No two curl patterns are the same, so finding your exact curly hair cocktail can require experimentation. Luckily, we endured all the bad hair days for you, and this list of the best curly hair products below should help you to have consistently good hair days, with the most defined, hydrated, buoyant, and healthy curls possible. And as we outline later in the article, no two curly haired people will have the same needs, so it’s good to assess your specific hair variables (strand density, curl pattern, etc) and choose accordingly. Chances are, a couple of the below products will fall nicely into your regimen.

The Best Curly Hair Products for Men, At a GlanceThe Best Curl Cream for Men: R+Co Turntable Curl Defining CrèmeThe Best Leave-In Curl Conditioner for Men: Scotch Porter Moisture Rich Leave-In Hair ConditionerThe Best Curl Custard for Men: Aunt Jackie's Curl La La Defining Curl CustardThe Best Curl Balm for Men: Hairstory Hair BalmThe Best Anti-Frizz Shield for Curls: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Featherlight Styling CreamThe Best Shampoo for Curly Hair Men: Sachajuan Curl ShampooThe Best Conditioner for Curly Hair Men: Bevel ConditionerThe Best Hair Mask for Curls: IGK Intense Daily Smoothing MaskThe Best Men's Hair Brush for Curls: Altesse Beaute Petit Repair & Shine BrushThe Best Detangling Comb for Curls: Machete No.2 CombThe Best Blow Dryer for Curly Hair: Conair Infinitipro Blow DryerJump to: How Hair Texture Determines the Products You UseThe Key to Curly Hair Care

You probably know what general type of hair you have: You can usually look at it and tell whether it is straight, wavy, curly, kinky, or coiled. But remember that your curls are just one variable to factor into your hair care regimen, notes Dickey, "The Texture Guru" and founder of Hair Rules Salon in NYC, LA, and Atlanta. Your curls can also be fine, thick, or coarse, not to mention they could be progressively thinning or extremely full. Length plays a big factor, too—and on top of all that, environmental factors including humidity or dry air, as well as your scalp’s oil levels and hair porosity, can all factor into the variables you need to address with a routine.

Don’t let all of that feel overwhelming. Start with some universal curly hair products that work with your needs and the curl pattern / strand density, then start tweaking the regimen as you see fit. Above all, it’s most important to build a routine in the first place, then you can start perfecting it.

Before we get into some of the universal curly hair care product picks below, check out Dickie’s curly hair styling and care video that he did with GQ, where he outlines different approaches to styling and care for wavy, loose, tight, and kinky coils. (With some great product recs throughout.)

The Best Curl Cream for Men: R+Co Turntable Curl Defining Crème

R+Co

Turntable Curl Defining Crème$36

Amazon

How to apply: In towel-dried or damp hair, target the product at the roots and then work towards the ends before diffusing or allowing to air dry. | Size(s): 5 fl. oz.

Why it’s great: This curl cream shields your strands from humidity, to keep frizz at bay and to add some eye-catching shine along the way. (A medium level of shine, not greasy in the least.) They’re great in all kinds of curl definition, from waves to coils, and from short styles to lengthy ones.

The Best Leave-In Curl Conditioner for Men: Scotch Porter Moisture Rich Leave-In Hair Conditioner

Scotch Porter

Moisture Rich Leave-In Hair Conditioner$12

Amazon

$12

Walmart

How to apply: Every day after showering, massage the product throughout your curls, into clean and damp hair. Can air dry or diffuse dry. | Size(s): 7.1 fl. oz.

Why it’s great: This biotin- and protein-powered leave-in should be in the lineup for any short-haired guy who wants a conditioning curl cream. It doubles as a barely-there styler and will spare you from needing conditioner in the shower, and will keep all curl patterns brilliantly defined and soft all day. (It’s great in longer styles, too, but in shorter lengths it’s likely the only product you’ll need to keep things in order.) It also tempers scalp irritation with is use of willow bark extract, and smells heavenly.

The Best Curl Custard for Men: Aunt Jackie's Curl La La Defining Curl Custard

Aunt Jackie's

Curl La La Defining Curl Custard$13 $7

Amazon

How to apply: Here are the brand’s own instructions, from Amazon, for different end goals. “For scrunchy, tight curls: Apply generously to wet or dry hair and use a diffuser while scrunching style into place, or allowing to air dry. For elongated, bouncy curls or spirals: Apply to wet or dry hair, gently stretching curls with your fingers as you style, using a diffuser, hooded dryer or allowing to air dry. For coils, braid-outs and twists: Apply a small amount to sections of wet or dry hair, roller/rod set, braid or twist each section. Sit under a hooded dryer or allow to completely air dry, then release each section, finger styling into place.” | Size(s): 3, 15, and 18 fl. oz.

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Why it’s great: Definition is the name of the game here—this lightweight custard keeps things defined, buoyant, and frizz-less, no matter your wave, curl, or coil pattern. This stuff is chock full of nourishing and moisturizing properties, with shea butter and olive oil leading the charge.

The Best Curl Balm for Men: Hairstory Hair Balm

Hairstory

Hair Balm$37

Amazon

How to apply: Apply to clean, damp hair using hands or comb to distribute, then air dry. Also works as a flyaway tamer for dry hair. | Size(s): 4 fl. oz.

Why it’s great: Whether your ends need extra attention to prevent frizzing and fraying, or all your hair needs moisture and a humidity-shielding coat, this balm is the ticket for smoother hair days ahead, and also works as a terrific bushy beard-tamer, too.

The Best Anti-Frizz Shield for Curls: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Featherlight Styling Cream

Ouidad

Advanced Climate Control Featherlight Styling Cream$26

Amazon

How to apply: Massage through your damp curls with fingers, starting from roots. Blow dry with a diffuser or allow to air dry. | Size(s): 2 and 5.7 fl. oz.

Why it’s great: This barely-there cream is a perfect heat and humidity shield for your strands, whether you use a blow dryer or just need to shield your style from the hair-ballooning elements. Silk proteins and oils of olive, meadowfoam seed, and soybean give it mask-like moisturizing powers, too.

The Best Shampoo for Curly Hair Men: Sachajuan Curl Shampoo

Sachajuan

Curl Shampoo$33

Sachajuan

Key ingredients: Wheat protein and red algae extract provide fortification and prevent frizzing as well as split ends. | Size(s): 8.4 fl. oz.

Why it’s great: Swedish Sachajuan is a salon staple for good reason. In this curl shampoo (which is great for all kinds of curl and wave patterns), the label’s signature “Ocean Silk Technology” floods the hair with silk proteins and marine extracts. It’s especially great if you just use a shampoo in the shower, and reserve any conditioning efforts for a leave-in or styling cream, since it is one of the most nourishing and conditioning washes you’ll find.

The Best Conditioner for Curly Hair Men: Bevel Conditioner

Bevel

Conditioner$10

Amazon

Key ingredients: Coconut oil and shea butter provide deep nourishment and long-lasting moisture to keep curls healthy, hydrated, and defined. | Size(s): 12 fl. oz.

Why it’s great: Bevel’s multitasking conditioner is great for the guy with little time on his hands, who needs to get his daily strand nourishment over the course of a couple minutes mid-shower. However, it can also be used as a conditioning hair mask, if you let it set for 10-15 minutes before rinsing clean. Not to mention, it’s extremely cost-effective, so stock up and get your mileage every day.

The Best Hair Mask for Curls: IGK Intense Daily Smoothing Mask

IGK

Intense Daily Smoothing Mask$38

Amazon

Key ingredients: Spirulina protein fortifies each strand, while a concentration of 3% nourishing plant butters provides long-lasting frizz resistance. | How to apply: Use 2-5 pumps depending on your hair length and mass, apply to wet hair in the shower. In medium and longer styles, target the mids and ends of the strands. You can also use it as a leave-in conditioner in clean, damp hair by applying 1-3 pumps throughout the style. | Size(s): 5 fl. oz.

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Why it’s great: A generous concentration of plant butters and oils gives your cuticles the smoothing, shielding benefits to thwart frizz for as many as four days. It’s also a supreme strand detangler, in addition to being a miracle worker on the driest, frizziest, breakage-prone and coarse strands imaginable. Use it weekly for a thorough reset, or any day as a leave-in if you need some extended nourishment and protection.

The Best Men's Hair Brush for Curls: Altesse Beaute Petit Repair & Shine Brush

Altesse

Beaute Petit Repair & Shine Brush$260

Nordstrom

Materials: 100% natural boar bristles and olive wood | How to use: Brush from roots to ends of the hair. Brand recommends 100 strokes, twice a day (morning and night), by segmenting four different rounds of 25 strokes. First, with the head held straight (brushing back), then tilted right (brushing down), then left (brushing down), and lastly, 25 more strokes with the head tilted forward and brushing down.

Why it’s great: With more than a century of lore, Altesse is arguably one of the best brushmakers on the planet, and their entire roster of brushes offers something for every type of hair density or curl. This sturdy board-bristle, olive wood paddle brush is perfect for curls and coarse strands, in particular, and is the smaller of two curly haired options (making it doubly perfect for travel). It’s great in shorter beards, too—but if your beard gets long enough, switch to one without a paddle to avoid tugging.

The Best Detangling Comb for Curls: Machete No.2 Wide-Tooth Comb

Machete

No.2 Wide-Tooth Comb$42

Machete

Material: Acetate | How to use: Use in dry hair to detangle strands; you can aid the process by using a detangling spray. It’s best to use towards the ends of the hair, and work your way up in sections, otherwise you risk way more breakage (if you start near the roots or middle). Use with caution in wet hair; in wet hair, curly styles tend to handle combs better than straight styles, so long as you take things slow and use an acetate comb like this one. | Size: 6.5” long, 2.38” wide

Why it’s great: This wide-tooth comb isn’t just great at detangling hair without breakage and tugging, but it also looks so cool in your dopp kit or on your bathroom sink ledge. It’s one of many colors and styles from Machete—they’ve got a ton of great brush and comb options for all kinds of lengths, curl patterns, or lack thereof.

The Best Blow Dryer for Curly Hair: Conair Infinitipro Blow Dryer

Conair

Infinitipro Blow Dryer$47 $40

Amazon

Key features: Ionic drying with ceramic belly, both of which expedite and improve time spent drying, in turn preventing frizzing/fraying. Concentrator attachment is great for targeting air onto hair parts and in straighter styles, but diffuser attachment is essential for curly hair drying (both included). Three temperatures (including cool), and two speeds.

Why it’s great: Any blow dryer you use on curly hair should have a diffuser to evenly distribute the heat throughout your curls as opposed to over-targeting or fast-blasting the strands. This controlled and spread-out heat will help curly hair dry with minimal damage and frizzing—and the combined ionic and ceramic technologies deployed in Conair’s blow dryer will also expedite the process while mitigating cuticle strain.

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Read more about the best blow dryers and how to use them.

How Hair Texture Determines the Products You Use: The Andre Walker Hair Typing System

One way to better find curly hair products for yourself is to identify your specific hair type. This is probably something your barber or stylist can discern with a quick glance—especially if your hair is medium or long. This simple system identifies the wave/curl/kink/coil pattern in your hair (or, for straight hair, the lack thereof).

Andre Walker was Oprah’s hair stylist in the 90s, and he developed the following hair-typing classification, in order to sell his hair care products to the masses. Walker made things simple for everyone by suggesting that everyone falls in line somewhere on the below spectrum of hair types, from 1a-4c.

“Identifying your hair type is like a GPS towards ‘healthy hair euphoria,’” says Darius Davie, men’s hairdresser and the voice behind Groom Guy Agency. “It can be helpful when applying products at home, and how you communicate your needs to a barber or stylist.” And while many of the above curl products are universal-use, you can instead choose to hone in on your curl pattern and target products that are specifically beneficial to your needs.

Type 1: Straight Hair

Ranging from thin straight hair to coarse straight hair, the Type 1s don’t hold a curl very well.

1a: Hair is fine and straight, usually oily, often limp.

1b: Hair has average thickness, and cooperates with most straight-hair products and styles.

1c: Hair is coarse and uncooperative. Poofs easily with short styles, and needs severe layering/texturizing with medium/longer lengths.

Type 2: Wavy Hair

Hair doesn’t fully curl, and ranges from “nearly straight but versatile” to “kinky but cooperative.” (Sounds like me in college!)

2a: Waves are loose—more texturizing than wavy—a step above straight, plus very cooperative and versatile.

2b: Waves are more evident, albeit slightly more fussy when it comes to styling. Hair is prone to poofing and frizzing.

2c: Waves are bigger and wider, teetering on kinky zigzags. They frizz easily.

Type 3: Curly Hair

Hair curls over, a clear graduation above wavy texture.

3a: Curls are looser, thus fuller and voluminous. Hair frizzes easily.

3b: Hair curls more frequently along the shaft, so the result is less volume, though they loosen easily with moisture.

3c: Curls are extremely tight, bordering on coily. They are likely softer to the touch than the next level, 4a.

Type 4: Coiled and Kinky Hair

Between zigzags and coils, there are two types of kinks here.

4a: A wiry, O-shaped coil with slight distance between each curl. Sometimes called “soft kinky.”

4b: Taut zigzags, similar to 2c waves but much finer and more frequent kink pattern.

4c: Coils are so hard and prominent that the kink pattern practically disappears. It’s the curliest curl, even beyond 4a.

Here’s some insight from Davie about how different textured hair types require a different approach:

“Type 2 [waves] won’t have the same frequency of leave in conditioner as for 3b, 3c or 4a.”“Types 3b, 3c, and 4a will need more maintenance in between workouts because of the sweat build up and protection.”“Hair butters and creams are best friends for types like 3b, 3c, and 4a, because they supply the necessary dosage of moisture needed for this hair to be protected & pre-styled.”

It’s a lot to wrap your head around, yes. But it starts with honing in on your type, doing your research about your type, and maybe even talking to your stylist about it. Shop smartly, and you should build a reliable regimen that works for you, specifically.

Read MoreThese Are the Absolute Best Hair Products for Men

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By Adam Hurly



Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQBathroom and ShowerHairGrooming