The 15 Best Curl Creams That Smooth and Define Hair

Why It's Worth It: Jen Atkin might be a hair queen in her own right but she tapped 150 people in her network to test and co-create a do-it-all curl cream. Our editors with 2B, 2C, and 3C/4A curl types fell in love with the sweet-smelling, non-heavy Curl Crème, which gave former Allure editor Jihan Forbes a "lived-in, fluffy, soft-looking day-two look."

Editor Tip: Similar to Forbes' sentiments, associate manager of special projects Talia Gutierrez notes that she would probably have to double up with a gel if she was going for tighter curls. Sadly, there isn't a fragrance-free formula (like there used to be), so people who are sensitive to scents (or prefer not to use scented styling products), keep that in mind.

Key Ingredients: Linseed, chia seed, coconut oil, babassu oil | Who It’s For: People who want a soft hold and airy curls/waves

Why It's Worth It: When you have a product name like Ouidad Curl Quencher Hydrafusion Intense Curl Cream, you just know it'll breathe life back into your dried-out, frizzy curls, thanks to ingredients like curl-defining milk thistle and sweet almond and damage-repairing wheat protein. There's no shortage of hydration, either, with a bursting blend of chamomile, hydrolyzed silk, and meadowfoam seed and corn oils. Apply to extra wet hair to lock moisture in.

Editor Tip: "This is a major key for luscious, juicy type 3 curls and up," hairstylist Lana Hun attests says of this paraben-, sulfate-, and mineral oil-free formula. "This curl cream will eliminate the use of unnecessary products and works amazingly alone."

Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed silk, sweet almond oil, soybean seed extract, milk thistle, wheat protein, arnica flower | Who It's For: Thirsty, tight curls

Why It's Worth It: Adwoa Beauty's decadent Baomint Moisturizing Curl Defining Cream stands out as a curl-care hero thanks to nourishing ingredients like shea butter, honey, silk amino acids, and baobab oil. In addition to hydrating and defining curls and coils, peppermint and spearmint oils leave a refreshing tingle on the scalp, ideal for a morning wash-day sesh.

Editor Tip: Maximize benefits by applying to sections of damp, detangled hair, and finish by scrunching your curls upwards for bouncy, frizz-free results.

Key ingredients: Honey, silk amino acids, shea butter, peppermint oil | Who It’s For: Medium to thick curls who like rich creams

Why It's Worth It: Rucker Roots' Define and Stretch Curl Custard is an ideal option for folks with 3C to 4C hair who are looking to fight shrinkage. The moisturizing custard stretches tight curls while boosting shine and reducing frizz. The creamy jelly also layers nicely with other styling products. What's more, it's formulated with nourishing ingredients like strengthening biotin and moisturizing coconut oil.

Editor Tip: Chicago-based hairstylist Leigh Hardges suggests using the styling cream for twist-outs and rod sets. "I like how easy it is to spread the texture," she says. "It's thick enough to really coat curls but loose enough to be absorbed by the hair."

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, sesame seed oil, shea butter, coconut oil, ginger root oil | Who It's For: People with type 4 curls

Why It's Worth It: Besides the fact that TPH by Taraji's Twist and Set Moisture-Rich Twisting Cream is a 2023 Best of Beauty Award winner, we love using this mango seed and shea butter-infused formula to define curls and elongate twist-outs. Pequi oil is a fabulous ingredient that minimizes frizz without weighing hair down.

Editor Tip: This sulfate-free cream is color-safe. Apply to wet or damp hair from mid-shaft to ends before drying.

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, mango seed butter, pequi oil | Who It’s For:

Why It's Worth It: If the blessing and curse of extra thick hair has been bestowed upon you, this smoothie cream is a great choice. Infused with coconut and hibiscus, it helps to tame frizz, define curls, and infuse long-lasting moisture. It's no wonder this drugstore wonder is a holy-grail product for so many — it won an Allure 2020 Readers' Choice Award to boot.

Editor Tip: If you're obsessed with smelling good, indulge in notes of hibiscus and coconut that will give you a subtle tropical scent that's bound to spark compliments.

Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, hibiscus flower extract, silk protein, neem oil | Who It's For: People who want beautiful curls on a budget

Why It's Worth It: Uncle Funky's Daughter Curly Magic Curl Stimulator is infused with moisturizing glycerin and aloe vera to plump curls into a bouncy, defined formation. According to Hardges, the curl activator's ability to add a lot of shine to hair, while having great slip as you work the product in, is what makes this one a fan-favorite. She recommends the styler for 3C to 4C curl types and says it works best when shingling, coiling, and two-strand twisting hair.

Editor Tip: Hardges also notes that "this one holds in moisture, so more confined styles like flat-twists or bantu knots can take a lot longer to dry," she says. You may want to consider hitting your protective style with a blow-dryer to help speed up the setting process, too.

Key Ingredients: Aloe vera leaf juice, glycerin, jojoba sed oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein | Who It's For: 3C to 4C curl types

Why It's Worth It: Type 4 hair tends to be the driest of all the textures. Thankfully, Mielle Organics Pomegranate & Honey Coil Sculpting Custard was made especially for this curl type. Coconut and babassu oils, along with moisture-attracting honey, give parched hair the moisture it's missing. For best results, apply the cream in sections to dripping wet hair then diffuse or air-dry.

Editor Tip: The brand suggests also applying Mielle Mint Almond Oil while your hair is still wet to minimize the chances of flaking. After generously applying the custard, allow hair to air-dry or diffuse for added volume.

Key Ingredients: Glycerin, babassu oil, buriti fruit oil, coconut oil, honey | Who It's For: Type 4 curls

Why It's Worth It: Miss Jessie's Multicultural Curls strikes the perfect balance between moisture and hold. Formulated for mixed-race curl patterns, it enhances shine and definition while combating frizz, leaving a light fruity scent behind.

Editor Tip: Apply to wet strands straight out of the shower to lock in moisture, or use on dry hair to enhance definition.

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, avocado, coconut, safflower, jojoba seed, and olive fruit oil | Who It’s For: People with fine curls who find that most creams are too heavy for their hair

Why It's Worth It: Another Best of Beauty winner, Cake Beauty's The Curl Friend Defining Curl Cream uses a trio of butters and oils — soybean oil, avocado oil, and shea butter — to give tighter, denser curls definition and moisture without any sticky or thick buildup. Former associate news editor Gabi Thorne, who tried the cream on her low-porosity 3C/4A type hair, said her curls looked defined but didn't lose volume or shrink more than usual. "[It] quenched my thirsty-ass hair, and the moisture it gave me lasted most of the week," she confirmed.

Editor Tip: Thorne styles her hair using the L.C.O. Method, which consists of a water-based leave-in (which is usually just water for her), styling cream (The Curl Friend), and oil (a lightweight formula infused with almond or grapeseed oils).

Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, soybean oil, shea butter | Who It's For: Dry, low-porosity hair

Why It's Worth It: Kinky-Curly's Original Curling Custard looks and holds like a gel, but hydrates and stretches out shrinkage more like a moisturizing cream — all thanks to the aloe vera gel in the formula. Agave nectar is another star ingredient in this formula that helps reduce frizz.

Editor Tip: After applying your leave-in conditioner, work the custard through soaking wet hair. Hardges advises that you use it carefully because "buildup occurs fast with this product." Then, either air-dry your curls or use a diffuser attachment to help set your style.

Key Ingredients: Agave nectar, aloe vera juice, horsetail, chamomile, nettle | Who It's For: People who don't mind styling as soon as they're out of the shower

Why It's Worth It: The process of achieving perfectly imperfect curls should require minimal effort. And Marc Anthony's Strictly Curls Curl Envy Cream can help you get there — no matter the thickness or tightness of your curls. Made with shea butter, avocado oil, and vitamin E, this styler delivers long-lasting moisture and a soft hold. The lightweight cream also repels humidity, so no matter what the season, you can expect a frizz-free finish.

Editor Tip: To use, hairstylist Cynthia Alvarez, who works in both New York City and Los Angeles, says to "apply [the cream] all over wet or dry hair, concentrating more on the mid-shaft to ends, twirling small sections around your finger as you go."

Key Ingredients: Shea butter, avocado oil, vitamin E | Who It's For: People who live in humid climates

Why It's Worth It: Kristin Ess's curl collection is all for people who "really need to avoid silicones and want to focus on moisture," Kristin Ess herself said when it initially rolled out. The Ultra Light Curl Defining Cream is a supremely lightweight cream that'll bring the spring back to lifeless, fuzzy curls. Apply to damp hair and coil or twist hair to encourage your natural curl pattern.

Editor Tip: Once your style is set, a little crème is also good for refreshing those errant curls that frizz up unexpectedly. Wet them a bit with water, smooth some of this on, and watch them coil back into formation.

Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, mango seed butter, castor seed oil | Who It's For: Finer hair types