I was hooked after the first wash...the curl definition was unreal! I’m especially impressed with the conditioner which made detangling a breeze." I’ve always had long hair and the weight of it pretty much eliminated the curls that I once had. Now I can use this and either air dry my curls or diffuse without losing definition."

Our LOVE CURL range is full of curl-controlling goodies such as shampoos and conditioners, masks and smoothers, creams, primers, and serums to nourish and condition your natural curls or waves and give stunning results. Looking for something to smooth frizz and add shine? 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. Because curly hair is more vulnerable, replacing your cotton pillowcase with a silk or satin one could help minimise breakage overnight. A silk or satin pillowcase allows the hair to glide more freely, rather than cotton, which can pull on the hair strands and leave it feeling frizzy and out of control when you awaken! Your stress levelsThe first time I used this I was shook! I normally style using the LCG method (leave in, cream, & gel)...but I can use only the styler and I'm good!"

April Kayganichis a curl expert, educator, and hairstylist at The Curl Whisperer Salon in Austin, TX.

International delivery

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. When you find a product with more hold, it'll give you more texture, crunch, and volume. On the flip side, products with less hold will give you softer, more relaxed waves. I love it - one product and *done!* And did I mention it's great for the kiddos too because it's so simple??" 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."

Curl type: Finding your curl type is essential to finding the right curl cream. To find your curl type, hop in the shower: It's easiest to determine when hair is soaking wet. "Detangle hair with a wet comb or brush and then you can start to look for the pattern of the hair," explains Rivera. Different types of curly hair, from wavy and loose to tight curls and coils, range by number. "For instance, slight to more distinctive waves fall in [Type 2] curls from A to C in distinction," says Rivera, while "loose, more spiral-shaped, curls tend to fall into the Type 3 category, ranging from A to C in subcategories," explains Rivera. Coily or kinky hair (i.e. hair that forms tight curls in a zig-zag pattern from the scalp) is a Type 4, ranging from A to C in subcategories. 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. If you use bleach on your hair, it "completely destroys the porosity of your hair," which can make your curls brittle, Ehman says. So, if you bleach your hair for color, just make sure you use a keratin-based and moisturizing curl cream.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. According to Rivera, curl boosting sprays are typically a great choice for fine hair. "They can be spritzed evenly over hair and tend to be very lightweight," says Rivera. "This allows fine hair to maintain its curl rather than being weighted down." For medium hair, you can also look for a curl cream that is light in weight, which will help define the curl, while cutting down the frizz. And finally, if you have coarse hair, a denser curl cream can provide additional control and enhance style.

Curly hair comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and quantities that range on a vast scale from person to person. Essentially, curly hair can be classified as anything that grows out of a follicle that isn’t straight. U-shaped, C-shaped, or even S-shaped follicles create waves, curls, or ringlets that can be fine or coarse, depending on the individual. Curly Girl Method-approved? Yes* (*contains some isopropyl alcohol that's unlikely to have an effect on your hair) THE REVIEW: "I had read that this was an amazing product that somehow magically worked for all curl types but was pretty skeptical when I put some on my hands—but to my surprise, I am so pleased with the results," writes one reviewer. "My hair looks amazing!"

My Account

Curl creams are like the love child of a leave-in conditioner and a curl styling product. "They help to define and amplify natural curls, eliminate frizz and add soft hold," says Nunzio Saviano, a hairstylist and founder of the eponymous salon in New York City. " Curls need to be moisturized and protected to stay bouncy, separated, defined and smooth, and curl creams can offer the necessary hydration for a perfect style." If you like a product but you're not sure if it's water-soluble, look it up online, because it probably won't say so on the bottle. But in general, higher-quality products from brands such as Curology, Kevin Murphy, Davines, and Amica—are all water-soluble, she says. Siena Gagliano is the associate editor at Cosmopolitan who writes beauty , and has two years of experience writing about beauty, fashion, and lifestyle news. She's an expert at researching and writing hair and skin stories, like the best shampoos for curly hair and the hair brands for braiding hair. She regularly tests and analyzes curl creams, while working with the industry's top hairstylists and curl experts to assess new formulas and brands.