If you’re just starting your curly hair journey, all the products out there might seem like a jungle! Shampoo and conditioner are easy enough, but what about treatments, bond builders, or serums?
A quick stroll down the haircare aisle in your local beauty store can leave you dizzy with choices and even more confused than when you walked in.
How do you figure out which products will give you those fabulous, bouncy curls? What are the best curly hair products for beginners? And, most importantly, which ones do you actually need?
Pictured: Only Curls
Our Product Philosophy for Beginners
When you’re just starting to embrace your natural curls, I’m all about a “less is more” approach.
Switching to your natural hair texture after years of heat styling or chemical treatments is a big step. If I suggested a 10-step routine with alternating masks, treatments, and hair potions, you’d probably bail after the first washday!
The key here is to keep it simple so you can stick to it while you get to know your new hair personality.
So, what are the best curly hair products for beginners? Just the essentials! The ones your curls absolutely can’t live without. Nothing more, nothing less.
Pictured: Pretty Curly Girl
What Are the Best Curly Hair Products for Beginners?
To kick off your curly hair journey, you really only need three products:
- Shampoo: This is essential for keeping your scalp healthy. You need to routinely cleanse to remove dirt and build-up, which allows your follicles to breathe and promotes healthy hair growth.
- Conditioner: This is key to making your detangling process a breeze. A good conditioner provides great slip to help melt away knots while leaving your hair nourished and moisturised.
- Styling Product: This is the step most newbies skip, but it’s crucial for achieving that defined, frizz-free look. Styling products contain ingredients that help set your curls in place. This category includes foams, mousses, creams, and gels. But remember, oils, serums, and leave-in conditioners don’t count!
Pictured: Innersense Organic Beauty
How Do You Pick the Best Curly Hair Products for Beginners?
While everyone needs these three basics to start, the specific products you choose will depend on your hair’s unique needs.
People often say you have to go through tons of trial and error to find the right products, but it’s actually simpler than that!
Finding the best curly hair products for beginners is all about understanding your hair’s characteristics: density, thickness, porosity, and the kind of results you want.
- If your hair is fine, go for lighter products.
- If it’s coarse, opt for richer, more moisturising ones.
- If your hair has high porosity (meaning it’s more damaged), look for strengthening ingredients like proteins.
Every product is linked to a specific hair attribute, so you can make better choices as you get to know your hair.
Does This Mean All the Other Products Are Useless?
If all you need are three products, why are there so many on the shelves? Are brands just trying to cash in on you?
Not really—though some might be!
There’s definitely room in an advanced curly hair routine for more specialized products. Treatments, masks, serums—they all have their roles and can seriously amp up your results if you use them correctly.
When you’re just starting out, you need to learn how your hair reacts, what it loves, and what it doesn’t. And the only way to do that is step-by-step.
Your Curly Hair Routine Will Evolve with You
As you grow more confident with your curls and understand that your hair isn’t just “frizzy,” you can start to experiment and add more products to your routine.
That’s why it’s called a curly hair journey—it’s a process, but one that’s totally worth it.
Still not sure if you should take the plunge? Here are six reasons why embracing your naturally curly hair will change your life! Spoiler alert: it’s healthier, less time-consuming, and way more rewarding!
With love,
Amity 💗
