Does Shampoo That Makes Hair Curly Work (+ Our Top Picks)
Hair can be a finicky thing – especially on wash day.
Though some lucky people may have their hair routines and products down to a science, others aren’t quite sure of their hair type in the first place, which makes choosing products a fairly tricky process.
This is especially true for those with curly hair who don’t even know it.
It may seem unreal to think about, but it’s the truth.
There are a ton of people on this planet (maybe even you) who are living without the knowledge that they’re actually sporting a head full of curls or waves!
Luckily, there’s a surefire way to unleash that texture, and that’s with a shampoo that makes your hair curly.
So, does shampoo that makes hair curly work?
Not all curl-enhancing shampoos will work on every hair type. Your curls will only come to their full capacity if your natural hair showcases the telltale signs of texture, but a cleanser won’t help truly straight hair curl in any capacity.
If you’re curious about whether curly hair shampoo will work for your specific hair type, you’ve come to the right place!
Here, we’ll break down all you need to know about shampoo that’ll breathe new life into your curls (even if they’ve been long neglected).
Plus, we’ll give you our top recommendations for shampoos once you’re ready to take the plunge!
Who Curly Shampoos Will Work For
Do you ever have those days where you literally don’t even know what your hair is doing?
Those days when it’s going in every direction? Where is it frizzy in some areas but straight in others?
If you’ve answered yes to any of the previous questions, then there’s a good chance that a curly hair shampoo can leave you with a whole new set of locks!
There are a couple of ways you can test whether or not you have a secret head of curls.
The most obvious time to spot texture is right after you get out of the shower, when your hair is just beginning to dry.
Frizziness
When you brush through your locks while it’s in this state, one of two things can occur.
The first is that the ends of your hair stay perfectly straight, and the second is that they frizz and bunch up.
Letting your hair dry completely from this stage, entirely free from product, can also be revealing.
When your hair is dry, do you notice a very stark difference in moisture between your roots and ends?
A lack of hair care can also cause this, but if that dryness is paired with frizziness throughout the length of the strand, this could be a sign of hidden texture.
Curly Hair Runs In Family
If one of your parents has textured or curly hair, there’s a strong likelihood that you’ve inherited some of that texture in your own head of locks!
Curly hair is actually a dominant gene trait, so it’s scientifically more likely for you to have texture in your hair than not.
And if both of your parents are rocking a head of curls or waves, you shouldn’t need to question your hair type at all – you’ve got textured hair, my friend!
Salt Water Reaction
Do you reach for sea salt spray when your hair needs a “crimped” or textured look?
If sea salt gives your hair a consistent wave throughout the strand, odds are, a curly hair shampoo will work wonders on your hair!
The same goes for people whose hair curls or waves after a day at the beach.
Unfortunately, people who have super straight or non-textured locks will find that salty water doesn’t do much for their hair texture.
But instead makes their hair feel super crunchy and dry.
Different Hair Textures Throughout the Head
Perhaps the most telling sign of having hidden curly locks is that you’ll have multiple different hair types throughout your strands.
You could have a couple of hidden curls throughout your hair, but they’re likely to show up around the face, on the back of your neck, and in any other areas where your lengths come in contact with sweat and condensation.
The rest of your hair could either be straight or slightly wavy.
But if you have some sections that are strictly ringlet-like, there’s a high chance that you have a whole head of curls that need a little bit of TLC.
Who Curly Shampoos Won’t Work For
The day has yet to come when there’s a shampoo that magically gives everyone a head of healthy, lusciously crafted curls.
That said, there are a couple of hair types that won’t curl regardless of the shampoo you use.
Stubborn Hair
Though it can be said that curly hair types are the most stubborn, straight hair types can also be stubborn of their own accord.
Those with truly non-curly hair will have trouble maintaining texture in their locks.
No matter what they do, and despite the slew of methods they may try, it could feel impossible for their hair to hold a curl.
They could attempt hot rollers, heatless methods, or curling wands and irons, and still find that their hair falls flat or that their curls lose body by the end of the day.
If this sounds like a personal struggle of yours, it’s safe to say that you may not have a hidden head of curls.
Hair That Looks Straight
If you don’t deal with frizz outside of the handful of strands sticking up on the root of your head, you can also make the fair decision that you have non-curly hair.
Take a feel of your hair strand from root to tip.
If you don’t notice a change in moisture and feel throughout its length, or if your hair looks straight and feels super hydrated, you definitely have straight hair overall.
Frizziness is a telltale sign of texture when it’s constant, but if your frizziness came of its own accord after years of having straight, non-frizzy hair, it could be a sign of damage rather than hidden curliness.
For more info, check out our article, Can You Use Curly Products On Straight Hair?
Texturizing Products Don’t Do A Thing
When people with curly hair try out curly-hair products like mousse or curl-enhancing oils and creams for the first time, the results are almost miraculous.
Their hair will immediately curl, soak up moisture, and generally reveal its natural state.
However, if you have straight hair, products designed for textured locks won’t do much. In fact, they could weigh your hair down, leave it looking crunchy rather than hydrated, and likely give it zero texture or curl.
If these products leave your hair looking less than perfect, it’s a fair assumption that you have strikingly straight, or generally texture-free, locks.
What Makes Curly Hair Shampoo Different From Other Shampoos?
The reason that curly hair products and formulations exist is that they were quite literally designed to be better for curly hair!
Though curly-headed folks can use traditional shampoos every so often, it’ll likely compromise the health, look, and shape of their curls.
Clean Formulas
Curly hair formulas are typically much cleaner than standard shampoo formulas.
This is because curly hair tends to soak up every last bit of the products it comes in contact with, so those with textured hair only want to expose their strands to the very best!
That means that curly shampoos are most often sulfate-, silicone-, and mineral-oil-free.
Though these ingredients are common in cleansers, they can cause unnecessary buildup on locks with high absorption rates (aka textured hair).
This can lead to crispy curls and a weighed-down look.
Moisturizing Focus
Shampoos for curly hair also center on one key concern: moisture.
Curly hair tends to lose moisture at a much faster rate than other types of hair, so a hydrating shampoo is nothing short of a necessity.
It’ll keep frizz down and help with bounciness and the overall feel of your curls.
One of the biggest reasons those with hidden curls don’t realize they have curly hair is a severe lack of moisture.
They confuse their hair with being super frizzy rather than secretly textured.
Clarifying
A clarifying shampoo is also a must for those with curly locks, as it removes the buildup that has formed over years of not knowing you had textured locks.
This can help your hair absorb moisture and curly-hair-friendly ingredients, enhancing the shape of your curl (even after years of damage).
Clarifying shampoos, even the most gentle ones, should never be used more than once or twice every two weeks. They strip the hair of moisture, which is what curly hair needs.
That may seem counterproductive for textured locks, but it’s necessary if you use a lot of product to keep your curls intact.
Best Shampoos That Make Hair Curly
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Not Your Mother’s Curl Definition Shampoo | 98% natural ingredients, hydrating, good for all curl types |
| 2. | Shea Moisture Curl and Shine Shampoo | Clean formula, rich lather, good for black curls |
| 3. | L’Oreal Ever Curl Shampoo | Lightweight, anti-frizz, coconut oil hydration |
| 4. | Pattern Beauty Hydration Shampoo | Lightly clarifying, color-safe, deeply hydrating |
| 5. | MATRIX A Curl Can Dream Shampoo | Treats scalp, clarifying, preserves curl pattern |
| 6. | Ouidad Curl Quencher | Clean formula, high-quality ingredients, deeply hydrating |
| 7. | Maui Moisture Curl Quench | Detangling, vegan and silicone-free, good for thick hair |
1. Not Your Mother’s Curl Definition Shampoo
If you’re not sure just how curly your hair is, it’s best to grab something compatible with all types of curly hair.
Thankfully, that’s exactly what this formula from Not Your Mother’s offers!
We’ve linked a set (both shampoo and conditioner) of a formula that cleanses hair just enough to remove buildup and residue, and is sufficiently nurturing to replenish moisture and hydration where it’s most needed.
It won’t weigh down your hair and instead will enhance any natural texture you have.
2. Shea Moisture Curl and Shine Shampoo
Shea Moisture is a brand that’s beloved by people with curly hair because of its high-quality formulations and commitment to care in what it puts in its products.
The brand’s ‘Curl and Shine Shampoo’ is a classic for those with textured hair to start with, and can ease you into the waters of curly hair care with ease.
This shampoo boasts a super clean formula that’s also vegan and cruelty-free.
This works to improve the health of your hair (a must if you didn’t know you had curly hair to begin with).
3. L’Oreal Ever Curl Shampoo
A brand known for its impact in the beauty community is L’Oreal, and its haircare products showcase its dedication to making users feel their absolute best.
For textured locks or those wanting to make their hair curly—
We highly recommend their “Ever Curl” shampoo.
This product is super gentle on curly hair, so as not to ruin your natural curl pattern and texture, and is rich with coconut oil to deliver tons of moisture to your strands.
The formula is also super clean, so you can use it without worrying about buildup.
4. Pattern Beauty Hydration Shampoo
If the first word you would use to describe your hair is dry, then you’re going to need a shampoo that’s ready to tackle those concerns.
This shampoo by Pattern is an incredible option.
Since it contains ultra-nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil, and honey (a naturally reparative additive).
However, the main reason we have this shampoo on this list is its lightly clarifying formula, which removes buildup and dirt from the strands and scalp without compromising your hair’s moisture and hydration.
5. MATRIX A Curl Can Dream Shampoo
MATRIX is a brand that’s beloved by professional hair stylists for its meticulously designed formulas and the healthy feel its products inject into your locks.
Their ‘A Curl Can Dream’ shampoo isn’t just appropriately named—
It lives up to all the high expectations the brand places on its products.
This shampoo is super moisturizing, thanks to the Manuka honey extract (one of the most reparative types of honey on the market).
Despite its intensely hydrating capabilities, it’s also super clarifying.
In fact, it can strip hair of buildup and residue so well that we would consider this a shampoo you shouldn’t use more than once a week!
6. Ouidad Curl Quencher
If you’re convinced that you have a super thick head of curls, you’re going to want to look for products that focus on deeply hydrating your hair.
This curl-quenching formula from Ouidad does just that and more!
This shampoo is excellent for super kinky, curly hair and can have immensely restorative effects if you’ve spent your whole life neglecting your curls.
Those who have neglected curly hair struggle with frizz, and this shampoo targets that concern first and foremost.
7. Maui Moisture Curl Quench
Those who want their hair as refreshed and stress-free as a tropical vacation can count on Maui Moisture to help their locks look and feel their best.
The main concerns that this shampoo targets are de-frizzing, undefined curls, and a crispy texture that’s common with curly hair.
We’re huge fans of the formulation of Maui products.
They’re always vegan and free from poor ingredients for curly hair types (like silicones, parabens, and mineral oils).
It also contains aloe vera, coconut milk, and flower and fruit extracts.
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