Collage: Jemeria Davison; Source images: Courtesy of Allure editors and brandsSave this storySave this story
Curly hair truly flourishes when you embrace its natural texture, but if you're aiming for a more defined look, the best curl cream (for your hair type and needs, of course) can make a world of difference. That's easier said than done, though, especially when you’re dealing with frizz and humidity. Luckily, we have hairstylists on speed dial to help you find the right formula—and the expert tips you need to achieve your desired results. (More on that later.)
Whatever your hair type, these oil-infused formulas help enhance your hair's natural beauty by adding curl definition, taming frizz, and amplifying shine. Nourishing ingredients such as avocado and coconut oil coat each strand to prevent moisture loss throughout the day and help curls maintain their shape, no matter what the elements may bring. For wavy hair, curl creams work especially well when applied with scrunching techniques to encourage natural wave formation.
Our Top Picks
- Best Overall: Rizos Curls 6-in-1 Styling Cream, $25
- Best for Humidity: Aveda Be Curly Advanced Curl Enhancing Cream, $36
- Best for Fine Hair: Bumble and Bumble Curl Light Defining Cream, $37
- Best for Frizz Control: Fenty Hair The Homecurl Curl-Defining Cream, $34
Don’t know where to start? We've curated a list of the best curl creams, butters, and leave-ins to suit every texture and curl pattern—in other words, you'll have dreamy waves, coils, and curls in no time.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- Do curl creams actually work?
- How should you apply curl creams to get maximum impact?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Rizos Curls 6-in-1 Styling Cream
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Rizos Curls
6-in-1 Styling Cream
Ulta Beauty
Allure commerce editorial assistant Hailey Roy applying the Rizos Curls 6-in-1 Styling Cream
Hailey Roy
Why we love it: As its name suggests, the Rizos Curls Styling Cream does the job of six separate products in one step, combining hyaluronic acid for moisture retention, mango butter for softness and shine, and lactic acid (an alpha hydroxy acid, or AHA) to smooth the hair cuticle and enhance shine, all wrapped in a base infused with 13-plus vitamins and amino acids that act as multivitamins for hair repair and strength. A genuine routine-simplifier for anyone tired of stacking tons of products, this creamy, lightweight lotion formula provides curl definition, frizz control, flexible hold, heat protection up to 450 degrees, and split-end sealing. The cherry on top: It works across all curl types from 1A to 4C, ensuring every pattern gets the exact balance of moisture, protection, and hold it needs.
Roy before applying the Rizos Curls 6-in-1 Styling Cream
Hailey Roy
Roy after applying the Rizos Curls 6-in-1 Styling Cream
Hailey Roy
Tester feedback from commerce editorial assistant Hailey Roy
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“There are two kinds of curly girls: those who prefer defined ringlets and those who opt for luscious volume — I’m the latter. So when it comes to leave-in conditioners, my 3B curls crave something lightweight enough to let them do their thing. What I love about the Rizos 6-in-1 is that, yes, it graciously allows my hair to billow, but it still keeps frizz in check. And on the rare occasion that I want more definition, applying a little extra product gets the job done with ease. Plus, the scent gives decadent mango — the perfect fragrance for summer.” —Hailey Roy, commerce editorial assistant
More to know
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- Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, mango butter, lactic acid (AHA)
- Who it’s for: all hair types
- Silicone-free: yes
- Scent: yuzu, blood orange, mango, coconut water, amber, and vetiver
Best for Humidity: Aveda Be Curly Advanced Curl Enhancing Cream
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Aveda
Be Curly Advanced Curl Enhancing Cream
Amazon
Nordstrom
Allure commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann applying the Aveda Be Curly Advanced Curl Enhancer Cream
Sarah Hoffmann
Why we love it: If your curls constantly feel like they’re falling flat, Aveda’s Be Curly Advanced Curl Enhancing Cream delivers the tall drink of water they’ve been craving—hydrating hair and keeping frizz at bay for up to 72 hours. The payoff? Softer, shinier, and more defined strands that hold their shape. It contains 17 essential amino acids, strengthening from within while helping curls and waves maintain bounce. Kokum seed butter provides slip, making detangling easier and minimizing breakage, while adding long-lasting moisture that keeps curls touchable. Add in a refreshing citrus aroma, and this styler turns hydration into both a treatment and a sensorial experience.
Hoffmann before applying the Aveda Be Curly Advanced Curl Enhancer Cream
Sarah Hoffmann
Hoffmann after applying the Aveda Be Curly Advanced Curl Enhancer Cream
Sarah Hoffmann
Tester feedback from commerce market editor Sarah Hoffmann
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“Don't tell the other curl creams I've tried for work recently, but I'll always come back to Aveda. I scrunch about a nickel-size amount through wet hair every time I shower, and my curls always turn out springy, soft, and shiny. My 2C/3A hair is pretty fine, so it's easily weighed down by curl products if I'm not careful, but I can be pretty reckless with the amount of this curl cream I use, and it comes out perfect every time.” —Sarah Hoffmann, commerce market editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: kokum seed butter, vegan curl-perfecting peptide, amino acids
- Who it’s for: wavy and curly hair
- Silicone-free: yes
- Scent: lemon, orange, and bergamot
Best for Frizz Control: Fenty Hair The Homecurl Curl-Defining Cream
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Fenty Hair
The Homecurl Curl-Defining Cream
Sephora
Former Allure beauty closet associate Edward Horgan applying the Fenty Hair The Homecurl Curl-Defining Cream
Edward Horgan
Why we love it: Fenty Hair’s 2025 Best of Beauty-winning The Homecurl Curl-Defining Styling Cream is designed to take the guesswork out of curl styling by combining definition, hydration, and frizz protection in one easy step. The gel-cream hybrid spreads easily through damp strands, coating each curl from root to tip without weighing it down or leaving a crunchy cast. The formula’s standout is Rihanna’s proprietary Replenicore-5 complex, a blend of TK that helps repair split ends, strengthen strands, and shield against environmental stressors. When paired with wild mango butter, you get a deeply moisturizing treatment that keeps curls fresh all day—and then some.
Horgan before applying the Fenty Hair The Homecurl Curl-Defining Cream
Edward Horgan
Horgan after applying the Fenty Hair The Homecurl Curl-Defining Cream
Edward Horgan
Tester feedback from former beauty closet associate Edward Horgan
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"This is one of the only curl creams that gives me the perfect hold without that crunchy feel that we all hate. It keeps my 3B hair hydrated and in place all day and has a scent that people consistently compliment whenever I use it." —Edward Horgan, former beauty closet associate
More to know
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- Key ingredients: wild mango butter, green tea extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein
- Who it’s for: all curl types
- Silicone-free: yes
- Scent: yuzu, amber, freesia, coconut, lily of the valley, vanilla, and sandalwood
Best for Fine Hair: Bumble and Bumble Curl Light Defining Styling Cream
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Bumble and Bumble
Curl Light Defining Styling Cream
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Sephora
Allure contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai applying the Bumble and Bumble Curl Light Defining Styling Cream
Deanna Pai
Why we love it: Looser curls and finer textures need a different kind of hold than a tight coil does, and Bumble and Bumble's Curl Light Defining Cream was built with exactly that in mind. Avocado, coconut, and jojoba oils with cocoa and shea butters hydrate without weighing strands down, while UV filters help guard against sun-related dryness. Aquino-DeJesus turns to it for "fine-to-medium curls [because of the] perfect balance of moisture, definition, and movement without making the hair feel stiff." Her go-to method is to “emulsify a small amount in [her] hands, press and scrunch it into damp hair from the mid-lengths to the ends, and either air-dry or diffuse."
Pai before applying the Bumble and Bumble Curl Light Defining Styling Cream
Deanna Pai
Pai after applying the Bumble and Bumble Curl Light Defining Styling Cream
Deanna Pai
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
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“My fine waves and curls only got thinner after I had my last baby, so I've had to switch to more lightweight formulas. And this one fits the bill: It absorbs quickly, leaves zero residue on my hair, and defines all of my curls, which range from 2B to 3A, depending on the day, humidity levels, and how much I touch them. The hold is light enough that they still feel soft and flexible, and the formula does the trick without weighing down my hair." —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
More to know
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- Key ingredients: avocado oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, cocoa butter, shea butter
- Who it’s for: curls (3A to 4C), waves (2A to 2C)
- Silicone-free: yes
- Scent: pink grapefruit, sweet lemon, jasmine, muguet, wood, and musk
Best for Soft Hold: Curlsmith Awestruck Definition Cream
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Curlsmith
Awestruck Definition Cream
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Sephora
Allure senior commerce director Shanna Shipin applying the Curlsmith Awestruck Definition Cream
Shanna Shipin
Why we love it: When you crave definition without stiffness or weigh-down, a soft-hold styler is the formula you’re looking for. Case in point: Curlsmith’s Awestruck Definition Cream is a unique oil-in-gel formula that strikes that perfect balance, enhancing curls and waves while maintaining their natural bounce, gliding effortlessly through strands and providing slip for seamless detangling and lightweight hydration. The lightweight, silky formula features apricot kernel and avocado oil, alongside hyaluronic acid, to condition curls and tame frizz, leaving hair with irresistibly soft curls that move with you all day long.
Shipin before applying the Curlsmith Awestruck Definition Cream
Shanna Shipin
Shipin after applying the Curlsmith Awestruck Definition Cream
Shanna Shipin
Tester feedback from senior commerce director Shanna Shipin
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“It’s not dramatic to say that I was genuinely awestruck (as the name would suggest!) by this product from Curlsmith. It’s extremely lightweight and has a hold similar to that of a flexible gel or soft-hold jelly—but the difference is that this styling cream can truly define a pattern out of a fried and frizzled mess of hair. Having put my 3A hair through the wringer, I can tell you: This cream works miracles. It speeds up the replenishment process and helps you find your curl pattern again after months or years of heat-styling. I go from S-shaped waves to coily, bouncy curls—with hair that looks hydrated and split-end-free. If you want more frizz control, you’ll want to layer in the Moisture Memory Release spray before using the cream. But when using this styler, I don’t even need to use a gel for juicy curls all day—it’s that good! If you have thick, heavy hair that doesn't quite work with the brand's popular Air Dry Cream, you've got to give this one a try.” —Shanna Shipin, senior commerce director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: apricot kernel oil, avocado oil, hyaluronic acid
- Who it’s for: all curl types
- Silicone-free: yes
- Scent: n/a
More curl creams we love:
Best for Type 4 Hair: Donna’s Recipe Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair Cream
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Donna's Recipe
Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair Cream
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why we love it: Donna's Recipe Sweet Potato Pie Extra Creamy Hair Cream embraces its dessert-case name with a formula built around sweet potato extract, a plant-based source of biotin that's thought to support hair growth and thicken the shaft, alongside sugar maple sap, a natural humectant that keeps curls hydrated until your next wash day. Shea butter, mango seed butter, and avocado oil round out this rich cream, softening strands without weighing down finer textures. It's designed to slot into a LOC (liquid, oil, cream) or LCO (liquid, cream, oil) method, sealing in moisture so curls stay hydrated for days, all while releasing a cozy, softly lingering cinnamon-vanilla scent that smells as good as it sounds.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: sweet potato, sugar maple sap, shea butter, mango seed butter, avocado oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein
- Who it’s for: all hair types
- Silicone-free: yes
- Scent: sweet potato, vanilla, and cinnamon
Best for Shrinkage: SheaMoisture Kalahari Melon Oil Curl Stretch Multi-Tasking Volume Cream
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SheaMoisture
Kalahari Melon Oil Curl Stretch Multi-Tasking Volume Cream
Amazon
Walmart
Why we love it: Shrinkage can make type 4 curls feel like they never reach their full potential, but SheaMoisture’s Kalahari Melon Oil Curl Stretch Multi-Tasking Volume Cream flips the script, delivering up to five days of definition, flexible hold, and volume. It doesn’t stop there, though: Hyaluronic serum, activated coconut oil, and Kalahari melon oil deeply hydrate, condition, and elongate curls, giving them both length and resilience—thereby addressing the main culprits of shrinkage: dryness, breakage, and tangles. The slip of this rich cream makes detangling easy, helping curls stay smooth and defined without causing breakage. And to top it off, the mango, rose, and vanilla scent adds an indulgent finishing touch.
Tester feedback from Allure editor in chief Jessica Cruel
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"Slipping and sliding! That is what my coils were doing after I applied this cream. It has amazing slip that helped detangle but also brought every individual curl to life. It works best when applied to wet hair for either a wash-and-go or twist-out. Bonus points: Use a dryer to set the length instead of air-drying. One con is that it can't stand up to high Georgia humidity. However, it's got a soft hold for touchable definition." —Jessica Cruel, editor in chief
More to know
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- Key ingredients: hyaluronic serum, kalahari melon oil, activated coconut oil
- Who it’s for: type 4 hair
- Silicone-free: no
- Scent: mango, rose, and vanilla
Best for Coily Hair: Matrix A Curl Can Dream
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Matrix
A Curl Can Dream
Amazon
Ulta Beauty
Why we love it: Coily textures need extra moisture and protection, and Matrix’s A Curl Can Dream Moisturizing Cream delivers both in one step. Infused with manuka honey extract, this rich formula wraps coils in lasting hydration while guarding against heat up to 450 degrees. James, who has used it on her clients, praises it as "a professional line that was specifically formulated for curl types 3 and 4," built as part of what she calls a "curl preserving system" designed around the nuances of higher curl patterns. That’s to say this cream "hydrates and provides definition on types 3 and 4 without flakes or crunch," making it just as reliable for a rod set as it is for a blow-dry or diffuse. By sealing in moisture and smoothing each strand, it keeps coils soft, springy, and uniform long after wash day.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: manuka honey extract, avocado oil, glycerin
- Who it’s for: curly and coily hair
- Silicone-free: yes
- Scent: n/a
Best for Mixed Curl Types: Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control
Why we love it: Working with different curl patterns all from one scalp? Look no further than the nourishing Innersense Quiet Calm Curl Control. This nourishing cream smooths and defines each curl type without weighing any of them down, so you don’t have to cocktail three different products just to get consistent results. The blend of organic shea butter, rice bran oil, and rooibos tea balances hydration and frizz control across varying textures, leaving softer, more uniform definition from root to tip. Whether you’re air-drying or diffusing, it brings harmony to mixed-pattern hair so all your curls are bouncy and defined.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: rice bran oil, rooibos tea, shea butter
- Who it’s for: all curl types
- Silicone-free: yes
- Scent: citrus
Best for Air-Drying: Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Curl Nourish Butter Cream Leave-In Treatment
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Garnier Fructis
Triple Nutrition Curl Nourish Butter Cream Leave-In Treatment
Amazon
Olive Young
Why we love it: You can still achieve definition, no diffusing necessary, with Garnier Fructis's Triple Nutrition Curl Nourish Butter Cream. Coconut, jojoba, and macadamia oils work alongside the brand's proprietary Active Fruit Protein, a mixture of citrus protein and vitamins B3 and B6, to replenish moisture and reinforce strand strength without the heaviness that usually holds air-dried curls back from reaching full volume. James keeps it in rotation for exactly that reason: "I am the ultimate air-dry girlie, and I'm sure to keep this stashed in my hair kit for my clients that want moisture-infused, voluminous curls and coils without diffusing with heat." For anyone whose routine is wash, apply, and go, this is the cream for your busy routine.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: coconut oil, jojoba oil, macadamia oil, citrus protein, vitamin B3 & B6
- Who it’s for: all hair types, wash-and-go’s
- Silicone-free: no
- Scent: citrus-floral
Best Lightweight Cream: Mizani True Textures Curl Enhancing Lotion
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Mizani
True Textures Curl Enhancing Lotion
Amazon
Sephora
Why we love it: Formulated as a weightless lotion rather than a dense butter, Mizani’s True Textures Curl Enhancing Lotion gives curls room to bounce while keeping frizz firmly in check. Packed with ceramides, vitamin E, and a combination of coconut, olive, marula, jojoba, and apricot oils, it provides all the rich hydration of a traditional cream in a lighter, nongreasy format. NYC-based hairstylist Michele Aquino-DeJesus, reaches for it specifically for that reason: "It's a lotion rather than a thick cream, so it gives curls softness, shine, and shape while still allowing the hair to move, which is exactly what I want when I'm working with finer textures." She recommends it for “clients who want their natural curl pattern enhanced but still want volume and that touchable, fluffy finish.”
More to know
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- Key ingredients: coconut oil, olive oil, marula oil
- Who it’s for: fine to medium wavy and curly hair (2A to 4C)
- Silicone-free: no
- Scent: rosewood, jasmine, vanilla, pineapple, rose, and musk
Frequently Asked Questions
Do curl creams actually work?
"Curl creams perform miracles in your curls and coils with proper product selection," says James, who explains that deep-nourishing formulas "absorb into the strand to encourage definition, tame frizz, enhance shine, and to maintain elasticity and shape memory," with heavier creams offering more elongation and stretch. Aquino-DeJesus agrees the payoff is real. "Curl creams enhance the curl pattern you already have rather than creating a curl that isn't naturally there." She notes they add moisture, cut frizz, and boost definition, and for finer hair specifically, "lightweight curl creams because you can get definition and polish without sacrificing volume or making the hair feel coated."
How should you apply curl creams to get maximum impact?
Both James and Aquino-DeJesus start the same way with soaking wet hair but diverge on technique from there. James says "it's best to lock in the water, which is hydration, to keep the hair supple," since applying to drenched strands lets the cream's emollients soften the cuticle, while humectants pull moisture from the air. Aquino-DeJesus takes a more restrained approach, especially for finer textures: "I always say less is more, especially with fine hair," applying a small amount in sections from mid-lengths to ends before scrunching upward, and adding more only if needed. For volume, both point to the same trick: diffusing with the head flipped upside down, keeping product away from the roots, though James adds one non-negotiable: "Dry hair to 100% dry to prevent frizz and pick the root to separate, create volume, and increase the circumference of your curls."
Meet the experts
- Cataanda James, a hairstylist based in NYC
- Michele Aquino-DeJesus, a hairstylist based in Riverdale, New York
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn't want to pick up a purple shampoo that's only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that's never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best curl creams, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hairstylists—who know how to manage curly hair. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
