19 shampoos that actually make a difference to curly hair (trust us, we've tried them)

If you're lucky enough to have naturally curly hair, for the love of texture, CHERISH IT. I’m talking all sorts of curly hair, from the loosest waves you’re looking to enhance, to those lustrous deep curls and kinks of afro hair. Wherever your curl lies in the hair type chart, the important part here is to make it your crowning glory with a little TLC, and that’s where shampoo comes in.

We know you're probably frustrated with frizz and never-ending tangles, but your wash, dry and style routine can work wonders to tame and define them any way you want. Shampoo is the basis of a good hair care routine, but the information out there doesn't always cater for those naturally curly haired babes, so GLAMOUR has asked Celebrity Hairdresser and Founder of Hi’Demand Hair, Heather Dapaah, exactly what we should be looking for in the hair aisles.

Question: Is shampoo always good for curly hair?

Answer: "Yes, shampooing is good for curly-haired girls as the scalp needs to be cleansed of grime. Curly hair shouldn't be over-washed and using the wrong shampoo can dry out curly hair. Curly tresses love moisture so with the right products curly hair can stay health and moisturised even with cleansing. Curly hair can use a co-wash (a.k.a. a conditioner-only wash)."

Question: What ingredients can we find on a good shampoo?

Answer: "Hydrating and natural ingredients are great for curly-haired tresses. Ingredients to look out for are hydrators such as aloe vera or aloe vera juice, it’s made of 99.5% water so it’s extremely hydrating for hair and is one of the best natural moisturisers. Also look out for natural carrier oils such as almond oil, jojoba oil, castor oil. The chemical composition of carrier oils is similar to the fatty acids naturally found in hair so using them boosts hair health almost immediately. Simply, hair feels softer, and the curls are well moisturised if these are consistently used."

Question: What ingredients should we avoid from a shampoo?

Answer: "Natural hair ingredients work best for curly hair, so I suggest staying away from parabens, sulphates, formaldehyde, and silicones. Another ingredient to stay away from for natural textures is DEA." (DEA: Diethanolamine which acts as a thickening agent in shampoos and conditioners, and allows them to form a foamy lather, has been known to be linked to cancer after prolonged exposure."

Question: How often should people with curly hair wash it with shampoo?

Answer: "Curly hair can be washed either on a weekly basis or bi-weekly for those who opt for co-washing (washing your hair solely with conditioner) in-between."

It’s also important to note that not all shampoos will work well for all types of hair. A lot of it is trial and error, as everyone’s hair needs often differ. So, here is a mix of some old and some new curly hair products tried and tested by team GLAMOUR designed to specially enhance those God given curls you should try right now.