A high-quality leave-in curl cream is a foundation product. Think of this as your daily facial moisturizer: a core part of the routine, keeps hair hydrated and defined, and can be paired with other target curl formulas or used on its own. The blend uses rice amino acids for strength, avocado oil for moisture and shine, and botanical extracts for curl definition. 

Splashed across the front of this packing is the sentence, “The best darn leave-in conditioner period!” And well, they’re not lying. This super hydrating conditioner uses the power of aloe, soybean, pumpkin seed extract, marine plants, and more to flood the hair fiber with moisture. If you’re reading this and are getting anxious that it might weigh down your strands, rest assured that it has this really lovely jelly texture that thins out to be ultra-lightweight. 

What our tester says:

I have been using this leave-in for several years now—I always make sure I have a bottle in my cabinet. I think you can see from the photo that this bottle is well worn. It has the juiciest texture, but my strands never feel goopy or limp. Just happily hydrated! I use it on damp hair just out of the shower, midshaft down. My roots get oily quickly, so I personally avoid putting it all over, but if you find that you need it by all means.

The sulfate-free formula uses micellar water and salicylic acid to lift off buildup and sebum on the scalp; then the hyaluronic acid and castor oil help lock in long-lasting moisture for the skin and hair. This means it’s non-stripping or drying for fragile curls—and can aid in moisture retention and even growth.(Read more about castor oil for hair growth here.) The result is a refreshed scalp and bouncy defined curls.

What our tester says:

I love micellar water in shampoos—such a smart ingredient to utilize for the scalp. Micellar water is able to dissolve oil and debris without drying out the hair. My natural hair toggles between wavy and curly (I’m about 2b to 3b), and is very dry and breakage prone, so I’m always looking for formulas that aren’t too harsh just like this one. Bonus: The nozzle applicator makes it so easy to apply directly to the scalp, which can sometimes be a challenge when you have densely packed hair. It starts off watery (almost like a rinse) but then builds to a very light foam. I love it so much it made our list of the best shampoos for hair growth, too. 

Co-washing (or conditioner washing) is a style of hair and scalp cleansing that uses hydrating, gentle washes in place of conventional shampoos. This hair bath has a creamy texture that cleanse the scalp with clary sage and plant-derived surfactants, and then infuses the hair fiber with hydrating nutrients. However, we must note that most folks who co-wash will need to do a deep clean occasionally with a clarifying shampoo—it will vary how often, but the range is usually once a week to every other week. 

Here, we’re highlighting the heavy conditioner, but consider all four of the conditioners by Pattern to have made the cut. What’s so genius about this collection is that there are four distinct formulas that address common concerns had by curly haired folks from a wide range of types. For example, the lightweight conditioner is for those with fine hair and uses rosemary and biotin for hair growth. This option uses thick, dense botanicals like avocado oil and shea butter for loads of hydration. Grab one that suits you best, or opt for multiple and switch it up depending on your specific needs.

This is like a superfood smoothie for your strands: The blend contains coconut cream, banana, mango seed butter, cocoa seed butter, aloe, turmeric, and a bouquet of botanical oils. Combined these feed the hair fiber loads of nutrients, like vitamin C, E, fatty acids, humectants, and more. With consistent use, hair looks fuller and feels oh-so-smooth.

What our reviewer says:

“After plowing my way through a jar of this (I go through conditioners like it’s my job, which I guess it kind of is), my hair felt soft, touchable, and springy. I really enjoyed the medium-to-thick bodied consistency: It’s a rich, creamy texture that glides over the strands effortlessly, which not for nothing, makes applying it to strands in the shower seamless.”

Everyone needs a multitasking oil in their hair and body care arsenal. This option contains a cocktail of argan, baobab seed, sage oil, and more—and is ideal for strands, scalp, and body. Here’s why: It’s lightweight and fast absorbing so it won’t feel greasy, it’s packed with free-radical fighting antioxidants, and it will seal in hydration head-to-toe. A healthy hair bonus: Sage oil can encourage circulation at the hair follicle, thus improving growth!

Skin is skin–including your scalp. It’s so important to keep your scalp calm, hydrated, and clean so there’s an optimal environment for healthy hair growth. To do so, this scalp serum is a fantastic tool to have in your toolkit. The daily treatment can be used between washes to balance sebum, reduce itchiness and flakes, calm skin, ease inflammation, and stimulate hair growth. It’s also great to use post workouts for a hair refresh when your roots are feeling weighed-down and sweaty. 

Looking for bouncy, light-as-air curls? Mousse is going to be your very dear friend. The finished style never appears crunchy—just soft and healthy curls here. It uses a blend of argan oil, hydrolyzed vegetable proteins, and coconut-derived surfactants to condition strands, avoid frizz and static, and get longwear hold. 

For super defined curls and coils, opt for this high-performance hold gel. The water-based gel is infused with several extracts to support hair health while achieving your desired style: Yuzu extract contains potassium and antioxidants, snow mushroom provides moisture, and red algae smooths the hair cuticle. The best part about this gel, however, is how multifunctional it is: It can give you everything from glossy wet curls to soft, fluffy curls depending on your technique and other styling products.

Keep your curls hydrated, bouncy, and intact with this silky cream. The star of the show is a patent-pending technology that improves manageability and structure with your curls—so they appear soft while staying in well-defined groupings and ringlets. The texture is so easy to comb through the hair, so you can evenly distribute it throughout from root to tip. 

For those who want definition, separation, and help elongating the curl, this cream was specifically designed for those with hair types 3C to 4C who are looking for some stretch in the curl pattern. Not only that, but the botanical ingredients—like castor oil, shea butter, coconut oil, and sea moss—provide free radical protection for your delicate curls. 

Between washes, having a refresher to bring some life back into curls is essential. This fine mist uses the hydrating power of aloe vera, a superstar humectant that will help revitalize style. It also contains avocado oil for conditioning and acai oil to add a shot of shine. Spirits this all over for a total refresh, or just spot treat areas that might need extra oomph (like, for example, the side of the head you slept on.)

Frizz happens when the cuticle is raised—thus pushing individual strands apart. Frizz-control products work by laying that cuticle flat, and keeping it sealed throughout the day. And this formula does it to perfection with its cocktail of squalane, strawberry seed oil, and other botanical oils. 

What our reviewer says: 

“I have dense yet fine 2c waves. Translation? My individual strands are quite thin, yet I have a lot of them. This also makes me a very high-maintenance hair styler shopper: I need a strong enough hold to define all those strands, yet a too-rich formula will weigh them down in a snap. This adwoa gel is my Goldilocks—it leaves my waves fluffy and bouncy, never frizzy. It also gives off the most incredible aroma; I pair it with the Melonberry Hair Milk, and I swear my hair smells like strawberry fields.” — Jamie Schneider, mindbodygreen beauty editor

This is perhaps an obvious statement, but curls tangle easily. To gently comb through your hair, a high-quality detangler is in order. This spray combines aloe vera and vitamin E to nourish the strands, as you work through them.