherwise, most curl creams won't protect you from the sun.
Silicones typically end in suffixes like -one, or -xane, like dimethicone, so they can be easy to find. Mineral oil is a common non-natural oil that you should avoid if you can. Additionally, waxes like bees wax or candelilla wax can build up in your hair quickly.
If you must use a lot of products, maybe use lighter products; gels are always bad for build-up, but creams are better. Mineral oil has no nutritional benefit to hair at all. Beeswax isn’t the best because it's very sticky and hard to get off your hair, but people love it because its an alternative to gel.
Silicones have gotten a really bad reputation in the curly community, but as long as its one of the kinder silicones that isn’t as stripping, it should be fine.
That being said, some alcohols actually help keep your hair moisturized, so look for them when shopping. They include stearyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, and others.
It's hard to find products without alcohols. Some of them are also in there to help preserve the products. The reality is, if it doesn’t have some of these ingredients in there, by the time the products get from the factory to the store and someone buys it, it's going to spoil.
But, if a drying alcohol is not one of the first 3 to 5 ingredients on the list, it should be okay.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling Gel | $24.47 High | Excellent Quality, Anti-Frizz Gel That's Perfect for Tight Curls | ||
2 | Eden BodyWorks Coconut Shea Curl Defining Creme | $8.47 Low | A Little Goes a Long Way for This Anti-Humidity, Super Moisturizing Cream | ||
3 | Ecoco Eco Styler Black Castor & Flaxseed Oil Gel | $9.95 Low Mid | Alcohol-Free, Lightweight Gel With Excellent Hold | ||
4 | Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie | $10.49 Low Mid | A Dense Cream That's Rich in Nutrients | ||
5 | TIGI Catwalk Curls Rock Amplifier | $10.15 Low Mid | A Great Curl Definer With Strong Hold | ||
6 | Adhope Briogeo Rosarco Leave-In Conditioning Spray | $20.00 High Mid | Lightweight and Nourishing Formula Great for Brittle, Damaged Hair | ||
7 | Curls Blueberry Bliss Control Jelly | $15.99 High Mid | Definition and Hold With a Sweet Blueberry Scent | ||
8 | DevaCurl SuperCream Coconut Curl Styler | $17.26 High Mid | A Volumizing Cream Disguised in a Mousse Applicator | ||
9 | Shea Moisture Coconut and Hibiscus Frizz-Free Curl Mousse | $11.99 Mid | A No Crunch, Lightweight Mousse Great for Fine Hair | ||
10 | Curls Unleashed Curl Defining Creme | $12.45 Mid | Anti-Frizz and Keeps Your Loose and Tight Curls Soft |
Some reviewers are a bit put off by the price of this moisturizing gel, but the overall consensus is that it is worth it. Positive reviewers also love how the gel doesn't dry out hair and keeps it feeling soft and non-frizzy.
It’s got some hold to it, but if you’re looking for a strict hold all day, this won’t be enough. Some reviewers found the product to be too heavy and say it left hair dry. On the other hand, others liked that the product is lightweight and moisturizing.
Be sure to check reviews of the seller before buying, as some people have received damaged or opened containers. Reviewers do like that it doesn't leave hair feeling crunchy and gives great definition to curls.
Reviewers found that it made their hair feel sticky and didn't feel like it helped moisturize. Others found that a little goes a long way and they like that it keeps hair soft.
Be careful not to use more than a pea-sized amount; otherwise, it might dry as a white residue. That being said, if it does happen, don’t fret! Just add a little water and massage it into the product. Reviewers warn to make sure you apply to your hair when it is very wet; otherwise, it will leave your hair very crunchy.
If you have naturally dry hair, this may not work well with you. But if you do choose to use it, be sure to apply a leave-in conditioner or cream first to ensure that your hair retains some moisture. On the other hand, reviewers do say it works well at defining curls and it volumizes hair.
A couple of reviewers thought that the product that they received in the mail was a knock-off, mentioning that the nozzle was different from the one at Sephora. Some also felt it didn't do anything. However, others say it isn't heavy, works on unruly hair, and they also love the coconut smell.
Critical reviewers mention that this product does make their hair feel dry and stiff. The scent is hit-or-miss, with some reviewers saying it is way too strong, while others like it. It holds fairly well, doesn't harden hair, and makes curls pop.
Also, be careful not to use too much or it can leave your hair looking and feeling crunchy. On the other hand, reviewers love that it works well on taming frizz and enhancing curls.
Since everyone's hair is different, some reviewers say that this mousse's hold isn't good. It might work better on hair that is more curly. However, reviewers like that it's lightweight and doesn't leave any crunchiness.
Reviewers say that it does make their hair look dry and that it leaves flakes. Since it's so thick, it's best to dilute it or really spend time working it into hair for best results. But reviewers do say that it works wonders on curls and provides shiny definition.
Are you looking for something a bit stronger to slick back hair? If so, then take a peek at some of our other articles for general mousses and gels and for products to nourish hair.
This expert reviewed the contents of the buying guide for accuracy and provided factual corrections when necessary. They did not participate in the product selection process, nor are they affiliated with any of our choices unless explicitly stated so.
No. 1: Ouidad|Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling Gel
No. 2: Eden BodyWorks|Coconut Shea Curl Defining Creme
No. 3: Ecoco|Eco Styler Black Castor & Flaxseed Oil Gel
No. 4: Shea Moisture|Coconut Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
No. 5: TIGI|Catwalk Curls Rock Amplifier
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Home goods
Home electronics
PC
Camera
Beauty
Health
Food and drinks
Kitchen
Fashion
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior
Hobbies
Outdoor
Home, garden, and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Media
Games
Apps
Automotive
Gifts
Mobile devices