The Best Curly Hair Products for Men, According to Stylists
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When it comes to the best curly hair products for men — and for everyone — nothing matters as much as hydration. Any textured or curly hair pattern needs maximum moisture (and a proper seal over the cuticles) to trap that nourishment inside. Only then are the curls their most defined, soft, buoyant, and cooperative selves.
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“Moisturizing products are important for all hair types, but are very important for curly hair, which tends to be dry,” says celebrity groomer Ayae Yamamoto, who keeps Harry Styles’ hair in proper form. “The stronger the curls, the more difficult it is for the scalp’s natural oils to travel down towards the ends, which leaves curls dry and easily tangled.”
TL;DR, the curlier the hair, the more dire the need for hydration. But rest assured, it’s simpler than it sounds, especially since it boils down to washing less, conditioning daily, and wearing leave-in conditioners or styling products that preserve moisture over multiple hours.
To understand the best products for curly hair, read on for expertise from hairstylists and grooming experts, as well as in-person testing insights from the SPY team.
What the Experts Say
SPY interviewed Yamamoto, as well as Fabio Scalia, artistic director of Fabio Scalia Salons (with locations in Soho and Brooklyn Heights NYC), and celebrity groomer Kimberly Bragalone, whose clients include Steven Kruger, Manny Jacinto, and Gaten Matarrazzo. No two people will have the exact same needs when it comes to the best curly hair products. However, all three hair experts interviewed agree that a general curly regimen should include the following:
A gentle and sulfate-free men’s shampoo: “Using high-detergency shampoo, which contains sulfates, washes away the natural oils from hair too much and causes hair to become dry,” says Yamamoto.
A daily conditioner: It doesn’t have to be daily, but Scalia says it’s perfectly fine to use that often. And like any other hair type, conditioner for curly hair should be used separately from shampoo, and should also always follow shampoo in the regimen — never the other way around.
A frizz-fighting product: This could be a cream, gel, custard, butter, or leave-in conditioner. One’s hair density or curl pattern will often dictate how much hold and weight they can tolerate in these products. Creams tend to be lightest, then custards, then gels and butters — but every brand will have a different take. “Don’t ignore the type of curl you have and use the wrong product for your curl type,” says Bragalone.
A deeply nourishing moisture treatment: This can be a mask, as well as some leave-in conditioners. They will pump nourishment and hydration into strands on a designated basis — kind of like an IV treatment but for curls. “Neglecting a deep conditioning treatment can keep the hair from staying hydrated and result in a lackluster curl,” says Bragalone. (And doubly so in overly humid or dry conditions.)
The Best Products for Men with Curly Hair
BEST OVERALL
Oribe Styling Butter Curl Enhancing Crème
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This leave-in curl butter from Oribe is a go-to product for our experts. A trio of butters and a pair of oils give it detangling, defining, and de-frizzing powers by coating and smoothing the cuticle to prevent moisture loss. (As most curly hair tends to be on the thicker side, this one is better suited for medium to thick strands.)
Whenever Scalia, in particular, needs to set a client’s curls for a day-long hold, he recommends this product — it breathes life into all curl patterns, from loose to coiled. “It improves both elasticity and bounce,” says Scalia. “And it controls frizz without becoming crunchy.”
Its price is on the high end, though — $46 for 6.7 fluid ounces — but it’s a worthy investment if a budget allows.
Testing Notes: SPY’s tester used this product in place of his regular leave-in conditioner and says it was extremely well-suited to his hair. “I liked that this product kept my curls in shape on wash day and that it absorbed quickly and fully,” SPY’s tester says. “My hair felt light and matte, and it had a natural hold, as opposed to the unnatural crispy texture of gelled hair. Also, it smells wonderful.”
BEST SHAMPOO
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Shampoo
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SPY chose this shampoo as the best for curly hair because it’s hydrating and smoothing; plus, all curl types can use it between one and three times per week.
“This shampoo provides a tremendous amount of moisture, featuring a newer technology that allows hair to maintain that moisture while reducing frizz,” says Scalia. That technology is cationic compounds, which gently remove grime and buildup without stripping the strands of hydration.
At $42 for 8.5 fluid ounces, this product is also priced on the higher end of the spectrum for the category, but it’s effective.
Testing Notes: SPY’s tester, who has curly hair, used this shampoo twice in total across two weeks — one per every four conditioner applications. “This did everything I want from a shampoo,” says SPY’s tester. “I could feel it cleaning my scalp, which is the important thing. It’s also sulfate-free, which is essential to prevent drying, and it’s actively moisturizing, too — my hair felt hydrated and not frizzy at all.”
BEST CONDITIONER
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Conditioner
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Every shampoo has its optimal partner conditioner, and in Scalia’s salon, this one rounds out the perfect pair — which is why it’s SPY’s favorite rinse-out conditioner.
“Thanks to ingredients like manuka honey and ceramides, it provides nourishment, softness, and strength, while candelilla wax helps create a seal to prevent moisture loss,” Scalia says. (Pro tip: “Conditioning can be done every day,” Scalia adds. “It’s just shampoo you don’t want to do daily.” Sometimes, rinsing with a conditioner can even help remove the day’s buildup of product, sweat, and grime, similar to a co-wash, which is a category of products that Yamamoto also endorses for curls.)
Similar to its partner shampoo, this product is priced on the higher end of the spectrum for a conditioner ($48 for 8.5 fluid ounces). If a value option is the goal, this may not be the right buy, but if the budget allows, go for it.
Testing Notes: SPY’s curly-haired tester used this product multiple times over two weeks, noting that it absorbed quickly and that his hair felt soft after each application. He also thought that its texture was excellent — buttery, not sticky, and easy to wash off. “I think it made my curls a little looser, though,” SPY’s tester adds. “Even though I would say it’s pretty lightweight, I think that indicates it weighed down my curls a bit — it would be especially good for someone with a coarser hair texture than me who could use the extra moisture.”
BEST LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER
Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Leave-In Definition Crème
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This leave-in cream is a Goldilocks product: it’s light on waves, coils, fine hair, and thick strands. It’s tough against moisture loss and frizz, and it transitions wonderfully from one season to the next. It’s not heavy in the summer, doesn’t bow to humidity, and never relents in the driest and coldest months.
Adam Hurly, the author of this article and SPY’s resident grooming expert, offered this insight: “There’s a lot of gray area when it comes to curl creams vs. leave-in conditioners and a handful of other nourishing products that are worn all day,” he says. “In the end, many cream, butter, gel, and oil products serve as both conditioners and stylers, so don’t get too lost in the weeds on the terminology — just make sure any product used possesses pro-moisture properties, like this one.”
Price-wise, this product sits at $24 for 6 ounces — a solid value, particularly because a little goes a long way (especially for shorter curly hair).
BEST MASK
SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Hair Masque
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Think of a mask as a salon-caliber treatment for curls. A weekly application of this one from SheaMoisture keeps things strong, soft, and defined — not to mention imparts some beautiful shine, too, says Bragalone.
More broadly, shea butter is one of the best ingredients for the curliest hair patterns, says Yamamoto. “It smooths down frizz and flyaways, protects the scalp from UV damage, and protects hair against heat damage.” The inclusion of coconut oil, argan oil, and soy proteins makes for an all-around fortifying formula.
And the price? At under $15, it’s an excellent value and a no-brainer, particularly for tighter curl patterns.
BEST CURL CREAM
Kevin Murphy Killer Curls Hair Cream
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Right up there with leave-in conditioners, curl creams are essential in any curly person’s arsenal. They’re perfect for those days when one wants a barely-there, touchable finish with impeccable movement and bounce. This is Bragalone’s favorite curl product since it works in all wave and curl patterns without weighing hair down.
“For thicker hair, this product helps hydrate and keep the definition, and is the perfect consistency,” she says. “I have used it on many clients throughout the years and always get the same first response, like ‘Wow, look at my curls! They never [cooperate] like that. Where can I buy that!?’”
This product is on the pricier side of the category — $40 for 6.7 fluid ounces — but again, if a budget allows, it’s worth it. (A good hair day is priceless, right?)
BEST STYLING GEL
Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Styling Gel
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Gels provide extra holds for curls compared to most creams, says Yamamoto, and are particularly adept at protecting strands from humidity-induced frizzing. This one, which is best for coiled, kinky, and tight curls, comes expert-approved.
“Along with its shine-boosting abilities, this gel has a flexible hold and can easily be styled in tight curls,” says Yamamoto. “It doesn’t leave flakes or stickiness behind.”
It’s also a great value, at around $20 for 8.8 fluid ounces. It’ll last a while, and it’s incredibly effective.
BEST CURL CUSTARD
Aunt Jackie Curl La La Curl Defining Custard
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Buy Now at target
In terms of hold, think of custards as the midway point between curl creams and curl gels, and as a terrific lightweight option for all hair types. This option from Aunt Jackie’s is best for medium and thick curls, as well as kinks, coils, tight curls, and even damaged hair.
“This custard helps add shine and moisture since it’s enriched with shea butter and olive oil,” says Bragalone. “It is really good at retaining moisture in the hair.”
The best part? It’s a drugstore buy, typically priced at around $10 for 15 ounces. It’s a no-brainer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Curly Hair
What types of products should curly-haired men avoid?
People with curly hair should avoid alcohols, parabens, silicones, mineral oils, and wax, says Yamamoto. “Not all are bad, but some may be hard to wash out. Without using a shampoo that contains sulfates, these ingredients (namely silicones, mineral oils, and wax) may be left behind, creating layers and adding weight which can change the hair texture.”
How often should men wash curly hair?
Anyone who currently washes their hair daily will be shocked by this, but it’s good advice: “Try not to wash curly hair with shampoo more than every five days,” says Scalia. “Shampoos, while cleansing, can take moisture away. The idea is not to extract too much of the natural oils that are deposited by your scalp.”
It’s perfectly fine to rinse daily with water, and to use conditioner daily, which will itself help flush away any grime and product buildup on the non-shampoo days.” However, Scalia does give permission to wash more frequently to a few people: “If you have a really oily scalp to begin with, then every other day or a couple of times twice a week is ideal — but no more than that.”
Should you use a blow dryer on curly hair?
While Scalia advises against using any heated devices on curls, he says to look for an ionic dryer if you do plan to use one, since it will will dry the hair without inducing damage (by helping to break apart water molecules at the surface and not opening up the cuticles, while also working faster than non-ionic dryers).
Curly-haired people should also attach a diffuser nozzle on the end of the blow dryer, which will scatter the heat all over the scalp so that no area gets over-dried. “The diffuser provides constant, even air,” he explains. “It will dry the hair faster, too.”
About the Author
For over a decade, Adam Hurly has been covering men’s grooming for titles like SPY, GQ, Robb Report, Men’s Journal, Forbes, Gear Patrol, and more. He got his start at Birchbox Man (RIP), having barely known a thing about men’s grooming at the time. Now, he tests thousands of products a year—and even got a hair transplant in the name of “research”. He currently lives in Berlin, Germany but is a native of Sioux Falls, SD. Of the products on this list, he has tested all but one.
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