7 Best Curl Creams We Tested for Bouncy, Defined Curls

Sometimes I use this cream after washing and blowing out my coily, type 4 curls (I prefer to do twist outs on stretched hair), and even after applying it to my hair in a blown out state, the curls still manage to turn out looking like healthy spirals. I’m also a really big fan of the way this product makes my hair feel—after unraveling my twists, I usually find myself continuously touching my curls because of how satisfied I am with how soft and moisturized my hair feels. My only gripe is that this is a product that sort of sits on your hair—it’s pretty thick, so that’s to be expected—so if you’re someone who touches your hair often, you’ll definitely be able to feel that there’s something on your strands, though it doesn’t leave behind an oily or greasy film.

Best for Moisturizing: Briogeo Curl Charisma Leave-In Conditioner

• Pros: Smells really good, light texture
• Cons: Doesn’t address frizz

This one doesn’t have the thickness of a curl cream (because it’s not a curl cream, per se) but it’s easily become one of my favorite products in recent months. Our editors recommend this leave-in conditioner for curly hair. It has a milky texture that’s just a tad runnier than a lotion, and it features unique add-ins like rice amino acids that can seal the outer cuticles and ensure your curls don’t become frizzy, and tomato, which is supposed to support moisture retention.

This is another cream that I typically like to apply on blown out hair before twisting and setting for a few hours or overnight. I typically apply it from root to end before adding mousse. Mousse can sometimes harden my curls (it’s a holding product for a reason) or dry them out, but I’ve noticed that whenever I apply this to my blown out hair first, I can alleviate that issue and wake up with very soft, defined, and moisturized curls.

Best for Wash-and-Gos: Fenty Beauty The Homecurl Curl-Defining Styling Cream

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Fenty Hair The Homecurl Curl-Defining Styling Cream

• Pros: Holds hair in place without hardening
• Cons: Has a scent, which may be overpowering if you don’t like fragrance

Fenty founder Rihanna’s cream is one of our favorites because of its hybrid gel-cream texture: it has the softness of a moisturizer, but it provides the hold and definition of a gel, which you don’t find in too many curl creams. The star ingredient of this styling cream is mango butter, which moisturizes and gives the product a sweet, fruity scent that doesn’t linger too much on the hair.

“Kinky with medium porosity, my hair loves a moisture-balanced curl cream,” says Glamour editorial assistant Monique Wilson. “One of the reasons why the Fenty Hair Curl Cream separates itself from my cult-favorite products…is its gel-cream formula. It moisturizes and enhances my curls, while controlling frizz and maintaining my wash-and-go style (for multiple days).”

Best for Volume: DevaCurl Curl Heights Volume + Boost Curl Cream

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DevaCurl Curl Heights Volume + Boost Curl Cream

• Pros: A great option for fine hair
• Cons: Reviews don’t suggest this cream works for coily or tighter curls

It’s easy to think that curly hair is never affected by dullness or flatness, but it happens, and when that’s the case you need something that’ll revive your hair while also providing some curl definition. That’s essentially what DevaCurl’s Volume + Boost Curl Cream does, as it’s meant to add more volume to fine hair from the roots.

“It’s like the cherry on top that lifts my curls, adds that effortless volume, and brings my hair back to life,” says former Glamour contributor Ru Wolle. “Plus, it doesn’t weigh my hair down or make it feel sticky, which is a rare find for volume products.”

Best for Frizz Control: Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Defining & Frizz Taming Hair Cream

• Pros: Inexpensive, addresses frizziness
• Cons: Has a sticky texture