Main ingredients: Meadowfoam seed oil, camellia seed oil | Perfect for: all curl types
Best for type 2 curls: Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Cream
Why we like it: Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Styling Cream works great on all hair types, but is best suited for type 2 waves. Type 2 hair’s characteristic S-shaped waves are prone to frizz because the cuticle layer is uneven, making it harder for the hair to retain moisture. However, this lightweight cream can boost hydration, shine, and definition, making it perfect for accentuating loose waves or achieving a smooth, glossy blowout. With touchable hold and anti-frizz power, it keeps your waves smooth and sophisticated all day long.
Tester feedback: “I’m a wash-and-go person, but that means I need a really good air-dry product. This is in my regular rotation and I actually have a travel-sized tube on hand too. I even put it there.” allure Contributor Deanna Pai. “Just a pea-sized amount gives my curls the volume and definition they need.”
How to use: Apply a small amount to damp hair and gently scrunch to emphasize natural wavy pattern. To add shine and control frizz, pat and smooth into dry hair for the perfect finish.
Main ingredients: Cold pressed olive oil, prickly pear extract | Perfect for: Type 2 waves and curls
Best for type 3 curls: Briogeo Style + Treat Full Miracle Styling Foam
Why we like it: oh, that’s scary crunch Thankfully, you don’t have that problem with Briogeo Style + Treat Full Miracle Styling Foam. This lightweight, airy foam provides buildable volume, soft hold, and thermal protection up to 450°F. Ideal for bouncier, voluminous type 3 curls, leaving hair soft, bouncy and vibrant.
Tester feedback: “This airy foam adds volume and keeps your curls in place all day long without looking frizzy,” she says. allure Shopping Director Shana Shipin. “Plus, it defines my curl pattern, nourishes my hair, and prepares me for the inevitable blowout in the next few days. It’s definitely the best multipurpose product in my hair routine.”
Main ingredients: Yuzu extract, plum oil, super B complex | Perfect for: type 3 curl
Best for type 4 curls: Coil Bar Lock It in Curl Nourishing Hair Oil
Why we like it: Type 4 curls certainly know how to work with oil, but they also know that using the wrong curls can leave your scalp rough and your hair heavy. Coil Bar Lock It in Curl Nourishing Hair Oil is a perfectly balanced blend of sunflower, coconut, hempseed, pumpkinseed, tea tree, peppermint, neem, lavender, thyme, olive, and jojoba oils (just to name a few). This formula provides deep hydration, softness, and shine, locking in moisture where your curls need it most. Sure, it’s an impressive lineup of oils, but it’s exactly what you need to keep your curls healthy, defined, and perfectly in place.
Tester feedback: “I’m still a big fan of the LOC method (leave-in creams, oils, and curl creams), and Coil Birds is my go-to hair oil for the wash-and-go process,” says Lauren Brown, Senior Visual Editor says. “It’s the perfect texture to coat your curls, and it doesn’t dry out your hair as quickly as hair oils can.”
