Choosing the best shampoo for curly hair, be that loose curls, kinks or coils, can make all the difference to the strength and even length of your hair. And because studies have shown that curly hair is more prone to frizz, dryness, tangling and breakage than straight tresses, it’s important to get your cleansing choice right.
Shampoo is your first line of defense against the product, sweat, and dirt build-up that can lead to scalp issues like redness, itchiness, dryness, and flaking—making cleansing a non-negotiable part of your haircare routine. Getting haircare right can give you the manageability to create easy hairstyles, no matter what your curl type.
All hair types have different needs, so whether you're looking for the best shampoo for fine hair or a shampoo that can handle the most unruly of curls, we've tested all these products to ensure they provide curls with much-needed moisture and tamed frizz.
Luckily, we've got you covered. Whether you have waves, curls or coils, this is your complete guide to the best shampoo for curly hair and all the best ways to take care of your beautiful natural texture. Next up? The best hair dryers for curly hair to complete your look.
RRP: £31
Curl type: Type 3 and 4 curls, kinks and coils
Following the curly girl method? This could be the best shampoo for curly hair to suit your needs. Despite being sulfate-free it lathers up really nicely and feels like a traditional shampoo formula despite being anything but. In fact, this shampoo contains a Healthy Curl Complex, which creates a shield around your curls to strengthen, define and eliminate frizz. The technology is a blend of amino acids, which are known to contribute to hair strength and elasticity. The ingredient list also boasts nourishing jojoba oil, shea butter, and sunflower seed wax to encourage curl groupings.
This complex ingredient blend does go some way to justifying this luxury price tag of this shampoo. Uniquely, you can actually start the detangling process once the shampoo is in your hair. This is thanks to the nourishing slip it offers as opposed to that squeaky clean stripped feel. This allows you to run your fingers through the lengths of your tresses before combing once you’ve applied the conditioner, which helps reduce breakage when the hair is wet.
Buy if: You want a product that feels spa-level luxurious
Avoid if: You're on a budget
RRP: £15
Curl type: Dehydrated curls
Many experts say daily cleansing is a no-no for curls due to the harshness of cleansing ingredients and silicones, but Boucleme’s non-foaming creamy cleanser is silicone and sulfate-free, and suitably gentle for everyday use. This means it could be the best shampoo for curly hair if you exercise regularly, work in environments where you get your hands or hair dirty, or simply live in a polluted area.
Designed for all curl types from loose to tight, this cleanser eliminates build-up and debris without stripping hair of its natural oils, so your curls are left beautifully soft and defined. It’s powered by nourishing plant extracts—including virgin coconut oil, aloe vera, pomegranate extract and invigorating spearmint. Plus this award-winning formula is 98% naturally derived, with recyclable packaging, leaving your curls feeling as clean as your conscience.
Buy if: You want to reduce frizz and dryness
Avoid if: Your hair is easily weighed down by oils
RRP: £10.99
Curl type: Thick curls
Shea Moisture's entire line is incredible, but we love the Coconut and Hibiscus range for thick or damaged hair. This nourishing formula lathers beautifully and while the smell is subtle it has a tropical scent that will make you feel like you're on your holidays. Key ingredients include nourishing coconut oil and shea butter to smooth split ends and strengthening hibiscus flower which is packed with amino acids to prevent breakage.
We found that this shampoo kept frizz down and helped bring definition to curls, but those with more fine hair may find that it sits heavy because of its many hydrating properties. For the price, you get nearly 400ml of product, making this one of the best value options we tried.
Buy if: You've got thick or damaged curls
Avoid if: You want a strong scent in your shampoo
RRP: £28
Curl type: Curls and coils
Curly hair loves a co-wash. However, some people can be thrown by the lack of lather, leaving them feeling like their hair isn't quite as clean as they want. The Trepadora Hibiscus Pink Cleansing Clay-Wash hits the mark though, with results that would impress even a co-wash sceptic.
It's moisturising but purifying, with pink clay to protect and increase elasticity. The formula uses 100% natural Zinc PCA which aids in controlling sebaceous gland oil production, which also keeps nasties at bay from your scalp.
Buy if: Your scalp is oily
Avoid if: You need a deeply moisturising shampoo
RRP: £40
Curl type: All curls
Powered by Virtue's signature Alpha Keratin 60ku, the Virtue Curl Shampoo is softly cleansing without stripping your hair from moisture. Its proteins are designed to strengthen and heal damaged hair for a bouncier 'do that looks and feels healthy.
You'll also find rice protein and sunflower seed oil in this blend, designed to keep hair safe from damaging UV rays. Many experts recommend avoiding sulfates and parabens in your hair products as these can build up and weigh hair down over time, so while this is a pricier pick, it's packed with only the best ingredients.
Buy if: You want a formula that's free of sulfates and parabens
Avoid if: You're on a budget
RRP: £33
Curl type: Curls and coils
This low-lather formula from Christophe Robin is one of the most luxe formulas we tested. Its major drawback is that once you've splurged on this £33 formula, it's hard to go back.
The self-described luscious formula creates great slip, allowing you to get right to the scalp even with tight curls, and helping with detangling before you've even gone in with conditioner.
Buy if: Your hair needs some help in detangling
Avoid if: You have loose waves that could easily be weighed down
RRP: £18
Curl type: Curls and textured hair
A mix between a shampoo and a co-wash, Bread Beauty Supply's Hair Wash works wonders on dry or sore scalps with its non-stripping formula. It doesn't lather, which some may take getting used to, but it's great at lifting oil buildup from thick hair which can often be weighed down by styling products.
We enjoyed the packaging with this hair wash which allows you to squeeze out every last drop. It's non-stripping and works a treat on coloured hair.
Buy if: You're looking for a co-wash
Avoid if: You've got naturally greasy hair that needs a regular deep cleanse
RRP: £20.50
Curl type: Curls and textured hair
Using colour on curls can be a bit of a no-no. The bleaching process can turn your already fragile hair type even more brittle, and this damage can make your strands more prone to breakage. The Davines NOUNOU Nourishing Shampoo wowed us with its deeply nourishing formula which smells phenomenal and hydrates deeply.
If your hair is frizz-prone, the soothing chestnut milk and tomato extract will calm strands and restore gloss to your head of hair. The packaging is also recyclable, and the formula is vegan.
Buy if: You've got colour-damaged curls
Avoid if: You're a sucker for pretty packaging
RRP: £28.25
Curl type: All curl types
Curly hair is more fragile than straight hair, and drier too, which is why this shampoo contains a patented ceramide that was developed after four years of research. It creates a barrier between the hair strand and environmental stressors to lock in moisture, improve strength, elasticity, and suppleness. You’ll also find manuka honey in this rich, creamy, and bolstering formula, which doesn’t weigh your hair down despite being ultra-nourishing.
You’ll probably want to use this gentle cleanser every day. This is in no small part thanks to the inclusion of glycerin, a gold standard moisturizer, which hydrates from root to tip to help with curl definition and shine. You'll also love the warm fruity, floral scent that envelops your hair and fills your bathroom. And since it’s sulfate-free you could use it every day too!
Buy if: You want a strengthening formula
Avoid if: You want to avoid perfume
RRP: £23
Curl type: All hair types
Adowa Beauty's Blue Tansy Clarifying Gel Shampoo is perfect for those who find their curls weighed down by product buildup. The blue tansy oil and slippery elm extracts promote stronger hair, while adding some slip to allow you to detangle as you cleanse.
We loved using this strengthening shampoo when we wanted to really tackle an oily scalp. Taking a scalp brush or really getting to the roots for a good few minutes lifts away buildup and promotes healthier growth.
Buy if: Your scalp is oily
Avoid if: You need a deeply moisturising shampoo
RRP: £8.99
Curl type: Curls, coils and textured hair
Fully recycled, 92% naturally derived and cruelty-free, the Rhyme & Reason Curl & Quench Shampoo is eco-friendly without costing the earth. It smells like a high end product, scented with peach and sandalwood, with a blend of nut butters and oils to nourish without any nasties.
We were seriously impressed by the performance of this product for the price. It's up there with many of the more expensive shampoos we tested, at a fraction of the cost.
Buy if: You want a low-cost, high quality shampoo
Avoid if: You'd benefit from a more gentle formula
RRP: £24
Curl type: Frizzy, textured hair
One of the OG curly girl-approved brands, Briogeo's Farewell Frizz formula is 98% naturally derived and packed with antioxidant protection to keep environmental damage at bay.
We got through this one quite fast because it had a more liquidy texture which made it easy to pour out too much, but it lathers well and left hair feeling softer while still thoroughly cleansed.
Buy if: You've got frizzy hair
Avoid if: You want a thick, rich texture
RRP: £24
Curl type: Curls and coils
Designed to restore moisture to dry and dull hair, the Philip Kingsley Moisture Extreme Shampoo features a range of exciting ingredients designed to smooth and de-frizz. This includes guar, an anti-static agent to keep hair tamed, and Oligoquat M, a superpowered moisturising agent that's derived from sugar cane.
We really enjoyed the application of this shampoo, from its calmingly fresh scent to its its attractive but fully recyclable packaging. The brand is CO2 negative and cruelty-free, too.
Buy if: Your hair needs a surge of moisture
Avoid if: You're on a budget
RRP: £24
Curl type: 2a-4c curls
It's hard to argue with Amika's impeccable branding, which caught our attention from first use, but the Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Shampoo's true appeal is what lies inside this lovely bottle. It's packed with natural, curl-loving ingredients such has fermented coconut water, sea buckthorn and blue/green algae.
You can also use this shampoo or colour or keratin-treated curls, and we found that despite its intense hydration it left no buildup on our hair. Pair with the matching conditioner for a real moisture surge.
Buy if: You've got dehydrated or coarse curls
Avoid if: You'd benefit from a more gentle formula
How to pick the best shampoo for curly hair
There are countless considerations to make when picking the best shampoo for curly hair, from budget to ingredients to how it smells, but these are your two key factors, according to the experts:
- Sulfates vs sulfate free: Traditional shampoo formulas contain sulfates, a surfactant that enables formulas to give a deep cleanse and that sudsy lather that we’ve come to associate with a good clean, and can help strip away any mineral deposits that come as an effect of hard water on hair. However, sulfates can strip the scalp of those oils we make for a reason—to keep hair healthy and hydrated. “It’s best to use a shampoo that doesn’t contain the likes of sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, and ammonium laureth sulfate," says trichologist Ricardo Vila Nova. "Instead, look for alternatives like coconut, that still remove dirt and excess oil, but don’t totally strip the scalp and leave naturally-dry curly hair even more parched.” Wondering how often should you wash your hair with sulfate-free shampoo? It's all down to how your hair feels, but between 1-3 times a week suits most curl types.
- Consider curl type: Curly hair is classified as type 3 or 4 with subcategories to help you further define your specific curl, kinks, or coils. “Type 3 curls are akin to springs that come in fine, medium, and thick varieties—they can be straightened with the best hair straighteners, and can boast major shine—but are prone to frizz and tangling," explains Elena Lavagni owner of Neville Hair & Beauty. "This makes hydrating, reparative, and curl-defining shampoos a good shout." At-home keratin treatment type shampoos can also be a great option for this curl type. "Type 4 coils shrink massively once dry, and these curls are either tightly coiled or have a compact zigzag pattern. This type is also generally parched in nature and tends to be coarser so sulfate-free shampoo is a must, as is a formula that’s full of nourishing oils that help soften and smooth tresses," says Lavagni.
What ingredients should I avoid for my curly hair?
Jamaican-born, Keisha moved to England in 2003 and saw a huge space in the market for women with curly hair who wanted a premium product offering and needed help understanding how best to care for their curls.
Keisha’s journey into the industry began with an online platform, offering tutorials, a forum and a store full of products such as Shea Moisture, Miss Jessies and Kinky Curly, sourced from the US – which were the leading brands at the time, but not readily available in the UK. In 2015, Keisha launched both the Trepadora flagship salon and her own range of vegan-certified products - designed for all curl types from corkscrews to gentle waves, and suitable for all ages from three up.
"If you have textured hair, that means you naturally have bends and loops which make the natural oils produced by your scalp to not travel easily along your hair shaft" says Keisha.
"For this reason, you need to gravitate towards shampoos which offer the ability to keep your scalp happy but deliver moisture to your strands at the same time. For this reason, most curlies avoid harsh irritating sodium lauryl sulphates and opt for kinder surfactants like Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, a very gentle cleanser derived from Coconuts.
"For fine curl types a liquid shampoo works best to avoid weight whilst for tighter curl types a cream-based shampoo offers the higher level of moisture that really penetrates your strands beautifully however I still recommend using a liquid shampoo at the scalp level at least once per week."
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