Best Hair Moisturizers for All Curl Types
If you want curly hair that is bouncy, silky and frizz-free, hair moisturizers are so important. We already know that moisturizers provide a solid foundation for any good skincare routine - and the same logic applies to your curly hair routine. Hair moisturizers can add vital moisture and hydration that breathes new life into curls - whether you have loose waves, springy ringlets or tight coils. This post will cover everything you need to know about moisturizing your curls - including the must-know products and techniques - for every curl type.
- Why Does Curly Hair Need Moisturizing?
- Best Curly Hair Moisturizers
- In What Order should I use Moisturizers
- Watch Out for Moisture Overload
- Maintaining Moisturized Curls
Why does curly hair need moisturizing?
Curly hair tends to be drier than straighter hair types. This happens for a few reasons. One is that sebum, a natural oil from the scalp that is meant to nourish and protect your hair, can’t travel down the strands as easily thanks to all the bends and twists.
Another is that curly hair’s cuticle (the outer layer) tends to be more irregular, which can allow moisture to escape more easily.
There are some tell-tale giveaways to know if your hair is dry:
- Frizz. When your hair is dry, the cuticle layer lifts and becomes rough. This makes it easier for air moisture to sneak in and lift hairs out of place. The result? Frizz and fluff.
- Breakage. When hair is thirsty, it becomes rigid and brittle. This is why dry hair can look shorter and thinner at the ends, and you may notice more hair coming out in your brush in the shower.
- Loss of shine. If your hair looks dull and lifeless, rather than glossy and shiny, this shows that the cuticle has lifted and become uneven and jagged. By contrast, a well-hydrated cuticle would lie flat, creating that mirror-like reflection we love to see in our hair.
- Tangles. A rough cuticle also means more friction, which means more knots and tangles. If you go without the slip and lubrication from moisturizer, you’ll notice more snagging.
So, how to solve it? Well, you might think the simplest way is just to add more of the ultimate hydrator into your hair: Water. Of course, water definitely plays a role - but your hair’s porosity may affect how well it’s absorbed.
Low porosity hair means cuticles are closed, meaning it’s harder for water to enter strands.
Medium porosity hair means cuticles aren’t too open or too closed allowing the optimal amount of water to be absorbed and retained.
High porosity hair means cuticles are open, allowing water to be absorbed more easily, but it’s also just as easily lost.
The solution? Choosing moisturizing hair products - from those you use in your hair wash, to styling and refreshing afterwards. These products contain hydrating and moisture-boosting ingredients that are easily absorbed by curly hair, smoothing the cuticle layer and quenching your hair’s thirst. They also avoid harsh ingredients like sulfates and silicones that can make hair drier. Curlsmith has you covered for every stage of your routine.
Best curly hair moisturizers
Whatever curl type you have, Curlsmith is here to help you moisturize. The Curlsmith range includes moisturizing products for every aspect of your curl routine, starting with your hair-wash, right through to your styling and refreshing products. Here is our pick of the best:
Hair moisturizing shampoo for curls
Shampoos can be big culprits for drying out hair, since they often use harsh chemicals to clean the hair which also ends up stripping it of natural oils. But this isn’t the case with the Essential Moisture Shampoo. Not only is it free from drying alcohols, it’s enriched with moisturizing aloe leaf, and resurrection flower, which is known for its moisture-retention properties. It helps to remove dirt and product build up, while still supporting that much-needed moisture in your hair. It’s perfect for any curl type and texture, but will be particularly beneficial if you have high-porosity or tighter curls.
If you prefer a catch-all co-wash, look no further than the Curl-Quenching Conditioning Wash, which can replace both your shampoo and conditioner in the shower. Unlike typical 2-in-1 shampoos that focus on cleansing, this is conditioner-based with a touch of cleansing ingredients, making it a gentle, more moisturizing option. Its key ingredients include ultra-nourishing avocado oil (packed with minerals and vitamins A, C, D and E) plus coconut oil, a hydrating hero ingredient that can help to tame frizz. This can be used on any hair type, but is especially good on medium/coarser, drier curls.
Hair moisturizing conditioner for curls
If you’re using the Essential Moisture Shampoo, it’s important to follow up with the equally-hydrating Essential Moisture Conditioner. Containing avocado oil and coconut oil alongside shea butter (which is known for its high concentration of deeply-hydrating fatty acids), this conditioner will smooth the cuticles, and provide great slip to help detangle.
Hair moisturizing leave-in conditioner for curls
If you have finer hair, you may not want to use a leave-in conditioner that will weigh your hair down. Instead, go for the Moisture Memory Release spray; a weightless leave-in spray that uses time-release moisture technology to pump curls full of moisture throughout the day. Containing ceramides, macadamia nut oil and olive oil, it provides frizz control for smooth, manageable, soft and bouncy curls. Simply spray onto wet hair straight after washing, raking through to evenly coat all strands.
However, if you have coarser, thirstier hair, you may want something more deeply nourishing - which is where the Curl Conditioning Oil-in-Cream really shines. This rich leave-in conditioner contains coconut oil carrot root extract - alongside shea butter - which is celebrated for its high concentration of fatty acids and vitamins making it deeply hydrating. Evenly coat your curls with this buttery cream straight after your hair-wash on wet hair for soft, smooth and shiny hair that really lasts. It’s also a great base for braids, twist-outs, and other protective styles.
And the perfect middle ground comes in the form of the Weightless Air Dry Cream. Ideal for all curl textures, but especially for medium to coarse hair, this versatile leave-in contains castor oil, jojoba oil and muru muru butter, known to increase moisture retention and seals cuticles when used in haircare.
Hair moisturizing hair mask for curls
Sometimes, you might notice your hair is so thirsty that it needs a little extra TLC. This is when you’d reach for the Double Cream Deep Quencher, a deep conditioning mask that nourishes and moisturizes even the driest curl types. Containing nourishing avocado oil, deeply-hydrating shea butter, and vitamin and mineral-enriched apricot kernel oil, it deeply moisturizes hair while smoothing down the cuticles. For a quick moisture boost, leave it on for 10-15 minutes before rinsing out. For a more intense treatment, leave it on for 30 minutes. This is best used every few washes, to avoid over-moisturizing your hair.
Hair moisturizing styling cream for curls
The Awestruck Definition Cream is the ultimate moisturizing styling cream for all hair textures. It’s formulated with avocado oil, a hyaluronic acid infusion, and a mushroom blend to enhance curl definition, reduce frizz and volume control. The ultimate multi-tasker, this deeply hydrates hair while also protecting against harmful UV rays (which can make hair drier) and providing 72 hours of frizz control - even in extreme humidity. After your hair-wash, coat each strand evenly using praying hands, and then scrunch upwards to watch those beautiful, hydrated curls take shape.
Hair moisturizing gel for curls
Lock in your curly style with the Curl Defining Styling Souffle: a strong-hold yet lightweight styling gel that provides moisture (thanks to the avocado oil and babassu oil) and shine (thanks to linseed, which is packed with fatty acids and antioxidants that are known to smooth frizz). Evenly coat each strand before scrunching (or finger curling) as the final step in your wash-day routine, before air-drying or diffusing.
Hair moisturising refreshers for curls
If you want to give your curls a hydration boost in-between wash days, the Shake & Shine spray is your new best friend. Formulated without drying alcohols, this revolutionary bi-phase curl refreshing spray contains 7 hyaluronic acids to enhance smoothness and help with frizz control, alongside seaweed, which is renowned for its moisturizing properties. Shake before misting through dry hair to reactivate those hydrated, bouncy curls.
In what order should I use hair moisturizers
So, how do you actually use your moisturizing hair products? Simply follow this step-by-step guide.
NOTE: How often you wash your hair depends on your curl type - if you have tighter curls, you might wash 1-2 times per week, but if your hair is looser and wavier, then you may go for 3 times.
Step 1: Cleanse.
Once your hair is soaking in the shower, massage in your shampoo, focusing mostly on the roots and scalp. If using a co-wash, massage into the scalp and smooth through to the ends, detangling with your fingers as you go. Rinse out.
Step 2: Condition.
Unless you’re using a co-wash, you’ll want to follow up your cleanser with a conditioner, which gives plenty of slip and lubrication for detangling. Start by detangling with your fingers, and then you may want to detangle the last remaining knots using a wide-toothed comb or brush. Rinse out.
BONUS STEP: Hair mask.
Use once a week, or as and when you think you need an extra hydration boost. After rinsing your shampoo, apply the mask evenly - leaving on for 10-15 minutes for a quick boost, or 30 minutes for deeper hydration.
Step 3: Leave-in.
Once your shampoo and conditioner have been washed out, it’s time to apply your chosen leave-in onto wet hair. Rake through with your fingers and then use the ‘praying hands’ method to ensure it is evenly coated, to seal moisture into the strands.
Step 4: Styling cream.
Once you’re out of the shower, while your hair is still damp, it’s time to apply your styling cream. This provides hydration as well as hold to help lock moisture in place. Rake through and use ‘praying hands’ to ensure it is evenly coated, then use your desired styling technique (scrunching, or finger-curling for tighter coils) to enhance and define.
Step 5: Gel.
Some people may find that a curl-defining cream is enough to lock in curls - especially if you have a looser curl type and don’t want to weigh your hair down with products. However, if you’re looking for an extra-long-lasting hold, follow up with your gel. Rub the gel in between your palms before using the ‘praying hands’ method to smooth down the lengths of your hair. Then scrunch or finger curl to style and define. Follow up with your drying method - whether that’s air-drying or diffusing.
Watch out for moisture overload
It is possible to have too much of a good thing. Watch out for signs of over-moisturized hair. They include:
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When you pull on a curl, it tears or breaks instead of springing back.
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Hair feels ‘mushy’, limp or too soft.
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Hair struggles to hold a shape, no matter how much cream or gel you apply.
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Hair will feel weighed down, often with a sticky residue on top, or feels greasy.
This tends to be more likely if you have a wavier, looser curl pattern. That’s because these curl types tend to be lower porosity, meaning moisture can end up sitting on top of the hair rather than being absorbed properly.
What causes moisture overload?
Most likely, this is down to an imbalance between protein and moisture. While moisture is what keeps your hair hydrated, protein is what keeps it strong. If you have too much moisture and not enough protein, hair will be soft but without structure. In order to have a balance of both, it can help to integrate some strengthening products into your routine.
Avoid moisture overload with strengthening hair products
If you notice signs of over-moisturization, you may want to swap out your shampoo and conditioner for the Core Strength Shampoo and the Multi-Tasking Conditioner. These wash-products are infused with hydrolyzed rice protein - a plant-based alternative to animal keratin that is designed to strengthen the hair.
You could also swap your styling cream with the Feather Light Protein Cream. Once again formulated with hydrolyzed rice protein, this cream also contains sweet almond oil and prickly pear to ensure a balance of moisture. This is the perfect solution to rebuild weak and damaged curls.
And for an extra treatment to revitalise mushy, over-moisturized curls, look no further than the Bond Curl Rehab Salve. This intense pre-shampoo treatment is loaded with amino acids to repair and strengthen your curls. After wetting your hair but before shampooing, apply evenly and leave on for 15-30 minutes (15 for low porosity, and 30 for high porosity).
How to maintain moisturized curls
Retaining moisture in your hair isn’t just about the products you use. Lifestyle tweaks can help your curls stay hydrated and moisturized in-between wash days. They include:
Use microfibre.
If you want to scrunch or plop your curls with a towel before or after styling, it’s important to opt for a microfibre towel. The material is softer than regular towels, helping to prevent friction and frizz.
Avoiding heat damage.
Use heat tools that are designed for curly hair, like the Defrizzion Curl Reviving Wand, and the Defrizzion Dryer and Diffuser. These products use lower, safer temperatures that won’t damage or dry out curls (don’t forget to pair with heat protectors such as Curlshield Cream or Miracle Shield).
Avoiding too-hot and hard water.
Scolding hot water in the shower can damage your curls - go for lukewarm if you can. Likewise, hard water (found in many cities) can dry out hair, so filter softeners along with shampoos designed to remove hard water build-up like the Curl Reset Detox Shampoo are beneficial.
Sleeping on satin.
Whether you opt for a bonnet or a pillowcase, satin absorbs less moisture than if you slept on a regular pillow. This means more moisture stays in your hair, leading to less frizz, friction and tangles the next day.
Choose curlsmith for your hair care
Whether your hair is wavy, curly or coily, you’ll need moisturizing products that you can count on. Curlsmith’s products are vegan, cruelty free, and free from parabens, silicones and sulfates - meaning that the natural moisture-loving ingredients are able to really shine through. Whatever your curl type, you can find a moisturizing routine from Curlsmith that enhances your natural, beautiful curls.
