The ten Finest Curl Lotions of 2024, Examined by Actual Folks

Oribe’s Silkening Creme impressed our tester a lot that after making use of it for the primary time, she practically gasped; her curls regarded and felt superb, with better-than-ever construction, definition, and softness — all with none added weight. All through the six-week testing interval, she additionally famous that the product helped her curls last more between washes.

Our tester added that the medium-thick cream labored successfully on her kind 2 hair (the model formulated it with kind 2 and three hair sorts in thoughts) and that somewhat went a good distance — a plus that, for her, made its larger worth level worthy of the funding. Bonus: it has a delicate, luxurious scent.

Key Substances: Avocado, apricot, and coconut oils I Measurement: 5 ounces

Our tester, who has 2b/c hair, mentioned that this drugstore curl cream left her hair feeling nourished and voluminous — an enormous win, particularly on condition that she usually struggles with dryness and frizz. After finishing the six-week testing interval, she felt enthusiastic about carrying her hair curly as a substitute of straightening it.

When it comes to texture, she felt this product was a real cream however was additionally barely watery, which made it really feel extra light-weight than different lotions in the course of the utility course of. She did not expertise any leftover residue or flaking, although — it left her hair clean and refined.

Her one sticking level, nonetheless, was scent. The product accommodates an added perfume, which she mentioned was barely sturdy and unsavory — particularly when utilizing an ample quantity on the hair.

Key Substances: Avocado, shea butter, and vitamin E I Measurement: 6 ounces

Our tester, who has kind 4a/c hair, used Melanin Haircare’s Twist-Elongating Fashion Cream cream for the primary time after washing her hair, when she was making ready to model it in mini-twists. Pre-application, she famous that her hair was dry and dull-looking, however afterward, her curls/twists have been clean, shiny, and moisturized. 

Over the testing interval, she stored her hair in twists and used this cream, together with a leave-in conditioner, to rehydrate it at any time when it felt dry. She famous that it made them really feel as in the event that they’d been freshly washed, moisturized, and twisted — that the product considerably lowered the seen frizziness of her hair whereas including shine.

She additionally beloved its thick, creamy texture — she famous it was attainable to show its jar the other way up with none spilling — however even nonetheless, it left zero residue or flakes in her hair, and it layered nicely with the opposite moisturizing and styling merchandise she used.

Key Substances: Shea, mango, cocoa, kokum, and cupuacu butters; avocado, candy almond, and argan oils; vitamin E I Measurement: 14 ounces

Ouai’s curl cream was good for thick, coarse, curly hair, in accordance with our tester — that it helped her cut back frizz and add critical shine to her kind 3a/b hair. 

Throughout testing, she discovered herself utilizing a bit an excessive amount of of the product — when she used any greater than a pea-sized quantity, her curls felt a bit laden — however after refining her utility technique, she mentioned her hair felt smoother and so much much less brittle (a priority she usually struggles with).

She additionally beloved the product’s scent, which she described as gentle, floral, and lingering (however not obnoxiously so). Her boyfriend loved it, too!

Key Substances: Coconut, babassu, chia, and linseed oils I Measurement: 8 ounces

Sample’s styling cream added vital moisture and shine to our tester’s hair. It additionally did not flake after drying, even when she used it with different merchandise in her common haircare routine. 

Despite the fact that its texture was thicker than different curl lotions, it wasn’t a difficulty; the product by no means left her scalp feeling itchy, greasy, or irritated. Our tester did flag that when she used an excessive amount of, it made her 3c/4c hair really feel crunchy, however the correct amount — for her, a quarter-size dollop — left her with comfortable, touchable curls. 

Our tester additionally famous that it was a wonderful worth for the worth (15 ounces for below $30) and that it had a pleasing clear, floral scent.

Key Substances: Shea butter, cacay, and candy almond oils I Measurement: 15 ounces

The primary time our tester used DevaCurl’s SuperCream, she seen an instantaneous distinction in her kind 2 hair. With out the cream, her curls have been wavier and had an excessive amount of physique; after only one utility, they have been tighter, extra outlined, and clean — nearly no frizz in sight. 

The important thing, she mentioned, was to not use an excessive amount of product — it’s on the thicker aspect — and to distribute it evenly all through the hair. (Regardless, the product by no means left any residue.) Total, our tester felt that DevaCurl’s providing was among the finest curl-defining lotions she’d tried and that she deliberate to proceed utilizing it in her haircare routine. 

Key Substances: Coconut oil, jojoba protein, and corn starch I Measurement: 5.1 ounces

For our tester, the factor that stood out most about Amika’s Curl Corps defining cream wasn’t simply how hydrated her hair sorted her first utility — it was how a lot more healthy it felt after a full six weeks of testing. Particularly, she famous that after testing, when she straightened her hair for a photoshoot, her 4c curls reverted way more shortly and have been much less brittle.

Additionally, in the course of the testing interval, she used this cream whereas styling her hair in Bantu knots; when she took them out, her hair felt clean and comfortable when she combed it along with her fingers. She plans to proceed utilizing the Curl Corps Defining Cream in the course of the summer season months, for extra pure kinds and twist-outs. 

Lastly, she famous that the product (which had a creamy gel consistency just like physique butter) additionally got here with a pleasant however not overpowering floral scent. 

Key Substances: Tapioca starch, oat peptide, and sea buckthorn berry I Measurement: 6.7 ounces

Based on our tester, Bumble and Bumble’s Curl Defining Cream 100% delivered on its promise to offer bouncy, versatile curls. After six weeks of utilizing it, she mentioned her kind 3b curls felt nourished, hydrated, and extra outlined than earlier than.

One other plus was that it labored extremely nicely along with her kind 3b hair and that it melted proper onto it however felt very light-weight — no crunchiness or stickiness in sight. It additionally had a lightweight, clear scent that she mentioned didn’t linger on her hair.

One factor to notice: Though she mentioned the Curl Defining Cream additionally helped make my hair smoother, it didn’t do a lot within the detangling division. (Not a game-changer for everybody, although.)

Key Substances: The model’s proprietary HydraSculpt Mix; avocado, coconut, and jojoba oils; shea butter I Measurement: 8.5 ounces

After six weeks of use, our tester seen that her 3c/4a hair was a lot smoother and noticeably softer. She additionally mentioned the product made it simpler to model her hair; this curl cream made her braid-outs, particularly, feel and appear distinctive. The product made her hair really feel much less tangled, and he or she even seen much less breakage every day.

One downside for our tester was the product’s texture, which she described as a moist, mucus-like gel, although she maintained the outcomes made it definitely worth the slight discomfort. Additionally, she famous that some folks might not love its honey-like scent (though it fades shortly).

Key Substances: Coconut, candy almond, and avocado oils; corn starch I Measurement: 12 ounces

Moroccanoil’s Curl Defining Cream was a pleasing shock: Our tester’s wavy, 2c/3a curls regarded extra outlined when she utilized this curl cream versus her common Act+Acre Chilly-Pressed Curl Lotion. Her curls have been bouncier and so they additionally lasted longer, she mentioned.

Nevertheless, she did must scrunch and flip her hair a bit extra — in any other case, the heaviness of the cream (which felt nearly like toothpaste when it got here out of the packaging, she mentioned) weighed her hair down on the roots. She additionally seen a little bit of flaking after a couple of days of damage, but it surely didn’t depart her hair crunchy or sticky.

Total, our tester felt that this product labored seamlessly along with her wavy hair texture — it by no means failed to offer present full, outlined curls each time she used it.

Key Substances: Argan oil, polyquaternium-11, hydrolyzed vegetable protein I Measurement: 8.5 ounces