The best shampoo for curly hair is a gentle, moisturizing one that cleans your scalp without leaving your lengths rough and frizzy. For most curls, that means a sulfate-free formula matched to your curl pattern, plus a clarifying shampoo every few weeks if you use gels or creams.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says curly and coily hair is more prone to dryness and breakage than other hair types, and its advice is simple: "Choose a moisturizing shampoo that is formulated for curly hair." Below are seven curly hair shampoos that fit that brief, from waves to tight coils.
Quick picks
These are our picks for the best curly hair shampoo by need. Each one is backed by a named reviewer or expert, and you'll find the details below.
| Badge | Pick | Why we picked it |
|---|---|---|
| Best drugstore | OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Shampoo | Sulfate-free, made for curls, picked by both Good Housekeeping and NBC Select |
| Best for wavy hair | Briogeo Curl Charisma Hydrating Shampoo | Creamy but not heavy; a colorist's pick for defining waves |
| Best for fine curls | Joico HydraSplash Hydrating Shampoo | Light moisture that doesn't flatten fine waves and loose curls |
| Best moisturizing splurge | Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo | A Good Housekeeping editor's everyday shampoo for curls |
| Best for coily hair | SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Shampoo | Rich, sulfate-free, made for kinky and coily hair |
| Best co-wash | As I Am Coconut CoWash | A no-suds cleansing conditioner for between wash days |
| Best clarifying | Ouai Detox Shampoo | Clears gel, cream and hard-water buildup about once a week |
Best drugstore shampoo for curly hair: OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Shampoo
Best for: curly hair on a budget, especially medium to coarse curls. Drugstore.
What we love
- Good Housekeeping named it the best drugstore shampoo for curly hair. GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann says coconut-derived cleansers "effectively remove impurities without being excessively powerful."
- It's also NBC Select's drugstore pick for curls. Former staffer Kelsey Fredricks says, "My curls don't feel dry when I use this."
- OGX says its formula uses sulfate-free cleansers, is paraben-free and is "ideal for medium to coarse-textured hair."
- If you want a shampoo and conditioner set for curly hair, the matching Quenching + Coconut Curls Conditioner is sold alongside it.
Keep in mind
- GH notes that this exact formula hasn't been tested in its Lab, and some reviewers say their curls looked flatter afterwards.
- The scent (coconut milk, tangerine and vanilla, according to OGX) is noticeable.
Key ingredients: coconut oil, citrus oil, honey.
How to use: Massage into your scalp, rinse, then condition from roots to ends.
Best wavy hair shampoo: Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo
Best for: waves and mixed wave-and-curl patterns that want definition rather than volume. Mid-range.
What we love
- Briogeo calls it "a creamy, sulfate-free shampoo that hydrates and minimizes frizz for defined curls, coils, and waves."
- In Allure's wavy-hair guide, colorist Tiffanie Richards says it's "great for a wavy-haired person who doesn't necessarily need more volume, but wants their waves to look healthier and more defined."
- Briogeo says the formula is 95% naturally derived, vegan and Leaping Bunny certified.
- Allure's editors pair it with the matching Curl Charisma conditioner for more definition.
Keep in mind
- It contains fragrance and citrus peel oils, so skip it if your scalp doesn't like scented products.
- Allure's spec box lists it as not sulfate-free, but Briogeo's own page and ingredient list say it is. We went with the brand's ingredient list.
Key ingredients: rice amino acids, shea butter, tomato fruit ferment, avocado oil.
How to use: "Massage into wet hair to build lather, then rinse," according to Briogeo.
Best shampoo for fine curly hair: Joico HydraSplash Hydrating Shampoo
Best for: fine waves and loose curls that go limp under rich curl shampoos. Mid-range.
What we love
- Allure named it the best shampoo for fine wavy hair. Hairstylist Rikke Gajda says it's "less rich than a shampoo for coarser hair, but it still adds all the moisture the hair needs so the finer waves stay light, defined, and bouncy."
- Joico says it's made for fine to medium, dry hair and cleanses "without stripping away natural moisture or weighing it down."
- A matching HydraSplash conditioner is sold as a set.
Keep in mind
- Allure lists it as not sulfate-free. For fine hair that gets greasy fast, a slightly stronger clean can be the point. If your curls feel dry after it, switch to one of the sulfate-free picks.
- It isn't made specifically for curls, so you'll still want a curl cream or gel afterwards.
Key ingredients: coconut water, sea kelp, keratin.
How to use: A small amount on the scalp only, then use conditioner just on the lengths if your curls are fine.
Best moisturizing shampoo for curly hair: Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo
Best for: dry curls that need a daily-gentle, sulfate-free wash. Splurge.
What we love
- Good Housekeeping named it the best sulfate-free shampoo for curly hair. GH Deputy Editor Jessica Teich calls it her "go-to, everyday shampoo" and says it "strikes the perfect balance of cleanliness and hydration."
- Moroccanoil describes it as "a sulfate-free, moisture-balancing shampoo" with argan oil, red algae and vitamins A and E.
- The matching Moroccanoil Hydrating Conditioner makes it an easy shampoo and conditioner pair.
Keep in mind
- GH says some reviewers find it leaves hair feeling greasy, so it's a weaker fit if your scalp gets oily fast.
Key ingredients: argan oil, red algae, vitamins A and E.
How to use: Lather on the scalp, rinse, and follow with conditioner on your full length.
Best hydrating shampoo for curly hair (coily, type 4): SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo
Best for: very dry, coily and kinky hair. Drugstore.
What we love
- In SheaMoisture's words, "this sulfate free shampoo cleanses while hydrating kinky, coily hair."
- NBC Select named it the best drugstore shampoo overall. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King and trichologist Taylor Rose both recommend it.
- King says its shea butter, manuka honey and mafura oil hydrate and moisturize the hair.
- The brand sells a matching Intensive Hydration Conditioner and a hair masque in the same line.
Keep in mind
- It's a rich formula, which is great for coils but may be too much for fine waves.
- It comes in a squeeze bottle, not a pump, and it contains fragrance.
Key ingredients: shea butter, honey, mafura seed butter, baobab oil, fig extract.
How to use: "Apply to wet hair, gently massage into a rich lather. Rinse thoroughly. Repeat, if necessary," according to SheaMoisture.
Best co-wash for curly hair: As I Am Coconut CoWash
Best for: curls and coils that feel dry, used between regular shampoos. Drugstore.
What we love
- As I Am says its "light, no-suds formula gently removes sebum and product buildup" and is made for "curls, coils, and waves between wash days."
- It's sulfate-free and silicone-free, with coconut oil and castor oil in the ingredient list.
- NBC Select named it the best budget co-wash.
- PureWow editor Dara Katz, who describes her hair as "coarse, frizzy and wildly thick," gave it 88 out of 100.
Keep in mind
- It comes in a screw-top tub. Katz found it hard to close with slippery hands.
- It doesn't lather, so you have to massage it into your scalp properly. If your scalp still feels oily afterwards, use a regular shampoo next time.
Key ingredients: coconut oil, castor seed oil, coconut and tangerine extracts.
How to use: Use a generous amount, massage it into your scalp with your fingertips, detangle with a wide-tooth comb, then rinse well.
Best clarifying shampoo for curly routines: Ouai Detox Shampoo
Best for: clearing gel, cream and hard-water buildup when curls stop holding their shape. Splurge.
What we love
- Ouai says it "deeply cleanses away dirt, oil and product buildup with apple cider vinegar" and removes "hard water deposits."
- In Allure, Richards points to its chelating agents, which grab hard-water minerals so they rinse out.
- At NBC Select, reporter Zoe Malin uses it once a week on her thick, curly hair to clear out buildup from gels and creams.
Keep in mind
- It's sulfate-free but still a deep cleanser. For dry hair, Ouai suggests starting with once a week, and Richards suggests a few times a month, followed by a moisturizing treatment.
- It contains fragrance and colorants.
Key ingredients: apple cider vinegar, hydrolyzed keratin, chelating agents.
How to use: Work a quarter-sized amount into your scalp, leave it for 1 to 3 minutes, rinse, then condition.
How to choose a shampoo for curly hair
Start with your curl pattern
Hair is usually grouped as wavy (type 2), curly (type 3) or coily (type 4), Good Housekeeping explains.
- Wavy (type 2) hair is often straight when wet and ripples as it dries. In Allure, hairstylist Joseph Chase says that for waves, "more moisture isn't always better," so start with something light.
- Curly (type 3) hair forms springs and corkscrews. It can be fine, medium or thick, so pick by texture as well as pattern.
- Coily (type 4) hair has tight S-shapes or a zigzag pattern and shrinks as it dries. Coils usually want the richest formulas and the fewest washes.
Sulfate-free shampoo for curly hair: does it matter?
Mostly, yes. Strong detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate are very good at removing oil, but a dermatology review notes that "excessively cleaned hair is harsh, rough, dull with frizz and prone to tangling." Trichologist Bridgette Hill told Good Housekeeping that curly hair generally needs "sulfate-free cleansers."
Curly communities call these gentler formulas low-poo. A co-wash goes one step further: it's a conditioner with a small amount of cleanser in it, and it doesn't lather.
Plan for buildup
Gels, creams and oils build up between washes, and so do hard-water minerals. The AAD suggests that if you style with gels, oils, creams or pomades, you consider a clarifying shampoo before your moisturizing shampoo. The same dermatology review says deep-cleaning shampoos are typically used once a week. Our rule of thumb is to clarify every one to four weeks, depending on how much product you use, and always condition afterwards.
How often to wash curly hair
Less often than you might think. The AAD says thick, curly hair "doesn't need to be washed daily or even weekly," but should be washed at least every 2 to 3 weeks. Hairstylist Kee Taylor told GH that once or twice a week suits most curls, and Hill says tightly coiled hair may only need washing every 10 to 14 days.
Wherever you land, put shampoo on your scalp rather than your full length, and use conditioner from roots to ends if your hair is curly. Mark DeBolt, a colorist quoted by NBC Select, suggests swapping in a co-wash every other wash if you want to wash more often. Your shampoo only does half the job, so pair it with one of the best conditioners for curly hair.
Comparison table
| Pick | Best curl pattern | Sulfate-free | Budget | Matching conditioner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls | Curly, medium to coarse | Yes | Drugstore | Yes |
| Briogeo Curl Charisma | Wavy and mixed | Yes (brand) | Mid-range | Yes |
| Joico HydraSplash | Fine waves and loose curls | No (per Allure) | Mid-range | Yes |
| Moroccanoil Hydrating | Dry curls | Yes | Splurge | Yes |
| SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil | Coily, very dry | Yes | Drugstore | Yes |
| As I Am Coconut CoWash | Curly and coily | Yes (co-wash) | Drugstore | Brand suggests its leave-in |
| Ouai Detox | Any, for buildup | Yes (deep clean) | Splurge | No |
FAQs
Is sulfate free shampoo for curly hair really better?
For most curls, yes. Sulfate cleansers remove oil very well but can leave curly hair rough and frizzy, which is why experts like trichologist Bridgette Hill recommend sulfate-free cleansers for curls. The exception is when you need a deeper clean for buildup or an oily scalp. That's what a clarifying shampoo is for.
What's the best shampoo for fine curly hair?
Choose something light. Joico HydraSplash is our pick because it's made for fine to medium hair and Allure's stylist says it keeps finer waves "light, defined, and bouncy." Use conditioner on your lengths and skip heavy masks on wash day.
What's the best drugstore shampoo for curly hair?
OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls is our drugstore pick for most curls, as it was for both Good Housekeeping and NBC Select. For coily or very dry hair, SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil is the richer drugstore option.
What's the best shampoo and conditioner for curly hair?
A matched pair from the same line is the simplest place to start, because they're made to work together. OGX, Briogeo, Joico, Moroccanoil and SheaMoisture all sell matching conditioners for the shampoos above. Apply conditioner to your full length and detangle with a wide-tooth comb before you rinse, as the AAD suggests.
What's the best shampoo for curly frizzy hair?
A moisturizing, sulfate-free one, used less often. Moroccanoil Hydrating suits dry, frizzy curls and SheaMoisture suits frizzy coils. Frizz usually comes from the whole routine, though, not just the shampoo, so look at your conditioner, drying and styling steps too.
Match the shampoo to your curl pattern, wash less often, and clarify when your curls stop bouncing back.