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    1. Beauty
    2. Hair

    The 15 Best Curl Creams for Natural Hair

    Bouncy, shiny hair, here we come!

    Tatjana Freund's avatar
    By Tatjana Freund
    Published 1 December 2020 In Buying Guides

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Model
    (Image credit: Getty Images, Brian Ach)
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    Curly girls know the struggle: When our curls look their best, heads will turn, mouths will drool, confidence will be boosted. The problem is, curls, coils, and kinks can be so sensitive. Factors like humidity, the temperature of shower water, and even our sleeping positions can take a great curl day and leave us with deflated, flat, or frizzy texture. Natural hair by nature is very fragile, which is partly due to the fact that curls are easily dehydrated. Dry hair is easily damaged, which means more frizz, more breakage, and less bouncy hair. The great news is that there are more products on the market than ever that understand curls, and have products for type 3 and 4 curls that actually work. Curl creams are your hair's best friend, adding moisture, shape, and hold to the hair. While in the past, curl creams were guilty of making hair crunchy, wet-looking, or greasy, these formulations want you to have soft, touchable, and bouncy curls with none of the drawbacks. Below, find 15 amazing curl creams that revive dull texture and combat those common curl complaints.

    curl cream

    The Coconut Cream
    1. SheaMoisture - Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
    $5.98 AT AMAZON.COM

    For the owner of thick curls, this delicious smelling cream conjures up images of tropical vacations, complete with an amazing hair day. Say goodbye to sad, dull curls, and hello to the silky, defined ringlets.

    curl cream

    The Cult Classic
    2. DevaCurl - SUPERCREAM™ Coconut Curl Styler
    $7.50 AT SEPHORA.COM

    This cult-favorite curl cream is formulated without drying or damaging ingredients. Instead, it helps smooth and shape curls, defeating frizz and giving the hair a boost of moisture.

    curl cream

    The Avocado Cream
    3. Briogeo - Curl Charisma™ Rice Amino + Avocado Leave–In Defining Cream
    $20.00 AT SEPHORA.COM

    Because curls and coils need more moisture than straight hair, this product contains hydrating avocado to give each strand the hair equivalent to a glass of water. Goodbye frizz!

    curl cream

    The Coil Shaper
    4. OYIN Handmade - boing! all-in-one coil styler
    $14.99 AT OYINHANDMADE.COM

    For women with beautiful coils, this styler helps them keep their shape, while never leaving the hair feeling crunchy. Instead, welcome the moisturized, defined coils of your dreams.

    curl cream

    The Curl Protector
    5. Bumble and bumble. - Curl Defining Cream
    $16.00 AT SEPHORA.COM

    Naturally textured hair can be so sensitive, reacting to weather, pollutants, and even UV rays. That's why this cream works to protect hair from those curl-damaging elements, without ever weighing it down.

    curl cream

    The Curl BFF
    6. Cake Beauty - The Curl Friend Defining Curl Cream
    $8.99 AT AMAZON.COM

    Formulated with hydrating shea butter, this product is truly the BFF your curls need. It gives hair a beautiful glossy look, keeping frizz and flyaways at bay.

    curl cream

    The Minty Refresh
    7. adwoa beauty - Baomint™ Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream
    $32.00 AT SEPHORA.COM

    With honey, amino acids, and shea butter, this cream helps repair brittle or damaged ends, all while fighting frizz. Applied on wet hair, the result is silky, bouncy curls that will make everyone jealous.

    curl cream

    The Curl Holder
    8. Curls Dynasty - Twisted Definition
    $14.99 AT CURLSDYNASTY.COM

    Curly-haired ladies know the struggle of having our beautiful ringlets unravel after a few days. This cream gently helps them hold their shape, so curls look amazing even days after wash day.

    curl cream

    The Taming Cream
    9. Davines - Love Curl Cream
    $25.00 AT AMAZON.COM

    After washing, apply this curl cream to damp hair and watch it work some magic. When the hair is dry, notice how beautiful and bouncy each curl is. No crunchiness, and no wet look.

    curl cream

    The Hair Plumper
    10. Ouidad - Curl Shaper Take Shape Plumping + Defining Cream
    $26.00 AT AMAZON.COM

    Because hair is a porous material, this product works from the inside out to keep curls looking their best. Simply apply to wet hair and scrunch to see revitalized texture.

    curl cream

    The Texture Enhancer
    11. AVEDA - be curly™ Curl Enhancer
    $28.00 AT NORDSTROM.COM

    After washing, apply this product from roots to tips to give each strand shine and moisture. Dry with a diffuser to see healthy-looking curls that have their bounce back.

    curl cream

    The Potent Styler
    12. Curlsmith - Curlsmith Curl Conditioning Oil-In-Cream
    $26.00 AT ULTA.COM

    This product is so packed with nourishing and natural ingredients that you don't need to use much. The result is shiny, healthy hair that never looks dull.

    curl cream

    The Hair Hydrator
    13. Bask & Bloom - More Moisture Cream
    $19.00 AT BASKANDBLOOMESSENTIALS.COM

    Want some extra hydration, but zero grease? This product is ultra moisturizing but somehow never greasy. Applied to wet hair, it protects the hair and offers it the hydration it needs.

    curl cream

    The 4C Sculptor
    14. Mielle Organics - Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Coil Sculpting Custard
    $12.99 AT TARGET.COM

    For women with type 4 curls, this product is specifically designed for that tighter curl pattern. It offers hydration and shine, while also helping to hold curls in the shape you want, without crunchiness.

    curl cream

    The Coconut Moisturizer
    15. Carol's Daughter - Coco Creme Coil Enhancing Moisture Butter
    $13.79 AT AMAZON.COM

    For extremely dry curls, this tropical-smelling hair butter revives dehydrated hair so each curl can look their best. After using, curls will shiny and healthy, and soft enough to play with.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Tatjana Freund
    Tatjana Freund
    Social Links Navigation

    Tatjana Freund is a Beauty Commerce Writer, covering makeup, skincare, and haircare products and trends. She's a fan of vodka tonics and creepy Wikipedia pages.

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