These Tried and Tested Curl Creams Deliver on Soft, Bouncy Hair (2025)

As a curly girl, I’ve always viewed styling my 3C hair that tends to lean on the dry side as an intricate balancing act. I’ve tried various techniques including the LOC method, plopping and more to find a way to get a wash and go that looks flawless. But with all of my years of trial and error, I’ve finally landed on the key to keeping my strands happy and luscious: a curl cream.

Curly hair expert Brendnetta Ashley says, “a good curl cream is a balance of oils that will add shine while moisturizing the hair.” The creams typically have a consistency that is thicker than a leave-in conditioner, but also provides a soft hold — think a little less than your average gel. “It’s a thin coat to the cuticle layer to seal the cuticle down. So, it will control frizz and add moisture and shine without weighing the hair down,” Ashley adds.

Looking for your holy grail styler for your coils and waves? I’ve tapped Ashley, our GH editors — who also happen to have a range of curl types — and, of course, our pros in the Good Housekeeping Institute to provide you with the best curl cream options that will cater to all curl patterns from 2A to 4C.

Key Ingredients: Argan Oil, vitamin E | Size: 10.2 oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: Don't be fooled by the name: This does-it-all Moroccanoil styling cream is GH's resident curly girl's go-to. It features nourishing ingredients including argan oil, argan butter and vitamin E, as well as a spicy amber and sweet floral scent. Plus, the brand says it can be used on medium to coarse hair types.

Tester notes: "It adds flexible hold that's not crunchy at all and keeps curls intact and fuzz-free for days," says Good Housekeeping Institute Editorial Commerce and Product Reviews Director Jessica Teich. "I have high-porosity hair that dries really quickly so to keep it from frizzing up my hair on application, I add a bit of water to the product to thin it down before smoothing onto curls. The result is well-defined, hydrated curls with no crunchiness." Though, some reviewers found the scent to be strong.

Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, mango glycerides, shea butter| Size: 5.1 oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: An affordable curl cream and gel combo, this Garnier formula is top-rated at Walmart, though some noted it can leave residue on hair. It provides great hold, making it perfect for slicked back styles or super defined wash and go styling.

Tester notes: "The initial application of this product leaves my curls looking defined and glossy. But after it dries, the cast has to be broken to reveal voluminous, bouncy curls," a GH staffer said.

Key Ingredients: Chitosan, argan oil, grapeseed oil | Size: 3.38 oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: Dyson's innovative styler comes in four formulations — Straight to Wavy Hair, Light Conditioning, Straight to Wavy Hair, Rich Conditioning, Curly to Coily Hair, Light Conditioning and Curly to Coily Hair, Rich Conditioning — making it easy for consumers to pick their preferred conditioning level. It also snagged a Beauty Award.

Tester notes: In Lab trials with four professional hairstylists, three out of four agreed that the cream did not leave unwanted residue on their clients' hair and that the product did not weigh hair down. "The serum texture is great and reduced frizz and gave good shine," one tester said. "I would recommend for normal to thicker textures."

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, argan oil, monoi oil, lycii berry extract, black currant extract | Size: 5.1 oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: With a light hold and frizz fighting ingredients, this curl cream works to bring soft-to-touch definition to each curl. Though it does produce a slight cast, it gives hair a voluminous boost once the seal is broken.

Tester notes: "I love that it keeps my curls moisturized and reduces frizz without making me sacrifice volume," one GH editor said. "Unlike other products I've used, this cream doesn't weigh my 3C hair down or make it oily. And it air dries with defined, yet voluminous curls."

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, silk protein, neem oil | Size: 20 oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: If you have dense curls, look no further than SheaMoisture's custard curl cream. Former GH Commerce Editor Jacqueline Saguin attests to the wonders of this curl cream: "It has enhanced my waves and made it easy for me to embrace my natural hair texture!"

Tester notes: “It minimizes frizz, defines curls and moisturizes, but doesn’t feel sticky or oily,” said one GH editor. “A small amount goes a long way which is a plus for curly product-dependent hair — if I were to use just one product it would be this one." Bonus: “It smells like a tropical smoothie,” she added.

Key Ingredients: Soybean oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil | Size: 8.5 oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: A cult classic, this Miss Jessie's curl pudding cream is versatile enough to work on everything from waves to twist and braid-out styles. It is also perfect for smoothing frizz and producing a defined pattern with great shine.

Tester notes: "This was my go-to for years, way before the curly hair market really expanded," a GH staffer said. "With it, my curls are frizz-free with great bounce. But the product is a bit sticky."

Key Ingredients: Olive fruit oil, citric acid, glycerin | Size: 5 oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: For easily detangled, supple curls check out Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS+ Bounty Balm. The brand claims that the cream can help protect curls from humidity.

Tester notes: Ashley describes this product as her "absolute favorite curl cream." She says that it provides curls with "the perfect balance of moisture and frizz control."

Key Ingredients: Theobroma cacao seed butter, shea butter | Size: 6.7 oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: For a curl cream that's a true multitasking star, look no further than Evo. It provides a strong hold for super defined curls that are also soft to touch. However, reviewers gave mixed reviews on the product's scent, with some saying it smells "fresh and clean" and others saying it is "very perfumey."

Tester notes: "I try a lot of curl creams and hair products with my job. More than often my friends and family don’t notice any major difference like I do, but when I tested Evo’s line of curl products that all changed," says Bianca Rodriguez, a Commerce Editor and Writer at Hearst Magazines Digital Media. "My curls looked THAT amazing. This product works just as good on dry hair as it does wet, an ideal scenario for someone who’s always on the go like me."

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, blueberry seed oil, coconut milk | Size: 8 oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: No crunchy curls with this cream! It's super lightweight and leaves your hair smelling fruity-fresh. Bonus: It can be used as a leave-in conditioner or a styler, according to the brand.

Tester notes: "It keeps my curls defined if I air dry or diffuse," said one GH editor. Other reviewers also noted that it helps with frizz management.

Key Ingredients: Castor oil, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil | Size: 25 0z. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: Whether you're looking to provide life and bounce to an otherwise dull wash-n-go or need some hold for a twist out or braid out style, this rich buttercream-consistency styling cream — which comes in Original, a sweet floral essence of neroli, rose and patchouli, and Palo Santo — is versatile enough to work on multiple hairstyles and features hydrating ingredients. But note that some reviewers found it difficult to use on dry hair.

Tester notes: "Highly recommended this styling cream; it’s one of the absolute best," one reviewer said. "Leaves no white cast, it penetrates the hair shaft leaving it shiny, healthy and smooth!"

Key Ingredients: Oat peptide, tapioca starch, sea buckthorn | Size: 6.7 oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: Amika claims that the tapioca starch in this product provides definition and the oat peptide forms a protective barrier, amplifying your hair's shine.

Tester notes: "I compared a lot of different curl creams but kept coming back to Amika — and for good reason," an Amazon reviewer raved. "I have naturally wavy/curly hair, but it tends to get flat as the day goes on. With Amika, it stays curly and defined with little to no frizz all day." However, some reviewers found the product sticky.

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, olive oil, coconut oil, vitamin E | Size: 12 oz. | Sulfate-Free: Yes

Why we love it: Parched coils will love this rich cream that is packed with moisture and hydration. It is formulated with coconut oil and vitamin E and helps promote long lasting curl definition, according to the brand.

Tester notes: "The moment that I put a generous amount of this cream on my dry 4C hair, it was as if it drank some cold iced water," an Amazon reviewer said. "The coils sprung and were defined instantly."

Hair is unique, so when it comes to curl creams, there isn't a one size fits all option. There are a few key components to keep in mind when shopping for the best curl cream:

✔️ Hair texture: Before you buy a new curl cream, determine whether your hair is fine, medium or coarse. "Always seek guidance from your salon professional to help determine the hair type," says Gina Rivera, Celebrity Hairstylist and Founder of Phenix Salon Suites. However, to quickly determine your hair's texture, consider proceeding with an at-home strand test. Take an individual strand of hair between your fingers. If you can hardly feel it, you likely have fine hair. If your hair typically holds a style well and you can feel it upon doing the strand test, then it's likely medium or coarse. Coarse hair can typically hold a curl well, but can often be difficult to style due to its density. If it feels thick and strong when doing the strand test, your hair is likely coarse.

Good Housekeeping Beauty Director April Franzino wrote this article and is an expert in all hair product categories, from shampoos, conditioners, treatments, styling products and tools to hair color, professional services and more. April works closely with the GH Beauty Lab to coordinate hair product testing and translate test results into best-in-class compelling, factually accurate science-backed content for Good Housekeeping.

This article was most recently updated by GH Staff Writer Cameron Jenkins. She interviewed a stylist to get the details on what makes a good curl cream and the best curl cream products currently on the market. She has written on several beauty topics, including the best edge control and worked with the GH Beauty Lab and sought out thousands of consumer reviews to find the very best product recommendations.