Best & Worst Curly Hair Products I Tried in 2024
Last year, I tested a ton of curly hair products—some were total fails, while others completely transformed my routine. If you’re curious about what worked
Last year, I tested a ton of curly hair products—some were total fails, while others completely transformed my routine. If you’re curious about what worked and what didn’t, stick around. Today, I’m sharing the worst and best curly hair products I tried in 2024, so you know exactly what to avoid—and what’s worth trying.
If you don’t see a product mentioned, it could be that I tried it prior to 2024 or that I am still testing it. Also, just because I mentioned a product that I didn’t like, it doesn’t mean they’re “bad,” they just didn’t work for my preferences. I’ll be sure to share who I think they may work for.
I’m also including the notes from my Curly Hair Tracker and Planner, which I used throughout the year to keep track of what worked for me and what didn’t. It’s. more than just a note-taker, though! It’s a daily guided assessment that allows you to pinpoint what to tweak in your routine and more.
This gel had a great consistency but did not hold up to its frizz-control claims.
❌ 72-hour frizz control
❌ Humidity resistant
✅ 3x greater curl retention
✅ Smoother & easier detangling
Very slippery and was easy to apply. I had a medium cast that fully dissolved after touching the hair.
Next day: Would have hoped for more hold but looks good overall. Not sure how well it would last if it was humid. The gel has great slip and moisture, but I had a lot of wet frizz and webbing. Curls look and feel good after dried but I have more frizz than with my strong hold gels. Strand test did show it breaks up but I was able to somewhat redefine it. Good refresh but a lot of frizz even after.
This entire line was a disappointment given the high price point. It’s very heavy with a lot of oils that can weigh down the hair.
❌ 72-hour frizz control
❌ Humidity resistant
✅ 2x the shine
✅ Definition
More frizz than usual after scrunching. Hair was on the brink of being over moisturized. Did not last through the day. Next day: Hair was flat and super frizzy by the end of the day. Also did not like this whole line and did not feel they were worth the price.
This gel did not give me enough hold so my hair frizzed by the end of the day.
❌ Medium hold, keep curls for days
❌ Tame frizz
✅ No crunch
✅ Silk smooth & slippery
I can tell the gel won’t last long but it’s better than most all-natural gels. Next day: Hair looked better before I refreshed. Should have left it as is but was trying to tame some frizz. Curls do re-group some after finger twirling but not as good as my Ouidad gel.
This gel is pricey and didn’t live up to it’s long-lasting claims, so I don’t think it is worth it.
❌ 72-hour strong hold
❌ 76% frizz reduction
✅ Seals in hydration for 72 hours
✅ No crunch
Hair that isn’t frizzy or if you don’t mind light hold and refreshing.
Nothing stood out to me and I couldn’t tell a difference in terms of curl bounce and definition. Need to keep testing. I didn’t like how the products increase suburn risk. The cream was fine. The gel did not give enough hold but wasn’t too bad. Next day: High amount of frizz.
This mask left a strange, waxy feeling in my hair that needed to be clarified out.
❌Rich moisture
❌84% frizz reduction
❌20% increase in curl retention
None, don’t recommend given the waxy residue.
Left an awful sticky film on the hair after rinsing. Added the Curlsmith conditioner which did not fix it, so I had to re-shampoo to get it out then condition again.
This co-wash did not clean the scalp and the beads were hard to remove.
❌ Cross between co-wash and shampoo
❌ Gently cleans and exfoliates
– Sensitive scalp friendly
None, given the poor cleansing performance.
Felt like applying a gritty lotion to my scalp, no lather, scalp still was dirty after multiple attempts to scrub.
This was not effective at cleansing and definitely would not clarify.
❌ Purifies hair and removes scalp build-up
❌ For oily fine hair
✅ Gentle
None, given the poor cleansing performance.
The shampoo was not effective at all and I had to cleanse 3 times and still had residue until finally using a shampoo scrub brush. The conditioner was fine, but with the leave-in also having silicones it was just too softening. The scalp spray did nothing.
This left a buildup residue on my roots, which seemed to be from it being incompatible with products already in my hair.
✅ Absorbs excess oil
❌ No powdery residue
❌ Soothe the scalp
– Builds body & texture
None, given the residue.
While this refreshing foam did make the scalp feel cleaner, the created a gunky film and residue on my hair that flaked and pilled.
These 2 products worked great for me when combined, but not on their own.
✅ Definition & bounce
✅ Hydrating
✅ Lightweight
✅ Protects from frizz
– Fights humidity
Worth the money to try them if you can’t find products that work for you.
Didn’t like my results with just the gel which is odd for me. Cream and gel together worked best, likely because the cream has ingredients I usually like for longer-lasting results: polyquaternium and silicone. Note: only tested in dry climate so far.
This gel was a true medium hold and refreshes well. Only downside is it does not hold in humidity for me.
✅ Medium flexible hold
✅ Defines curls and prevents frizz
❌ Protects from humidity
✅ Protects from flakes or stickiness
✅ Protects from heat
Those who like medium hold; also those with healthy, low porosity hair. Also those that live in dry climates.
Great medium hold gel. Some frizz but average for medium hold. Next day: Frizz as expected with a medium hold. Refreshed easily with just water. Did not hold up in humidity, major frizz.
This is a very lightweight cream and contains heat protection.
✅ Moisturizing
✅ Protects from heat
✅ Invisible
– De-frizzes
All, especially those who want to minimize products due to the built in heat protection.
Very lightweight curl cream, moisturizing, and not too softening.
Great performing shampoo and conditioner that is suitable for all hair types.
✅ Gentle deep cleanse
✅ Nice lather
– Balances the scalp
✅ Detangles with high slip
✅ Won’t weigh hair down
All.
Great shampoo and conditioner. Shampoo thoroughly cleanses without stripping and has a high lather. Conditioner isn’t too heavy and has great slip.
This primer detangles like a dream before shampooing.
✅ 70% reduction in detangling time
✅ Smooths
✅ Moisturizes
All. Very high slip. Tangles just melt away quickly when used as a pre-shampoo treatment.
This detangles so well. I used it as a pre-shampoo detangler. I would not prefer to use it as a leave-in or as a refresher because I don’t want to soften my hold with additional products under or over my gel.
This is a very lightweight yet moisturizing leave-in, which is hard to find!
✅ Gently moisturizes
✅ Lightweight
– Increases volume
All.
Very lightweight leave-in. Unsure about volume claims from a leave-in but got the most volume when paired with the Curlsmith Volume Mousse.
While it’s hard to determine if this truly made a difference on my hairline, I do feel like my overall density has improved this year.
✅ Visible reduce thinning
✅ Promotes hair growth
– Reduce appearance of gray hair
All.
Love the feel of the water-based serum. It’s easy to apply and doesn’t mess up my hair. I used it daily for about 8 months and finished 8 bottles. I was consistent other than a break during the summer. My hair thickness has improved. I can’t tell if growth is more than normal. Grays look the same.
Below are my results before and after about 8 months of using the serum around my temples and crown area.
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.
Last year, I tested a ton of curly hair products—some were total fails, while others completely transformed my routine. If you’re curious about what worked
2025 is the year your curls are going to thrive. If you’re ready to stop spending so much time on your curls and finally get
You probably hear conflicting advice online for curly hair, and a lot of the common methods you see do not work for low-density or thin
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
© 2024 Gena Marie
