I’ve waited a long time to create this list of mixed kids hair products – 10 years, in fact! I only want to suggest hair care products that have been tried and tested myself. I stand behind all of these fantastic curly hair products – from the cheap hair products to the most ridiculously priced! Each and every one of these curly kids hair products have been mom tested, kid approved.
The market for natural curly hair products – specifically for our mixed hair care and textures – has exploded and I am super pumped about it! When my mixed baby girl was born a decade ago, there were hardly any curly hair products to choose from. Now, this comprehensive list of our best curly hair products is packed with goodies at all price points, even organic hair products and those with better ingredients, and products for specific porosity or moisture needs. We’ve got it all listed below!
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Mixed Kids Hair Products
The best curly hair products are the ones that ACTUALLY work. I’m not a product junkie, but I do keep products around if they work well in our various routines. I know a curly hair product has worked well for us when it checks these boxes:
- Cost to Quantity Ratio: I don’t mind spending a fair amount on a great quality product, but the quantity needs to be sufficient to last us a month. Since our super curly hair is very thick, we go through a lot of conditioners. So a big factor in our product selection is based on the cost: quantity ratio.
- Ingredients: organic or natural products are great, but it’s wise to understand how the main ingredients impact hair health. Does your hair need milk-based products or ones with a heavy cream base? Does coconut oil work best, or do you need a lightweight argan oil? Keratin gets a bad wrap, but sometimes I switch it up and use hair products with keratin to give our curls a smooth look.
- Purpose: consider the goal of using this specific product. Does it do that job well? Sometimes I use a light-weight conditioner as a leave-in conditioner, other times I use a baby gel to hydrate dry curls and create a gel cast without a bunch of hold. Some hair oils for dry hair is good for the ends, while other hair oils are best for the middle shaft or scalp massages. I even keep specific dry curly hair products for use in cold, winter months. Buy products that have a valued purpose in your routine and create good results.
Curly Hair Products That
Work
The best curly hair products are ultimately going to depend on your specific head of curls. Even if one set of products works great for me and/or my kids, you could have very different results.
These are not growth hair products, nor will they change hair texture or color. So that I’m clear: the list below is curly kids hair products packed with decent ingredients that I put on my own children with the goal of keeping their hair moisturized and healthy (which, for us, means lots of shrinkage). We’re not trying to alter the texture, color, or chemically straighten hair.
Factors that can impact your desired results of curly hair products.
Curl pattern and curly type: it goes without saying curl pattern and curl type impact everything. We have a household of curls from 2c-4a and this list of products will work for any of those textures. If you’ve got wavy curly hair or afro hair with tight, coarse curls, this list might not be comprehensive for you.
Curl Density: the best hair products for fine hair will vary from those with thicker hair. On the flip side, thick hair is going to need a lot more products making the cost: quantity ratio even more important! Consider your curl density as you check out the list below.
Hair Porosity: before you spend another dime on expensive hair products, be sure you understand how products are absorbed into the hair. Understanding hair porosity will absolutely impact results. This is the single most important factor to figure out!
Related: Low Porosity Hair 101 + The Best Low Porosity Hair Products
Shrinkage: consider if your goal is to weigh hair down and reduce shrinkage or simply define the existing curl pattern. I use hair styling products for curly hair as a way to reduce frizz, not necessarily to elongate the curl or give a hard, crunchy, wet look. There’s a difference between dry hair and frizzy hair.
One More Thing…
My sweet kiddos are old enough to use these best natural hair products made for adults with curly hair. We use less styling products than adults would normally, but we’re long past the use of baby hair products or even products specifically marketed for kids, mixed or otherwise. They have SO much hair!
I loved the baby hair products listed in the posts below, but this list is all about mixed kids hair products for our older babies. Don’t be afraid to use products not marketed for kids, especially if the products are free from parabens and sulfates.
To see the lists of my favorite baby curly hair, as well as toddler and big kids recommendations, check out these posts:
Best Products for Curly Baby Hair
Best Products for Toddler Curly Hair (good for big kids, too)
DevaCurl Decadence Cleanser + Conditioner
Photo Credit: www.amazon.com
Devacurl is at the high end for price of good hair care products, but we love their Decadence cleanser and conditioner! It's a lightweight product that does its job well and the 32-ounce bottles last us all month long.
DevaCurl Wash Day Wonder
Photo Credit: www.amazon.com
This is the newest curly product to our regime, but I absolutely love it. If you have tangles, knots or matted curls, Wash Day Wonder works like magic. It's a silky, lightweight pre-cleanse detangler to help you sail through your wash and conditioning routine with ease!
Pantene Truly Natural Hair Moisturizing Shampoo & Curl Defining Conditioner
Photo Credit: www.amazon.com
Affordable and easy to find at your local stores, this Pantene line for natural hair is a decent pick for when the higher cost products aren't an option. We really like the curl defining conditioner and this shampoo (along with Pantene's cowash for natural hair) is good too.
Miss Jessie's Multicultural Curls
Photo Credit: www.amazon.com
We love Miss Jessie's Multicultural Curls creme right after a wash to seal in moisture and reduce frizz. The curly hair product is designed specifically for multi-textured curls so often found in our biracial kids.
CurlyKids Mixed HairCare Creme Conditioner
Photo Credit: www.amazon.com
We liked this curl creme conditioner as a leave-in when my kids were about 2-5 years old, but that 6 oz size just couldn't keep up without massive amounts of hair. Ultimately, it worked well but took this product out of our rotation for more concentrated formulas with larger ounce sizes.
Curls Blueberry Bliss Control Jelly
Photo Credit: www.amazon.com
The Blueberry Bliss control jelly helps provide strong hold and definition for long-lasting, shiny curls without silicones, sulfates and parabens. You can use this multiple times a week. It's great frizz control without drying out the curls. No artificial oils, colors, or fragrances.
Miss Jessie's Jelly Soft Curls
Photo Credit: www.amazon.com
Another Miss Jessie's favorite, the Jelly Soft Curls creates a soft to medium hold for curly to tight curly hair. It's perfect on my 3a hair and keeps the moisture in for my daughter's 3c/4a hair. If you're looking for maximum hold and curl definition, look below...
Eco Styler Argan Oil Styling Gel
Photo Credit: www.amazon.com
If you want to set your curl, this is the gel you need. We've tried all the Eco Styler gels and this one with Morrocan argan oil is our top favorite. We use it sparingly - not even weekly - as it can dry the hair out, but it's an affordable and effective styling gel for curly hair.
Shine 'N Jam Conditioning Gel, Extra Hold
Photo Credit: www.amazon.com
The ultimate in edge control, I use this extra-hold gel sparingly. The product claims to be alcohol-free, but it does dry the hair nonetheless. However, if you're looking for the occasional gel to tame baby hairs, Shine 'N Jam works at a great price point.
Curl Quencher Moisturizing Styling Gel
Photo Credit: www.amazon.com
Definitely a lightweight formula but also a unique hydrating gel that moisturizes as it holds tight curls with frizz-free definition. It infuses thirsty hair with deep moisture. I'll apply this to my daughter's hair before a braiding style to add a bit of hold for those baby flyaway hair, or use it to define my 3b curls.