This post was updated from May 2024 to remove some products that had been discontinued and add a couple more recent finds.

There are more curly hair products than ever on the market nowadays, which is great – but also kind of overwhelming! How do you know what’ll work for your curl type?

Luckily, I have tried hundreds of products – some bought myself, some gifted by brands – and there are definitely certain brands and products that I keep reaching for again and again. So, below is a little roundup of the curly hair products I’ve been loving this year!

Jump to:
Shampoo
Clarifying shampoo
Conditioner
Treatments/masks
Leave-in conditioner
Curl Gel
Mousse
Foam
Curl styling tools

My hair type: I have fine, low-ish density, wavy-curly hair, and I live in a soft-water area, so what I’m often looking for in my routine is stronger cleansers, lightweight conditioners, and decent hold in my stylers. Some of these products do not comply with the Curly Girl Method rules – you can read about why I don’t follow the CGM here.

Ad info: where you see a discount code, this is an affiliate code, meaning I get a small commission if you use it. But that hasn’t swayed my choices – I would be raving about these brands either way! Many of these brands are available on Amazon and in drugstores, so feel free to shop around.

Favourite shampoos

Only Curls All Curl Cleanser

This is a great, no-nonsense cleanser that actually makes my hair feel clean! I personally don’t like my shampoo to be super-moisturising (I can add that later in my conditioning step) so this cleanser is a great first step to give me a clean slate for the rest of my routine. Get £5 off your Only Curls order with code COAST5 or find it on Amazon.

Yao Secret Fermented Rice Water Shampoo Bar

This brand is a relatively new discovery for me! Ordinarily I don’t get on with shampoo bars, but this one lathers really well while still gently cleansing. The brand works with the Red Yao community in China, who are famous for their rice water techniques and lovely long hair! Get 10% off your order with code CURLSBYTHECOAST.

Favourite clarifying shampoos

Philip Kingsley Bodybuilding Shampoo

This is not strictly for curly hair (and it contains sulphates so it isn’t Curly Girl Method friendly), but Philip Kingsley’s bodybuilding shampoo is great for fine hair and for shifting any additional buildup, without making your hair feel too stripped or dry in the process.
Get it on Amazon UK, Amazon US, LookFantastic (and use code LFTFCOAST), Marks & Spencer, or direct from their website.

Aldi Lacura Volume Shampoo

Yes, that Aldi! Aldi has a range of shampoos and conditioners that are basically L’Oreal Elvive knockoffs, and they are all quite proteiny, which is ideal for fine or damaged hair! This one has sulphates in, but I don’t find it too stripping. Find it in your local Aldi.

Favourite conditioners

L’Oreal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths 8 Second Wonder Water

This literally has a water consistency, so it’s perfect for fine hair that gets easily weighed down by products. Once I splash a bit on and squish it into my wet hair, it really melts through my tangles! It gives me just the right level of conditioning. There’s also a Colour Protect one (the red one). Get it from LookFantastic, Boots UK, or Amazon.

Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Booster

This conditioner can be used to “boost” your existing conditioner, but for my fine hair I just use it on its own. A little goes a long way – I only need about a grape size for my whole head! Buy it directly from their website, M&S in the UK, or Amazon.

Favourite treatments/masks

Wella Colour Fresh Mask

I rarely deep condition my hair any more (which is why there is no deep conditioner section on this list!) but the closest I get to it is using this mask.
It’s a colour-depositing mask (I use the shade Chocolate Touch) that adds a little vibrancy and depth to my brown hair, and slightly blends my greys, without having to dye it. Best of all, it conditions my hair nicely without causing my hair to be overconditioned!
It is supposed to last for about 8-10 washes, and there are a bunch of other colours if you want to dabble in a temporary different colour instead! Get it from LookFantastic (and use discount code LFTFCOAST), or Amazon.

Yao Secret Fermented Rice Water Treatment Mask

Since my go-to protein treatment has been discontinued, I have been trying out this rice water treatment from Yao Secret, which isn’t exactly the same as a protein treatment but works in a similar way. I use this every couple of weeks as I would a hair mask, leaving it on for about 25 minutes, and it gives my curls a great boost of shine and structure. Get 10% off the Yao Secret website with code CURLSBYTHECOAST.

Confused about how protein plays a part in curly hair? Read my post about the protein-moisture balance here.

Umberto Giannini Scalp Scrub

This is an exfoliating scrub that I love to use every couple of weeks or so if I’m getting an itchy or flaky scalp. I use it on wet hair before my shampoo, and it’s so satisfying to scrub in! Buy direct from the Umberto Giannini website and get 20% off this product with code COAST20, or find it on Boots UK.

Favourite leave-in conditioner

TréLuxe Untie the Knot Leave-in

I’m a big fan of leave-in conditioners – but not to use as leave-in conditioners! I actually like to use them as rinse-outs (see, I really am all about the lightweight routines here!).
The TréLuxe one feels quite rich, but that’s exactly why it works either way. A little goes a long way, and you can either rinse the whole thing out or leave a little bit un-rinsed to keep some extra slip in your hair before you style. It contains a little protein and aloe, and it smells so warm and spicy – like Christmas! Get 15% off the TréLuxe website when you buy through this link or find their international stockists here.

Favourite gels

TréLuxe Hi! Definition Styling Gel

TréLuxe again! Their products are so great to mix and match to create either a lightweight or more conditioning routine depending on your hair type.
Their gel is one of my top 5, would-take-it-with-me-to-a-desert-island curly hair products. It’s a got a flexible hold, so it gives me a good mixture of volume and definition, it layers well with other stylers, the thinner consistency makes it good to refresh with, and it contains a lot of humectants that are great for fighting frizz and humidity. What’s not to love??
Get 15% off when you buy through this link or find their international stockists here.

Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel, Stronger Hold

As you may be able to tell, the stylers that I reach for over and over again are the stylers that can hold their own in the rainy UK 😅 This is a good one-and-done styler that, again, gives me good lasting definition without flattening my volume. I tested this in an indoor rainforest and it still held up! Get it on Amazon UK, Amazon US, or direct from the Ouidad website.

Favourite Mousse

Shockwaves Volume Mousse

The cheapest product on this list, you can get this for around £3 in UK shops and for as little as £2.50 on Amazon right now! This has decent hold even on its own, so if you’re still a bit confused by gels and prefer to stick with a mousse, this is a good one for beginners. It definitely helps with volume too! Get it on Amazon, Boots UK, or in UK supermarkets.

Favourite Foam

Bouclème Super Volumising Foam

What’s the difference between a mousse and a foam, I hear you ask? Well, a foam is lighter than a mousse, with a more…well, foamy consistency, compared to the thicker structure that a mousse has, so it’s great for getting into your roots for a little lightweight volume.
Having said that, Boucleme’s foam holds its own very well as a single styler if you’re after a more voluminous look, and a little goes a long way if you do want to layer it with another styler (I only need 2 pumps for my whole head!). I like to glaze and scrunch a foam over my hair after I’ve applied a gel and brush styled.
Get 15% off the Boucleme website with code COAST15, or get it from LookFantastic (and use code LFTFCOAST), or from Boots UK.

Favourite curl styling tool

Bounce Curl Define EdgeLift Brush

This brush has gone somewhat viral on social media, and for good reason – the vegan boar bristles coupled with the ridged edges create smooth, separated curl clumps that result in amazing definition. Here’s a video of me using it – since getting it I have been reaching for it most washdays!
Get 10% off when you buy it through BounceCurl website with code CURLSBYTHECOAST10, or find it on Amazon US, or through their approved international stockists.

Want more recommendations? Check out these 12 plastic-free and eco-friendly curly hair brands, or head to my Instagram page for my favo(u)rite US curly hair brands and my favourite budget curly hair brands!