Best Curly Hair Products for Volume + GIVEAWAY & ANNOUNCEMENT!
Which curly hair products actually make a difference in volume? I’m sharing my top picks and breaking down the differences between them so you can
Do you struggle with moisturizing your curls because everything weighs them down?
In this video, I’m sharing both protein and moisture deep conditioners that are light to medium weight.
I’m also giving away one of my favorite lightweight deep conditioners, the limited edition Birthday Cake Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair!TM Deep Conditioning Hair Mask. Details at the end of this post on how to enter.
If your hair gets weighed down easily, you want to avoid using deep conditioners like these that are very thick consistently. Check the ingredients labels and avoid anything with a lot of oils like coconut oil, and butters like shea butter high on the ingredients list. (There are cases where some deep conditioners have these ingredients but are formulated to be lightweight).
Heavy masks can sometimes still be used, but in very small amounts and make sure you’re thoroughly rinsing.
Always read the label for how long to leave it on, and never sleep in your deep conditioner.
The following deep conditioners are listed in order of lightest weight to heavier weight.
| Product | Key Benefits | Weight | Oils & Butters | Protein | Silicones | Hair Types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Hair Mask | High in protein and moisturizing while being lightweight | Lightweight | Avocado Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil | Hydrolyzed Corn Protein Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Hydrolyzed Soy Protein | None | All, use sparingly with coarse hair |
| Curlsmith Multi-tasking Conditioner | Multipurpose: Deep conditioner, rinse out, or leave-in | Lightweight | Castor Seed Oil, Babassu Oil, Murumuru Butter, Jojoba Seed Oil, Shea Butter (low) | Hydrolyzed Rice Protein (low on list) | None | All |
| Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Bond Building Mask | Strengthens all hair types without the risk of protein buildup | Medium-weight | Castor Oil, Avocado Oil, Mauritia Flexuosa Fruit Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil | Arginine, Rice Amino Acids (not full proteins and are suitable for all hair types) | None | All |
| Dove Bond Strength 10-in-1 Serum Mask | Strengthens hair bonds | Medium-weight | Coconut Oil | Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein | Dimethiconol/silsesquioxane Copolymer | All, use sparingly with fine + low porosity |
| Curlsmith Hydro Creme Soothing Mask | Deeply moisturizes, no oils | Lightweight-medium weight | Shea Butter (low) | None | None | All |
| Function of Beauty Curly Hair Mask Base with Coconut Oil | Mix-in drops available to customize your formula | Medium-weight | Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Shea Butter, Murumuru Seed Butter | None | None | All |
| Mielle Organics Rice Water with Aloe Deep Conditioner | Gently strengthens all hair types without the risk of protein buildup | Medium-weight | Rapeseed Oil | Rice Bran Extract (low on the list, not full protein and is suitable for all hair types) | None | All |
| Texture ID Low Porosity Vitamin Mask | Highly softening for brittle or coarse hair | Medium-weight | Sunflower Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Grape Seed Oil | None | Bis-cetearyl amodimethicone | All, use sparingly with fine hair |
| Curlsmith Post-Wash Calming Conditioner | Regular conditioner so a bit more lightweight yet highly moisturizing. Can be used at the scalp. Cooling sensation. | Medium-weight | Tea Tree Oil, Peppermint Oil, Castor Seed Oil, Shea Butter | None | None | All |
Use the shop page filters on my blog to narrow down your product search. You can find filters for formula weight, hold level, and more.
Still stuck?
If you’ve tried these masks and are still struggling with your hair being weighed down or dry, I’d love to meet in a curl coaching session so we can walk through every step of your routine and pin point what’s going wrong.
You can reach out to me by sending me a message on IG or Facebook with the word “coaching” or email [email protected] to discuss if you’re a fit and which package you need.
Enter to win the Limited Edition Briogeo Don’t Despair Repair Mask, Vanilla Birthday Cake scented
Giveaway closes on Nov. 16, 2024. Winner will be selected and contacted by email.
Which curly hair products actually make a difference in volume? I’m sharing my top picks and breaking down the differences between them so you can
Do you find brush styling so difficult to master? I am sharing a simplified method that anyone can try to smooth out frizz and enhance
This post is sponsored by Curlsmith. Click here for the full disclosure. Does it take forever for your curls to dry? You should not have
‘Tis the season of good deals! With so many sales going on this week, I know it can be overwhelming navigating them all and knowing
© 2024 Gena Marie
47 Responses
My biggest struggle right now is getting a good protein/moisture balance so my day 2 and 3 hair isn’t either flat and stringy or super frizzy.
My biggest challenge is getting great day 2-4 day curls that don’t fall limp, frizz or loose their shape by the end of the day. I have fine hair that soaks up moisture and products quickly, can easily be weighed down and do not hold their shape.
Hi , I have 3 b coarse hair but my biggest problem is that if I go for moisturizing products like curlsmith air dry cream + uncle funkys curl activator gel, my curls aren’t defined and won’t hold up . But if I go for gritty hair gels like not your mother’s hard hold gel , my curl will hold up and have nice shaped but are dry .
What should I do in this case and what kind of oil should I use ?
My biggest struggle right now is refresh days that don’t look super stringy and fall flat. I’ve got fine, medium density 2B-3A and live in a dry climate. My hair never feels conditioned out of the shower but might be overmoisturized tbh because getting hold is nigh impossible.
My biggest curly hair struggle right now is definition, specifically root definition. The top and middle of my hair is often completely straight/flat by day 2, while the bottom stays as defined ringlets up to day 3 or 4. I have 2b-3a curls that change curl patterns as the seasons change, so I have also been struggling with adjusting my curly hair routine to the colder and drying fall/winter climate.
My biggest struggle right now is keeping my curls frizz free in the high dew points. So far, my only remedy is to keep my cast, but it makes me look like I belong back in the 80’s!
My biggest struggle right now is stringiness. I have thin, fine hair, and I have trouble scrunching in stylers without breaking up my clumps. I’m playing with how wet my hair is when I apply them though, so hopefully that will help me find the right balance.
My biggest hair struggle right now is finding the perfect gel. I have more wavy hair than curly and trying to find a strong hold gel that is lightweight so not to weigh down by waves has been challenging.
My biggest struggles are volume, figuring out what kind of hair I have!
My biggest challenge is getting consistent curls. One day they are weighed down, the next they are too dry… they go from great definition to puffy…
Hi! My biggest concerns are that my curls are not lasting beyond my wash day. Brought this up to my hairdresser and we worked out a plan on how to figure it out. Could be that my mouse ( herbal essence totally twisted ) and the curl potion ( Jessie’s girl curl potion) are at odds. And my hair may need more moisture rather than protein right now. I’m mostly grey but color my roots every 4 weeks with a Curly Girl Method trained specialist.
My biggest struggle right now is definition and Separation on days two and three. I seem to have good ringlets on day one but then they Clump into huge ringlets that make my hair look even thinner which I already struggle with
My biggest struggle is frizz!!! I am also confused if I need more protein or moisture and what kind of hair I have.
I have fine, low density waves. My biggest struggle is finding a way to diffuse my hair and not have it look like a rat’s nest! I’ve tried diffusing upside down, hanging and flipping my hair side to side, and upright diffusing. The only way my hair doesn’t look totally ratty in the back is upright diffusing, but then I get almost no volume and hair that looks stuck to my scalp. I’ve been trying to figure out diffusing for about two months now, and don’t feel like it’s getting any better.
My biggest struggle is using the right amount of gel or mousse. Gel leaves my hair tight and sometimes stringy. I never like day 1. I like it better when my curls open up. Mousse isn’t usually enough hold for good definition without frizz but I like it on day one. From there it requires more refreshing. Ugh 😩 4 years in and still figuring it out. Your hair always looks full and defined in your day one videos.
My struggle is moisture balance on fine curls. Too much and I have limp frizzy hair and too little dry frizzy hair. Maybe frizz is my problem. lol.
I think my biggest struggle right now is finding the right products and getting into a good routine. I recently found your videos and blogs, and have learned a lot so far. Biggest eye opener was seeing your wash schedule! I definitely wash too often and have never used a clarifying shampoo or deep conditioner. I struggle with dry/frizzy curls that also get weighed down in the back so I’m looking forward to applying some of your techniques!
My struggle is tangles. I have thick, medium to coarse hair and I’m constantly dealing with tangles. Before I shower, I have to dry detangle my hair with a tiny amount of oil on my hands which is really time consuming. Once I hop in the shower and my hair touches water, it magically tangles back up at the ends again and I have to use conditioner to detangle again then shampoo and condition again. I use a leave-in conditioner and curl cream which I hope it would help but on day two and especially day three it’s a struggle. I don’t know if it’s a problem with my styling. I brush style and sometimes I do it up right and other times I brush style upside down. Both still have the same tangle results.
My biggest struggles lately have been dry hair, losing curl definition a day after washing and weighed down layers. I am always rotating hair products on wash days to see what will give me the best curl definition, moisture and volume. It’s a big struggle finding the right products especially with the change of seasons.
My biggest struggle is trying to get more volume without losing definition. I’ve been playing with curly products for about 1 year now and have a good wash routine and gel, but I think I probably need to experiment more with a foam or mousse.
My biggest challenge is finding a strong hold gel that doesn’t cause tangles in my fine, low porosity hair! The gels that have more “slip” to them are too softening and the gels with a little more grit cause tangles.
My biggest struggle is lack of hold in certain areas of my hair (mainly the back). I’ve tried brushing product through, reapplying gel and hairspray but it’s still lighter than I want it to be.
My biggest issue is very dry hair with frizz. Day one of washing looks great usually have to keep more of a cast for them to look good and last. Sleep in a satin cap you recommended but still the 2nd/3rd refreshing is a joke. I letting my hair go grey so I don’t know if it moisture or protein or both I need. My grey tends to dry out before I’m done getting product distributed.
My biggest struggle currently is frizz and stringy curls. I’m still trying to find a gel that is strong enough to hold my curls. I have coarse, low density hair and my 3A curls tend to elongate and get frizzy by the end of the day. Living in the South where the humidity is high also presents a challenge.
F-R-I-Z-Z!!!
My biggest hair issue right now is breakage and hair loss, in general. And always dryness!
My biggest hair struggle is these stubborn gray hairs at the roots my hair is flat from roots to mids length no volume.. My hair is dry and frizzy the day after washday.I don’t no when my hair needs protein or moisture but I no it feels dry and frizzy and tangles easily could be from the WV humidity. I would love to try the mask my hair is craving it. Have a nice day!
My biggest curly hair struggle is with my daughters hair. It seems like no matter what I do by the end of the day, the frizz always comes back…
My biggest struggle right now is refreshing without causing it to look stiff.
My biggest struggle is longevity for my day 2-3 curls. I’m using the Ouidad advanced climate control extra hold gel and it just isn’t doing the trick anymore.
My biggest challenge is nearly 60yo thin high propensity 3B hair that easily frizzes in our Midwestern humidity and then dries out quickly when the furnace is running in the winter. My hair loves protein. I get so confused which styling products to use 1st, 2nd, (3rd).
My biggest hair struggle right now is finding a shampoo that doesn’t make my hair feel like straw, or get stringy. I have very fine, low density wavy/curly hair that is very thin around my face. I need volume, as well as a product to give me bigger curl clumps without weighing it down. Thank you so much for creating your YouTube channel and this blog to help those of us who crave those big beautiful curls!
Lack of Hair growth and thin hair density. It is difficult to style my hair with these issues.
Hi I’m new here! My biggest struggle is getting my waves to last into day 2 without being completely frizzy and falling out.
My biggest struggle at the moment is getting my curls to last more than one day. I use a bonnet but I can’t help being a messy sleeper! I would also like to find more gels and mousses that are specifically for low porosity and have little to no protein as I believe they are the reason why my hair ends up feeling like a straw after some washes.
I struggle with refresh days, specifically reducing the amount of frizz..
Love your blog – it’s always so helpful even though my curl pattern is different then yours!
Biggest struggle is getting my curls to last beyond day 2 without completely rewetting – I have thick 3C hair.
Love your emails, they are so helpful!
My current curly hair struggle is knowing how to maintain & style my curls in my military uniform. I wear it everyday for work but can’t seem to figure out a routine with slicking back my hair yet keeping it curly.
My struggle is stringy frizzy curls. Thanks for all your informative blogs & videos!
Refreshing my hair on day two! I don’t know how to especially because I had just washed it and styled it too
btw great newsletter so happy to be a part of it <3
how to refresh my day on day two!! Especially after doing my hair and styling it
btw love your newsletter so happy to be a part of it <3
I need a hair serum to bring out my curls and I also need volume… Please Help..
HibGene!
I have learned so much about me hair from watching your how-to videos!
Currently my biggest problem is finding the correct hold gel and then getting a good gel cast when I use my Curlsmith diffuser.
Hello Gena!
First, I have learned so much from your blog and how to videos about my curls!
Secondly, my current problem is finding the correct hold gel and then getting the proper gel cast.
I am new to curly hair, so I have a struggling everywhere, I am a bit overwhelmed. So glad to have found you! Frizz, is probably what I dislike the most. I live in a low humidity area that is cold and windy the majority of the time . I have low density, fine hair. Honestly it is a relief to find a place where this is not abnormal.
Thank you!
Looking forward to trying some of these. My hair has improved quite a lot since my hair consult, but I’m still working on making my dry hair feel more moisturized.
I don’t know if I can get my curls back…