Below, shop 11 texture-friendly shampoos loved by Vogue editors and experts alike to nourish your waves, curls, and coils.
Best for Natural Textures: Pattern Hydration Shampoo
- Why We Love It: “Pattern’s hydrating shampoo is gentle enough for regular washes, and sulfate-free, plus it features curl-loving ingredients like aloe, and honey to help attract hydration,” Bomani says. In addition, Tracee Ellis Ross’s fan-favorite wash also uses the power of biotin and jojoba oil to gently cleanse hair without stripping. On top of enhancing curls and coils, even wavy hair types have reported great results.
- Key Ingredients: Aloe leaf juice, biotin, jojoba oil
- Best for: Adding moisture to dry, frizzy curls and coils—it’s specifically formulated for 3B-4C curls.
- Size: 9.8 fl oz
Best Drugstore: SheaMoisture Daily Hydration Shampoo 100% Virgin Coconut Oil
- Why We Love It: When looking for an affordable yet effectively moisture-boosting shampoo option, SheaMoisture remains a reliable choice. Pro hair stylist Sharley Butcher considers this formula to be a go-to for wavy, loose curl patterns. “Wavy hair needs washing more frequently than curly and coily hair, as the natural oils produced at the scalp find it easier to travel down the hair strands,” Butcher previously told Vogue, speaking to this shampoo’s concoction of deeply nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter.
- Key Ingredients: Virgin coconut oil, coconut milk, Acacia senegal, shea butter
- Best For: Dry hair types, specifically type 2A-3A curl patterns.
- Size: 13 fl oz
Best Editor’s Pick: Innersense Hydrating Cream Hair Bath
- Why We Love It: Vogue’s senior beauty writer Kiana Murden reaches for Innersense’s hydrating wash for her weekly shampoo, boasting it’s her favorite by far for getting hair squeaky clean without stripping it of natural moisture. The light non-foaming cream is enriched with shea butter, plus monoi, avocado, and tamanu oils to nourish the strands while removing scalp buildup.
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, monoi oil, avocado oil, and tamanu oils
- Best For: Coarse, damaged, or tightly curled hair
- Size: 10 fl. oz
Best Budget: Rizos Curls Hydrating Shampoo *Product isn’t showing up?
- Why We Love It: Another cost-efficient and curl-loving option, Rizos’s shampoo adds hydration and shine without weighing down hair texture. The shampoo’s star ingredients—shea butter and moringa oil—work in tandem to nourish hair with a formula rich in vitamins and nutrients for optimal hair follicle health. Plus, the brand is Latina-owned, conceived by someone with curls for other textured hair types—and dermatologist-tested, vegan, and cruelty-free. Take it from Vogue’s senior fashion writer Cortne Bonilla, who has to keep her skin and haircare routine carefully curated. “I can’t use any fancy shampoos because I’m allergic to everything, especially formulas with fragrance or niacinamide,” she explains, adding that this no-fuss option is a reliably safe choice.
- Key Ingredients: Shea butter, moringa oil, panthenol (provitamin B)
- Best For: All hair types
- Size: 10 fl oz
Best Foam-Free: Oribe Cleansing Cream for Moisture & Control
- Why We Love It: “Oribe’s Cleansing Cream for Moisture and Control Shampoo is by far my favorite,” Thomas says of this foam-free wash. “It smells luxurious and is great for all hair types, but the curly community will really appreciate this one because it caters to a full head of hair by boosting manageability and protection from natural elements.” Best of all, this shampoo cleanses without drying out the hair, and even helps to detangle as you wash.
- Key Ingredients: Water mint essence, fruit extracts
- Best For: Curl definition, reducing frizz, and preventing color from fading.
- Size: 8.5 fl oz
Best for a Scalp Detox: Cécred Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub
- Why We Love It: Cécred’s formula blends natural exfoliants like fermented willow bark and lactic acid to reduce product buildup (or flakes), while a host of botanic oils add in much needed dose of hydration after a scalp detox. “This is the most nourishing clarifier I’ve ever tried,” Murden tells. “It manages to leave my hair soft and silky, while removing all traces of buildup—especially when I’m coming off the heels of a protective style. Not sure how I’ve ever lived without it to be honest.” Fashion market director Naomi Elizée agrees, adding that this shampoo is in her regular rotation.
- Key Ingredients: Purple willow bark ferment extract, tea tree leaf oil, olive oil, pepperment oil, niacinamide, rosemary leaf oil, lemon peel oil, keratin ferment, tocopherol, lactic acid
- Best For: Removing product and scalp buildup without stripping hair
- Size: 8 fl oz
Best Co-Wash: Bread Beauty Supply Hair Wash
- Why We Love It: “For anyone who wants a gentle cleanse or a product with nourishing key ingredients, I highly recommend Bread Beauty Supply Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser,” says Thomas, who points out that it caters to curl patterns ranging from 3A to 4C. “This is where co-wash meets cleanser,” the stylist adds. “Filled with hair-loving ingredients like aloe vera, argan oil, and vitamin E.”
- Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, argan oil, vitamin E
- Best For: Gentle curl cleansing of tighter hair patterns
- Size: 8.4 fl oz
Best for Fighting Frizz: Briogeo Curl Charisma Rice Amino + Avocado Hydrating Shampoo
- Why We Love It: Black-owned beauty brand Briogeo knows more than a thing or two about clean hair products that bolster natural hair textures. Vogue’s social media associate manager, Taylor Anderson, calls Briogeo her go-to brand for that very reason—and loves this ultra-creamy shampoo. “I usually wear my hair straightened or in braids, so when I shampoo I prefer a product that already smooths before even styling it,” Anderson says, adding it helps to enhance sleekness and proactively fights frizz. The 95% naturally derived formula features shea butter softens and hydrates hair, while tomato fruit ferment further and avocado oil further enhance moisture. Meanwhile, rice amino acids seal the cuticle to prevent humidity-induced frizz.
- Key Ingredients: Rice amino acids, shea butter, tomato fruit ferment, avocado oil
- Best For: Waves, curls, and coils in need of a frizz--fighting formula
- Size: 8 fl oz
Best With Keratin: Virtue Curly Shampoo
- Why We Love It: Virtue’s curly shampoo takes locking in moisture a step further—for starters, the formula includes the brand’s signature lab-developed keratin to add volume while repairing brittle, damaged hair cuticles. Rice protein adds shine, while botanic oils deeply moisturize. To finish off the process, carob gum locks in hardworking ingredients by creating an undetectable, sheer film to lock in much needed hydration. Best of all, this shampoo is free from all the bad stuff—no parabens, phthalates, silicones, sulfates, or synthetic colorants here.
- Key Ingredients: Alpha keratin 60ku, carob gum, rice protein extract, sunflower seed oil, water-soluable jojoba oil
- Best For: Soft waves to tight curls
- Size: 8 fl oz
Best Lightweight: Amika Intense Moisture Shampoo
- Why We Love It: Despite being super lightweight, this shampoo still manages to pack a punch when reviving dehydrated strands (without weighing down curl pattern)—and Vogue’s associate fashion editor Nicole Martini only has eyes for this shampoo. “I swear by Amika’s curl products,” Martini says. “Their entire hydro rush line saves my hair, making it extra bouncy!” Like skin care for your hair, squalane, hyaluronic acid, algae extract, and sea buckthorn provide lipid barrier boost, moisture retention, and essential fatty acids—all without using any heavy oils or other ingredients.
- Key Ingredients: Squalane, hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, bio-fermented coconut water, algae extract, sea buckthorn extract
- Size: 9.2 fl oz
Best Protein-Rich: Nexxus Therappe Humectress Shampoo
- Why We Love It: Nureev’s favorite curl shampoo comes from Nexxus’s Humectress line (get it? it’s a cheeky play on the word, humectant.). “This shampoo is protein-rich thanks to elastin and green caviar. Plus, it’s silicone-free and deeply moisturizing—perfect for cleansing and softening dry, curly strands without leaving residue,” Nureev says, explaining that the added protein reduces current breakage and prevents future damage.
- Key Ingredients: Hydrolyzed elastin, hydrolyzed keratin, hydrolyzed wheat protein, caviar extract, coconut oil, glycerin, brown seaweed extract
- Best For: Reducing hair breakage
- Size: 33.8 fl oz
Everything You Need to Know
What to Look For in a Curly Hair Shampoo
“Curly hair tends to be drier by nature, so gentle, sulfate-free formulas are essential. Look for shampoos with ingredients that promote and lock in hydration,” Bomani says. “A good curly hair shampoo should also always support scalp health, have a pH-balanced formula, and be free of harsh detergents and drying alcohols. If it’s infused with biotin, botanicals, and proteins that it only further enhance strength and definition!”
Celebrity hairstylist Naeemah LaFond adds that it’s important to make sure your shampoo isn’t all talk. “Reading labels and looking for shampoos with not only healing and reparative claims, but also the powerful ingredients to back those claims, is how we should always shop,” LaFond previously told Vogue.
How Often Should Different Curl Patterns Wash Their Hair?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer regarding hair washing frequency when it comes to curls—it all varies by type and pattern. “How often you shampoo curly hair depends on the curl pattern, hair and scalp condition, and lifestyle,” Bomani says. Below she breaks down an easy guide of when to lather and rinse for loose to tight patterns.
- Type 2A-3A: “Wavy and looser curl patterns may benefit from washing every 3–5 days, as oil travels faster down the hair strands, which could weigh down the strands,” she explains.
- Type 3B-4C: “Tighter curl patterns are more prone to dryness and can often go 7–10 days between washes. It’s important to listen to your scalp and strands—wash when your scalp feels itchy, oily, or product buildup is present,” Bomani says.
But while it’s vital to ensure your hair is thoroughly cleansed, the experts remind us it’s also important to not overdo it, as over-washing can leading to stripped hair, limp patterns, and breakage-prone strands.
How to Properly Wash Your Curls
Curls call for a more gentle approach than a traditional rinse, lather, and repeat. “Begin by fully saturating your hair with lukewarm water. Then, start with a quarter-sized amount of shampoo and use your fingertips and massage it gently into the scalp to remove buildup and excess oils,” Bomani says. Next, she advises gently massaging lengths with both hands, avoiding the urge to roughly lather, which can lead to fizz, tangles, or mechanical damage. From there, let the suds glide down the curls as you rinse out the shampoo.
Nureev agrees, emphasizing why it’s important not to forget gently massaging your lengths for a thorough cleanse. “Most people focus only on the scalp, but curly hair tends to hold onto buildup all the way through the strands,” he says. “Follow with plenty of water and a curl-appropriate conditioner to lock in moisture.”
Meet the Experts
- Ebony Bomani is a professional hair stylist and Pattern Beauty brand educator
- Naeemah LaFond is a Brooklyn-based celebrity and editorial hairstylist and hair educator. LaFond’s clients include Tyla, Whitney Peak, and more.
- Ruslan Nureev is an LA-based pro hairstylist and founder of Lev Hair.
- Dhairius Thomas is a celebrity hairstylist who’s worked with stars like Rihanna, Jazmine Sullivan, and Normani.
