Frequently Asked Questions
Do curl creams actually work?
“Curl creams perform miracles in your curls and coils with proper product selection,” says James, who explains that deep-nourishing formulas “absorb into the strand to encourage definition, tame frizz, enhance shine, and to maintain elasticity and shape memory,” with heavier creams offering more elongation and stretch. Aquino-DeJesus agrees the payoff is real. “Curl creams enhance the curl pattern you already have rather than creating a curl that isn’t naturally there.” She notes they add moisture, cut frizz, and boost definition, and for finer hair specifically, “lightweight curl creams because you can get definition and polish without sacrificing volume or making the hair feel coated.”
How should you apply curl creams to get maximum impact?
Both James and Aquino-DeJesus start the same way with soaking wet hair but diverge on technique from there. James says “it’s best to lock in the water, which is hydration, to keep the hair supple,” since applying to drenched strands lets the cream’s emollients soften the cuticle, while humectants pull moisture from the air. Aquino-DeJesus takes a more restrained approach, especially for finer textures: “I always say less is more, especially with fine hair,” applying a small amount in sections from mid-lengths to ends before scrunching upward, and adding more only if needed. For volume, both point to the same trick: diffusing with the head flipped upside down, keeping product away from the roots, though James adds one non-negotiable: “Dry hair to 100% dry to prevent frizz and pick the root to separate, create volume, and increase the circumference of your curls.”
Meet the experts
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn’t want to pick up a purple shampoo that’s only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that’s never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best curl creams, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hairstylists—who know how to manage curly hair. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the “best” for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We’re proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
Your curls are in luck. We’ve got more where this came from:
