Fashion
The 15 Best Shampoos for Happy and Healthy Curls
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Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Pros
- Infused with shea and primrose oil
Cons
- Pricey
For parched strands, this shampoo is packed with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter and evening primrose oil. The hydrating combo will diminish frizz and damage. Plus, extracts from Kakadu plums and bergamot fruit will leave your hair feeling soft and smooth.
KEVIN.MURPHY rating: 4.9/5 stars
A KEVIN.MURPHY reviewer says: “Love this. Smells great. Very hydrating.”
Best Drugstore
SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Coconut & Hibiscus Shampoo
Best Drugstore
SheaMoisture Curl & Shine Coconut & Hibiscus Shampoo
Now 11% Off
Pros
- Super affordable
Cons
- Strong scent
With so many five-star reviews, SheaMoisture’s Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo is a cult classic. Beloved by many, the sulfate- and silicone-free formula is packed with hydrating coconut oil that will leave your hair feeling soft and hydrated, never stripped. Our Digital Beauty Director, Danielle James, raves, “Naturally, I switch up products frequently, but my 4C hair always loves when I put this on my curls. It hydrates and defines my curls, and the shampoo smells divine, but isn’t overwhelming.”
Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best for Salon-Level Results
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Best for Salon-Level Results
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Pros
- Strengthens and moisturizes
Cons
- Pricey
A fan-favorite in the curl shampoo world, this Kérastase cleanser uses two powerhouse ingredients to fight the biggest concerns when it comes to curls: dryness, breakage, and a lack of volume. There’s also manuka honey to moisturize, and ceramides to strengthen the hair and add body. “Say hello to hydration,” says our Digital Beauty Director, Danielle James, “I suffer from breakage, and by the time I finished this bottle, I noticed my hair had less shedding and was shinier, which is always a plus in my book.”
Sephora rating: 4.5/5 stars
Best for Softening
OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Shampoo
Best for Softening
OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Shampoo
Pros
- Super affordable
Cons
- Strong scent
With a hydrating (and delicious) combo of coconut oil, honey, and citrus oils, this shampoo will transform your shower into a mini paradise. The shampoo offers intense moisture to dry curls, while also removing build-up from the scalp.
Ulta rating: 4.5/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer says: “When I was curly I used this product every time I washed my hair to give my hair consistency, shining, and freshness. Also smells sooooo good!”
Best for Moisture
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo
Best for Moisture
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Super Moisture Shampoo
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Pricey
You don’t have to choose between cleaning your hair and giving it a moisture boost. This shampoo uses hydrating B vitamins to quench your hair’s thirst, while also effectively cleaning your scalp, so you don’t have to worry about aggravating build-up.
Sephora rating: 4.1/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “Amazing. I’ve been looking for an everyday shampoo like this for a while. It is so simple and light. Cleans the hair really well and doesn’t leave a gross residue. I use a clarifying shampoo once a week and this every other day! I love this shampoo.”
Pros
- Combines shea butter and moringa,
Cons
- Scented
While shea butter hydrates and repairs dry strands, moringa oil works overtime to tackle dry, itchy scalps. Dandruff doesn’t stand a chance.
Ulta rating: 3.6/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer says: “I absolutely love this line of curl care. It is absolutely amazing and leaves my scalp and hair hydrated and clean.”
Pros
- Formulated with a blend of oils
Cons
- Doesn’t lather up much
There are so many delectable ingredients in this shampoo that it’s almost hard to list them all. With argan oil, coconut oil, aloe vera, natural extracts, and spearmint, your curls will be protected and soothed from your scalp to your ends.
Amazon rating: 3.7/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer said: “I’ve been using for about a month and my hair loves it. It is very soft and smooth. I use a little bit of shampoo before just to clarify and I only have to wash my hair 1-2 times a week now. I love it!”
Best for Repair
Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Best for Repair
Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo
Pros
- Strengthens damaged hair
Cons
- Pricey
For severely damaged hair, Olaplex is the brand to turn to. Heat and chemicals can both compromise your curl’s integrity, but this shampoo gives hair a hefty dose of repair and moisture, for healthier and more manageable curls. “My dry, frizz-prone curls drink up this shampoo,” says ELLE.com contributor Tatjana Freund. “After I’m done styling, no one can spot the damage I’ve self-inflicted with bleach and hot tools.”
Amazon rating: 4.7/5 stars
Best for Scalp
Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Shampoo
Best for Scalp
Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Shampoo
Pros
- Infused with aloe
Cons
- Strong scent
Healthy hair starts at the scalp, and this shampoo treats your roots with extra care. With ingredients like hydrating and soothing aloe leaf juice, this cleanser alleviates painful or itchy scalps, while baobab oil softens strands and reduces frizz and dryness.
Sephora rating: 4.1/5 stars
A Sephora reviewer says: “Multipurpose for my household! Love to shampoo the bottom half of my hair which is wavy. Moisturizing, but doesn’t weigh my hair down. My husband loves it for his beard, which is curly and thick. Love the gender-neutral smell, so we can both use it.”
Pros
- Reduces breakage
Cons
- Pricey
Damaged hair can be so hard to treat, and often makes curls limp, dry, and prone to further breakage. Virtue’s Curl Shampoo uses the brand’s Alpha Keratin 60ku, which mimics the hair’s natural keratin, to repair damage every time you use it.
Ulta rating: 4.6/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer says: “This has transformed my hair. I will never use another product… game changer!”
Best for Detangling
Camille Rose Sweet Ginger Cleansing Rinse
Best for Detangling
Camille Rose Sweet Ginger Cleansing Rinse
Pros
- Helps with dandruff
Cons
- Some dislike the scent
For those who want an easy wash day Camille Rose is here to help. The Sweet Ginger Cleansing Rinse cleans hair with a luxurious lather with leaving it feeling dry. It is infused with castor and aniseed oil to hydrate, add shine and even lightly detangle
Ulta rating: 4.2/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer says: “I love this cleanser, its so gentle on the hair and I have never found a shampoo that’s like this before. I do use conditioner afterward and style as usual. Definitely a staple in my hair routine”
Best Clean
L’Oréal Paris Ever Curl Sulfate-Free Coconut Oil Hydracharge Shampoo
Best Clean
L’Oréal Paris Ever Curl Sulfate-Free Coconut Oil Hydracharge Shampoo
Pros
- No sulfates
Cons
- Can feel greasy
This gentle shampoo makes sure your curls are properly nourished, without stripping them of their natural oils. Plus, it’s perfect for curls that have been dyed, since it doesn’t dull color.
Target rating: 4.4/5 stars
A Target reviewer says: “This is the only product thus far that enhances my natural waves while also maintaining frizz. I seriously cannot live without the Ever Curl HydraCharge products.”
Pros
- Defines curls and waves
Cons
- Not best for fine hair
If you’re looking for extra definition in your curls, Aveda’s option does just that. While cleansing and hydrating, you’ll notice your curls clumping together more to form enviable and consistent spirals.
Nordstrom rating: 4.5/5 stars
A Nordstrom reviewer says: “It tames my curly mess just enough to be delightful without weighing it down into flat-ville.”
Pros
- A little goes a long way
Cons
- Not best for fine hair
Created by the curl queen Tracee Ellis Ross, this shampoo ensures that your coils are effectively moisturized. With coconut oil, aloe vera, and honey, your curls will thank you for giving them this drink of water.
Ulta rating: 4.6/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer says: “I have 4A-4B hair, and this shampoo leaves it feeling hydrated and cleansed. I also love that the product is scented, but only lightly so. I would repurchase. I have zero complaints.”
Best for Scalp
tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo
Best for Scalp
tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate Free Shampoo
Pros
- Leaves hair feeling soft
Cons
- Doesn’t lather well
TGIN’s Moisture Rich Shampoo is a must for nourished curls before adding a conditioner. With alma oil, coconut oil, and aloe vera this shampoo not only adds moisture but helps to prevent breakage.
Ulta rating: 4.2/5 stars
An Ulta reviewer says: “I’ve been searching for months for a non irritating and moisturizing shampoo and think I’ve found it! My hair is soft and shiny after and my scalp doesn’t feel dried out or itchy with this product. It smells great and isn’t intense like so many shampoos out there. Plus the price is good!”
What kind of shampoo should someone with curly hair use?
Not all shampoos are created equal, nor is every formula suitable for curly hair. Lund explains that every head of hair has different needs and to get the healthiest, best-looking hair possible, it’s crucial to fulfill or replenish curls based on what it’s craving at the moment. “Curly hair tends to be on the dryer side due to the shape of the strands, so making sure your curls are properly moisturized is vital for healthy, bouncy curls.” A shampoo with protein can help strengthen and repair damaged curls. Additionally, “over time, ingredients, hard water, and pollution can build up on the hair creating a barrier that doesn’t allow ingredients to absorb,” says Lund, which is why a detoxing shampoo is also an essential product to have in your lineup.
Will shampoo make my curls frizzy?
We often think of shampoos as drying and stripping, therefore leading to more frizz. But there are plenty of hydrating cleansers on the market that both combat the fuzz and hydrate hair. “Frizz is best alleviated by the use of moisturizing products like shea butter, murumuru butter, and thicker oils like baobab seed oil. I also look for products with lotus extract as it acts as an emollient, leaving hair silky and soft,” says Lund.
Why trust ELLE Beauty?
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, ELLE.com editors spoke with hair experts about the absolute best shampoos for curly hair. The authors personally tested a number of these products and scoured reviews for the top-rated products on the market.
Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor
Tatjana Freund is Hearst’s Fashion & Luxury Commerce Editor, covering beauty, fashion and more across multiple brands. Previously, she worked at ELLE.com and Marie Claire. She’s a fan of whiskey neat, podcasts that give her nightmares, and one time Zoë Kravitz laughed at a joke she made.
Beauty Commerce Editor
Nerisha is the beauty commerce editor at ELLE.com, covering all things beauty (and fashion and music). She has a penchant for sneakers and nude lip glosses, and spends way too much time re-watching 90s sitcoms.
Beauty Assistant
Tasha Nicole Smith is ELLE Magazine’s beauty assistant. She loves all things hair, makeup, and skincare so you’ll find her talking about it here. She enjoys Marvel movies, a good pair of heels, and lemon drop martinis and also shares a birthday with Beyoncé, which is her go to fun fact.
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