Enhancing Very Curly Hair: Best Curl Enhancers (2025)

Curly hair is notoriously difficult to manage, and finding the right product to define your curls can feel like an impossible task. The best curl enhancers will give you moisturised, defined, and happy curls without leaving your hair crunchy or greasy.

The best curl enhancer for you will depend on your hair type, texture, and porosity. For example, if you have fine, thin hair, you'll want to avoid anything that will weigh it down, like silicones and heavy oils. On the other hand, if you have thick, coarse hair, you'll need something heavy enough to do the job but not so heavy that it leaves your hair greasy.

- OGX Moroccan Curling Perfection Defining Cream

- SGX NYC Curl Power Nourishing Curl Cream

- The Alpha The Alpha Curly As Can Be Curl Defining Cream

- Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Leave-In Defining Crème

- SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

- Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer

- Bumble & Bumble Curl Defining Cream

- Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm

- DevaCurl SuperCream Coconut Curl Styler

- Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream

Defining creams for frizz-free curls

If you're looking for a curl cream that will give you moisturised, defined, and happy curls, there are a few options to consider. Here are some of the best defining creams for frizz-free curls:

• Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream is perfect for wavy, curly, and coily hair types. It defines and holds curls without weighing them down. The key ingredients include aloe, coconut oil, and shea butter, which add shine and enhance your natural curl pattern.
• SheaMoisture Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie is a cult favourite in the curl community. It is formulated with moisturising coconut oil, strengthening silk protein, and smoothing neem seed oil. It leaves type-3 and type-4 curls hydrated and defined, whether you're working with a twist-out or a wash-and-go style.
• Ouidad Curl Quencher Moisturising Styling Gel is a gel-cream hybrid that hydrates and defines curls without leaving them stiff or crunchy. It contains rosemary leaf extract, green tea extract, meadowfoam seed oil, and PEG-40 castor oil to soften and moisturise your curls.
• Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino and Avocado Leave-In Defining Creme is rich in proteins and hydrators, making it ideal for damaged hair. It contains avocado oil, soybean oil, aloe leaf juice, and glycerin to smooth, seal, and strengthen your hair cuticle, resulting in healthier and more resistant curls.
• Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Cream is a great choice for fine, damaged curly hair. It is lightweight and won't leave your hair feeling tacky. It contains shea butter esters and keratin amino acids to strengthen and moisturise your curls.
• Camille Rose Aloe Whipped Butter Gel is a gel-cream hybrid that provides moisture and a light styling hold, making it ideal for tight, dry curls. It contains moisturising alcohols, aloe vera, macadamia seed oil, and jojoba seed oil to nourish and define your curls.
• OGX Argan Oil of Morocco Curling Perfection Curl-Defining Cream is perfect for those who want long-lasting curl definition. The hero ingredient is argan oil, which adds shine and moisture to your curls while keeping them soft and defined.
• Jessicurl Rockin' Ringlets Styling Potion is a super-lightweight curl cream that won't weigh down your curls. It contains lightweight moisturisers like jojoba oil and hydrators like aloe vera, providing a light hold and touchable definition.
• Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream is a thick and hydrating cream that won't leave your hair feeling heavy. It softens your hair with argan oil, smooths flyaways, and adds shine, resulting in healthy-looking curls that last.
• Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream is ideal for damaged, high-porosity hair. It contains moisturising alcohols, shea butter, amino acids, and beeswax to nourish and strengthen your curls without causing product buildup.
• Pantene Pro-V Gold Series Curl Defining Pudding Cream is a drugstore staple for 4c hair. It contains midweight argan oil and castor oil to deeply moisturise and define dry hair.
• Amika Curl Corps Defining Cream is a great option for thick hair as it provides great definition without feeling heavy. It contains panthenol, sea buckthorn, and hydrolyzed jojoba protein to keep your curls hydrated and bouncy.
• Cantu Coconut Curling Cream is perfect for dry, high-porosity hair. It contains aloe vera to hydrate your curls and moisturising ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil to lock in hydration and enhance curl definition.
• As I Am Twist Defining Cream Red is designed for very dry, type-4 curls. It contains sunflower and coconut oil to moisturise your hair and smooth frizz and flyaways that pop up when undoing your twists.
• Afro Sheen Gel Cream is a gel-cream that won't leave flakes in your hair after drying. It contains flaxseed oil, coconut oil, and shea butter to define your curls without flakiness or crunchiness.
• Rahua Control Cream Curl Styler is a sustainable and clean beauty brand option for low-porosity hair. It contains jojoba oil to lock in moisture, molasses extract for shine, and rahua oil, resulting in defined and frizz-free waves.
• Ouai Curl Crème is ideal for thick, coarse, curly hair. It helps reduce frizz and adds shine, leaving your hair smoother and less brittle. It has a light, floral scent that lingers without being overpowering.
• Pattern Palo Santo Styling Cream is perfect for tight curls as it adds moisture and shine. It has a pleasant, clean floral scent, and a quarter-size amount is usually enough to leave your curls soft and touchable.
• DevaCurl SuperCream Coconut Curl Styler is great for type-2 hair, adding structure and definition to your curls without any residue. It is important to distribute the product evenly and not use too much to avoid weighing down your hair.
• Amika Curl Corps Defining Cream is ideal for coarse hair, as it repairs heat damage and softens and smooths your hair. It has a creamy gel consistency and a nice floral scent.
• Bumble & Bumble Curl Defining Cream delivers on its promise of bouncy, flexible curls. It works well with type 3b curls, melting into your hair without feeling sticky or crunchy. It has a light, clean scent that doesn't linger.
• Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Coil Sculpting Custard is perfect for 3c/4a hair, making it smoother and softer. It also makes styling easier, especially for braid-outs. The honey-like scent may not appeal to everyone.
• Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream is ideal for wavy, type 2c/3a hair, adding definition and bounce to your curls. However, it can weigh down your hair if you use too much, and there may be some flaking after a few days.

Lightweight curl creams for fine hair

If you have very curly hair, you know that finding the right curl cream can be a challenge. The right formula should smooth, define, and hydrate curls without weighing them down, and these are some of the best lightweight curl creams for fine hair:

Bumble and Bumble Curl Light Defining Styling Cream

This lightweight curl cream is a favourite among Sephora customers. It doesn't weigh hair down or make curls crunchy, and it has a pleasant scent.

Bread Beauty Supply Hair Cream

This leave-in conditioner is perfect for moisturising 4c curls. It leaves curls shiny and soft while minimising frizz.

Curlsmith Feather-Light Protein Hair Cream

This protein-enriched styler combines the moisture of a cream with the flexible hold of a gel. It contains sweet almond oil, shea butter, and a hemp seed and rice protein complex to strengthen and boost hair elasticity.

Mizani True Textures Curl Enhancing Hair Cream

This lightweight gel cream defines waves and curls while preventing frizz. It contains coconut oil, marula oil, and olive oil to add shine, support scalp health, and control frizz.

BondiBoost Curl Boss Frizz Fighting and Curl Defining Styling Cream

This vegan curl-defining cream enhances curly hair, defends against frizz, and provides a soft hold.

Kérastase Curl Manifesto Curl Defining Gel-Cream

This gel-cream combines the hydration properties of a cream with the hold of a gel to boost curl volume, add shape, and enhance shine.

Dyson Chitosan Pre-Styling Hair Cream

This pre-styling cream flexibly locks in heat-styled hair for touchable, long-lasting hold with a lightweight, natural feel. It contains chitosan to lock in flexible hold, argan oil to reduce frizz, and grapeseed oil to seal in shine.

Bumble and Bumble Seaweed Nourishing Air Dry Cream

This lightweight gel cream is perfect for air-drying hair, making it more manageable by minimising flyaways and frizz.

Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Curly Hair Cream

This lightweight leave-in conditioner enhances curl texture and hydrates hair without weighing it down. It contains babassu to seal moisture, murumuru to moisturise, and hyaluronic acid to deliver moisture.

Ouai Curl Cream

This curl cream is suitable for curl types 3a to 4c. It's free of silicones and waxes, and a dime-sized amount is enough to leave hair defined, smooth, and bouncy.

Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Defining Cream

This lightweight curl cream is perfect for fine, damaged, curly hair. It contains shea butter esters and keratin amino acids to strengthen hair without causing buildup.

Taliah Waajid Curly Curl Cream

This curl cream is perfect for curly hair that's on the finer side. It will deeply moisturise and enhance your curls without leaving any heavy residue.

Amika Curl Corps Defining Cream

This curl cream is very lightweight and enhances curl definition without weighing down wavy hair or making it greasy. It's free of alcohol, parabens, silicones, and sulfates.

Curls Blueberry Bliss Twist-N-Shout Cream

This curl cream is very lightweight and helps increase curl definition. It's packed with blueberries, coconut oil, and safflower oil, and it has a natural mango scent.

Wella Eimi Boost Bounce Curl Enhancing Mousse

This mousse is perfect for 1c hair, as it contains wheat bran extracts and jojoba oil to add volume and body without making hair greasy.

Miss Jessie's Quick Curls Cream

This lightweight curl cream contains hydrolyzed wheat protein and glycerin to reduce frizz and increase curl definition. It has a refreshing natural fragrance and is cruelty-free.

Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Featherlight Styling Cream

This lightweight formula nourishes hair without weighing it down and is perfect for wavy, frizzy hair. It contains humectants like glycerin, soybean oil, and olive oil to add moisture, and its Nanotechnology seals in the cuticle to smoothen hair.

Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie

This curl cream contains shea butter, silk protein, neem oil, and coconut oil to nourish and repair hair. However, it may be too heavy for thin or 2a wavy hair.

Curl creams for thick hair

Curly hair is often more fragile and dry than straight hair, so a good curl cream should nourish and hydrate your hair without weighing it down. The right curl cream for thick hair will depend on your hair type and texture, as well as your hair porosity.

Amika Curl Corps Defining Cream

This curl cream is a good option for thick hair as it has a thick formula that will complement thick hair without being too heavy. It's easy to distribute evenly through the hair, and you don't need to use a lot of it. It's also colour-safe and has a light, floral scent. However, it may not be compatible with all leave-in conditioners, so you may need to experiment to find the right combination.

Ouai Curl Crème

Ouai's Curl Crème is another good option for thick hair. It's thick and creamy, and a little goes a long way, which is a plus for thick hair which often requires a lot of product. It's also very hydrating, with ultra-hydrating babassu oil that reduces frizz and adds shine. It has a lovely floral scent, and users report that their hair health improved with consistent use.

Other Options

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, the Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Cream is a good choice. It's available at most drugstores and provides great value for money. It's lightweight and effective at reducing frizz, and it also nourishes and moisturises curls.

For natural curls, the Melanin Haircare Twist-Elongating Style Cream is a good option. It's formulated with super-hydrating mango butter, and it minimises tangles while creating smooth, shiny, and moisturised curls. It's too heavy for other curl types, but it's perfect for type 4 curls.

Hair Porosity

If you have high-porosity hair, your hair absorbs moisture well but doesn't hold onto it for long. In this case, you'll want to choose a heavier-weight curl cream with ingredients like shea butter.

If you have low-porosity hair, your hair cuticles are very close together, making it hard for moisture to penetrate the hair shaft. This can lead to product buildup and dryness. If you have low-porosity hair, opt for a lightweight curl cream with little to no oils or butters.

Curl creams for hair health

Curl creams are a godsend for curly hair, providing a one-stop shop for styling and nourishing. The right formula should smooth, define, and hydrate curls without weighing them down, as well as encouraging the hair's natural curl pattern.

Ingredients to Look Out For

Curl creams should contain ingredients that nourish and hydrate the hair. Natural oils such as coconut oil, shea butter, avocado oil, and argan oil are great for improving hair suppleness, softness, and taming frizz.

Application Techniques

The amount of curl cream applied and when it is applied can make a big difference. For example, applying curl cream to wet hair and scrunching it in can help enhance curls, while using too much product can weigh hair down.

Recommended Products

There are a variety of curl creams available, catering to different hair types and needs. Here are some highly-rated options:

• Oribe Curl Control Silkening Creme: Best Overall
• Marc Anthony Strictly Curls Curl Cream: Best Budget
• Melanin Haircare Twist-Elongating Style Cream: Best for Dry Hair
• Ouai Curl Crème: Best for Shine
• Pattern Palo Santo Styling Cream: Best for Tight Curls
• DevaCurl SuperCream Coconut Curl Styler: Best for Frizz
• Amika Defining Cream: Best for Coarse Hair
• Bumble & Bumble Curl Defining Cream: Best Smoothing
• Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Coil Sculpting Custard: Best for Styling
• Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream: Best for Waves
• SheaMoisture Smoothie Curl Enhancing Cream: Reduces frizz and enhances curls
• Living Proof Curl Enhancer: Lightweight conditioning styler for waves

Curl creams for hair growth

Curly hair is unpredictable and requires TLC to stay in check. A good curl cream can help you achieve those dreamy, low-maintenance curls you've always wanted.

Mielle Pomegranate & Honey Curl Smoothie

This curl smoothie is said to smell delicious enough to eat. It blends babassu oil, honey, and pomegranate extract to strengthen hair follicles and promote hair growth. It's suitable for thick coily hair textures.

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

This curl-enhancing smoothie is a cult favorite in the curl community. It's formulated with moisturizing coconut oil, strengthening silk protein, and smoothing neem seed oil to leave your type-3 and type-4 curls hydrated and clumped.

Mizani True Textures Curl Enhancing Lotion

This curl cream uses dimethicone to smooth and clump your curls. It also contains coconut and olive oils to moisturize and marula oil to control frizz.

Melanin Haircare Twist-Elongating Style Cream

This curl cream is said to be nourishing and hydrating. It's formulated with a blend of butters and oils, including shea, mango, cocoa, kokum, cupuacu, avocado, sweet almond, and argan oils, as well as vitamin E. It's suitable for type 4a/c hair.

Ouai Curl Crème

This curl cream is perfect for thick, coarse, curly hair. It helps reduce frizz and adds shine to type 3a/b hair. It has a light, floral scent that's not too overpowering.

Pattern Palo Santo Styling Cream

This curl cream adds significant moisture and shine to hair. It has a pleasant, clean, floral scent and is suitable for 3c/4c hair.

Amika Curl Corps Defining Cream

This curl cream is packed with oat peptide to tame unruly strands and tapioca starch to encourage your natural curl pattern. It also contains sea buckthorn to add hydration and elasticity to your curls. It's suitable for thick, curly hair.

Tgin Twist & Define Cream for Natural Hair

This ultra-rich cream is like a glass of water for parched strands, delivering intense hydration and definition to dry and coarse curls. It's suitable for type 4 hair.

CURLSMITH Weightless Air Dry Cream

This leave-in conditioner adds moisture and definition to your curls without any sticky residue. It contains a blend of hydrating oils, including Castor, Babassu, and Jojoba, as well as Hyaluronic Acid to keep your curls bouncy and frizz-free. It's suitable for fine curly hair.

Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream

This leave-in conditioner tames frizz and defines curls without any sticky residue. It's infused with nourishing argan oil and a blend of vitamins to deliver hydration to all curl types.

John Frieda Frizz Ease

This curl cream keeps hair super smooth and sleek. It combines the benefits of an oil with the hold of a cream, resulting in defined, frizz-free curls that are soft to the touch. It's suitable for 2A to 3C curls.

OGX Moroccan Curling Perfection Defining Cream

This curl cream gives limp curls life by leveraging the key ingredient of pure Moroccan argan oil to penetrate the hair shaft and hydrate from within. It works on various hair types and colors.

Maui Moisture Curl Quench+Coconut Oil Curl Smoothie

This curl smoothie is a hydrating leave-in hair treatment that is perfect for braids and twist outs. It's suitable for tight coily textures.

Camille Rose Almond Jai Twisting Butter

This hair butter is a creamy styler that's great for moisturizing your hair in twist-out and braid-out styles. It's suitable for all hair types, including textured hair.

Melanin Haircare Twist Elongating Style Cream

This curl cream contains avocado, almond, and argan oils to help detangle and offer length for days when you want to elongate your curls. It's suitable for all hair types.

Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino and Avocado Leave-In Defining Creme

This curl cream doesn't make you choose between hydration and definition—it gives you the best of both worlds. It's packed with avocado oil for extra moisture and Mollis leaf extract to fight off frizz. It's suitable for wavy, curly, and coily textures.

Adwoa Beauty Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream

This curl cream is super moisturizing and helps mitigate damage while strengthening brittle strands. It's spiked with jojoba oil to lock in moisture and molasses extract for shine. It's suitable for low-porosity hair.

Cantu Coconut Curling Cream

This curl cream helps to lengthen and define curls. It's loaded with aloe vera to hydrate your curls and moisturizing shea butter, coconut oil, and jojoba oil to lock in hydration. It's

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