15 Best Shampoos For Kinky Hair (2024), According To A Cosmetologist
Reduce frizziness, add shine, and tame coily tresses with the right products.
Lindsay Loo is a cosmetologist who has spent 10 years behind the chair in a storied salon in Chelsea. She is a certified Wella Master Color Expert and also has experience backstage at New York Fashion Week. She has a private studio and loves to make her clients feel amazing and welcomed.
Read full bio of Lindsay Loo
Experience: 2 yearsPooja is a Mass Communications and Psychology graduate from St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad, and has two years of experience as a content writer. Her education has helped her develop the perfect balance between what the reader wants to know and what the reader has to know.
Read full bio of Pooja Karkala
Experience: 3 yearsKrati is an associate commerce editor, a certified skin care coach, and a beauty enthusiast. She has a master’s degree in advertising and publishing relations from DAVV University and three years of experience in writing and editing for different niches.
Read full bio of Krati Darak
Experience: 4 yearsShiboli has a master’s degree in English literature from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and is a certified skincare coach with four years of experience. As a commerce editor, she guides her team members on the best practices to create crisp and authentic content.
Read full bio of Shiboli Chakraborti
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Naturally kinky hair is gorgeous. But, so very stubborn! The first step in maintaining beautiful curls is using a good shampoo to clean up the dirt and product buildup. The best shampoos for kinky hair help tame frizz and smooth the curl strands. These shampoos are specially formulated to cleanse the scalp and make the hair more manageable. Multiple brands are offering some great shampoos for kinky hair, and we have listed a few of them right here! Keep reading to learn more about these shampoos with numerous positive reviews and choose the one best suited for your hair!
In This Article
Top 15 Shampoos For Natural Type 4 Curls
1. Best Long-Lasting Effects:Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo
Want to nourish your locks with a natural shampoo? Pick up a bottle of Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo. This clarifying shampoo is perfect for those who regularly color, straighten, and heat style their hair. It contains organic shea butter and Jamaican castor oil that promotes hair growth by strengthening your hair from within. It also removes the dirt build-up from your scalp and repairs damaged cuticles by moisturizing them. Several reviewers have raved about this conditioner’s ability to give them frizz-free, manageable hair. On the whole, this moisturizing shampoo prevents hair fall and improves the condition of your hair. Take a look at this video to explore a tester’s experience with the product.
Pros
- Anti-breakage
- Pleasant fragrance
- Softens your hair
- Long-lasting effects
Cons
- None
Pro Tip
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product has received 1,445 reviews from customers on Amazon, indicating its popularity and reliability.
2. Best For Hair Shine:Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Impart the right amount of moisture to your locks with Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Shampoo. This shampoo restores moisture without weighing your hair down. It contains aloe vera juice that hydrates your hair and makes it soft and manageable. It is made with an exotic blend of sweet clover extracts and rose extracts that give your hair a luminous shine. This shampoo is ideal for dry and brittle hair. Its fragrance and nourishing formula has made it a favorite among reviewers.
Pros
- Controls frizz
- Smooth consistency
- Suitable for all hair types
- Pleasant fragrance
Cons
- Causes hair fall initially
Pro TipWhy We Think It's Worth Buying
The product has more than 502 reviews and is a top choice all around the world.
3. Best For Frizz Elimination:Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo
Elucence Moisture Benefits Shampoo contains hydrolyzed proteins and polysaccharides that hydrate dry and brittle hair. It contains a blend of lipids and vitamins that moisturizes your locks. It improves your hair texture and eliminates frizz. This hydrating shampoo is formulated with coconut extracts that prevent breakage. It can be used on color-treated hair. To find out more about this product. check out this video review to know more about the tester’s experience.
Pros
- Lathers well
- Makes your hair manageable
- Adds shine to your locks
- Instant results
Cons
- Highly concentrated formula
Pro Tip4. Best For Scalp Build-Up Removal:First Botany Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo
This rejuvenating shampoo contains 100% pure argan oil and a bio-restorative complex that strengthens each hair strand. It imparts restorative care to your dull, dehydrated hair. It hydrates your hair, eliminates dryness, and improves its texture. This shampoo is ideal for kinky curly hair, and it defines your curls and adds volume to them. It revives hair elasticity and revitalizes your scalp. It contains almond oil, vitamin D, camellia seed oil, avocado oil, and peach kernel oil that contain antioxidants and soothe dry scalp. All in all, this shampoo improves the condition of your hair within a couple of washes.
Pros
- Prevents split ends
- Makes your hair manageable
- Adds shine
- Makes your hair silky and soft
- Removes residue and build-up from the scalp
- Improves elasticity
Cons
- None
5. Best For Brittle Hair:Kinky-Curly Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo
This clarifying shampoo is designed to remove hard water residues, especially from low porosity hair, leaving your scalp and hair squeaky clean. It contains a blend of mandarin oranges and sea kelp that maintains the moisture balance in your hair. It is formulated with phytic acid, a unique plant extract that has anti-inflammatory properties. This shampoo is free of harsh chemicals like parabens and SLS. It also claims to improve the texture of your hair by reducing split ends and breakage. Check this video review to explore a reviewer’s experience with this product before buying it.
Pros
- Ideal for dry and brittle hair
- Removes product build-up
- Fruity fragrance
- Perfect for type 4 kinky hair
Cons
- Dries out your hair initially
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
It has received 197 reviews on Amazon and is a popular choice among shoppers.
6. Best For Scalp Treatment:Not Your Mother’s Kinky Moves Curl Defining Shampoo
This sulfate-free shampoo cleanses your hair without stripping it of its natural oils. It tames unruly hair and adds bounce to your curls. It contains grape seed and jasmine extracts that provide deep conditioning treatment to dry and damaged hair. It rejuvenates each hair strand by nourishing it from within. It eliminates frizz and reduces flyaways to give you soft and silky curls. This shampoo is perfect for type 3 (curly) and 4 (kinky) hair. It fights split ends and dryness by moisturizing your hair.
Pros
- Mild fragrance
- Does not contain harsh chemicals
- Long-lasting effect
- Adds shine
- Gentle on your scalp
Cons
- None
7. Best For Volumizing:Design Essentials Natural Almond & Avocado Moisturizing And Detangling Shampoo
This shampoo is infused with nourishing botanicals for hydrating, detangling, and cleansing your hair without stripping off its natural oils. This creamy, lightweight shampoo cleanses your scalp gently by removing built-up residues from styling products and hard water. Avocado and almonds provide extra moisture and radiant shine to your locks. It also strengthens your hair by infusing proteins into dry and damaged hair. It claims to give you soft, manageable, and noticeably hydrated hair right from the first wash, even if you have damaged and color-treated hair.
Pros
- Sulfate-free
- Makes your hair manageable
- Defines your curls
- Adds volume
- Long-lasting effect
Cons
- Can make your hair sticky
"I use this product to wash and detangle my hair. After every wash, it gives me healthier-looking and shining hair. I use it more than any other product as it also defines my curls without any frizz or flyaways. It hydrates my hair and makes the coily texture manageable. It is a staple in my hair care routine."
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
More than 363 rave reviews on Amazon prove why we are so in awe of this product.
8. Best pH-Balanced Formula:Hydratherma Naturals Moisture Boosting Shampoo
Hydratherma Naturals Moisture Boosting Shampoo contains natural extracts of seaweed, algae, and sea kelp that keep your hair healthy and moisturized. It delivers omega-3 and omega-6 essential acids to each hair strand to revive the moisture in your locks. It detangles, softens, and hydrates your hair and dry scalp. It claims to reduce dryness, fight dandruff, and regulate the sebum secretion on your scalp. With high-quality proteins, this shampoo strengthens your hair and prevents breakage so you can enjoy your bouncy curls to the fullest.
Pros
- Ideal for dry and brittle hair
- A little product goes a long way
- pH-balanced formula
- Reduces frizz and split ends
Cons
- Takes time to show results
9. Best Moisture Balance:Aunt Jackie’s Oh So Clean! Moisturizing And Softening Shampoo
This moisturizing hair cleanser is enriched with coconut oil, shea butter, and extra virgin oil that give you soft, clean, healthy, and hydrated hair. This shampoo tames unruly and frizzy hair. It strengthens and adds shine to your locks, softening them until they are silky to the touch. Its nourishing and moisturizing properties improve your hair texture. This gentle cleansing shampoo claims to make your hair silky, define your curls, and add volume to them.
Pros
- Reduces dryness
- Suitable for texturized, relaxed and colored hair
- Makes your hair manageable
- Ideal for rough and damaged hair
Cons
- Makes your scalp flaky
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
This product has made it to our top favorite list with more than 260 rave reviews on Amazon.
10. Best For Color-Treated Hair:Alikay Naturals Moisturizing Black Soap Shampoo
This moisturizing shampoo clears product build-up without stripping your hair of its natural oils and moisture. It contains a blend of cocoa seed powder, plantain skins, tea tree oil, and raw black soap. These natural tropical ingredients nourish your hair and also provide scalp care. It claims to heal damaged hair by strengthening each hair follicle. It prevents breakage, reduces dryness, and improves your hair texture. This organic clarifying shampoo fights dandruff and keeps your hair healthy and scalp squeaky clean.
Pros
- Safe for color-treated hair
- A little product goes a long way
- Long-lasting effects
- Mild fragrance
- Instant results
Cons
- Watery consistency
11. Best Antiseptic Properties:Camille Rose Naturals Sweet Ginger Cleansing Rinse
This moisturizing shampoo is infused with sweet ginger root and lemon extracts that cleanse and clarify your scalp with antiseptic properties. It also contains aniseed, cassia, and castor oils that are extremely moisturizing. These invigorating oils give you soft, silky, and healthy hair. This shampoo nourishes your scalp and promotes hair growth. It also promises to protect your hair from damage and breakage.
Pros
- Pleasant fragrance
- Softens your hair
- Cleanses scalp well
- Hydrates your scalp
- A little product goes a long way
Cons
- Dries out your hair initially
12. Best For Hair Follicle Improvement:Tgin Moisture Rich Sulfate-Free Shampoo
This shampoo is enriched with coconut oil and amla oil that cleanses your hair gently and reduce breakage. Its protein-rich formula strengthens your hair from within by repairing damaged hair follicles. This organic shampoo leaves your hair feeling soft, silky, and moisturized. With its tropical ingredients, this shampoo improves the texture of your hair by eliminating frizz, split ends, and dryness. It claims to be so gentle that it can be used twice a day.
Pros
- Improves scalp health
- Anti-breakage
- Free of harsh chemicals
- Ideal for type 3 and 4 hair
- Safe for texturized and color-treated hair
- No animal testing
Cons
- Unpleasant fragrance
13. Best Organic Formula:Pura D’or Curl Therapy Shampoo
This shampoo is designed to give you the ultimate curl definition, and is infused with a nourishing formula that boosts shine and strengthens your curls. It contains a fortified blend of aloe vera, linseed extract, chia seed extract, and geranium oil that reduces breakage and dryness. This shampoo claims to add volume to limp hair. It controls frizz and treats damaged hair. The natural ingredients in this cleanser give shape and structure to your kinky curls.
Pros
- Ideal for curly and dry hair
- Shine-boosting
- No harmful chemicals
- Contains 80% organic ingredients
Cons
- Availability issues
14. Best For Multicultural Hair:Mixtina Sulfate-Free Shampoo
This sulfate-free shampoo ensures moisture retention in your hair’s cuticles. It contains ingredients like coconut and fruit oils that cleanse your hair without stripping off its natural oils. This gentle cleanser claims to give you silky, soft, and bouncy curls. It contains orchid extracts that have an aromatic fragrance. It fights split ends and reduces breakage. It is especially great for kinky hair as it improves its manageability.
Pros
- Reduces frizz
- Leaves your hair feeling silky
- Shine-boosting
- Ideal for type 4 (kinky) hair
Cons
- Dries out your hair initially
15. Best For UV Protection:Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Defrizzing Shampoo
This sulfate-free shampoo seals moisture in your hair’s cuticles. It contains a blend of shea butter, murumuru butter, and ceramides that repairs damaged strands. With the new anti-frizz nanotechnology, this shampoo imparts proteins to your cuticles to prevent frizz and breakage. It also contains UV defense filters that protect your hair from environmental pollutants. It defines your curls and adds volume to them.
Pros
- Prevents split ends
- Hydrates your scalp
- Suitable for type 3 (curly) and type 4 (kinky) hair
- Leaves your hair feeling soft and silky
- Long-lasting effects
- Not tested on animals
Cons
- Availability issues
- Expensive
Naturally kinky hair needs nourishment and moisture to keep frizziness at bay. Picking the right shampoo helps in adding shine and luster to your hair to enhance the curls and make them bouncier. However, to pick the right shampoo for your wash day, consider the following factors.
Things To Consider While Picking The Best Shampoos For Natural Kinky Hair
- Ingredients To Choose
Curly locks tend to be on the drier side and may appear frizzy and can tangle up easily. Opting for a deeply hydrating or moisturizing shampoo with the right ingredients is highly necessary. For overall moisturizing to fight dryness, frizziness, and damage, pick formulas with nourishing ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, aloe vera, castor oil, avocado oil, olive oil, or jojoba oil. These humectants revitalize damaged hair and help balance oil production. They seal moisture in the dry hair shafts and make your curls softer, shinier, and bouncier.
For those looking for volume, pick a gentle, non-creamy, volumizing shampoo with ingredients like PG-propyl silanetriol, avocado oil, almond oil, or hydrolysed wheat protein that does not weigh your hair down. While picking a pH-balancing formula, look for cleansing agents that rinse off the dirt and grime. Choose shampoos with coconut oil, shea butter, sea kelp, or aloe vera as they repair and restore moisture while cleansing and balancing your scalp. You can also choose cleansing conditioners with mild detergent for cleansing. These conditioners offer a high level of moisturization.
- Ingredients To Avoid
Avoid shampoos that contain harmful chemicals like parabens, silicone, sulfates, alcohol, phthalates, mineral oils, gluten, phosphate, artificial dyes, or synthetic fragrances. These toxins can strip off moisture and natural oils from your naturally kinky hair and lead to severe damage in the long run.
- Formula
There is nothing better for taking care of your hair than a shampoo made from hair and skin-friendly formulas. Opt for a cleansing formula that contains a maximum of repairing and nourishing oils. It must be hypoallergenic, contain antioxidant properties, and be free from toxins or added synthetic fragrances. Pick a shampoo for your hair care routine that repairs, moisturizes, and clarifies your hair and scalp. The formula must tackle recurring concerns like dandruff, hair fall, split ends, build-up, tangles and knots, frizziness, breakage, or dry scalp.
Infographic: How To Wash Kinky Hair Without Damaging It
Kinky tresses are delicate and prone to damage and frizz. They are also more prone to product buildup, which is why they require thorough washing. But you cannot wash them too often because it can dry out the already moisture-lacking hair shafts. Check out the infographic below to learn the right washing practices
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
Shampoos for kinky hair offer adequate frizz control to keep your beautiful locks tamed and smooth your curls! Some of these shampoos are made with organic ingredients that prevent impurities and dirt from accumulating on your scalp. These shampoos also promote healthy hair growth and repair damaged cuticles while moisturizing the tresses. For the best results, you can opt for shampoos that have hydrating ingredients, such as the Shea Moisture Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Shampoo to fortify your hair with the power of black castor oil. You may also choose the Carol’s Daughter Black Vanilla Sulfate-Free Shampoo for its moisture-enhancing formula that leaves your hair soft and nourished. Or, embrace the Kinky-Curly Come Clean Natural Moisturizing Shampoo to experience gentle cleansing and effective hydration, resulting in healthier, more vibrant hair. They work wonders on dry and brittle hair. Avoid shampoos that weigh your hair down or leave it greasy and sticky. Also, always perform a patch test before using a product daily to check for allergies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between curly and kinky hair?
Kinky hair has a twisted definition and feels like a permanent crimp where the hair strand spins around itself, as compared to curly hair, which is merely a spiral or wave.
Does kinky hair need a special shampoo?
Yes. If you have kinky hair, avoid using regular shampoo altogether and instead use a curl-friendly formulation to cleanse the scalp and moisturize the strands. Avoid ingredients like sulfates and parabens to prevent excess dryness.
How often should you shampoo kinky hair?
If your hair is in braids, shampoo kinky hair every 2 to 3 weeks.
Do kinky hair people wash their hair regularly?
No, kinky hair should not be washed regularly. It causes excessive dryness.
How often should black females wash their hair?
Black females with natural braided hair should wash their hair once every 7-14 days.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author, Pooja Karkala, is a hair care enthusiast who loves to write about beauty products to help her readers pick the best options available on the market. She went through numerous reviews and feedback available on multiple forums and websites to curate a list of the best shampoos for kinky hair. These formulas help tame frizz and smoothen the curly strands. These shampoos are specially formulated to cleanse the scalp and make the hair more manageable.
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