The Best Hair Products for Curly Hair

Understanding your unique curl pattern and texture will help you identify what your hair needs. Your curl pattern is based on genetics, environmental factors, hormonal changes, heat processing and damage, and more. One of the more standard, simplistic ways to categorize curls is based on four main categories.

• TYPE 1: STRAIGHT
• TYPE 2: WAVY
• TYPE 3: CURLY
• TYPE 4: COILY

The curl types are then further divided into 3 sub-categories:

• A: LOOSE
• B: MEDIUM
• C: THE TIGHTEST CURL PATTERNS

Curls tighter than a wave fall in to type 3 while short, super tight curls and coils fall into type 4. With type 3 and 4 curls, hydration is key. With curly hair, natural oils often get stuck on the upper part of strands, leaving the midshaft and ends dry and fragile. Prioritizing hydration creates better curl definition and elasticity, allowing your curls to maintain their shape and pattern.

Your curls need love and care at every step of your haircare routine. Redken has multiple lines designed specifically to nourish and hydrate your curls. For those with extremely dry curls and coils, the All Soft Mega Curls line provides ultimate hydration and moisture for visibly healthier, stronger hair. For those with processed or damaged curls, the new Acidic Bonding Curls line was created to restore and define the pattern of curls and coils. This line is made specifically with curl types 3A-4C in mind. The collection includes silicone-free bonding care range for ultimate curl repair as well as a range of hydrating curl stylers to help define and enhance your curls and coils!

For the dedicated 'Frizz Fighter' – those who live for smooth, defined curls that defy humidity and maintain their bounce in any climate – the struggle with dryness, frizz, and lack of control is real. You crave a curly hair routine that delivers hydration, strength, and definition without weighing your hair down. Redken understands these challenges. We’re here to equip you with the best curly hair routine steps for healthy, defined, and remarkably frizz-free curls, especially when humidity strikes.

Our goal is to combat those pain points: frizz, lack of control, buildup, and breakage. We'll focus on products and techniques that deeply hydrate, strengthen, and define your unique curl pattern, offering superior humidity protection.

Curly Hair Routine Steps For Healthy And Defined Curls

A consistent and thoughtful curly hair routine is your secret weapon against frizz. Follow these steps for your healthiest, most defined curls:

1. Cleanse Gently, Hydrate Deeply: The foundation of any good curly hair routine for frizzy hair begins with cleansing. Use a sulfate-free shampoo to remove impurities without stripping essential moisture.
2. Condition and Detangle: Follow with a rich conditioner, focusing on mid-lengths and ends. Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb to gently detangle, working from ends to roots.
3. Treat and Protect: Incorporate a leave-in treatment or mask for extra hydration and bond repair, especially if your curls are damaged or prone to breakage.
4. Define and Style: Apply your styling products—cream, gel, or mousse—to soaking wet hair to lock in moisture and encourage curl formation.
5. Dry with Care: Air dry or diffuse on a low-heat, low-speed setting. Avoid touching your curls excessively until they are completely dry to prevent frizz.

Best Products to Cleanse Curly Hair Without Stripping Moisture

Stripping moisture is a major culprit for frizz. Our pH-balanced formulas are designed to cleanse effectively while preserving your hair's natural hydration:

• For intensely dry curls, reach for Redken All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo and Conditioner. This duo provides ultimate moisture, leaving curls soft and manageable.
• If your curls are processed or damaged, the Acidic Bonding Curls Shampoo and Conditioner system is your go-to. It gently cleanses while strengthening bonds from within, helping to restore curl pattern and reduce breakage.

How to Apply Curl Products For The Best Definition

Application is key for curl definition and frizz control:

• Layering is essential: Apply products in order from lightest to heaviest on soaking wet hair.
• Rake & Scrunch: Distribute curl cream or leave-in by raking it through sections of your hair. Then, gently scrunch your curls upwards to encourage their natural pattern.
• Seal with Gel: Follow with a sculpting gel like Redken’s Sculpting Curl Gel. Apply by gently glazing over your curls and scrunching again. This creates a cast that locks in moisture and definition, preventing humidity from penetrating the hair shaft.
• Hands-Off Drying: Once products are applied, resist the urge to touch your hair until it’s fully dry to prevent disrupting the curl pattern and creating frizz.

Products For Refreshing Curls Between Washes

Keep your curls vibrant and frizz-free between wash days, even in humid conditions:

• Redken's Refreshing Curl Mist is a game-changer. This lightweight, leave-in spray reactivates and redefines tired, flattened curls without weighing them down. Simply mist onto dry curls, gently scrunch, and let air dry for an instant boost of hydration and definition.
• For oily roots without disturbing your curl pattern, use Deep Clean Dry Shampoo (or Invisible Dry Shampoo for darker hair) to absorb excess oil and add volume at the roots, extending the life of your fresh curls.

With this comprehensive curly hair routine and Redken's advanced curl-specific products, you're empowered to fight frizz and embrace your beautiful, defined curls, no matter the weather!

Shampoos and conditioners are the foundation of a good haircare routine, and this is especially true for curly hair. If you have extremely dry curly or coily hair, All Soft Mega Curls Shampoo provides intense nourishment and moisture to revive your curls. For those with frequently colored or processed curls, Acidic Bonding Curl Shampoo is perfect for you. Made with Shea Butter, Coconut Oil and avocado oil, this silicone-free bonding care shampoo will cleanse your scalp and hair while building bonds and repairing your curl strength from the inside.

The same holds true for conditioner! For ultimate hydration, opt for Redken’s All Soft Mega Curls Conditioner. This nourishing conditioner will improve your hair’s manageability and create bouncy, defined curls and coils. To restore your curl pattern and repair your damaged curls, opt for the hydrating Acidic Bonding Curls silicone-free conditioner.

The right curl cream can completely transform your hair. These creams can enhance your natural curl pattern, tame frizz, and provide definition and hold. Our recommendation? The new Hydrating Curl Cream. This cream is best for undefined, dry, frizzy curls. Applied to wet hair, the cream provides up to 72-hour curl definition and hydration. Plus, get heat protection against all your heat styling tools!

While the Hydrating Curl Cream will work great for fine or wavy hair, an alternative cream is All Soft Moisture Restore Leave-In Treatment. This hydrating, heat protectant tames frizz and seals the hair’s cuticle to promote moisture retention.

Looking for strong hold without the hard, sticky crunch? Redken’s Sculpting Curl Gel is for you. This lightweight formula allows you to define, hydrate and tame frizzy, curly hair for up to 72 hours. Like all our curl stylers, this gel is formulated with squalane and jojoba oil for built in hydration.

Refresh your curls between washes with hydrating Refreshing Curl Mist. This lightweight, leave-in spray redefines and gives life to flat or deflated curls after a long day. You can apply this on up to 7th day dry hair to leave your curls feeling hydrated, defined, and nourished.

Follow up your cleansing and conditioning with this Acidic Bonding Curls Leave-In Treatment. This treatment will repairs and hydrates while providing heat protection against styling tools – the perfect addition to your haircare routine.

Hair oils provide essential moisture and hydration to help define curls while boosting shine. Redken’s All Soft Argan Oil is perfect for curly and coily hair. Argan oil provides intense moisture, penetrating deep into the hair’s shaft for long-lasting hydration and shine. Achieve soft, supple curls with this oil.