Checklist · 12 picks · 4 categories
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Curly hair goes through a lot of product, so a restock of the good stuff is a gift that gets used.
Most picks are from Shop TODAY: OGX Coconut Curls shampoo is its best for thicker hair, Not Your Mother's Curl Talk is its before-you-style leave-in, and the SheaMoisture leave-in is its pick for damaged curls. Cantu is its best cream for type 3 and 4 curls, Rizos Curls its best overall curl cream, Garnier's Hair Honey Jelly a budget-friendly gel with no crunch, and Ouidad its best gel for waves. Mielle is its best budget hair mask, and the SheaMoisture masque its best for curly and kinky hair. The DevaCurl towel is The Strategist's best hair towel for textured hair. The splurges are Amika's conditioning curl cream and the Kitsch satin-wrapped towel, The Strategist's best hair towel for curly hair.
Who this is not for. Skip this if their hair is straight; the beauty gifts page fits better.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cantu Natural Hair Coconut Curling Cream with Shea Butter | budget | under $15 | type 3 and 4 curls on a budget | 1 outlet |
| Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream | mid | $15-25 | definition without weighing hair down | 1 outlet |
| Garnier Whole Blend Hair Honey Jelly | budget | under $15 | cheap hold with no crunch | 1 outlet |
| Ouidad Curl Shaper Out Of Thin (H)air Volumizing Jelly | mid | $25-50 | waves that go flat under heavy gel | 1 outlet |
Best curl creambudget pick · 12 oz tub
Best for type 3 and 4 curls on a budget
Shop TODAY's best cream for type 3 and 4 curls: a big tub that defines and moisturizes, and an editor says it's worth it for how much you get.
Heads up. Can be flaky
1 outlet. Shop TODAY best cream for type 3 and 4 curls.
under $15
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mid pick · 10 oz
Best for definition without weighing hair down
Shop TODAY's best overall curl cream: an editor says it enhanced her curl pattern without leaving it looking greasy.
Heads up. Some editors don't enjoy the scent
1 outlet. Shop TODAY best overall curl cream.
$15-25
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Best curl gelbudget pick · 13.5 oz
Best for cheap hold with no crunch
Shop TODAY's budget-friendly gel: it holds curls with no crunch, and its tester noticed zero transfer and flakes.
Heads up. Can be drying for thin hair
1 outlet. Shop TODAY A budget-friendly gel.
under $15
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mid pick · 8.5 oz
Best for waves that go flat under heavy gel
Shop TODAY's best gel for waves: an editor says the formula is lightweight, even when she fears she's used too much.
Heads up. Some editors found it sticky
1 outlet. Shop TODAY best gel for waves.
$25-50
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OGX Quenching+ Coconut Curls Shampoo | budget | under $15 | thicker waves and curls on a budget | 1 outlet |
| Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Leave-In Conditioner | budget | under $15 | detangling before they style | 1 outlet |
| SheaMoisture Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner | mid | $15-25 | medium to thick curls that feel damaged | 1 outlet |
Top pickbudget pick · 13 oz
Best for thicker waves and curls on a budget
Shop TODAY's best for thicker hair: an editor says it's never too heavy on her curls and adds a lot of definition.
Heads up. Not the best pick for thin hair
1 outlet. Shop TODAY best for thicker hair.
under $15
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budget pick · 6 oz
Best for detangling before they style
Shop TODAY's before-you-style pick: a little goes a long way, and an editor only restocks it every couple of months.
Heads up. Some editors had trouble with the bottle
1 outlet. Shop TODAY before you style.
under $15
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mid pick · Bottle
Best for medium to thick curls that feel damaged
Shop TODAY's pick for damaged curls: an editor says it smoothed her hair without leaving a greasy feeling.
Heads up. Some editors don't like the scent
1 outlet. Shop TODAY for damaged curls.
$15-25
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mielle Rosemary Mint Strengthening Hair Masque | budget | under $15 | a cheap weekly mask | 1 outlet |
| SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Moisturizing Masque | mid | under $15 | curly and kinky hair that needs moisture | 1 outlet |
| DevaCurl Microfiber Towel | mid | $25-50 | drying curls fast without frizz | 1 outlet |
Top pickbudget pick · 12 oz
Best for a cheap weekly mask
Shop TODAY's best budget hair mask: an affordable weekly treat, and one editor got compliments on how her hair smelled after.
Heads up. Could be more moisturizing
1 outlet. Shop TODAY best budget hair mask.
under $15
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mid pick · 16 oz
Best for curly and kinky hair that needs moisture
Shop TODAY's best for curly and kinky hair: a thick, creamy mask, and one editor left it on for 30 minutes under a plastic cap.
Heads up. Editors were mixed on the smell
1 outlet. Shop TODAY best for curly and kinky hair.
under $15
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
mid pick · Towel
Best for drying curls fast without frizz
The Strategist's best hair towel for textured hair: its thicker-than-average microfiber dries curls quickly without causing frizz.
1 outlet. The Strategist best hair towel for textured hair.
$25-50
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Top picksplurge pick · Wrap
Best for keeping their curl pattern while they dry
The Strategist's best hair towel for curly hair: microfiber wicks away water while the satin helps protect your curl pattern.
1 outlet. The Strategist best hair towel for curly hair.
$25-50
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link.
splurge pick · 6.7 oz
Best for color-treated curls that want a treat
Shop TODAY's conditioning curl cream: one editor can't imagine her curly days without it.
Heads up. Thick formula
1 outlet. Shop TODAY A conditioning curl cream.
$25-50
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
A hair towel or a curl cream. The DevaCurl microfiber towel is The Strategist's best hair towel for textured hair, and Rizos Curls is Shop TODAY's best overall curl cream; an editor says it enhanced her curl pattern without a greasy look.
Match their curl type. Cantu is Shop TODAY's best cream for type 3 and 4 curls, Ouidad's volumizing jelly is its best gel for waves, and OGX Coconut Curls shampoo is its best for thicker hair. If you're not sure, a hair towel avoids guessing at their curl type.
USPS's recommended last send dates for December 25 in the contiguous US are December 17 for Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express. Retailers set their own order-by dates, so check at checkout.