Best Shampoo for Curly Frizzy Hair?

Updated on April 15, 2011
J.M. asks from Framingham, MA
14 answers

I have a lot of dark curly hair that tends towards the frizzy side. I have been straightening it more lately, and while I have some straightening products that I like, I'm always open to suggestions. But what I'm really wondering is the best shampoo and conditioner that won't dry out my hair, which the flat iron does enough. Also hoping that some of you ladies have suggestions for product that will help keep my hair curly without adding frizz. I feel like I've tried a lot of the regular drugstore stuff (pantene and the like). I'd rather not spend a fortune, but wouldn't mind paying a little more than regular price either.

Thanks for whatever help you can give!

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H.N.

answers from Biloxi on

Avon has a great shampoo, conditioner, and serum for control of the frizz that works amazingly well on my hair!! and its no more expensive than any random drug store variety!!

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L.K.

answers from Kansas City on

It took me 40 years to learn to love and accept my curly hair! I just turned 49.

I finally found a great stylist who knows how to cut my hair so I can blow dry my 'bangs' and scrunch and go the rest. I do try to find any shampoo and conditioner that says "For Curly Hair" but my Go To product is John Frieda's "Dream Curls." Seriously, I'm fairly liberal in spraying that stuff in, scrunch it and go! I get compliments all the time.
If the humidity is very high, I do have some Redkin Glass, I think it's called on hand.

Good Luck

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C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

I'm 37 and I just learned to accept my curly hair a couple years ago. I use Redkin Fresh Curls shampoo once a week. The other days I just use Dove moisturizing conditioner. I second John Frieda's Dream Curls and on the days I shampoo I use John Frieda's Spiral Style spray gel.

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R..

answers from Chattanooga on

I generally use either Pantene, Dove, or Garnier Fructise (curly/frizzy formulas) as far as shampoo and conditioner goes... I always rinse my hair in as cold of water as the faucet will run, but that probably wouldn't work so well for people who don't have the detachable showerheads... But the things that work the best for me is to use a combination of this serum I found (it's pretty cheap too) called Citreshine... (it seems to be helping my spit ends too!) along with the Pantene curl-defining mousse.

I also have found that once or twice a month, I put a conditioning treatment (the VO5 oil therapy things are fairly cheap and work well). I put the oil in, and wrap a steaming towel around it so the hair follicle opens up and absorbs the oils. Then I rinse it in warm water until the oil is gone, and finish it in ICE COLD water. That seals the follicles, which will also help it hold it's natural curl shape. Then I add the citreshine and mousse, and I'm good to go.

My hair is very curly, very thick, and used to reach down to my tailbone, and would frizz out like you would't believe. I used to wish my hair was as tame as the women I saw on advertisements for straighteners/products. When it was still super long, it would still get a little frizzy but not nearly as bad as if I didn't put product in it. I recently cut it about shoulder-length with a few layers, and it actually looks NICER if I leave it curly (with product) so that's what I usually do now. The stylist told me that taking the weight off the curls allowed them to form instead of being stretched down. :P

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Boston on

Buy the book Curly Girl and get ready for some weird but really amazing advice. I've been trying to deal with my curls my entire life. I didn't come to terms with them until I was 17. When I was growing up there were no hair "products," and curls were the worst thing to have from ages 10 to 17.

I already only wash my hair a couple of times a week, but Curly Girl takes it further. When you wash, don't brush your hair. Just use your fingers. Otherwise, you do more damage than good.

Dont use shampoo. I know, this was the most difficult thing for me to overcome. Use conditioner. They say, and I now agree: you only need something to stir up the dirt particles and help wash them away. It really works. I wash with a mild conditioner, then condition as usual (finger through a thicker conditioner and keep in my hair until the end of my shower).

Spray a mixture of mostly water plus a few drops of lavender oil to refresh hair. There's so much more in the book, including a variety of mostly easy, homemade conditioners. I'm going to try the brown sugar scalp scrub next week.

Lately, I've been using Jason's Natural Sea Kelp Conditioner. It's not expensive and it's very thick, and it's natural, which is very important. The book has a list of ingredients you should look for on an ingredient list (humectants, such as panthenol)--and ones you should avoid (anything ending in "cone." I think these are silicone products--I don't remember why they're bad.)

As much as I've come to terms with my hair, it's still a pain. Lately, I've had it blown out (my hair is really thick--I could never do this myself. It takes someone at least 45 minutes to do, but it comes out great. It's so much easier to manage (I touch up with a small flat iron and add in fun loose curls), and it lasts almost a week without looking oily (but it's definitely in a pony by the last day--still looking good with the pretty curls in the back).

Good luck! My 5-year-old daughter has my hair, so here goes another generation. At least she has some hair products from which to choose

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T.S.

answers from Sacramento on

The main thing would be to wash it LESS. You really don't need to wash it unless it actually seems dirty... once a week should do it. I have curly hair and I wet it every day, but certainly don't ever wash it more than once a week.

HTH
T.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I like Aveeno Shine/Smooth or Nourish shampoo.
Aveeno Nourish Leave in Treatnent after I blot dry. Comb through.
Chi Infra Treatment heat protector is really nice before blowdrying.
Then pea sized drop of Chi Silk Treatment (oil) after flat ironing.

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

RUN, don't walk to the nearest Ouidad certified salon that you can find. I promise you - IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!
Okay, that was a little dramatic, but us curly haired girls know the pain and agony of too curly, too frizzy, not shiny, too this & that - When I discovered Ouidad I finally embraced my curls like a long lost lover! (Again, with the drama, but you have NO IDEA how amazing it is!)

The cut, for me in Dallas, is $105 - But leaving the salon I felt like I would have / should have paid her with my curly headed soul!
I think you can get onto Ouidad's website & do a salon search by zipcode.

The one product that I really like is Mixed Chicks. Though I'm not mixed, the product didn't discreminate aginst my blondy brown hair. LOL
I love the leave in conditioner.
Oddly, I also like "Fuzzy Duck" anti-frizz gel. It's actually a child's product, but it worked so well for me that I keep buying it. Plus I can use it on my child.

Good luck - And may you never flatten those beautiful curls again! :)

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B.L.

answers from Boston on

I second the recommendation for the book Curly Girl -- I've had curly hair all my life, and I've finally tamed the frizz thanks to this book. I'm still experimenting with different shampoos (though I only use it when my hair actually feels dirty-- maybe once a week, and only on the roots), but I really like the Nature's Gate hemp conditioner. My hair really seems to like it too.

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K.P.

answers from Seattle on

I have the same hair! Very curly, coarse, and frizzy sometimes. I use Herbal Essences Totally Twisted shampoo and conditioner, and then use a curling creme. I use Gene Juarez's cause here in Wa its $15 but it works great.

I also got some stuff called Ouidad on Amazon.com and got a travel pack with shampoo, conditioner, heat and humid (de-frizzing) gel, and a botanical curl boosting spray that works great. I really like the stuff, and it smells like faint baby powder so its fresh. I only paid $25 on it, and I really like it, takes the frizz out of my hair as much as possible, and then the all natural spray is great for the next day.

Also I rinse my hair in cold water, and that closes the cutical and tames down the frizz. Also if you dont touch it very much throughout the day it tends to frizz less.

Good luck!

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S.G.

answers from New London on

I love TIGI S-Factor Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner. It's a little pricey but worth it.

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

Dove is my go to love it....

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K.D.

answers from Boston on

I too have very curly hair. It doesn't look right straightened because it's too thick. I only wash it every other day and can't use cheap drugstore products or else I get an itchy, flaky scalp. Right now I use Matrix curl life shampoo and conditioner and Biolage Gelee. I never blow dry. Just scrunch the gel in and go. Never brush it either. I get tons of compliments on my hair and am told that I have perfect curls. I feel like I dont spend a ton. Just middle of the road and spend less time on it than the average person.

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S.H.

answers from Dallas on

I just started using the Ouidad moisturizing styling gel and botanical spray and I like it alot. My hair is super thick and it frizzes like crazy. I also just used a sample of Phytospecific Intense Nutrition Shampoo for Curly, Frizzy Hair and the Phyto 9 Daily Ultra nourishing botanical cream...good stuff. I will probably be ordering some from Sephora this weekend! Good luck!

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