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Curly Hair Care 101: Best Curly Hair Products for an Active Lifestyle
By Jacqueline Samaroo
It’s no lie. The best curly hair products can be a big assist if you are looking to achieve healthy natural hair growth while you enjoy an active lifestyle! Enjoy our selection of 12 natural hair care products to ensure you combine healthy hair care and being active, beautifully!
TLDR? Jump to our list of curly hair care must-haves, NOW!
We all know exercise plays a big role in general health and wellness. It tones your body, sharpens your mind, improves your mood, and is a great way to build the social relationships we all need.
BUT… it can be a real hassle to maintain healthy, natural hair when you exercise often.
- There’s the greasy dampness of sweat.
- Having to pull your hair up (usually tightly) to get it out of the way.
- The rubbing of sweatbands on your edges.
- Feeling like you need to shampoo your hair more often to ensure it remains clean.
Yep, exercise is great for your body but it can be a real bummer for your natural curly hair. The best curly hair products, however, will ensure that your hair and scalp are adequately moisturized, that they are clean and nourished, and that they are protected before, during, and after a workout.
12 Must-have curly hair products for an active lifestyle
We’re focusing on six different kinds of natural hair care products. You’ll find out what each one does and how it benefits your curly hair care routine. We’ll then highlight products from the category.
- 1. African Pride Moisture Miracle Aloe & Coconut Water Pre-Shampoo
- 2. Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Ultra Shield Pre-Shampoo Treatment
- 3. Briogeo Curl Charisma Hydrating Shampoo
- 4. Design Essentials Moisturizing and Detangling Sulfate-Free Shampoo
- 5. EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Shea Cleansing Cowash
- 6. Oyin Handmade Ginger Mint Co-Wash
- 7. Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In
- 8. Aunt Jackie’s Curls and Coils Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Hair Conditioner
- 9. Camille Rose Algae Renew Deep Conditioner
- 10. Miss Jessie’s Rapid Recovery Treatment Unisex Treatment
- 11. TPH by Taraji Never Salty Sugar Scalp Scrub
- 12. SheaMoisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Pre-Shampoo Scalp Scrub
1. Pre-poo
What is it?
A pre-poo, pre-shampoo, or pre-wash is a treatment that prepares your hair and scalp for the detangling, shampooing, conditioning, and styling that follow it.
Why you need it:
A pre-poo often multitasks by
- Softening your hair and adding slip to aid detangling.
- Forming a protective layer around your strands so too much moisture isn’t stripped away during shampooing.
- Helping to nourish your scalp and strengthen your hair.
Yes, a pre-poo adds yet another step to your washday routine but it is so totally worth it!
Highlighted products:
African Pride Moisture Miracle Aloe & Coconut Water Pre-Shampoo
Its aloe vera and coconut water help to nourish, condition, and strengthen your hair. They also help with restoring moisture and reducing the chances of damage.
Carol’s Daughter Goddess Strength Ultra Shield Pre-Shampoo Treatment
Castor oil, black cumin seed, and ginger work together to assist with detangling knots. They also minimize breakage for greater length retention, by strengthening your hair and improving its elasticity. This enables your hair to better withstand manipulation.
Related articles:
- Find out how and why natural hair guru EfikZara uses ambunu as her go-to pre-poo: Natural Hair Care Routine: The No. 1 Wash Day SUPERFOOD for Hair Growth | EfikZara
- Plus, we recently featured two pre-poos in our Best Black-Owned Hair Care Brands series. Check out the Blueberry Bliss Hair Growth Oil from CURLS and the Multiuse Softening Leave-In Conditioner from Melanin Haircare.
- And, because a hot oil treatment makes a great pre-poo, read this: What Is a Hot Oil Treatment and 10 Reasons It’s Good for Natural Hair.
2. Sulfate-free shampoo
What is it?
A sulfate-free shampoo does not contain harmful sulfates that have been shown to strip moisture and beneficial natural oils from your hair and scalp. Not all sulfates are “bad,” mind you – but the ones that are should be avoided if you are looking to take the very best care of your natural hair. “Good” sulfates can be found in many of the best products for curly hair and scalp.
Why you need it:
Chances are if you lead a very active lifestyle you often experience a buildup of sweat, grease, and products in your hair – not a good mix! You’ll definitely be feeling like you need to wash your hair more often than usual. That means you’ll need a shampoo that’s not harsh so as to limit the chances of you developing dry hair or an irritated and dry scalp.
Highlighted products:
Briogeo Curl Charisma Hydrating Shampoo
It has rice amino acids, tomato paste ferment, shea butter, and avocado oil. It cleanses and hydrates your hair and scalp while enhancing your curl definition.
Design Essentials Moisturizing and Detangling Sulfate-Free Shampoo
It smooths, softens, and moisturizes your hair with its avocado and almond oils. Plus, it has botanicals that nourish your hair and scalp to promote natural hair growth.
Related articles:
- Read more about sulfates in natural hair care products: Natural Hair Care: Are Those “Bad” Shampoo Ingredients Really All That Bad?
- Check out this round-up of awesome shampoos for curly hair: 7 Great Sulfate-Free Shampoos for Your Naturally Curly Hair.
- For a way to rid your hair of greasy buildup without actually washing it, read this: Curly Hair Care Routine: 1 Simple DIY Dry Shampoo Recipe for Dark Hair.
3. Cleansing conditioner
What is it?
A cleansing conditioner, aka a cowash, is a conditioner with special ingredients to gently cleanse your hair and scalp. They remove grime and product buildup without harsh ingredients such as those “bad” sulfates.
Why you need it:
A cowash is a good choice for cleansing your hair and scalp of greasy buildup without using shampoo. It allows for more often washing, so you can use it between regular shampooing or as a way to lengthen the time between shampoos. You can’t forgo shampooing altogether, however, as you may run the risk of product buildup.
Highlighted products:
EDEN BodyWorks Coconut Shea Cleansing Cowash
Along with its coconut oil and shea butter, it also has aloe vera, avocado oil, and more. They make it one of the best curly hair products for an active lifestyle. Its formula is designed to cleanse while adding slip for detangling.
Oyin Handmade Ginger Mint Co-Wash
Ginger, peppermint, and green tea lead the charge in this gentle yet invigorating cowash. It softens as it cleans, conditions, and detangles.
Related articles:
- Check out these other cowashes, including one featured above: Natural Hair Care: 10 Amazing Cleansing Conditioners for Curly Hair.
- For info on gently coaxing your damaged curly hair back to health, read: The Top 10 (Fixable) Things That Damage Natural Hair.
- Find out how cowashes can help as your rock that TWA, here: The New Big Chop- Taking Care of Your Short Natural Hair After Cutting It!
4. Leave-in conditioner
What is it?
A leave-in conditioner is a conditioning treatment that is (most often) applied to towel-dried hair after shampooing but before styling. Some leave-in conditioners can be used on dry hair.
Why you need it:
Leave-in conditioners help to refresh and rehydrate your hair after workouts and between washdays, so it’s easier to feel comfortable with your hair until you get to your next shampoo. They can be used on any type of hair but they are particularly beneficial for thick, curly, dry, or damaged hair, as well as hair that gets heat-styled often. Leave-in conditioners also assist with detangling and may offer some heat protection when they are used before styling your hair.
Highlighted products:
Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-In
It reduces the formation of split ends as you style your hair. It contains a UV absorber for protection from both heat-styling tools and UV rays.
Aunt Jackie’s Curls and Coils Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Hair Conditioner
This leave-in is made of shea butter, aloe vera, and argan oil. They help combat dryness in coily hair while adding slip and moisture to aid with detangling.
Related articles:
- Read more about the goodness of leave-ins: 11 Fabulous Benefits of Leave-In Conditioner for Natural Hair.
- Whether you like having a dedicated heat protectant or one that does double duty as another curly hair product, check out these options: Best Heat Protectant for Curly Hair Care – 10 Great Choices!
- Baobab is a curly hair ingredient that is noted for its conditioning benefits. Read all about it in our recent post 3 Remarkable Benefits of Baobab Oil for Hair Growth (+ Product Suggestions!)
5. Deep conditioner
What is it?
A deep conditioner is a formula with a higher concentration of emollients, humectants, and nutrients than a regular conditioner. It can be used weekly or just once every few months, depending on your hair needs. Deep conditioners are often named among the very best curly hair products because textured hair is prone to dryness.
Why you need it:
A deep conditioner goes a long way in nourishing and strengthening your hair. You leave it on your longer than you would a regular conditioner. Generally, you wear a steam cap or shower cap and apply heat, whether from a hairdryer, sitting out in the sun, or just your body heat. As their name suggests, deep conditioners are very penetrative and the applied heat helps to open your cuticles to let the ingredients in.
Highlighted products:
Camille Rose Algae Renew Deep Conditioner
Its formula contains blue-green algae, mango butter, and cocoa butter. It also has an array of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to deeply nourish your hair and scalp.
Miss Jessie’s Rapid Recovery Treatment Unisex Treatment
This deep conditioner is designed for curls, coils, chemically-treated hair, and transitioning hair. It contains shea butter and avocado butter to assist with hair repair, strengthening, and moisturizing.
Related articles:
- For more wonderful deep conditioners for natural hair growth, read 7 Best Deep Conditioners for Black Hair.
Want to know more about hair butters? Here are two of our readers’ favorite articles about them:
- Is Butter Good for Hair? 3 Healthy Hair Butters for Natural Hair – Cocoa, Ucuuba, and Kokum
- 3 Healthy Hair Butters for Natural Hair – Shea, Mango, and Murumuru
6. Exfoliating scalp scrub
What is it?
A scalp scrub is very much the same as a body scrub but is meant particularly for your scalp. It helps to lift and remove dead skin cells, dirt, grease, and product buildup to leave your scalp squeaky clean. Scalp scrubs may be physical (with tiny particles to rub away the grime) or chemical (with ingredients that chemically remove the unwanted buildup).
Why you need it:
Shampoos are great for cleaning your hair but scalp scrubs ensure that all that sweat you produce from exercising, excess sebum, and your hair products all get removed from your scalp, too. This is very important since a healthy scalp provides the kind of fertile ground needed for healthy natural hair growth even as you go through the paces of your workout.
Highlighted products:
TPH by Taraji Never Salty Sugar Scalp Scrub
This scalp scrub uses sugar crystals, apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, and peppermint oil. It exfoliates and rejuvenates your scalp. You can use it on all types of hair and with protective styles.
SheaMoisture African Black Soap Bamboo Charcoal Pre-Shampoo Scalp Scrub
Salicylic acid, African black soap, bamboo charcoal, and tea tree oil are the hard-working physical and chemical exfoliants in this pre-poo scalp scrub. It also contains shea butter for conditioning.
Related articles:
Read more about two popular exfoliating ingredients. They get used in scalp scrubs and for cleansing in some other natural hair care products:
- 4 Remarkable Benefits of Amla Powder and Amla Oil for Hair
- Curly Haircare Ingredients: 5 Surprising Benefits of Activated Charcoal for Hair Growth
For more ways to ensure your scalp is happy and healthy, read this:
Do you exercise often? What’s on your list of the best curly hair products for an active lifestyle? Share!
