Anyone with curly hair knows that the right styling products can mean the difference between dry curls and soft, bouncy ringlets. The best curl cream will help you achieve the curls of your dreams. So if you've been choosing your curl creams based solely on your curl type (think: 3a curls, 4b hair, etc.), and you're still finding your hair weighed down, dried out, or shrunken up, it might be because of your hair porosity (i.e., how well your hair absorbs and retains moisture). If you have high porosity hair, your hair probably absorbs moisture well but doesn't hold onto it easily and could benefit from a heavier curl cream with ingredients like shea butter and heavy oils, like the Adwoa Baomint Curl Defining Cream.

THE REVIEW: " I cannot believe how well this product works; it will give me a full week of moisture and softness!" reads one tester's review. Extremely rich in tocopherols (Vitamin E), essential fatty acids, and antioxidants, this natural oil helps to nourish. Add this curl cream to your shelf of 4c hair products asap. Perfect for curly hair that's on the finer side, this shea butter-based formula will deeply moisturize and enhance your curls without leaving any heavy residue.Low porosity hair has cuticles that are super close together, making it hard for moisture and ingredients to penetrate the hair—resulting in product buildup and dryness. In general, low-porosity hair does best with lightweight formulas that contain little-to-no oils or butters, like the Rahua Control Cream Curl Styler. Two people with the same curl pattern can have totally different porosities, which means they need different curl creams. Curl creams create a protective film around the hair shaft, which helps to smooth the cuticle and make curls more manageable. Most formulas include nourishing ingredients that can help boost moisture or impart a shiny finish. Curl creams also enhance and encourage your hair’s natural curl formation, says Irinel de León, celebrity hairstylist and brand ambassador for Ouidad. “In addition, curl creams are often more moisturizing and contain conditioning properties to help curls be the best version of themselves.” This product might be called a curl-defining cream, but it does more than just lasts throughout the day. It also softens your hair (thank you, argan oil), smooths flyaways, adds shine, and gives your curls a soft and healthy feel that lasts so freaking long, according to reviewers. THE REVIEW: "I have type 4 hair, and this product works for me," writes one tester , adding, "I have been natural for over eight years now and I've tried every product under the sun, and I absolutely love this product!"

AQUA/WATER/EAU, PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM (MINERAL OIL), CETYL ALCOHOL, POLYQUATERNIUM-7, GLYCERYL STEARATE, DIMETHICONE, PETROLATUM, ARGANIA SPINOSA (ARGAN) KERNEL OIL, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, PANTHENOL, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, DMDM HYDANTOIN, CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, CITRIC ACID, CITRONELLOL, LIMONENE, ALPHA-ISOMETHYL IONONE, HEXYL CINNAMAL, HYDROXYCITRONELLAL, ISOEUGENOL, LINALOOL. MOICC01 Disclaimer: Aqua/Water/Eau, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycol Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Parfum/Fragrance, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Ceteareth-20, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, Ppg-1 Trideceth-6, Polyquaternium-11, Polyquaternium-37, Polyquaternium-72, Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, C10-40 Isoalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Disodium Edta, Sodium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Eugenol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde. A curl cream is a styling cream that helps to define your natural curls,” explains Annagjid “Kee” Taylor, celebrity hairstylist and owner of Deeper Than Hair in Philadelphia. “Not only will it give curls definition, but it will provide them with moisture you need to smooth your strands.” Easy definition meets smooth hydration. Moroccanoil® Curl Defining Cream is an all-in-one product that activates curls and fights frizz.Key ingredients: Rosemary leaf extract, green tea extract, meadowfoam seed oil, PEG-40 castor oil (moisturizes without building up) Now keep scrolling for the 21 curl creams myself, my curly-hair editors, and our experts are obsessed with. Then, read on for everything you need to know about curl cream, including how to choose the best one for hydrated, defined curls. It's pretty rare to find a curly hair product that fits almost every head of curls, but this is one of them. "Not only is it free of fragrance, silicones, and waxes, but it's also weirdly customizable depending on your curl type," says Cosmopolitan deputy beauty director Chloe Metzger. "Although it's filled with coconut oil, which would usually leave my fine hair greasy, a dime-size dollop squished through my sopping-wet hair leaves my 3a curls defined, smooth, and bouncy." Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream can also be used to refresh curls and reduce frizz throughout the day. Apply 1 pump from mid-length to ends and reapply as needed. Additional heat from a diffuser can be used to reactivate the curl memory. Heat-styling tools may also be used to define and style curls. Ingredients

Another one of Metzger's absolute faves? This curl cream by John Frieda that keeps her hair super smooth and sleek. "Anyone who knows me knows that I’ve had at least two tubes of this smoothing cream at my desk and in my car since 2015 because it’s that freakin’ good for immediately laying down frizz and flyaways without making my thin curls greasy," says Metzger. Just note, it's filled with water-insoluble silicones, so make sure to clarify once a month with a sulfate-based clarifying shampoo to strip away any build-up. Aqua/Eau, Cetearyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-11, Glycol Stearate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Polyquaternium-72, Dimethicone, Parfum/Fragrance, Cetyl Alcohol, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein Pg-Propyl Silanetriol, C10-40 Soalkylamidopropylethyldimonium Ethosulfate, Ceteareth-20, Dmdm Hydantoin, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Butylene Glycol, Eugenol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde April Kayganichis a curl expert, educator, and hairstylist at The Curl Whisperer Salon in Austin, TX. THE REVIEW: "I have gotten to know my curls very well now, but recently found myself struggling to balance protein and moisture," writes one reviewer, adding, "this curl cream— along with the leave-in conditioner, and the gel—has helped me restore my hair to it's best state once again." THE REVIEW: " My hair type is moderately dry-frizzy, wavy-curly, and fine, and this curling cream gives my hair soft, crunch-free voluminous curls," reads one tester's review.If you have curly hair, then head straight for this product the next time you shop the drugstore. It’s formulated with a complex of curl-enhancing ingredients—including rice, keratin amino acids, and enzymes—for shiny, defined curls. Users like how lightweight this curl cream is, while still providing plenty of moisture. Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream is a leave-in conditioner. It has no hold and will not increase amount of curls but will condition wavy to curly hair, defining and refreshing curls while protecting against frizz. THE REVIEW: "This stuff is the holy grail of moisturizers—the smell is lovely, not too strong or fruity or overpowering," writes one tester. " This is the first moisturizer I've EVER used that keeps my hair supple and soft for days." Never worry about using hot tools again! Moroccanoil Perfect Defense is a weightless, dry aerosol,heat protective spraywhich enables you to style away to your heart's content.

This curl cream was made with very dry, type-4 curls in mind, which means it comes through on its promise to moisturize your hair—s/o to sunflower and coconut oil—while smoothing frizz and flyaways that pop up when undoing your twists. Keep colored hair looking vibrant with this curl cream made for wavy, curly, and coily curl patterns. It’s formulated with sunflower seed extract, a natural UV protectant that shields hair from color fade, brassiness, and dryness. What’s more, olive oil helps manage flyaways for a sleek head of curls—even in humid conditions. Complete your anti-frizz regimen with our Frizz Control Collection. For all hair types and styling preferences. SHOP NOW

Find in store

Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream is an all-in-one product that defines curls while fighting frizz. Heat activated technology activates curls to keep hair bouncy in naturally curly or wavy hair.