After years of trial and error, I finally nailed down my curly hair routine — here are 10 styling products that made it happen

Business Insider

3 days ago

For years, I struggled to find the right routine for my curly hair. Between a changing curl pattern, frizz, and one very bad salon appointment, my hair has been put through the test. But after years of trial, error, and a lot of wash days, I finally pinpointed 11 styling products that are guaranteed to give me a good wash and go.
From moisturizing curl creams to curl-defining mousse, here are the styling products that completely transformed my hair care routine.
My curl routine at a glance:
On wash days (1-2 a week), wash hair with shampoo, conditioner, or co-wash. Apply a deep conditioner for 5-30 minutes to lock in extra moisture.
While still wet, add curl cream, hard hold gel, or mousse, using a detangling brush or wide-tooth comb to spread the product evenly.
Scrunch out extra water with a cotton T-shirt and let air dry for 10-20 minutes.
Dry using a diffuser and heat protectant. Seal with anti-frizz oil.
Oils for anti-frizz and strength
Oils are the finishing touch that make everything come together in my routine, especially when it comes to locking in moisture, adding shine, and taming frizz. I typically use them as the final step on wash days or to scrunch out the crunch from gel. These two are my go-tos for different reasons, but they both deliver when it comes to strengthening and smoothing my curls.
Bonus: A multitasking heat protectant
Not Your Mother's All Eyes on Me Hair Perfector
Whether I'm diffusing or doing a quick blow-dry, this product does it all — it protects, smooths, detangles, and hydrates. I like that it's lightweight and doesn't mess with my styling products, and I always feel better knowing my hair is protected from heat. I use this every wash day without fail.
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My best curl advice
There's no magic product that works for everyone, but here's what's helped me stay consistent:
Understanding my hair's porosity and density. Once I figured out that my hair is low porosity and medium density, everything started making more sense. Products that were too thick would sit on my hair, and light, buildable formulas started working much better for me.
Layering with intention. I stopped throwing a bunch of stuff in my hair and hoped for the best. Now, I layer lightest to heaviest (cream → gel or mousse → oil), and it's helped with everything from frizz to longevity.
Trying products seasonally. My hair needs different things in winter versus summer. I learned to rotate in more hydrating or protective products based on the weather and humidity levels.
Listening to my curls. They'll tell you what's working. If they're dry, dull, or limp, switch it up. A good hair routine is about checking in with your hair and adjusting accordingly.
The bottom line
All in all, my routine changes depending on the look I'm going for and the season I'm in. The key is building a solid base of products that work for your hair type, and making sure they're flexible enough to adapt to your environment, whether you're fighting off winter dryness or summer humidity. Focus on products that help you build a strong foundation, then mix and match based on your hair needs.