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Weโ€™ve researched dozens of curly hair products โ€” these are our favorite picks made with organic and beneficial ingredients for curly and textured hair.

If you were born with curly hair, then itโ€™s likely that youโ€™ve been searching for the perfect leave-in conditioner, co-wash, or styling gel your whole life. Kinky, coily, and wavy hair textures are prone to dryness and damage, calling for extra care and hydration. Thankfully, many emerging natural hair care brands create hair formulas specific for curly girls โ€” and you donโ€™t even have to choose between volume or nourishment!

Whether you’re a curly hair pro or just dipping your toe into a curly hair routine, the right product lineup makes all the difference. But many curly hair products contain sulfates and parabens and that’s typically not the safest (or most effective) option. Thankfully, many emerging natural hair care brands create hair formulas specifically for curly girls using natural and organic ingredients โ€” and you donโ€™t even have to choose between volume or nourishment!

Why are organic ingredients important?

The ingredients in hair and scalp care products are critical to the overall health of our hair. Organic hair care products contain no GMOs, pesticides, or other harsh chemicals that can cause adverse health effects such as skin irritation or allergic reactions. Organic formulas are milder and gentler, which is extra beneficial if you have a sensitive scalp. Youโ€™ll also find that organic ingredients are higher in nutrients and antioxidants which can keep your curls more nourished. As curly hair requires extra due diligence when it comes to washing, styling, and caring for it, organic ingredients in curly hair products ensure youโ€™re only putting the best on your skin and hair for maximum nourishment and a healthy scalp and locks!

In addition to health benefits, organic ingredients in hair products are often biodegradable and support organic agriculture as a whole, encouraging sustainable farming practices that are better for our planet. Weโ€™ve rounded up our favorite all-natural and organic hair care brands for curly hair textures. Though most of the brands listed carry products for all hair types, they are mostly known for their products catered toward curly and textured hair. Many brands are vegan and cruelty-free, too!

What makes curly hair products different?

Effective curly hair products are created with three main goals: hydration, protection, and definition. Because curls and coils tend to be drier and more prone to breakage than straight hair — typically because the scalp’s natural oils don’t travel down strands as quickly — products need to provide a level of hydration and strand protection that you’re not going to find in just any shampoo (just say no to sulfates!), conditioner, mousse, or gel. When it comes to definition, the right products help curls clump together naturally instead of falling flat or becoming frizzy. Think gels, creams, and mousses that enhance your natural texture while still letting curls bounce freely and feel touchably soft. Curly hair products should also be silicone-free. While silicones initially make hair feel silky soft, they create buildup that weighs down curls and requires harsh cleansers, like sulfates, to remove.

And ingredient quality matters just as much as performance. Since curly hair is naturally more delicate and often requires multiple styling products throughout the week, using clean, nontoxic formulas can help support long-term scalp and strand health without the buildup, dryness, or irritation that harsher ingredients can cause over time.

Our criteria:

Our editors have tested and researched dozens of curly hair products โ€” and vetted thousands of customer reviews โ€” to select our favorites from sustainable brands. We regularly update this list with new favorites that meet our criteria:

  • NATURAL/NONTOXIC | Harsh sulfates, parabens, and silicones can not only disrupt your hormones, but they also cause buildup or strip curly hair of the oils it needs to thrive! This list is chock-full of brands that are using natural ingredients, plant-based oils, and proteins that are healthy for your scalp โ€” and your whole body.
  • FORMULATED FOR CURLY HAIR | We understand that curly hair has its own unique needs! The brands below understand what curly hair craves and have formulated products specifically to nourish, hydrate, and define curls.
  • EFFICACY | Curly hair deserves products that actually work โ€” not just ones that say they will. The brands below are revered for delivering real results, whether that means softer strands, more defined curls, less frizz, or a healthier scalp overall.
  • ETHICAL/CRUELTY-FREE | Our list goes beyond nontoxic ingredients, ensuring that the brands below also prioritize ethical production without any animal testing.

If you donโ€™t see your favorite natural and organic curly hair brand listed, check out our guide to natural and organic hair care or feel free to give us a shout-out in the comments! For plastic-free options, check out our shampoo bar guide.


Table of Contents

Most Affordable: Prose ($33)
Best for Coily, Tight Textures: PATTERN Beauty ($29)
Best for Damaged Hair: Sienna Naturals ($32)
Best for Thick, Coarse Hair: EVOLVh ($28)
Best for Frizzy Hair: Briogeo ($24)
Best Plastic-Free: Ethique ($14)
Best for Definition: Ceremonia ($26)
Best for Hair Strengthening: OCOA ($20)
Best For Kids: Cristina’s Curls ($27)
Best for Fine Curly Hair: Innersense ($28)


1. Custom Curl Cream by Prose

B corp
Climate neutral
Cruelty free
Vegan

Best For | Customized formulas
Featured Ingredients | Varies by person, Pequi and argan oils, lilac extract, & arginine
Price | $33

Prose knows that everyoneโ€™s different โ€” thatโ€™s why the brand creates custom formulas to tackle your specific needs! The Custom Curl Cream is made of natural, sustainable ingredients like Pequi and Argan oils, though the exact formula of each batch is curated to your hair needs, determined by their custom hair quiz that takes more than 85 factors into account. All of the curl cream formulas are vegan and gluten-free, and can be made without silicone or fragrances, too. Clean, conscious beauty made just for your curls and coils.

Prose Review | โ€œI have curly hair that I have straightened my whole life to the point I just thought I had ugly waves. The last few years Iโ€™ve been on a journey to rediscover my curls and go natural. Itโ€™s been challenging. Iโ€™ve tried all different products with some but relatively little success. Prose has brought my curls to life and made them healthy, shiny, and most importantly to me soft. No crunch and total ease to run my fingers through my hair! Itโ€™s only been a few weeks but I love my curls!! And, I only have to wash once a week now. โ™ฅ๏ธโ€ – Summer T (See all reviews.)


2. Leave-In Conditioner by PATTERN Beauty

BIPOC Owned
Cruelty free
Eco friendly packaging
Gives back
Recycled materials
Woman owned

Best For | Curly, coily, and tight textures
Featured Ingredients | Aloe vera, honey, jojoba oil
Price | $29

Looking to transform your locks into bouncy and lush curls and coils? Look no further than PATTERN Beauty. Created by actress Tracy Ellis Ross, PATTERN Beautyโ€™s mission is to support all curly hair textures through formulas that hydrate, strengthen, and create resilient, flexible, healthy hair. We recommend checking out their bestselling leave-in conditioner — it’s paraben- and phthalate-free, and packed with nourishing ingredients like jojoba oil and castor oil, leaving you with moisturized and crunch-free curls. A win-win! PATTERN Beautyโ€™s mission extends beyond hair — 1% of every purchase gives back to nonprofit organizations that empower women and people of color.  

PATTERN Review | โ€œPerfect, one squirt and the slip is perfect! Used to take 30 minutes detangling at my vanity. Now I literally part my hair in two, sometimes four and comb straight through! Whatโ€ผ๏ธ And I do it in the shower! Annnd I do it in like three minutes! Annnnd I have natural 4c hair!โ€ – Valerie M. (Read all reviews.)


3. Dream Curl Cream by Sienna Naturals

BIPOC Owned
Cruelty free
Vegan
Woman owned

Best For | Textured & treated hair
Featured Ingredients | Shea butter, mango seed butter, rice bran extract
Price | $32

Salon-tested and scientifically formulated for textured hair, Sienna Naturalsโ€™ products do it all. Dream Curl Cream is designed (without any white cast or silicones) to revive, moisturize, and define curly, kinky, wavy, dry, and damaged hair while undoing the stress that can come with color, heat, and straightening treatments. And the company โ€” which is co-owned by Issa Rae (!) โ€” uses only vegan, plant-based formulas with a proprietary blend of 18 active ingredients that hydrate, improve curl pattern, and reduce hair loss, damage, and frizz. While the Dream Curl Cream is best for thirsty, damaged curls, if you’re looking for general hold, smoothing, and structure, reach for their Dream Curl Mousse.

Sienna Naturals Review  | โ€œBest vegan lineโ€ฆlove the natural ingredients and the way this product leaves your hair feeling! Oh, and the smell is amazing!โ€œ – Jessica K. (See all reviews.)


4. SmartCurl Boost & Define Conditioner by EVOLVh

Cruelty free
Recycled materials
Vegan

Best For | Thick, coarse hair
Featured Ingredients | Flaxseed and chia seed extract, castor oil
Price Range | $28

EVOLVhโ€™s mission is to deliver science-backed hair care made with organic and natural ingredients. The brandโ€™s SmartCurl conditioner is the perfect starter for thick, thirsty curls in need of some rejuvenation. It works to revive strands through weightless hydration and helps promote softer hair with better shine and less breakage. If you’re looking for a full curly hair routine, EVOLVh’s SmartCurl Trio has you covered with a shampoo, conditioner, and styling foam to strengthen, hydrate (without weighing curls down!), smooth, and protect your hair against the elements and UV damage. The result is healthy curls and a happy scalp!

EVOLVh Review | โ€œI have very fine thin hair thatโ€™s wavy and a bit curly and this works well for me. My hair doesnโ€™t tangle after washing even if I donโ€™t use any styling products which I love. Also appreciate the fully essential oil based scent!โ€ – Sen (See all reviews.)


5. Leave-In Defining Crรจme by Briogeo

BIPOC Owned
Cruelty free
FSC
Recycled materials
Vegan
Woman owned

Best For | Frizz-free curls and waves
Featured Ingredients | Rice amino acids, avocado oil, quinoa extract
Price | $24

Briogeoโ€™s Curl Charisma is a 6-free haircare line with products that are 93 to 100 percent naturally derived, as well as sulfate-, silicone-, and paraben-free. Leave-In Defining Crรจme hydrates, reduces frizz, and defines natural curls and waves — all while being extremely transparent about the ingredients, even including a full ingredient glossary on its website. The products are bottled in recycled packaging, too. For truly honest curly care, be sure to check this crรจme out!

Briogeo Review | โ€œI have been using this curl cream for years. Love the smell! The consistency is perfect too, itโ€™s not too thick so it doesnโ€™t weight down my curls.โ€ – Amy S. (See all reviews.)


6. Curl-Defining Bars by Ethique

B corp
Cruelty free
Natural materials
Plastic/Pfas free
Vegan
Woman owned

Best For | Plastic-free & travel-friendly
Featured Ingredients | Shea butter, cocoa seed butter & glycerine
Price | $14 each; $25 for set

Ethique is changing the game with its plastic-free solid shampoo and conditioner bars for curly hair! Made without silicone and chock-full of cocoa butter and glycerine for their moisturizing and detangling properties, these bars look little yet pack a punch, without weighing down your curls! The conditioner bar even offers cleansing properties through the addition of castor oil, helping to dissolve dirt and excess oil. (Perfect for co-washing!) Simply slide the bars up and down your hair 5x and massage the product into your hair, leaving it in anywhere from 1-10 minutes depending on how much moisture you need. The best part — each bar replaces 5 bottles of 350mL conditioner so youโ€™ll be saving money and reducing excess waste. Mind. Blowing. 

Ethique Review | โ€œI love this conditioner because it glides on so easily, and leaves my hair soft, shiny and smelling lovely!“- Chloe G.(See all reviews.)


7. Pequi Styling Gel by Ceremonia

1% for the planet
BIPOC Owned
Cruelty free
Recycled materials
Vegan
Woman owned

Best For | Defining curls and slicked back styles
Featured Ingredients | Aรงai extract, aloe vera powder, pequi oil
Price | $26

Ceremonia is โ€œclean hair care rooted in Latinx heritage.โ€ Founder Babba Rivera grew up seeing a lack of accessible and effective products for Latinx hair. Now, her brandโ€™s formulas are infused with Latin American ingredients and inspired by rituals she grew up with. Offering hold and definition without a sticky, crunchy residue, the award-winning Pequi Styling Gel promises to maintain your style all day and fight frizz and flyaways, no matter the climate. Knowing 97% of users would recommend this gel to a friendโ€ฆwhat are you waiting for?

Ceremonia Review | โ€œMy curls have never been as defined and hydrated. I canโ€™t recommend enough.โ€ – Maria J. (See all reviews.)


8. Hydrating Curl Cream by OCOA

BIPOC Owned
Cruelty free
Gluten free
Natural materials
Small business
Vegan
Woman owned

Best For | Hair strengthening
Featured Ingredients | Marula oil, mango butter, quinoa protein, hibiscus extract
Price | $20

OCOA was born out of a desire to celebrate curls, not tame them — and its curly hair products do just that. The brand prioritizes scalp health, selecting clean, high-performing ingredients that keep curls healthy down to the roots. Hydrating Curl Cream is packed with lightweight ingredients that hydrate, fight frizz, and protect from heat styling, for bouncy curls that are full of body. Best of all, this cream strengthens hair and protects from environmental stress with every use —- a true dose of TLC for curls!

OCOA Review | โ€œI have tried lot of products, but these 4 steps are the best by far. My hair is hydrated and my curls are defined without crunch. This is a 10/10 for me. I highly recommend it. Thank you for your dedication to finding the perfect formula to make us curly hair people happy and in love with our hair.โ€ – G. (See all reviews.)


9. Curl Enhancing Defining Cream by Cristina’s Curls

BIPOC Owned
Cruelty free
Small business
Vegan
Woman owned

Best For | Kids with curls
Featured Ingredients | Coconut oil, aloe vera, honey
Price | $27

Created by a mom searching for gentle, effective care for her daughter’s hair, Cristinaโ€™s Curls approaches curl care with a whole lot of heart. The brandโ€™s Curl Enhancing Defining Cream is designed to bring out the beauty of natural texture โ€” never overpower it โ€” using nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, coconut oil, and honey to soften, moisturize, and define curls without stiffness or crunch. The creamy formula adds slip for easier styling while helping tame frizz and keep curls touchably soft and full of movement. And thanks to the brandโ€™s commitment to clean, handcrafted ingredients, every application doubles as a little act of care for strands and scalp alike.

Cristina’s Curls Review | โ€œI love how lightweight and moisturizing this is for my daughter’s hair, but I’m even more impressed with what a game changer it’s been for my wash and go’s. I’ve accidentally used up most of my daughter’s bottle and will need to buy more for both of us.โ€ – Stacie (See all reviews.)


10. I Create Curl Memory by Innersense

1% for the planet
B corp
Climate neutral
Cruelty free
Family owned
Recycled materials

Best For | Fine & medium curly hair
Featured Ingredients | Honey, bamboo extract, organic aloe vera
Price | $28

Founded by beauty specialists Joanne and Greg Starkman, Innersense hair care was made to bring organic ingredients and professional performance together for the betterment of our hair, health, and the planet. And we agree, their products live up to the hype! Our editor loves the hydrating shampoo and conditioner โ€” and raves about the I Create Curl Memory for her fine 3b curls. After use, your hair will feel moisturized and defined for days, with no crunchy feel. This certified B Corp contains absolutely no silicones, sulfates, or questionable chemicals in their formulas, is 100% climate neutral, and gives back to over 20 nonprofits with every purchase. 

Innersense Review | โ€œThis moisturizing gel is fantastic. It maximizes curl and has great hold. I immediately bought the biggest size after I tried it! My husband loves it too for his thick wavy hair.โ€ – Bridget B. (See all reviews.)