You brush your hair correctly and follow the proper hair-drying techniques, but getting your curls to cooperate is still a struggle. What gives? Well, you might want to take a good, hard look at your haircare routine: If it doesn’t begin with the right shampoo for curly hair, it may be the reason why vivacious, healthy-looking curls are eluding you. To help, we’ve compiled 35 of our favorite formulas to help whip your ringlets into shape. Plus, we’re also offering our top tips on what to look for in a curly hair shampoo (and what to avoid). Right this way.
Does Curly Hair Need Special Shampoo?
All hair types can benefit from a dedicated shampoo, but it’s especially essential for those with curly hair. Unlike straighter hair, curly hair (a term that includes waves, curls, and coils) tends to be drier and more prone to frizz. As such, you’ll usually want to look for non-stripping, sulfate-free formulas that restore hydration and promote moisture retention. In addition, some shampoos for curly hair work to remove buildup on the hair shaft that can contribute to a flat, lifeless curl pattern. Picking a good shampoo for curly hair can help maintain your curls' shape, softness, and elasticity so that hair is manageable and healthy-looking.
Is there a shampoo that curls your hair?
There isn’t any shampoo that actually curls your hair. There are, however, shampoos that help protect your curls and bring out the natural bounce and texture of your ringlets.
Good hair day by @texturecurlbar.
Is Daily Shampooing Good for Curly Hair?
Shampooing every day is generally not recommended for those with curly hair. As mentioned, curly hair is often drier. This is because it’s harder for the scalp’s natural oils to travel down the bends of the hair shaft. Overwashing can strip away those essential oils, leading to dryness, frizz, and breakage. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to how often you should wash your hair, but many people with curls prefer sudsing up every few days. For a more complete guide to hair-washing, check out our article, How Often You Should Wash Your Hair Based on Your Hair Type.
You can also consider using a cleansing conditioner (also known as co-washing) on days when you don't use shampoo. A cleansing conditioner is a hybrid haircare product that combines the gentle cleansing of shampoo with the moisturizing properties of a conditioner. We love the manuka honey-infused Matrix A Curl Can Dream Co-Wash, which is ideal for in-between wash days to help revive curls without drying them out.
What Shampoo Is Best for Curly Hair?
The best shampoo for curly hair ultimately boils down to your hair type and concerns. Typically, you’ll want to select ingredients and formulas that align with your hair’s needs (for example, if it’s frizzy, color-treated, or damaged) to help your curls thrive post-shampooing. Generally speaking, some curl-friendly ingredients to keep an eye out for include hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, manuka honey, as well as nourishing oils like coconut, avocado, argan, and camellia.
To help guide your search, we’ve compiled 35 of the best shampoos for curly hair to try from the L’Oréal portfolio of professional brands. Keep scrolling for all the scoop.
Our Best Shampoos for Dry, Curly Hair
L’Oréal Professionnel Curl Expression Moisturizing Shampoo
This paraben- and sulfate-free shampoo gently removes buildup and deeply moisturizes hair types ranging from 2A-4C. It boasts ingredients like glycerin, hibiscus seed, and urea H, and works to define curls and give them a lasting boost of hydration.
Matrix Food For Soft Hydrating Shampoo
Hyaluronic acid and avocado unite in this hydrating formula, which helps instantly transform dry curls for touchably soft, frizz-free results. And, if tropical scents appeal to you, you’ll love how this shampoo’s fruity scent is reminiscent of a carefree beach vacation. Learn more about the nourishing color-safe collection in our Matrix Food for Soft Review.
Mizani Moisture Fusion Moisture Rich Shampoo
If your coils are feeling a little dehydrated, pick up Mizani’s Moisture Fusion Moisture Rich Shampoo. The formula with cupuaçu butter, argan oil, and honey quenches thirsty strands for silky, bouncy coils that are easier to detangle post-wash.
Redken All Soft Shampoo
Those with brittle curls will want to focus on achieving softer hair in every step of their haircare routine, beginning with shampooing. Redken’s argan-infused All Soft Shampoo is the key to cleansing, restoring, and softening dry, rough hair. The magic lies in the formula’s enriching Moisture Complex, a smart, targeted delivery system that treats hair from the root to the core to the tip. This way, all three levels of the hair strand receive the nourishment needed to improve shine and softness.
Biolage Professional Hydra Source Shampoo
Inspired by the aloe plant that never seems to dry, Biolage Professional Hydra Source Shampoo helps optimize moisture balance within the hair while increasing softness, manageability, and luminosity.
Matrix A Curl Can Dream Shampoo
Luscious, healthy-looking curls can be elusive, but they don’t have to be when Matrix’s A Curl Can Dream Shampoo has a spot in your routine. The deep cleansing shampoo for curls and coils removes buildup while humectant ingredients help shape and preserve your curl pattern.
Our Best Shampoos for Very Dry, Coarse, Curly Hair
Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo
Extremely dry, damaged curls and coils may require a more intense shampoo to help turn things around. Redken’s All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo is up for the job. The lather contains Redken's Nourish Complex enriched with natural ingredients, offering intense nourishment and deep hydration to compromised curls.
Biolage Professional Ultra Hydra Source Shampoo
Moisturized, soft, shiny: Are those words you wish you could use to describe your thick, coarse mane? Make it a reality by scooping up Biolage Professional’s Ultra Hydra Source Shampoo. The formula, which stars aloe, cupuacu butter, and apricot kernel oil, among other ingredients, works to optimize hair’s moisture balance and help keep unwanted volume under control.
Kérastase Curl Manifesto Bain Hydratation Douceur Shampoo
Manuka honey is an ingredient we see a lot in curly hair formulas, and for good reason: The sweet, New Zealand-sourced liquid is known to be excellent at sealing moisture into strands. Find it in Kérastase Curl Manifesto Bain Hydratation Douceur Shampoo and enjoy defined curls with up to 63% more hydration.*
*vs. non-conditioning shampooOur Best Shampoos for Color-Treated Curly Hair
Pureology Hydrate Shampoo
If you color your curls, Pureology’s Hydrate Shampoo can help keep your hue fresh while warding off dryness. This creamy shampoo is formulated with the brand’s AntiFade Complex to help protect color vibrancy and deeply hydrates normal to thick hair.
L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Anti-Metal Cleansing Cream Shampoo
There are a few downsides to washing your hair in hard water (aka water with a high concentration of minerals). For one, exposure to such minerals can cause your hard-won salon color to fade or shift. For another, these minerals can also build up on the hair shaft and make curls look and feel dry, damaged, or frizzy.
Address all these concerns in one fell swoop by stocking your shower with the L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Anti-Metal Cleansing Cream Shampoo. The formula gloats a patented technology that helps trap and neutralize metals inside the hair fiber for stronger hair and longer-lasting color.
Matrix Color Obsessed Shampoo
Whether you opted for the lived-in copper trend or went bolder with a color block, a shampoo like Matrix Color Obsessed can ensure your curls stay vibrant long after leaving the salon. Pair it with the corresponding Color Obsessed Conditioner for color protection for up to 32 (!) washes.
Our Best Shampoos for Curly, Frizzy Hair
Kérastase Discipline Bain Fluidealiste Shampoo
Curls and frizz often go hand in hand, but the two no longer have to be mutually inclusive. If frizz is like that bad habit you can’t shake, swap your regular shampoo for Kérastase’s Discipline Bain Fluidealiste Shampoo. The sulfate-free, anti-frizz formula adds softness and smoothness to unruly, over-processed hair.
Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo
Fight the effects of humidity on your ringlets with Redken Frizz Dismiss Shampoo. Brimming with babassu oil, the sulfate- and sodium chloride-free formula works to tame frizzy hair, increase smoothness, and enhance shine.
Biolage Professional Smooth Proof Shampoo
Biolage Professional’s Smooth Proof Shampoo, which pulls inspo from nature’s water-resistant camellia, offers humidity control by encapsulating hair in a protective shield. In fact, using it with the Smooth Proof Conditioner and Smooth Proof Serum provides anti-frizz smoothness even in 97% humidity. The result: polished, manageable, hair that lasts up to 72 hours.*
*vs. non-conditioning shampooMatrix Mega Sleek Frizz Shampoo
Another one of our best shampoos for curly, frizzy hair is the Matrix Mega Sleek Frizz Shampoo. The formula, which is infused with luxe shea butter, is ideal for controlling rebellious, unruly hair and helps safeguard strands against the effects of humidity.
Our Best Shampoos for Damaged, Curly Hair
Redken Acidic Bonding Curls Silicone-Free Shampoo
All of those habits we use to alter our hair’s appearance (think heat styling, coloring, or bleaching), can break the bonds of curly hair and destroy its curl pattern. The first step to bring overprocessed spirals back to life is sudsing up with Recken’s Acidic Bonding Curls Shampoo. The formula is designed to rebuild broken hair bonds and repair strength from the inside out for improved elasticity and restored curl pattern. See how the complete range worked its magic on one editor’s hair in our Redken Acidic Bonding Curls Review.
L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Inforcer Anti-Breakage Shampoo
The only thing worse than dry curls is brittle, broken curls. If your curls are plagued by breakage, swap your regular shampoo for a strengthening formula like L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Inforcer Anti-Breakage shampoo. The shampoo contains fortifying ingredients such as vitamin B6 and biotin and helps prevent future breakage with continued use.
Biolage Professional Strength Recovery Shampoo
For those dealing with fragile, hard-to-manage curls, we recommend picking up Biolage Professional Strength Recovery Shampoo. The rich lather, which contains vegan squalane, gently cleanses damaged hair, helps reduce breakage, and leaves hair softer and smoother.
Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo
If your hair is distressed from overprocessing and bleach, Pureology’s Strength Cure Shampoo is the secret to strengthening, fortifying, and repairing damage. Packed with ingredients like keravis (a plant-based protein) and astaxanthin (an antioxidant), this formula gives hair strength and softness while also offering color protection.
Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Sulfate-Free Shampoo
The sulfate-free Redken Acidic Bonding Concentrate Shampoo is backed by an acidic formula and infused with highly concentrated bonding ingredients. Using it can help repair damaged ringlets, provide intense conditioning, and protect your color from fading.
Redken Extreme Shampoo
Since curly hair is prone to being dry, split ends are likely to occur. Use the Redken Extreme Strengthening Shampoo to help keep pesky breakage at bay. It features Redken's Strength Complex, which contains amino acids and arginine, to strengthen and fortify the hair while conditioning and adding smoothness.
L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair Shampoo
L'Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Absolut Repair Shampoo helps restructure damaged hair so strands feel lightweight and soft to the touch. It’s enriched with wheat protein and gold quinoa extract and is best for those looking to repair their spirals from daily aggressors (think UV exposure or heat styling).
Our Best Shampoo for Fine, Curly Hair
Pureology Pure Volume Shampoo
A great shampoo for fine, curly hair is the Pureology Pure Volume Shampoo, a sulfate-free formula that helps enhance volume, lift your roots, and restore overall movement to limp locks. As an added bonus, wild rose, citrusy grapefruit, and warm cedarwood envelop you in a unique aromatherapy experience every time you lather up.
Our Best Clarifying Shampoos for Curly Hair
Mizani Moisture Fusion Clarifying Shampoo
Curly girls can often stretch the time between wash days, which also means that curly girls are more likely to deal with major product buildup. Mizani’s Moisture Fusion Clarifying Shampoo is among our favorite clarifying shampoos for curly hair: It gently cleanses textured hair to remove product residue and excess oil without stripping strands of much-needed moisture and shine.
L’Oréal Professionnel Curl Expression Anti-Buildup Cleansing Jelly Shampoo
The Anti-Build Up Cleansing Jelly Shampoo from L’Oréal Professionnel is designed to eliminate impurities from root to end. The gentle “cleansing jelly” is free of sulfates, silicone, and parabens and removes product pile-up that can gather on curls and coils.
P.S.: A little goes a long way, so start with less than you think you may need before adding more.
Biolage Professional Scalp Sync Clarifying Shampoo
Those with curly hair and an oily scalp will want to keep Biolage Professional’s Scalp Sync Clarifying Shampoo in mind. Made with fermented tea and glycolic acid, this purifying option helps balance scalp moisture levels while restoring volume, shine, and lift to the hair.
Shu Uemura Art of Hair Delicate Comfort Deep Cleanser
There’s also a dedicated clarifying shampoo for those with curly hair and a dry scalp: the Delicate Comfort Deep Cleanser from Shu Uemura Art of Hair. This moisturizing clarifying shampoo deeply cleanses the hair and scalp to remove dirt, oil, and product buildup while restoring hydration. After using it, you can expect your curls to feel softer and more nourished.
Redken Hair Cleansing Cream Clarifying Shampoo
Whether you’re dealing with buildup from styling products or hard water, you’ll want to add the Redken Hair Cleansing Cream Clarifying Shampoo to your cart. In just one use, this detox shampoo for all hair textures helps rid your hair of product buildup (like dry shampoo), minerals from hard water, excess oil, and pollution residue. Removing these elements leaves hair fresh, enhancing the results of your subsequent conditioner or hair mask.
Our Best Dandruff Shampoos for Curly Hair
Mizani Scalp Care Dandruff Shampoo
When you have larger-than-life curls, it can sometimes be easy to mask your hair concerns under your massive mane. But curly girls get dandruff, too, and no amount of hair is enough to cover the flakes on your shoulders. Reach for Mizani’s Scalp Care Dandruff Shampoo to help eliminate the symptoms associated with dandruff. You’ll also love how its cooling sensation helps soothe your scalp and alleviate itching.
Biolage Professional Scalp Sync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo
This gentle shampoo is made with zinc pyrithione, fermented tea, and glycolic acid to nix dandruff concerns like itching, irritation, redness, and flaking. Plus, it deeply cleanses without stripping natural oils so the hair and scalp are left feeling refreshed, hydrated, and reinvigorated.
Our Best Shampoo for Wavy, Curly Hair
Matrix A Curl Can Dream Weightless Moisture Shampoo
Very wavy hair can sometimes toe the line of appearing curly, especially if you have a 2C hair type. Get the most volume and definition from your mane with the A Curl Can Dream Weightless Moisture Shampoo from Matrix. Specifically formulated for 2A-2C hair types, the lightweight formula helps seal in moisture to enhance the formation of your waves.
Our Best Shampoo for Heat-Styling Curly Hair
Mizani Press Agent Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Despite loving your natural curls, there may be times when you want to slay a sleek blowout or silk press. To protect your strands from heat styling and ensure your sleek ‘do lasts, try Mizani’s Press Agent Sulfate-Free Shampoo. The formula helps prep and protect hair for thermal smoothing and locks out humidity for a seriously sleek finish.
Our Best Shampoos to Help Curly Hair Retain Length
L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Pro Longer Hair Thickening Shampoo
If you are trying to grow out your hair, consider using L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Pro Longer Hair Thickening Shampoo. The innovative shampoo features an exclusive technology that reduces the appearance of thinned ends for visibly longer and more voluminous-looking hair.
Redken Extreme Length Shampoo with Biotin
If breakage and split ends are stopping your curls from retaining length, you need a high-performing shampoo to restore your hair’s strength. Redken Extreme Length Shampoo is formulated with biotin, castor oil, and Redken’s Length Care Complex to prevent breakage and help you reach your hair growth goals.
Next Up: Here Are 14 Hair Masks That Are Like a Spa Day for Curls
Header photo credits (left to right): Hair.com, @kerastase_official and @lorealpro
Looking for more haircare tips? Use our salon locator to book an appointment with a stylist in your area.
