Best Shampoo For Curly Hair [Review] in 2022

When it comes to shampooing curls, it is much different from shampooing straight hair; whether you prefer co-washing or using a sulfate-free shampoo to tame your curls, we can all agree it all depends on your curl type– not everyone is the same. 

Now while I can recommend some pretty amazing products for curly hair, not all of these products will work for you; sadly, with curly hair and washing, it’s a bit of trial and error. 

What may work for your curly friend Sally may not work for you; it all depends on the porosity of your hair, your curl type, and just the texture of your hair in general. 

But as a general rule of thumb, curly or coily hair tends to lack moisture, and if your hair particularly lacks moisture, when looking for the right curly shampoo or co-wash, be sure to look for hydrating ingredients. 

So if none of these shampoos work for you above, then I’m here to show you how you find the right shampoo for your curly hair type. 

When washing curly hair, you should avoid certain ingredients like parabens, silicones, phthalates, and especially sulfates. These ingredients can damage curly hair as they can strip your natural oils and dry out your hair.

Since curly hair is the driest of hair textures anyway, the last thing we want is to dry it out even more; this is why it is recommended that if you have curly hair that you shouldn’t use sulfate-filled shampoos and switch to a sulfate-free option.

But it’s not as simple as just switching to a sulfate-free shampoo, especially. Suppose you have used silicones or waxes in the past. The Curly Girl Method guide recommends you do one last ‘reset’ shampoo with sulfates to get rid of any silicone buildup.

Once you’ve done that last wash, you should avoid silicones and waxy ingredients that cannot be dissolved with water and switch to a sulfate-free shampoo or a cleansing conditioner/ co-wash.

But what is a sulfate-free shampoo or cleansing conditioner?

Sulfate-free shampoo:

Sulfate-free shampoo is the only shampoo you can use in the Curly Girl Method. It is also known as “low-poo” shampoo, meaning that it is low in shampoo.

It contains gentle detergents which break down scalp oils and buildup without stripping the hair. It is best for thin waves and flat curls, which tend to get greasy fast.

Here’s a tip: some sulfate-free shampoos can still be a bit drying; if your hair feels almost squeaky, rather than the slipper, the cleaner is too harsh for your hair.

If this happens, you won’t need to throw it out, don’t worry. Instead, mix with a couple of pumps of conditioner, which should help prevent this dryness.

Cleansing conditioners:

Cleansing conditioners are a curly girl’s best friend. Cleansing conditioners are also called “co-washes” or “no-poo” shampoo. They’re lightweight conditioners that can be used as shampoo without leaving your hair looking greasy.

Coily hair and most curl types won’t benefit from much detergent because their hair is naturally really dry anyway, they need water, moisture, and a scalp massage to do the trick. This is why co-washes are recommended for super curly or coily hair as they work to hydrate the hair without leaving the scalp looking greasy.

To cleanse your scalp, you should massage the cleansing conditioner for at least 60 seconds for it to be immaculate and refreshed.

Most Curly Girl Method guides suggest you should start with a cleansing conditioner rather than a sulfate-free shampoo regardless of your curl type as your scalp adjusts more than you may think.

If you have extremely dry curls that need some TLC and a serious moisture boost, then I would reccomend washing your hair with conditioner rather than sulfate-free shampoo. 

Some sulfate-free shampoos can still strip your hair, they may be free of stripping ingredients, but some brands still include quite harsh chemicals which can dry out your hair. 

This is why so many girls have switched to washing their hair with a cleansing conditioner, a co-wash. It is extremely effective for coily hair or really curly hair that doesn’t receive much natural moisture from the roots. 

Here’s how you do it! 

There are a few chemicals to avoid; some chemicals can be really damaging to the natural curl and cause breakage, frizz, and even damage the way the curl looks. In the Curly Girl Method, here are the top chemicals to avoid after the ‘reset’ wash.

Sulfates: 

Remember the foamy, creamy, forthy lather when you wash your hair with normal shampoo– it is the ‘ahhh’ moment that everyone loves; well, this is actually caused by sulfates and can be very damaging for your hair, especially curly hair.

Although the sensation of lathering your hair up with shampoo is lovely, sulfates can actually STRIP your hair of its natural oils, making it more prone to frizz, breakage, and overall leaving the hairdryer.

Plus, since curly hair is naturally dry, to begin with, regularly using sulfate shampoo is a terrible idea, even worse the curlier your hair type is.

In the Curly Girl Method, Lorraine recommended you do one last ‘reset wash’ with a shampoo filled with sulfates to get rid of the silicone and wax buildup before switching to a sulfate-free shampoo.

She also strongly suggests switching to the No Poo method, which cuts out all shampoos completely, and switching to a cleansing conditioner instead. Cleansing conditioners are brilliant for cleansing any dirt from your hair without causing dryness.

Silicones:

So if you’re following the curly girl method, you will also need to avoid silicones, silicones are like plastic, and they’re used in conditioning products to smooth down the cuticle, make your hair feel softer reduce frizz.

However, without a sulfate shampoo to remove them, it can lead to product buildup, and over time, this makes hair frizzier, look limp and lifeless. It will also lose the life of your curl.

Silicones can only be removed with sulfates, and without sulfates, it causes buildup– not ideal, so it is best to cut it out completely. But don’t worry, you can still achieve silky soft hair without silicones; some people will tell you it’s even softer too!

Mineral Oils and Waxes:

Mineral oil and petrolatum are other ingredients you should try to avoid when doing the curly girl method or just caring for curly hair, they can weigh down your hair, and without sulfates to remove them, they build up like silicones. 

Some waxes use natural ingredients which are safe to style curly or kinky hair. However, most waxes are s non-hydrous, meaning they won’t wash out with just water or co-washing.

If you find yourself accidentally using waxes or silicones, then you can use your reset shampoo to remove them, then go back to the Curly Girl Routine.

Parabens:

Parabens are used in many hair products to prevent and stop the growth of bacteria in your hair, but there are far more negatives than positives to using parabens. 

Glycerin:

Glycerin is another ingredient you should avoid if you have curly hair, especially if you live in a humid climate. If you live in a hot, humid environment, glycerin will absorb moisture from the hair and cause the hair to swell. 

This is not ideal for curly hair as it raises the cuticle and disrupts the curl pattern, creating coarse, frizzy hair. If you live in a hot, humid environment, then you should definitely avoid products with glycerin. 

How often should you wash curly hair?

I get asked this question a lot, but it all really depends on your hair type, many people need to train your hair, but it isn’t that simple for curly hair. The ends of our hair struggle to receive the natural oils from the scalp to it regularly needs conditioning. 

What works for my hair (which may not work for everyone) is to use a sulfate-free shampoo once every 1-2 weeks and either use a co-wash when my hair is looking particularly dry in between washes and the curls need that little boost. 

I am a personal fan of As I Am Coconut Cowash, I use it 2-3 times a week in between shampooing my hair, but if I’m not using a co-wash, I tend to rinse and massage my scalp to evenly distribute natural oils and then use a deep cleansing conditioner once a week. 

I found that if you’re using a gentle shampoo free from all nasty ingredients and your hair needs regular washing, that is okay; as long as you’re nourishing the ends of your hair, it’s all about what works for you personally. 

But I’ve created a full guide of exactly how often you should be shampooing curly hair, so be sure to check that out!

How do you wash curly hair properly?

First things first you should really check the temperature of your water before applying it to your head, hot water can dry hair out and we want as much moisture retention as possible for curly hair. 

Squeeze out a sizeable amount of shampoo onto your hands and work your way through your scalp. I tend to start on top and make my way to the back. With co-washing or using sulfate shampoo, I would recommend massaging for at least a minute. 

You should feel like you’re massaging and putting pressure on your head rather than just touching your hair; this will promote healthy blood flow, which leads to healthier hair. 

Make sure you massage as you rinse out to ensure all of the shampoos are removed. Once you’ve cleansed your hair (I would do this twice), use your trusty conditioner or treatment and finger-comb it through your hair. 

I also love doing a cool rinse once I’ve washed my hair; it leaves my hair feeling soft and shiny as it closes the open cuticle. 

While your hair is still sopping wet, apply all your styling products like gel and/or leave-in conditioner or cream and scrunch upwards with a cotton towel. 

Check out my full guide of how to wash curly hair and how often you should wash curly hair here. 

What is a co-wash for curly hair? 

Co-washing your hair is essentially washing your hair purely with conditioner; it is particular used on very curly, coily, or kinky hair because this hair texture tends. tobe very lacking in hydration and moisture. 

Since the curls change direction or coil around tightly, the natural oils from the scalp have a hard time reaching the tip of the hair, leaving the ends extremely dry, so if you suffer from dehydrated hair, then you could benefit from co-washing. 

So there you have it, the best shampoo and co-washes for wavy, curly, coily, and kinky hair. Not every shampoo will work for your hair type; it all depends on your hair’s porosity, texture, curl type, and whether it is damaged or healthy. 

Establishing your curly hair routine is all a bit of trial and error and working out what your hair likes and dislikes; you may not get it right the first time, and trust me, it took me a few months to work out what my hair needed, but you will thank me for this. 

Using the right shampoo or co-wash will leave your curls looking defined, healthier and frizz-free. It will also leave your curls feeling more manageable and will hold styles for longer. Sometimes your curls need a moisture kick. 

Choose any of the shampoos I have recommended for you today; many curly girls love them and rave about them changing their hair. If they work for your hair, then that’s brilliant! 

Happy curls, happy life!