“Curly hair has a mind of its own—depending on the person, your curly hair can look totally different from your friend’s curly hair!” says Brock. “Curls are as stubborn as they are sensitive, so you need to find a shampoo for curly hair that has both moisturizing ingredients as well as avoids harsh ingredients like sulfates and alcohol.” And you shouldn’t wash your curly hair every day either: According to Brock, this can strip the moisture and cause a ton of frizz. Humidity can add to this, so you need to wash only a couple of times a week in order to keep your hair in the optimal condition for your summer of fun. In short: Curly hair is tons dryer than straight hair because the natural oils from your scalp can’t travel uniformly to the end of your hair follicle, and when it’s humid, your hair absorbs the moisture from the air to expand, resulting in Medusa-like strands. In order to keep your curls healthy, Brock suggests a few best shampoos for curly hair that are free of stripping ingredients and full of oils, butters, and vitamins for the ultimate shine. Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
Best Shampoos for Curly Hair
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo At less than $10 ($8.50, to be exact), you’ll find a moisturizing shampoo for curly hair that’ll add some TLC to stressed strands. Brock loves this shampoo because it’s sulfate, phthalate and paraben-free, getting its moisturizing ingredients from pure coconut oil that’ll absorb in your hair without weighing it down. Get theShea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo here. Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish Sulfate-Free Shampoo Infused With Coconut Oil and Glycerin One of our favorite drugstore finds, this $3 option has the added benefit of protecting your hair from high heat—which is great if air-drying isn’t particularly your thing. Active Fruit Protein consists of amino acids that will strengthen weak, damaged hair, leading to smoother, frizz-resistant curls. Get the Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish Sulfate-Free Shampoo Infused with Coconut Oil and Glycerin here. Kristin Ess Ultra-Hydrating Curl Co-Wash A co-wash is basically a combo product of shampoo and conditioner, and according to Brock, this $14 formula can work on curly hair by cleansing your hair without stripping it of the natural oils curly-haired girls hold so dear. Simply rub it into your strands and rinse off. Get the Kristin Ess Ultra-Hydrating Curl Co-Wash here. Renee Furterer Sublime Curl Curl Activating Shampoo This $30 curl-specialized shampoo not only helps soften your strands, it also helps to define and shape them. Infused with evening primrose oil, it allows your curls to get a little looser, thanks to the fatty acids in the concoction. Get the Renee Furterer Sublime Curl Curl Activating Shampoo here. L’Oreal Paris EverCurl Hydracharge Sulfate Free Shampoo If you have color-treated curls, this is the option for you. Free of sulfates and infused instead with coconut oil, this $7 L’Oreal shampoo is free of the salts that would strip color from dyed hair, all while deeply nourishing strands. Get the L’Oeal Paris EverCurl Hydracharge Sulfate Free Shampoo here. Shu Uemura Shusu Sleek Smoothing Shampoo Another one of Brock’s favorites, this $49 shampoo may be pricey, but a little goes a long way. This shampoo is ideal for coarse hair because of its incredibly thick consistency, infused with black cumin oil. Tons of antioxidants and omegas means finer hair could get weighed down, but it’s perfect for hair on the thicker side, explains Brock. Get the Shu Uemura Shusu Sleek Smoothing Shampoo here. Rizos Curls Hydrating Shampoo If your strands are fine but your scalp is dry, you’ll love this nurturing option, which costs less than $20. It has shea butter and moringa oil to moisturize your scalp and strengthen your strands, starting at the root to get your hair silky and smooth. Get the Rizos Curls Hydrating Shampoo here. Redken Curvaceous High Foam Lightweight Cleanser A super lightweight cleanser designed to get impurities out without stripping the skin, this $21 option even has a UV filter to protect your hair from the harsh rays of the sun. Think volume without the frizz. Get the Redken Curvaceous High Foam Lightweight Cleanser here. Head and Shoulders Royal Oils Moisture Boost Shampoo Dandruff can cause your scalp to itch and flake, but this $7 specialized shampoo can help. Rich, creamy lather infused with coconut oil will save your scalp, all while protecting your curls. Get the Head and Shoulders Royal Oils Moisture Boost Shampoo here. Aveda Be Curly Shampoo Pure plant essences give this $25 formula its dreamy smell, but it’s also enriched with wheat protein and an organic aloe blend that will help soothe and strengthen your curls. Say hello to defined tresses all summer long. Get the Aveda Be Curly Shampoo here. Oribe Shampoo for Moisture & Control “I love this shampoo!” says Brock of this $46 bottle. “It contains amino acids and is free from parabens and sulfates, so curls stay strong and bouncy.” It also consists of technology that bonds to your hair in order to deeply penetrate the oils into your strands, so you get smooth hair every time. Get the Oribe Shampoo for Moisture & Control here. Moroccanoil Curl Enhancing Shampoo Ideal for colored curls, this gentle $26 formula has a rich, highly concentrated list of soothing ingredients, including argan oil and vegetable proteins, to clean your hair without drying it out. Get the Moroccanoil Curl Enhancing Shampoo here. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Dream Curls Shampoo Don’t let its $7 price tag fool you—this shampoo is a dream for frizzy curls, especially in the summer. Consisting of Curl Enhancing Technology that will stop your hair from falling flat, this formula is also infused with rosehip oil for added shine. Get the John Frieda Frizz-Ease Dream Curls Shampoo here. Kerastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste Smooth-In-Motion Shampoo If your curls have a tendency to get unruly, they need this luxe shampoo, which sells at $35. It works well if you’ve keratin treatments on your curls too, since it’s free of harsh ingredients like parabens or sulfates. Get the Kerastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste Smooth-In-Motion Shampoo here. Tresemme Flawless Curls Shampoo Curly hair can be complicated, since most of the dryness occurs at the ends. If you have no issues with a dry scalp and just need some TLC on your ends, this $12 winner will do the job, with vitamin B1 strengthening the hair where it needs it the most. Get the Tresemme Flawless Curls Shampoo here. BIOLAGE Smoothproof Shampoo Infused with humidity control technology, this $24 shampoo uses water-resistant camellia flower to create a protective barrier around your curls, increasing its manageability and allowing your summer style to shine through. Get the BIOLAGE Smoothproof Shampoo here. Living Proof Curl Shampoo For dryer hair, a low lather shampoo is key according to Brock, and this $32 curl-specialized option is incredible for getting moisture back into your strands. A little bit goes a long way with this thick formula, which envelopes your hair and protects it from heat damage. Get the BIOLAGE Smoothproof Shampoo here. Davines Love Curl Enhancing Shampoo By using almond extract rich in a ton of goodness like protein, magnesium, vitamin E and iron, this $30 is the thickest, most deeply hydrating option on this list. Use it if your hair is just dying for moisture. Get the Davines Love Curl Enhancing Shampoo here. OGX Quenching Coconut & Curls Shampoo It won’t break the bank at $6, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work: Coconut milk, tangerine and warm vanilla combine to create a decadent experience when shampooing, leaving curls silky, smooth and ready for anything. Get the OGX Quenching Coconut & Curls Shampoo here. Pattern Hydration Shampoo Created by Tracee Ellis Ross, the $35 hydration shampoo is super creamy and luxurious with honey, coconut oil and aloe vera juice to soothe irritation without stripping away moisture. Get the Pattern Hydration Shampoo here. Briogeo Curl Charisma Shampoo Rice amino acids and avocado plump up skinny strands, while shea butter hydrates curls with antioxidants and fermented tomato extract sticks to the hair cuticle to help define curls in this thoughtful $24 shampoo. Get the Briogeo Curl Charisma Shampoo here. Amika Velveteen Dream Anti-Frizz Smoothing Shampoo If you’ve ever gone out in the summer heat with perfectly styled hair and come home with a frizz ball the size of a helmet, this $20 winner needs to be in your shower ASAP. It uses sea buckthorn, a berry rich in antioxidants, that protects your hair from the elements and keeps it smooth for hours and hours. Get the Amika Velveteen Dream Anti-Frizz Smoothing Shampoo here. Wella Nutricurls Curls Micellar Shampoo A nourishing combination of wheat bran extract and jojoba oil adds moisture while gently removing the dirt and impurities that can gather in your hair after a long day in the heat, making this $40 shampoo great for even the most sensitive scalp. Get the Wella Nutricurls Curls Micellar Shampoo here. Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo If your curls run tight, get your hands on this $7 steal ASAP. It helps to detangle your curls thanks to a winning combination of coconut oil and aloe vera, so you can run your hands through your hair with ease. Get the Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo here. Sun Bum Curls & Waves Shampoo Although you may rely on this brand for their sunscreen, Sun Bum’s shampoo is the vegan, cruelty-free shampoo you never knew you needed. Its winning combo of seaweed protein and coconut oil combines strength and moisture for beachy hair that’ll stay protected, no matter what. Get the Sun Bum Curls & Waves Shampoo here. Next, check out TikTok hair hacks!
