Aside from gels, styling products aren’t an official part of the Curly Girl Method, but many curly girls find them helpful. They can help hair curl, and provide added moisture to keep frizz at bay throughout the day.
Because every curly girl has different needs, it may take some trial and error to find a product that works for you, but this list is here to help!
Since
If it’s a gel you’re looking for, take a look at this post which features 25 Curly Girl Approved Gels.
Here are 25 Curly Girl approved styling products to help your hair look its best!
This page does contain affiliate links, which means if you purchase something using the product links on this page, I may get a small commission. This comes at no extra cost to you and helps keep this site running. Thank you!
Also, I follow the simplified version of the Curly Girl Method most directly derived from the Curly Girl Handbook. This means the only ingredients I look to avoid are sulfates, silicones, and drying alcohols. If you have more ingredients that you look to avoid, it would be a good idea to check the ingredients for yourself before making a purchase.
1) Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
2)Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Curl Defining Cream
4) Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave-in Detangler
5) Jane Carter Revitalizing Leave-in
6) Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Mousse (Check on this before you buy it! The old formula is not CG approved. The new formula is supposed to be, most sites don’t seem to have an updated ingredient list. Probably best to buy in person.)
7) Verelle Soft Curl Cream, Milky Curl Cream, Styling Cream
8) Pacifica Beauty Pineapple Swirl Curl Defining Cream
9) Ouidad VitalCurl +Soft Defining Mousse
10) Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse
11) Garnier Fructis Curl Treat Smoothie Defining Leave in Styler and Butter Hydrating Leave in Styler
12) Shea Moisture Sugarcane Extract and Meadowfoam Seed Silicone Free Miracle Styler Leave-in
13) As I Am DoubleButter Cream
14) Camille Rose Natural Coconut Water Leave-In
15) Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Leave In Conditioner
17) EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Shea Curl Defining Creme
18) Curl Junkie Curls in a Bottle
19) U R Curly Sili-Free Hair Serum
20) Curl Junkie BeautiCurls Leave-in Hair Conditioner
21) Camille Rose Naturals Curl Maker, Marshmallow and Agave Leaf Extract
22) SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Style Milk
23) tgin Green Tea Super Moist Leave In Conditioner
24) Pantene Curl Defining Mousse
25) MopTop Leave-in Conditioner
For more products, check out these posts: 25 Curly Girl Approved Drugstore Products, 25 Curly Girl Approved Conditioners, 25 Curly Girl Approved Gels, Curly Girl Beginner Products.
To check for yourself if a product is curly girl approved, you can use isitcg.com.
Looking for more guidance on your curly hair journey?
For beginners
If you’re new to curly hair care and looking for some help, you should check out the No-Stress Guide to Curly Hair Care!
After spending two years learning and caring for my curly hair, I wanted to create my own, in-depth guide to help fellow curlies create incredible curls in the easiest way possible.
It took me a while, but I eventually found an approach that helped me create a curly hair routine that fits into my life in the simplest way possible. And now I want to help you do the same!
For more intermediate/advanced guidance
If you’ve been on your curly hair journey for a while but still have some struggles, check out Curly Hair Problems!
After spending hours scouring the internet looking for solutions to my own curly hair problems, I found myself wishing for an easier, more comprehensive guide to the most common problems.
So that’s what I created!
Curly Hair Problems offers you 78 total solutions to the five most common curly hair care problems, including frizz, curl clumps, limp curls, product issues, and scalp issues.
Sound off: What’s your favorite curly girl approved styling product? Tell us about it in the comments! (Be sure to tell us a little about your hair type too!)
Hi Megan,
I didn’t read the book, yet! Please share about your combing techniques. Finger comb, wide tooth? Ditch combs?…
Thanks
I’ve totally ditched combs in favor of finger combing in the shower when my hair is full of conditioner. I tried using a wide tooth comb but I found when I did my curls didn’t clump as well. I hope this helps!
I read this post and realized I was doing right by my tight curls and thick hair. No combs or brushes. Finger style only. Wash every other day and use conditioner. Air dry only. No blow dryer. I only use one of the products you mentioned here and not too much of it. I use the Herbal Essence Twisted Curls Mousse. I am 63, have lots of gray, but I’m loving my curls. No split ends, either!
Yay! That’s awesome!!