You might think you need loads of products or that your life will change with that one “holy grail” item, or that you'll never succeed without every tool your favourite curly hair influencer swears by. And sure, some of these might actually work for your hair, but...
The truth is, buying too many products often overcomplicates your routine and makes the whole process feel harder than it needs to be. In reality, a curly hair routine can be simple, effective, and easy to stick to.
Here’s how to keep it that way.
Basics of a Curly Hair Routine
A curly hair routine follows a simple structure built around three steps: cleansing, conditioning, and styling. These steps guide you on what you need and help you avoid unnecessary extras. Let’s get into it.
1. Cleanse
Cleansing exists on a spectrum, and where you fall on that spectrum depends on your hair’s needs.
If you’re new to the Curly Girl Method, you might start with a co-wash, which is essentially a cleansing conditioner. Over time, you may notice your hair needs more cleansing power than a co-wash can provide. That’s where low-poo comes in. Low-poo shampoos, also known as low-lather or sulfate-free shampoos, cleanse more effectively than co-washes but offer less conditioning benefits.
You might be ready to move on from co-washing if you notice:
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Limp, weighed-down hair that feels product-coated
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Hair that feels mushy when wet and struggles to hold a curl
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Oily roots shortly after washing
- An irritated or itchy scalp
Low-poo cleansing tends to work well for medium to low porosity hair, fine hair, low-density hair, grease-prone scalps, looser curl patterns, and certain scalp conditions. As you move from low-poo to clarifying and then chelating shampoos, cleansing power increases while conditioning decreases.
Gentle cleansers that our customers love include Jessicurl Gentle Lather Shampoo, AG Curl Fresh Shampoo, and Inahsi Naturals Soothing Mint Gentle Cleansing Shampoo.
There's also no-poo cleansers that don't contain any surfactants or cleansing ingredients. They are made up of other ingredients that may effectively clean the hair (or they may not, depending on your hair). We don't often recommend no-poo products.
For less frequent but deeper cleansing, clarifying and chelating shampoos are essential for maintaining a healthy curly hair routine. They remove accumulated product buildup, and chelating shampoos also tackle mineral residue from hard water. Clarifying once or twice a month is usually enough to keep your hair and scalp clean without over-drying your curls.
Some great clarifying and/or chelating shampoo options include:
2. Condition
Because curly hair is often drier, more fragile, and more prone to damage, conditioning plays a major role in curl care. This is why co-washing is commonly recommended, especially for high-porosity hair that thrives on extra moisture. Using a co-wash doesn’t replace the need for a conditioner because while they’re similar, they serve different purposes.
When applying conditioner, you’ll likely need more than you expect. Your mid-lengths and ends should feel slippery, almost like slimy seaweed, when using conditioner. Adding more water or product helps, and wrapping your ends up and giving them a good squeeze is a great way to work in extra hydration. This technique, known as "squish to condish," helps your hair absorb moisture more effectively.
Once you reach that slippery feel, you can start detangling. Begin with your fingers at the ends and work your way up toward the roots. For tougher knots, a wide-tooth comb, detangling brush, or Flexy Brush can help. Just remember to only detangle with a brush on wet hair with conditioner in it. Don't detangle on dry hair.
You don't need to match your conditioner to your shampoo - this is your routine, you can pick and choose based on your curl needs. Some popular conditioners that make detangling easier are Uncle Funky's Daughter Richee Rich Moisturizing Conditioner, LUS Brands | Love Ur Curl Hydrating and Detangling Silicone-Free Conditioner, and Inahsi Naturals Soothing Mint Moisturizing Conditioner.
3. Style
This is usually where things get interesting, simply because there are so many styling products to choose from. You must remember that sometimes it’s not the product that makes the biggest difference, but the methods and techniques you use. We’ve put together a mini guide that goes into more detail, which you can find here.
Stylers should support a specific hair goal. For example, if you want more volume, look for products designed to lift. If longevity is the priority, choose stylers with a stronger hold. Being clear about what you want from your hair makes choosing products much easier (and definitely helps us make recommendations for you!).
We believe the best hair days come from two stylers. Stylers also follow a general order: start with a conditioning or defining styler, then use a hold styler. Optionally, you can finish with a finishing product. Alongside your goals, your hair’s characteristics should guide your choices, helping you find the right balance between conditioning and hold.
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Conditioning or Defining Styler
This group of stylers is mainly focused on providing lasting conditioning or definition to the hair. They include leave-ins, curl creams, and other curl enhancers.
Leave-ins provide long-lasting conditioning but no hold. Some favourites include Camille Rose Curl Love Moisture Milk and Innersense Organic Beauty Sweet Spirit Leave-In Conditioner.
Curl creams and curl enhancers often overlap, but there are small differences between them.
Curl creams are usually moderately conditioning and may offer a light hold. Solid options include Curlsmith Feather Light Protein Cream, Innersense Organic Beauty Quiet Calm Curl Control, and Inahsi Naturals Rock Your Curls Curl Enhancing Cream.
Curl enhancers do exactly what the name suggests. You may also hear them called curl definers or curl stimulators. They help encourage tighter, smoother curl formation and are usually less conditioning than curl creams. Popular options are AG Re: Coil Curl Activator (contains drying alcohol) and Ecoslay Orange Marmalade.
Other curl enhancing products like curl custards may be conditioning but offer a level of hold similar to gels, which is why they’re often considered “one-and-done” stylers. Some well-loved options that fall into this kind of category include Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic Curl Stimulator, Camille Rose Curl Maker, and Curlsmith Curl Defining Styling Soufflé.
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Hold Styler
This category of stylers is designed to provide hold to the beautiful results you created with your first styler. It includes foam or mousse and gels.
Mousse or foam is a lightweight alternative to gel. It still provides hold, though usually not as strong, and is formulated to feel lighter on the hair. Foam works well for low-porosity, fine, or low-density hair, or for anyone who dislikes the “product-y” feeling of gel. It can also be applied at the roots to encourage volume without weighing the hair down. Some great options include:
Gel is often a game-changer for curls. There's no need to be afraid of gel! It provides strong hold, lasting style, definition, and helps reduce frizz. Remember to scrunch out the cast (the crunchy finish a gel may leave once dried) to reveal smooth, defined curls.
Some top gels include:
4. Finish
Finishing stylers are used to seal in or finish off your styling results. This step is optional but many curlies like to finish their look in one of two ways: with even more hold to maintain the style and reduce frizz as the day goes on, or with an oil for shine and softness. Some oils are also penetrating, meaning they can nourish the hair from the inside while still providing a smooth, polished finish.
Some popular hair sprays include Innersense Organic Beauty I Create Finish, which is a working spray (this means it can be applied to damp or dry hair), or Surface Curls Finishing Spray, which is more of a traditional hair spray.
People most often use an oil to "scrunch out the crunch," the cast that a gel leaves behind when it dries. This results in softer, more touchable curls, still with great hold.
Examples of finishing oils include:
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Argan oil
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Coconut oil
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Olive oil
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Jojoba oil
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Penetrating blends like Innersense Hydrating Hair Masque Oil or Curlsmith Bonding Oil.
5. Drying
After styling, you could air-dry halfway and then finish with the Curl Warehouse Great Big Diffuser or diffuse first, then allow your hair to finish drying on its own. It's not always all-or-nothing!
Diffusing helps your curls lock in their style, helping to reduce frizz and minimize heat damage. Use a low heat and low airflow setting, and work in sections. Make sure to tilt your head to encourage root volume while supporting your curls with your hand or the diffuser bowl.
These are the first steps to creating a repeatable, consistent curl care routine. If you need help with your curly hair routine or product recommendations, visit us in store or email us at help@curlwarehouse.com for assistance!
