As a curly haired girl I am very much aware that shampooing may be considered a cardinal sin.
Regular washing can wreak havoc with our hair type, particularly as many shampoos on the market contain sulphates and surfactants that strip natural moisture and leaving locks limp and frizzy.
Porosity is super important when it comes to curly hair. Coils are more absorbent than straight hair, and so shampoos can be difficult to rinse out completely - which can lead to that oh-so familiar frizz. Only Curls founder Lizzy Clark recommends the following;
“Go sulphate free. Watch out for the ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. While it’s great for a deep cleaner on straighter hair types, it can be pretty drying which is why we have chosen not to use it in our products. Also, avoid silicones. Without harsh cleansing ingredient in your routine like the aforementioned sulphates, silicones may build up on the hair and will eventually block moisture.”
There are some things to consider when it comes to choosing the perfect shampoo - and it’s all in the ingredient line-up. First up, the right balance of proteins. The inclusion of this can help to repair and strengthen the hair, while protecting it from further damage. Natural shampoos tend to be better, because they are full of oils which help to keep the hair hydrated as opposed to stripping it. Added nourishing ingredients such as Shea butter are very welcomed for the TLC that they bring. Last but not least, humectants are important for maximum absorption to keep your curls as bouncy as ever.
Before you consider the hair product to suit your locks, consider the curl classification system. It ranges from 2A to 4C and will help you find the right formulas to suit how tightly wound your curl are. If you have open waves, you are likely to sit at two, ranging to four and above with the more coiled it gets.
Here are the shampoos that are easy on our curls, and simply gently cleanse them, these are the best of the best.
Best products for back pain relief, from body pillows to acupressure mats
Best acne treatments and spot creams to fight facial blemishes
Best sulphate free shampoos to protect your hair
Best silk pillowcases to prevent wrinkles and protect hair
11 best hair dryers for all hair types
Best anti-frizz hair products to look after your locks at home
Living Proof Curl Shampoo
This shampoo from Living Proof is one of my favourite products for curly hair ever and it’s been awarded a permanent place in my shower caddy. It is a gentle cleanser that doesn't strip the hair of its natural moisture. The formula is powered by the proprietary Healthy Curl Complex which is a biomimetic blend that encourages curl groupings and helps to strengthen the hair. The brand say that after just one wash your curls will look more defined and bouncy - and I can certainly attest to that.
Buy now £12.00, John Lewis
Twist by Ouidad On Repeat Oil Infused Shampoo
Thank goodness curl-focused US label Twist is finally available in the UK. The entire range is a godsend but specifically the Repeat Oil Infused Shampoo, a gentle moisturising formula which ticks every single one of our curl criteria. It has a super lightweight texture which means its easy to wash out. Vegetable proteins help to strengthen the hair which prevents breakage, while jojoba oil protects against environmental stressors and chamomile nourishes each and every strand and promotes shine. It’s a yes from me.
Buy now £13.00, ASOS
Andrew Fitzsimons Fantasy Curls Shampoo
If anyone knows a thing or two about curls, it’s celebrity hair stylist Andrew Fitzsimons. This is literally a weightless formula, which leaves your curls soft and bouncy - truly the dream. It contains amino acids and coconut oils which keep the hair super hydrated and nourished. It also has bonding technology which is a protein-based formula to strengthen from within using hydrogen and ionic bonds.
Buy now £6.00, Boots
Davines Curl Shampoo
Davines’ Curl Shampoo is a creamy lightweight product that provides hydration and elasticity. It’s a super hydrating formula which makes curls super soft, while enhancing the volume. The use of natural ingredients helps to bring texture and ensures its gentle enough to use frequently too. It’s 10s across the board for me.
Buy now £18.50, Cult Beauty
Olaplex Bond Maintenance Shampoo
If you’re not yet familiar with Olaplex, where have you been? The bestselling label is known as the haircare of hairdressers. The brand’s No4 is its repairing shampoo, which is particularly helpful for damaged hair. The formula gets to work repairing split ends and frizz by relinking broken bonds. It’s nourishing and leaves your hair easier to manage, while also looking and feeling shiner and healthier.
If you’re wanting to grow your hair you should really add this - and the entire range from 0 to seven - to your routine, immediately.
Buy now £26.00, Feel Unique
Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo
Charlotte Mensah is the fairy godmother of the hair world and has her own eponymous salon on Notting Hill’s Portobello Road. This formula from her beloved range contains the unrivalled strengths of the manketti nut and ximenia oils which conditions your hair and gives it some much needed hydration.
Buy now £24.00, Liberty London
Imbue Curl Liberating Shampoo
Imbue’s sulphate-free shampoo is so cleansing and refreshing. It’s a gentle formula that removes dirt and impurities while lightly conditioning the hair and leaving it full of moisture. It contains coconut and cupuaçu, which add nourishment and condition to leave your hair softer and hydrated.
Buy now £8.99, Superdrug
Dizziak Hydration Wash
If the brand Dizziak isn’t on your radar, it should be. The Hydration Wash is your scalp’s new best friend with its pH balanced formula that is best suited for a deep clean. It lifts away dirt and grease, while delivering hydration that last throughout your wash cycle. Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate (derived from coconut) provides lather and helps to invigorate the scalp.
Buy now £20.00, Cult Beauty
Bread Beauty Supply Hair Wash
Bread Beauty Supply is a Holy Grail label for curls. The aptly named Hair Wash is a gentle milky cleanser which both refreshes and replenishes to rid you of frizz. Consider it somewhere between a cleanser and a co wash because of how hydrating it is. The product is packed with botanical oils and plant extract to dose you up on the vitamins and minerals that your hair will thank you for.
Buy now £18.00, Cult Beauty
Only Curls All Curl Cleanser
This London-based curl brand is brilliant and I’m sure you’ll be just as hooked as I am. The Curl Cleanser is a super hydrating. It very gently foam up with a nourishing cocktail of avocado oil and kukui oil for optimum hydration and citrus and coconut to make it smell like a dream. It’s such a lightweight formula so doesn’t feel like it weighs down your hair. Enviable curls, here we come.
Buy now £16.00, Only Curls All Curl Cleanser
