Are you looking for a product that provides moisture? Detangles your coily hair with ease? Cleanses your hair without stripping natural oils? No need to worry, we’ve got you covered! According to thousands of NaturallyCurly community members who vote on our Best of the Best awards, these are the best products for Type 4 coily hair.
Scroll down to find your new holy grail!
Best Type 4 Shampoos
1. Camille Rose Naturals Sweet Ginger Cleansing Rinse
This gentle cleanser has a unique blend of ginger, nourishing essential oils, and castor seeds specially infused for moisture retention and slip.
“This is one of the best shampoos I’ve ever used! When I clean my hair with this shampoo, my 4A curls are immediately defined and soft! Love the smell too.” -J.I.S.
2. African Pride Moisture Miracle Aloe & Coconut Water PreShampoo
This invigorating pre-shampoo soothes dry scalp and helps remove unwanted buildup. Aloe Vera and Coconut Water helps to detangle coils and curls and make for easy styling.
“Love the smell. I love the way my EXTREMELY dry, low-porosity coily hair feels after washing. Even the suds are velvety soft!” -mrpt912
Best Type 4 Co-Wash:
3. Flawless by Gabrielle Union – Hydrating Co-Wash Cleansing Hair Conditioner
This coily co-wash is made with coconut, castor seed, passionfruit seed, and rice oils. It provides a nourishing cocktail that cleanses and conditions in one easy step. Whether you’re wearing your hair curly or in a protective style, bring your look back to life and condition your strands simultaneously.
“I like it. I used the Flawless by Gabrielle Union – Hydrating Co-Wash Cleansing Hair Conditioner to help freshen up my hair. I had some product buildup, and I love that it didn’t leave white powder in my hair. If you wear braids or twist i recommend i like the smell also I love Cantu products this spray lifted my hair and made it feel new again. This is a must-have item to stretch protective styles and keep new growth fresh in braids or weave styles.” -Latoya
Best Type 4 Cleansing Conditioner:
4. As I Am Long and Luxe GroWash Cleansing Creme Conditioner
This cleansing conditioner detangles and moisturizes the hair and scalp with a special blend of natural ingredients that promotes healthier hair lengths.
“I decided to buy this Gro-Wash because I already tried the Coconut Co-wash from the other As I Am line. Guys, let me tell you, this product is amazing! I finger detangle my hair a little bit before using the product and when I put it in, the Gro-Wash glided right through, it’s so creamy and rich, I didn’t even have to use a comb to detangle the rest of my hair. After using it, my hair was so soft and moisturized. I can’t even forget the smell. This product smells like absolute pomegranate and passionfruit, it’s sooo gooood. It gets the job done.” – Ashleigh
Best Type 4 Leave-In:
5. Kinky-Curly Knot Today
This leave-in conditioner and detangler have been a staple for curlies for years! It’s designed to smooth the cuticle and remove knots, snarls, and tangles from wavy, curly, and kinky-textured hair. It can be used as a regular rinse-out conditioner for wavy hair or a leave-in for thicker, curlier hair types. It is an excellent product to use after removing braids and extensions.
“This product is one of my favorites. I started using it when I first transitioned to natural. It was like the knots just melted away. My hair was so easy to comb through.” -Veronica
Best Type 4 Deep Conditioner
6. TGIN Honey Miracle Hair Mask
Need an instant makeover for dry, damaged, or colored treated hair? This luxurious deep conditioner contains raw honey for softer, shinier tresses, jojoba, and olive oils, which nourish and heal strands that need repair.
“I have tried a lot of deep conditioners in the past and frequently make my own. But this Honey Miracle Mask from TGIN is definitely on my list of Holy Grail products! It is amazing, and it smells AMAZING! I can feel my hair becoming softer, more detangled, and more supple from when I first apply it to the time I cool rinse it out.” -Sasha
Best Type 4 Protein Treatment:
7. Aphogee 2 Step Protein Treatment
This unique treatment is formulated with magnesium and modified proteins which fuse into the hair with the application of heat. The result is that breakage is drastically reduced. During the process, ApHogee treatment hardens into the hair, dramatic evidence that something special is occurring.
“Smelly? Yes. Time consuming? Hell Yes, Messy? Hell Yes. But it will do wonders for your damaged hair. This is the only intensive protein treatment I use. I first used this when I had colour-treated hair, and it made a world of difference, especially with the colored ends breaking off. My hair is no longer bleached/colored, but I still use this every 3 or 4 months for maintenance. In between this, I use products that contain protein.” -Elokinar
Best Type 4 Hair Oil:
8. 4C ONLY | Too Soothing Mint Serum For 4C Hair
A scalp renewal product to bring back the shine to your coils. This can be used directly on the scalp to help prevent buildup between wash days.
“Nice for scalp massages. I put a few drops on my fingertips and massage my scalp. Or I’ll add a few drops to my deep conditioner. It works really great when you apply heat to your DC routine.” -Jasmine S.
Best Type 4 Hair Color:
9. Creme Of Nature Pure Honey Color Boost
This ultra-conditioning color features a non-drying formula that conditions and moisturizes as it colors. Your hair will love the rich color boost!
“I’ve been using this product for the past four months. The entire process takes about 10 minutes, it looks very natural, and it doesn’t mess up my pillows.” – Mr. A
Best Type 4 Refresher:
10. Alikay Naturals Wake Me Up Curl Refresher
This lovely mango-scented combination will define and refresh your curls in one simple step. It helps revive your flattened, bedhead hair and dried-out curls to help them look fabulous again.
“I’ve tried many curl refreshers on the market, and this is the BEST!!!! First, it has great ingredients with aloe Vera listed second. I find this product to be moisturizing and not drying at all! This curl refresh isn’t watery like the “others,” and hence, it doesn’t frizz my hair. For best results on the second-day wash and go’s, twist outs, etc., I lightly spray product into my hands and then distribute it into my hair, fluff, and go!!! For reference, I’ve been transitioning for 11 months and have a combo of hair texture, but mainly coily, and kinky at crown.” -Pastel
Best Type 4 Moisturizer:
11. Mielle Organics Avocado Hair Milk
Delivers super hydration and moisture for dry, thirsty hair. Infused with a hydrating extract blend and filled with botanicals and certified organic ingredients, it smooths and softens your hair, providing moisture, manageability, and shine.
“I purchased this cream about a week ago, and it’s just an awesome moisturizing cream for low-porosity hair. I pair this cream with my Kinky-Curly Curling Custard and it does an awesome job! It moisturized my hair so well and keeps it soft!” -Helen
Best Type 4 Curl Cream:
12. The Mane Choice Tropical Moringa Sweet Oil & Honey Endless Moisture Sealing Cream
This curling cream defines, conditions, and adds manageability, revealing soft, elongated curls. Made with essential vitamins and Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, derived from The Moringa Tree.
“It left my hair moisturized and defined till the next wash day. It works with all styles, including wash n go, twist and braid outs, etc.” -Nashea
Best Type 4 Gel:
13. The Doux Big Poppa Defining Gel
Made with Baassu oil, the Doux brings gel that will leave your curls poppin’ all day. Whether you’re looking to lay down your edges or braid-out, you will have a touchable hold that doesn’t leave any flaking or crunching.
“This has been a “go to” product for me since I went natural in 2012. This gel is good for wash n gos, ponytails and speaking the edges of my 4a natural hair type!” -Tabitha W.
Best Type 4 Mousse:
14. Lottabody Wrap Me Foaming Mousse
Coconut and shea oils deeply hydrate hair from the inside out, leaving hair soft and nourished with brilliant shine. Fast-drying foaming mousse leaves wraps soft and full of body. It can be used for wash and wear styles, defining curls, and taming frizz.
“The first mousse that I’ve used that wasn’t drying! To set my perm rods, I used two large pumps with a little pump of the DevaCurl supercream. My curls came out smooth and silky as if I had put heat on it. As I applied the products to my hair, my curls looked AMAZING. Super defined and shiny, so I will be trying it with a wash-n-go soon.” -Philana
Best Type 4 Stretch Product:
15. Blueberry Bliss Define N Shine Smoothie
Versatile and lightweight, this styler has a rich, velvety texture that provides the moisture and softness of a cream with the hold of a gel.
“This product does exactly what it says it will. It elongates curls and leaves them super-defined and manageable. The product itself is very thick and creamy. You can feel it moisturizing your hair the minute you put it on. Worth the $15 and I didn’t have to use much product, although I have very thick curly hair.”-Tish
Best Type 4 Butter:
16. Camille Rose Naturals Curlaide Moisture Butter
Curlaide Moisture Butter transforms tight curls into bouncy, silky spirals. Serves as a styling aid for wash-n-go’s, twists, locks, and braids.
“This product is the most moisturizing product I’ve ever had. It has a butter that is thick, but it melts into my hair and provides great moisture and semi-hold. It smells like cake batter (very sweet), and it’s just amazing; it lasts me three months (a little goes a long way, and it’s simply amazing).” -Nia
Best Type 4 Tool:
17. Denman Brush
This is a great brush for detangling fairy knots and snarls. It is a medium styling brush with seven rows of nylon pins, an anti-static rubber pad, and control during detangling. It is great for defining curls.
“I was honestly blown away. I didn’t believe this product would’ve been worth the hype, but it is. I could detangle my hair in the shower so quickly and to my roots. This detangled my hair better and quicker than my wide-tooth comb. I didn’t give this product 5 stars because it’s a bit difficult to use on dry hair.” -Tara
Best Product for Locs, Twists & Braids:
18. Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter
This was the NC community’s top product pick for twists, locs, and braids. This botanical blend of oils and butters will aid in managing course/thick hair, leaving a soft and smoother feel. Softens and moisturizes hair while nourishing the scalp and stimulating growth.
“I love this product. I just used it for my twist out, giving me so much shine and definition. The price isn’t too bad either because a little goes a long way, so the 8 oz will last you a long time, and my hair is dense and thick.” – Sam
Best Type 4 Hair Spray:
19. Pattern Hydrating Mist
This hydrating mist helps revive thirsty curls and coils and contains moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, sunflower oil, and avocado oil for a clean and decadent finish.
“I love this product! It smells great, isn’t too greasy, and moisturizes my hair without weighing it down! I noticed when I took my twists out that my hair was more manageable and had great elasticity. My hair is naturally very coarse, dry, and hard to comb, but since using this stuff, I’ve seen great improvement!” – Li
Best Type 4 Finisher:
20. The Mane Choice Heavenly Halo Serum Oil Mist
This herbal hair tonic and soy milk deep hydration serum oil mist is lightweight, seals in and maintains moisture from within, and enhances shine. Gentle enough for daily use and potent enough to thoroughly improve your tresses. Add this serum oil mist to your healthy hair care regimen and notice your hair become touchably soft, hydrated, shinier and healthier.
“This oil smells so good. It is lightweight. Spray good on the hair and keep my 4a/b hair super moisturized. I’m in love with this oil.” – Lindsey
Best Type 4 Anti-Frizz Product:
21. Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper
Curl Keeper Original is a water-based formula, meaning you can use it daily without product buildup. Your curly hairstyle will last for days as its unique formula re-activates with water making Curl Keeper Original 100% effective in all weather conditions, especially humidity.
“I buy this stuff by the liter. It’s so good! Nice, shiny, bouncy, clumpy curls. The best thing to ever happen to my hair. EVER.” -Internetchick
Best Type 4 Heat Protectant:
22. COLOR WOW Extra Strength Dream Coat
Protect your hair with this ultra-moisturizing, anti-frizz treatment for coily and curly hair. This treatment is formulated with anti-humidity and anti-porosity ingredients to protect the hair from extreme heat temperatures. The ultimate solution for repairing split ends, eliminating frizz and adding shine.
“I used to cringe at the thought of using heat on my 4a/4b hair, but this product made me a little heat happy. Curls always come back without much difference, but dry time has cut down tremendously.” – April B.
Best Type 4 Edge Product:
23. Creme of Nature Argan Oil Perfect Edges
Perfect for taming stubborn edges and creating sleek, smooth styles. Great for sculpting, ponytails, high buns, and natural up-dos.
“This is great for styling twist-outs and braids.” – Trishana
Best Type 4 Volumizing Product:
24. Curlsmith Moisture Memory Reactivator
This lightweight spray contains a moisturizing formula that adds instant shine, volume, and plumpness to curls.
“This product is nothing shy of incredible. I have really curly hair and have tried for years to find a product that makes my top layer not so frizzy, and that keeps my curls together. I recently bought this product by recommendation and couldn’t be happier with my purchase. My search is finally over! Anyone debating on buying this product – quit thinking and buy it right now!” – Alexis
Did your holy grail cut? Let us know your favorite products for Type 4 hair below if we missed yours.
