Best Drugstore Curl Creams

1. Best Overall:Cantu Coconut Curling Cream

The award-winning Cantu Coconut Curling Cream is the one-stop solution for all curly-haired individuals. It offers weightless moisturizing while strengthening your hair right from the roots. It is enriched with shea butter which hydrates each hair follicle and gives smoother hair with defined curls. It manages your curls, making them soft and elongated. Its chemicals-free formula adds volume and shine to your curls. To understand the nuances of the product in detail, you can check out this review. Key ingredients: Shea butter and Coconut Pros

Mild fragrance Adds shine Mineral oil-free Sulfate-free Paraben-free Silicone-free Phthalate-free Gluten-free Paraffin-free Propylene-free PABA or DEA-free

Cons None

2. Best De-Frizz For Curls:Maui Moisture Curl Quench+ Coconut Oil Curl Smoothie

Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Curl Smoothie helps detangle, defrizz, and define curls. It is formulated with coconut oil and papaya butter, which hydrates your hair, while plumeria extract contains glycosides, giving a flake-free and moisturized scalp. This leave-in treatment for your curls enhances softness and gives shiny, bouncy curls. In addition, it helps hydrate the scalp, smoothens the curls, and gives it a shiny look. This cream is suitable for thick hair and tight curls. Check out this YouTuber’s review of this product. Key ingredients: Coconut oil, Papaya butter, and Plumeria extract Pros

Hydrating Adds shine Lightweight Vegan Sulfate-free Paraben-free Silicones-free Mineral oil-free Synthetic dyes-free

Cons

May cause hair loss

3. Best Shining Solution:OGX Moroccan Curling Perfection Defining Cream

OGX Moroccan Curling Perfection has an excellent formula that helps redefine, enhance, and smooth your curly hair. It is enriched with argan oil which eliminates frizz while maintaining a natural shine in your hair. In addition, this hair cream moisturizes your scalp, strengthens your hair, and increases the elasticity of the curls. Furthermore, it nourishes your hair and makes it healthier. You can also check this video out for a brief review of the product. Key ingredient: Argan Oil Pros

Adds shine Anti-frizz Long-lasting effect Non-greasy Sulfate-free Paraben-free

Cons

Contains alcohol

4. Best Hydrating Formula:SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie

SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie has a brilliant formula that helps restore moisture, control frizz, and condition your hair without weighing it down.  It is enriched with silk protein which repairs damaged hair while enhancing keratin production, which adds strength and moistens the curls. It also features neem’s anti-bacterial benefits and coconut oil’s hydrating power to give soft, silky, and bouncy curls. In addition, it has hibiscus extracts that prevent premature graying and make your hair look healthy and lustrous. Finally, its creamy formula adds volume and bounce to your hair, making it manageable while reducing dryness. Key ingredients: Silk protein, Neem oil, Coconut oil, and Hibiscus Pros

Hydrating Anti-frizz Lightweight Silicone-free Paraben-free Phthalate-free Mineral oil-free Petroleum-free Cruelty -free

Cons

Strong scent

5. Best Sulfate-Free Cream:L’Oréal Paris Ever Sculpt & Hold Cream-Gel

L’Oréal Paris Ever Sculpt & Hold Cream-Gel gives soft, manageable, and hydrated curls without any frizz. It is formulated with coconut oil that hydrates each hair strand deeply, eliminates dryness, and offers soft, manageable curls for a long-lasting effect of almost 48 hours. This non-abrasive cream is gentle on color-treated and curly hair. It conditions and shapes your curls, making them look naturally beautiful. It’s refreshing fragrance will invigorate your senses. Key ingredient: Coconut oil Pros

Long-lasting curls Color-safe Hydrating Lightweight Mild fragrance Vegan Anti-frizz Sulfate-free Paraben-free Vegan Harsh salts-free Gluten-free

Cons None

6. Best For Detangling:Marc Anthony Strictly Curl Defining Lotion

Marc Anthony Strictly Curl Defining Lotion allows you to restore lost moisture and nourish the hair cortex with its vitamin E enriched formula. This product is specially formulated to provide nourishment and moisture to curls while preventing detangling and frizz. In addition, it is non-alcoholic, lightweight, and non-sticky to offer bouncy and soft curls. Key ingredients: Silk protein, Vitamin B, and E Pros

Frizz-free Lightweight Alcohol-free Non-sticky Sulfate-free Humidity-resistant Long-lasting Great fragrance

Cons

Might dry your hair

7. Best Nourishing Formula:John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Cream Oil

Find the curl shape and definition you have been looking for with this product designed to offer flawless, bouncy curls. John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Cream Oil coats your hair with light coverage while enhancing its moisture content. It is a lightweight hair product featuring rosehip oil rich in vitamin A and D and fatty acids to eliminate dryness. In addition, it promotes nourished, healthy-looking hair and makes you love your curls again. Key ingredient: Rosehip oil Pros

Anti-frizz Lightweight Sulfate-free SLS-free

Cons

Unpleasant scent

8. Best Volume Booster:Cake The Curl Friend Defining Curl Cream

The award-winning Cake Beauty Curl Friend Defining Curl Cream offers the ultimate glossy, frizz-free, bouncy curls. This cream’s shea butter and natural oil content transform unruly curls into tamed, nourished, and well-defined curls like never before. At the same time, it has calendula and chamomile extracts rich in antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties that stimulate hair follicles and promote hair growth. In addition, this lightweight cream does not weigh down your hair and offers polished curls without any harsh chemicals. Key ingredients: Shea butter, Calendula, and Chamomile Pros

Frizz-free Lightweight Mild fragrance Cruelty-free Vegan Sulfate-free Mineral oil-free Paraben-free

Cons

Sticky

9. Best Humidity Resistant:Kenra Curl Defining Cream 5

Kenra Curl Defining Cream 5 separates curls and waves while softening frizz and flyaways. Its humidity-resistant formula adds styling control and refines your curls for a velvety soft feeling. This cream does a great job of creating soft curls and has an amazing scent. It is enriched with sunflower seed oil and jojoba oil for a touchable finish. Key ingredients: Sunflower seed oil and Jojoba oil Pros

Nice fragrance Humidity-resistant Anti-frizz

Cons None

10. Best For Hair Styling:Argan Magic Defining Curl Cream

Argan Magic Defining Curl Cream conditions your curls and adds shine. Its unique formula combined with biotin and argan oil nourishes and moisturizes your hair, removes frizz, and simplifies your styling routine. It enhances the natural pattern of your hair and makes them manageable and shiny. This hydrating curl cream is lightweight and provides nutrition and high definition to your curls. Its natural formula hydrates, protects, and nourishes your hair, improving its strength and elasticity. Key ingredients: Argan oil, Biotin, and Vitamins Pros

Lightweight Adds shine Anti-frizz Hydrating Paraben-free Cruelty-free

Cons None

11. Best For Hair Growth:TIGI Bed Head Foxy Curls Contour Crème

The TIGI Bed Head Foxy Curls Contour Cream is formulated to suit all types of hair. The main purpose of its formula is to soften your curls and reduce frizziness. This cream helps to manage stiff hair by softening it. It contains shea butter which moisturizes each hair strand. It also has sunflower seed extract rich in minerals like zinc and iron, which promotes hair growth and repairs damaged hair strands. Key ingredients: Shea Butter and Sunflower seed extract Pros

Anti-frizz Lightweight Water-based

Cons

Might cause hair loss

12. Best Humidity-Resistant:TIGI Bed Head Curl Recall Cream

TIGI Bed Head Curl Recall Cream helps retain curls, provides resistance from humidity, and moisturizes your curls. Its rich formula helps to add shine and defines your gorgeous curls. It is formulated with curl recall technology that instantly reforms curls and nourishes them to hold your curls for a long time. It is enriched with baobab and pomegranate extract rich in vitamins and minerals for promoting hair growth and nourishing hair. Key ingredients: Baobab and Pomegranate extract Pros

Humidity-resistant Adds shine Great scent

Cons None

13. Best Lightweight Formula:MATRIX A Curl Can Dream Moisturizing Leave-in Cream

MATRIX A Curl Can Dream Moisturizing Leave-in Cream is a leave-in treatment that provides moisture and definition without drying your curls. It is enriched with manuka honey which seals moisture into your hair and nourishes, moisturizes, and smoothens dull and dry hair. You can apply the desired amount of product on damp hair from the roots to the tip. Lastly, it does not cause any flaking or crunch. Key ingredient: Manuka honey extract Pros

Lightweight Hydrating Sulfate-free Paraben-free Silicone-free

Cons

Does not last long

14. Best For Adding Bounce:Eva NYC Gotta Bounce Curl Defining Cream

The Eva NYC Gotta Bounce Curl Defining Cream formulates hydration and nourishment, adding bounce and liveliness to your curls. It is enriched with natural elements to reduce frizz to moisturize and define your curls. It is safe for color-treated hair and contains no harsh chemicals. It is enriched with aloe vera and cactus flower powder which is rich in antioxidants, nourishes and Key ingredients: Aloe vera and Cactus flower powder Pros

Anti-frizz Hydrating Cruelty-free Vegan GMO-free Sulfate-free Paraben-free Phthalate-free Artificial colors-free Mineral oil-free Gluten-free

Cons

Unpleasant scent

Why Trust StyleCraze?

Shiboli Chakraborti is a hair care enthusiast who has an in-depth knowledge of hair care brands, products, and formulations. She understands the science behind these formulations and how it affects various hair types. That’s why when it comes to selecting the best drugstore curl creams, she has done her share of research and read several customer reviews before curating this list especially for you. Choosing any of these moisturizing and nourishing hair creams would not only give you smooth, shiny, frizz-free hair but also help strengthen and protect your curls from environmental stressors as well. How often should you use a curl cream? Use curl creams once or twice weekly. Use them on wash days for the best results. Does curl cream damage your hair? No. Curl creams add moisture to the tresses, smoothen the strands, and prevents the hair from tangling. Moreover, curl creams make curly or wavy hair more cohesive. What to do after applying a curling cream? Gently air-dry or blow-dry your hair with a diffuser. Once the curls are dried, fluff them to add extra volume to the hair. Can I put curl cream in dry hair? You can use curl cream on dry hair to add extra moisture to the tresses or before styling them. However, curl creams work the best on wet hair. Why does curling cream make my hair hard? Overusing curling creams can make your hair hard. The formula dries over time and makes your hair feel crunchy. Does curl cream weigh hair down? An excessive amount of curling creams might weigh your hair down. Opt for lightweight curling cream and use them in the right quantity to prevent it from weighing down your curls.

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