If you've just started looking after your curls properly, the number of products on the shelf is the hardest part. You don't need most of them. A good curly hair routine comes down to five things: something to wash with, something to condition with, a leave-in, something to hold your curls, and satin to sleep in. This guide explains what each one does, how to use it, and what a full set costs.
We've led with the products we'd recommend rather than the cheapest on the shelf, with other options under each one.
The five products you actually need
1. A gentle shampoo
Curly and coily hair is naturally drier than straight hair, because the oil from your scalp can't travel easily down a curved strand. A harsh shampoo strips what little there is. Look for a sulphate-free one and use it on your scalp, letting the lather rinse down the lengths.
We'd start with TGIN Moisture Rich Sulphate-Free Shampoo (£15.99 for 13oz), As I Am Curl Clarity Shampoo (£8.99) or Aunt Jackie's Oh So Clean Moisturising & Softening Shampoo (£7.99).
2. A conditioner, every single wash
This is the step beginners skip and shouldn't. Conditioner is what makes your hair soft enough to detangle without snapping. Apply it to the lengths and ends, comb through, then rinse.
Try Camille Rose Curl Love Conditioner (£12.99), As I Am Detangling Conditioner (£10.99) or African Pride Moisture Miracle Aloe & Coconut Deep Conditioner (£7.99).
3. A leave-in conditioner
A leave-in goes on damp hair after washing and stays in. It's the difference between hair that feels soft in the shower and hair that still feels soft on Wednesday.
Try Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Leave-In Milk (£12.99), As I Am Classic Leave In Conditioner (£9.99) or Aunt Jackie's Transform Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner (£8.99 for 15oz).
4. Something to define your curls
A gel, custard or mousse clumps your curls together and holds the shape while your hair dries. Apply it to soaking wet hair, then leave it alone until it's completely dry.
Try Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Curl Enhancing Mousse (£14.99), Camille Rose Aloe Whipped Butter Gel (£14.99), As I Am Classic Smoothing Gel (£9.99) or Aunt Jackie's Curl La La Defining Curl Custard (£8.99).
5. Satin for night-time
Cotton pillowcases pull moisture out of your hair and rough up the cuticle, which is why curls look flat and frizzy by morning. A bonnet is the easiest place to start: the Magic Wide-Band Satin Bonnet is £3.29 and the Argan Oil Extra-Large Satin Bonnet is £2.99, with more in our bonnets.
If you'd rather wear something closer to your head, our own HAIRGLO Reversible Satin-Lined Skull Cap is £6.99 and stays put overnight. And if you want something you'd actually wear out, the Doughboy World x HAIRGLO Satin-Lined Skull Cap is £20.
One more thing: a wide-tooth comb or a detangling brush
Not a product, but it matters. Never detangle curly hair dry or with a fine comb. A Jumbo Rake Handle Detangling Comb is £2.49, or if you prefer a brush, the Cecelia Scalp & Hair Detangling Hairbrush is £3.99. A set of metal curl clips (£2.49) keeps your sections apart while you work.
What a full set costs
Here's what we'd put together for someone starting out:
- TGIN Moisture Rich Sulphate-Free Shampoo, £15.99
- Camille Rose Curl Love Conditioner, £12.99
- Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Leave-In Milk, £12.99
- Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Curl Enhancing Mousse, £14.99
- HAIRGLO Reversible Satin-Lined Skull Cap, £6.99
- Jumbo Rake Handle Detangling Comb, £2.49
That's £66.44 for the lot. If you'd rather build it up, start with the shampoo, conditioner and leave-in, which come to £41.97, and add the mousse and the cap next time.
Or buy it as a bundle
If you'd rather make one decision than four, the As I Am Rice Water Powerhouse Bundle (£32) puts a shampoo, a conditioner and a spray together, which covers your first two steps and gives you something to refresh with in between washes. If your scalp is itchy or flaky, the As I Am Dry & Itchy Shampoo & Conditioner Set is £19.99.
What you don't need yet
- A shelf of oils. One light oil is plenty at the start.
- Protein treatments. Useful for damaged hair, but easy to overdo.
- A different product for every day of the week. Changing products constantly is the most common reason people can't work out what's wrong.
- To know your curl type first. It's useful later. It won't tell you much that your own hair doesn't.
A simple wash day
- Section your hair into four with clips.
- Wash your scalp with shampoo and rinse.
- Work conditioner through each section and detangle with a wide-tooth comb or detangling brush, starting at the ends.
- Rinse with cool water.
- On soaking wet hair, apply leave-in, then your mousse, gel or custard, section by section.
- Let it dry without touching it. Touching wet curls is what causes frizz.
- At night, cover with a bonnet or satin-lined cap.
Most people wash curly hair every 7 to 10 days. Wash sooner if your scalp is itchy or you've used a lot of product.
How to tell whether it's working
Give any routine four to six weeks. Your hair should feel softer the day after washing, not just on wash day, and you should see fewer short broken pieces in the sink. If it still feels dry however much you put on it, read why switching products rarely fixes dryness.
Beginner FAQs
How much should I expect to spend?
A full set from the lines above comes to about £66, or £32 if you start with a bundle. You can spend less, and we stock plenty that does. What changes at the top end is the formula and the brand, not the routine, which is the same either way.
How often should I wash curly hair?
Every 7 to 10 days suits most people. Washing too rarely lets product and flakes build up on your scalp.
What's the difference between a leave-in and a moisturiser?
Not much, in practice. A leave-in usually goes on damp hair straight after washing. A moisturiser is for topping up in between.
Why is my hair still dry after conditioning?
Usually because nothing is holding the moisture in. Follow your leave-in with a cream or an oil on the ends.
Should I use a brush or a comb?
Either, as long as it's wide-toothed or made for detangling, and you're working on damp conditioned hair from the ends up. Never a fine comb on dry curls.