You Go, Curl: The Best Curl Creams for Gorgeous, Defined Curls and Coils (2024)

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Our Top Picks

This curl cream from the curl experts at Ouidad is a winner. It adds major definition to curls while keeping them feeling super-soft and looking shiny without ever weighing hair down. That’s thanks to the combo of meadowfoam seed, olive, and soybean oils and humectants in the formula. Plus, as de León points out, “It works really well in humid climates as well.” Users rave about how moisturized their curls feel when they apply this cream—and how their curls last for days and days.

Active Ingredients: Amodimethicone, glycerin, hydrolyzed vegetable protein | Dosage: Nickel-size amount | Free of: Parabens, phthalates | Size: 6 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Perky curls don’t have to come with an expensive price tag. This budget curl cream gets the job done well for about the cost of a latte. The formula contains shea butter and essential oils for a serious dose of moisture. All you need is a little bit for the ideal amount of nourishment. Users with type 3 and 4 curl patterns rave about the formula, which defines curls without weighing them down.

Active Ingredients: Shea butter, soybean oil | Free of: Parabens, phthalates | Size: 12 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Thick hair can be difficult to manage—but it doesn’t have to be. Enter this curl cream, a must-have for anyone with thick, curly hair. The smoothing formula, which is chock full of antioxidants, protects hair against environmental aggressors that cause color fade and damage and contains humidity-blocking ingredients smooth flyaways.

Active Ingredients: Tapioca starch, sea buckthorn oil, oat peptide | Free of: Parabens, phthalates | Size: 6.7 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When it comes to caring for thin, curly hair, it’s all about finding products that won’t weigh your hair down. This curl cream, which has the consistency of a lotion rather than a super-thick cream, fits the bill perfectly. Coconut, marula, and olive oils offer lightweight hydration and shine with a sleek finish. Users say this curl cream adds definition to curls without ever making hair look greasy.

Active Ingredients: Dimethicone, olive oil, coconut oil | Free of: Parabens, phthalates | Size: 5.1 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: No

If you find yourself in a humid climate or windy situation, chances are, you'll experience flyaways. Luckily, this curl cream is here to work its magic, delivering smooth, flyaway-free curls with every use. Coconut oil pumps up the shine, while cornstarch eliminates any rogue hairs and jojoba protein adds bounce. We have this one on hand at all times, after all, our hair is so soft and our curls are incredibly defined when we use it.

Active Ingredients: Coconut oil, glycerin, hydrolyzed jojoba protein | Free of: Silicones, parabens, phthalates | Size: 5.1 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Read Full Review: The Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream Defined My Curls

Type 2 hair runs the spectrum of waves—from looser waves to coarser, S-shaped ones. With its lightweight formula, this curl cream is ideal for anyone with type 2 wavy hair. Formulated with argan oil and hydrolyzed vegetable protein, it smooths waves while helping mend split ends. Apply to wet hair and air dry for gorgeous, defined waves.

Active Ingredients: Argan oil, polyquaternium-11, hydrolyzed vegetable protein | Free of: Parabens, phthalates | Size: 2.5 / 8.5 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Type 3 hair can range anywhere from light to tight curls—and it requires special care to help keep spirals in the best condition. This curl cream has a ridiculously moisturizing formula that is just the ticket for type 3 hair. Marula oil repairs damage, coconut cream deeply nourishes, and shea butter protects your hair’s cuticle for extra smoothness and shininess. Users rave about how soft and defined it leaves curls, without any stiffness or crunchiness.

Active Ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter | Free of: Parabens, phthalates | Size: 10 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Type 4 hair, or coily hair, is often very fragile, meaning using moisturizing products is an absolute must. This curl cream is a favorite of Taylor. Shea butter provides the moisture type 4 hair craves, while also helping to strengthen hair. Flaxseed oil, meanwhile, offers hold and shine. Users with type 4 hair note how soft, shiny, and defined their curls look after using this product, highlighting the fact that it leaves no residue in the hair.

Active Ingredients: Grape seed oil, shea butter, coconut oil | Free of: Parabens, phthalates | Size: 12 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Curly hair is often dry, so it’s a good idea to look for styling products that pack a moisturizing punch, like this curl cream. The blend of rice amino acids, avocado oil, and Mollis leaf extract work together to hydrate dry hair, smooth flyaways, and create bounce that lasts all day. The curl cream is free of silicones and artificial dyes, making it safe for color- and chemically-treated hair.

Active Ingredients: Glycerin, soybean oil, hydrolyzed quinoa | Free of: Parabens, phthalates | Size: 6 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Show damaged hair who’s boss with this reparative curl cream made especially for thick, curly hair. The formula is unbelievably rich, with ultra-nourishing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, neem oil, and silk protein. Slather on this cream to protect against breakage—it’s a particularly good pick for those transitioning from permed to natural hair.

Active Ingredients: Shea butter, coconut oil, mango seed butter | Free of: Silicones, alcohol, parabens, phthalates | Size: 12 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This lightweight cream is a drugstore favorite for a reason—its conditioning formula, which contains ginger flower essence and lime fruit, helps you score smooth, defined curls. It's also great for a variety of hair types (from wavy to tight curly), as well as those who are transitioning from permed to natural hair.

Active Ingredients: Mineral oil, glycerin | Free of: Silicones, parabens, phthalates | Size: 6.7 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

If you have curly hair, then head straight for this product the next time you shop the drugstore. It’s formulated with a complex of curl-enhancing ingredients—including rice, keratin amino acids, and enzymes—for shiny, defined curls. Users like how lightweight this curl cream is, while still providing plenty of moisture.

Active Ingredients: Shea butter ethylesters, tomato extract, rice extract | Free of: Silicones, parabens, phthalates | Size: 6 / 9.7 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Go ahead and treat yourself to this luxurious curl cream, a favorite of Leigh Hargdes, a hairstylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago, for good reason. “It’s just a beautiful product,” she says. “It’s rich, like crème brulee, so it completely eradicates flyaways. It breaks down in your hands so the application process is a breeze.”

Key ingredients include watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower extracts to defend against color fade, murumuru, mango, and cocoa seed butter to strengthen hair, and olive and avocado oils to deeply nourish. Hargdes also notes the “heavenly” scent—a signature of all of Oribe’s products.

Active Ingredients: Watermelon fruit extract, cocoa seed butter, shea butter | Free of: Silicones, parabens, phthalates | Size: 6.8 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Keep colored hair looking vibrant with this curl cream made for wavy, curly, and coily curl patterns. It’s formulated with sunflower seed extract, a natural UV protectant that shields hair from color fade, brassiness, and dryness. What’s more, olive oil helps manage flyaways for a sleek head of curls—even in humid conditions.

Active Ingredients: Sunflower seed extract, glycerin, olive oil | Free of: Silicones, parabens, phthalates | Size: 5.3 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This favorite of Taylor’s is a great option for those in search of a long-lasting hold. The shea butter formula does an incredible job of moisturizing hair while also adding definition and shine. You can expect curls that stay bouncy all day without any flakes or buildup.

Active Ingredients: Shea butter, soybean oil, olive oil | Free of: Parabens, phthalates | Size: 15 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A classic protective style for natural hair, twist-outs can be hard to achieve without the right products to help. That's where this curl cream comes in. Its formula delivers the perfect combo of definition, hydration, and shine—plus, it's free of sulfates, silicones, parabens, artificial oils, colors, and fragrances. To style, apply it to clean wet hair, twist your strands, allow your hair to dry, undo the twists, and voilà.

Active Ingredients: Blueberry extract, coconut oil, safflower oil | Free of: Silicones, parabens, phthalates | Size: 8 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

This curl cream is another favorite for twist-outs. With ingredients like coconut and Vitamin E oils, it helps you style smooth, shiny, and well-defined curls with ease. Plus, it contains no parabens, sulfates, petrolatum, lanolin, or artificial colors.

Active Ingredients: Coconut oil, soybean oil | Free of: Silicones, parabens, phthalates | Size: 12 fl. oz | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Meet the Expert

FAQ

• What does a curl cream do?

  Curl creams create a protective film around the hair shaft, which helps to smooth the cuticle and make curls more manageable. Most formulas include nourishing ingredients that can help boost moisture or impart a shiny finish.

• How should curl cream be applied?

  Start with clean, wet hair. Use your hands to evenly distribute the product over your curls. Allow your hair to air dry, or blow dry using a diffuser attachment to ensure the heat is evenly distributed. It’s best to start with a little bit of product and add more curl cream or water accordingly.

• Can I mix different curl creams?

  Most curl creams aren’t meant to be mixed and matched with one another, but they can play well with other leave-in creams and oils. Make sure you allow each product to set in before applying the next.

Byrdie Tip

To apply curl cream, start at the back of your head, working one section at a time and using one hand, suggests Hargdes. “I rake through the curls and gently squeeze at the ends,” she says. “Stay at least one inch from the scalp as creams can weigh hair down and create buildup on the scalp.”