Best Products For Curly Hair – When I started my curly hair journey almost eight years ago, I was frustrated trying to find curly hair products in India.
Everyone I learned about natural hair care from lived in countries that already had access to multiple brands created exclusively for textured hair types.
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There was nothing like a desi curly hair brand, so we had to settle for finding products that didn’t have certain ingredients or skimp on expensive international brands for curly hair and try our luck with customs.
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Things have changed, as can be seen by the number of products in each category.
As the curly hair community grew in India, more local brands were also launched, along with platforms that curated products for our hair type across the world while subsidizing customs.
It can be difficult to keep track of all the options available right now, which is why I wrote this post – more for me than for you!
This is a list, almost a directory, of local and international products available in India that suit naturally dry, frizzy waves or curls, even if they are not created or marketed as ‘curly hair products’.
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I have listed the products in ascending order of price so that everyone can browse each category and find something that suits their budget.
Most of the products listed can be called “CG Friendly,” meaning they are free of sulfates and silicones, two ingredients that many in the community avoid. You can read more about why here.
If you don’t know how to choose, I recommend starting with products that are CG-Friendly, as they don’t dry out your hair as much.
If you think your hair can handle a little more dryness on the scalp or even prefer and need it, and your hair becomes less frizzy with silicone-based conditioners, choose those listed as non-CG compatible.
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It can be overwhelming if this is your first attempt at building a kit for your waves and curls. Don’t worry; start by taking one:
In each category, I explained which hair type an additional subcategory might be best suited for.
Note: If you have had keratin, straightening, cysteine or excessive straightening treatments and your hair is very damaged, simply using these products will not drastically alter the results you can achieve. Please read this post to know what to do next – How to get your curls back from chemical straightening
Many beginners make the mistake of thinking that using just one “good” shampoo you can get healthy waves and curls.
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However, shampoo is only meant to clean dirt and oil from your hair. For our hair types, a ‘good’ shampoo is one that is used regularly and cleans the scalp and hair well without leaving it feeling like dry hay.
Clarifying shampoos contain ingredients that are great for removing product build-up and deep cleaning, usually sulfates, but do not contain silicones.
Use it when you start your natural hair journey to remove any buildup, and then once every few weeks or months, depending on how often you use silicones or even if your scalp needs a stronger cleanse.
Note: I’ve always understood that, to be clear, your shampoo needs to have sulfates, but some brands have recently challenged this and said there are other ingredients that aren’t as drying but still deep clean just as well.
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The shampoos listed below have gentler cleansing ingredients instead of harsh sulfates. As a result, they can be used regularly to clean textured hair without worrying about drying it out too much.
Sulfate-free shampoos are also called Curly Girl Approved or CG-compatible shampoos, although in the original CG method the author recommends NOT using shampoo.
When the technique spread around the world, people co-opted and modified it. Suddenly, all over the web, CGM meant any routine that allowed you to use shampoos, except they didn’t contain sulfates and used gentler ingredients.
Because CGM is not an official, FDA-approved, or “animal-friendly” label, the jury is still out on whether certain ingredients are considered harsh or not.
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For example, Sodium Lauryl Sarcosinate and Sodium c14-16 Olefin Sulfonate are not sulfates, but are considered by some to be CGM friendly and by others not.
Based on my personal selection criteria (personal experience), the products on the list do not contain the “bad” harsh sulfates and are, as a result, gentler on our hair types for regular use.
I wrote a detailed guide to dealing with dandruff in this post: How to Prevent Dandruff in Wavy and Curly Hair
I have chronic dandruff that flares up every few seasons, so I use a medicated shampoo once a month or so, depending on the condition of my scalp.
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These shampoos can be more drying than other shampoos, so remember to apply a rich, moisturizing conditioner or hair mask.
Also, don’t worry about this shampoo being CG friendly; When you have dandruff, your scalp needs a deeper clean to remove oil and dirt, so sulfate-based shampoos can really help.
These shampoos contain sulfates and/or silicones. If you have a very sweaty, itchy scalp, or prefer a stronger cleanse in your shampoo routine, try one of these!
If you swim regularly or live in areas with hard water, you may notice buildup, almost as if your usual products no longer produce the same results.
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This is because the products can no longer penetrate the hair strands. In these cases, a wash with chelating shampoo will ‘demineralize the hair’ and remove the build-up.
Keep in mind that chelating shampoos are more harsh than sulfate-based shampoos and should be used carefully, followed by a rich, moisturizing conditioner.
Co-washing, short for “conditioner-only washing,” is a technique where a product very, very gently cleanses dry, coarse hair without stripping it of its natural oils. It is first a conditioner, with a small amount of cleansing-based ingredients.
When I discovered the CG Method, I was surprised to learn that such a concept exists, because I grew up thinking that shampoo is the only thing you can use to wash your hair.
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Even when I tried co-washing the first few times, I was uncomfortable, just because I wasn’t used to washing my hair without any signs of foam.
But when I had a random attack of dry scalp and also needed to wash my hair several times a week due to working out, I tried co-washes again and understood how they could help my weekly routine.
Personally, I think it’s only good when you wash your hair very frequently, almost daily, and need something to gently cleanse and condition at the same time.
However, I no longer use co-washes. I don’t go out often and I was too lazy to wash my hair.
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When I finally take a shower, I prefer shampoos with stronger cleansing properties. I also think that co-washes are not really meant for the humid tropical climate like we have in India. Using one really depends on whether it’s right for you.
Note: I’ve been asked if you can use regular conditioner to co-wash using your fingertips to rub into your scalp. I don’t recommend this as physical exfoliation is not enough to clean well. A proper co-wash will have one or two cleansing ingredients to remove dirt, which is important for keeping your scalp healthy.
If you have wavy or curly hair, using a good moisturizing conditioner is the best thing to add to your routine. Dry hair thrives when treated with thick, creamy conditioners, which leave it soft to the touch and less prone to frizz.
‘this is what most natural hair people look for when looking for a conditioner, as it helps prevent breakage in the shower when we are combing wet hair.
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Most conditioners on the market contain silicone, which is harmless and actually provides a protective barrier to your hair, reducing moisture loss.
However, in CGM, it is not recommended to use products with silicone, as it can build up in the hair, slowly preventing the absorption of new hair products. The only way to remove it is through sulfate-based shampoos, which people tend to avoid because they can make their hair very dry.
I’m not too picky about following any technique unless it helps me personally. I simply don’t prefer using sulfate shampoos regularly as they dry out my hair, and I feel my curls get weighed down with silicone-based conditioners.
Note: A common mistake I see beginners make is the amount of conditioner they apply. Generally it is always too little for our hair type. Even if the instruction labels say to use a little, trust me, be generous. With each wash day and experimenting with different amounts, you will discover how much your hair needs to stay hydrated, soft and frizz-free.
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But many curly people around the world do well with these conditioners. If you don’t want to go too far into the ingredients, choose one of these below – I recommend clarifying every now and then to remove any possible build-up!
Think of deep conditioners as very powerful conditioners. They are formulated to penetrate deeper into the hair strand than a regular conditioner and are generally thicker and richer in consistency.
You can use a deep conditioner instead of conditioner if your hair is very dry, very thick, or coarse.
Or, treat yourself to