While surveying the NaturallyCurly team’s favorite releases from this year, we found a clear theme: recovery. If you’ve felt like there’s a need to repair your hair this year, look no further than these products from legacy and emerging brands.
Most of these products emphasize tending to curls damaged by coloring, heat styling, and other forms of manipulation. Celebrity brands, from Fenty Hair (Rihanna) and CÉCRED (Beyoncé) to 4U By Tia(Tia Mowry) and TPH by Taraji (Taraji P. Henson), shut down skeptics by delivering innovative packaging design and ingredients. Evergreen concerns such as volume, color maintenance, and scalp care are also covered in this list.
I am happy to share that 2024 is a great year to have curly, textured hair, with more products specifically developed for our needs than ever before. This non-exhaustive list of standouts that hit the shelves this year includes just some of our favorites.
1. The Doux – Press Play Thermal Heat Styling System
Image Source: @ilovethedoux
The Doux is recognized for both its outstanding products specifically formulated for textured hair and its artful marketing. This Black, Veteran, family-owned company also created a new line of products dynamically designed to be a heat protectant, anti-humidity, and bonding technology for silk-press-styled textured hair. The Press Play Thermal Styling System includes seven products suitable for every situation, from wash day to big-night-out styling, and can also be used on natural curls that don’t see a lot of heat technology. According to their website, the products were developed and tested in southern temperatures, ensuring they withstand humidity.
Another standout aspect of this new collection is the various bundle options for different types of curly girls: Proud Mary, Hybrid Hustler, Straight Gangster, Versatile Vixen, and more. Depending on your styling preferences and texture requirements, each bundle includes a product guide tailored to your needs.
2. Curlsmith – Volume Recipes
Image Source: @curlsmith_official
For fine-haired curly girls, volume is our white whale. While definition and hydration may come easily, the signature height and oomph we yearn for escape us since individual products and buildup easily weigh fine hair down. With this struggle in mind, Curlsmith released a major collection with every type of product geared towards that single goal: volume.
Need something light for your in between refresher days? Meet the Root Boost Uplifting Spray. Want a cream that plumps your hair without overhydrating? Let me introduce you to the Full Body Volumizing Lotion. With six products, there’s something for everyone in this new series.
3. Adwoa Beauty– Melonberry Proprietary Blend Hair Milk
Image Source: @adowabeauty
The South African Kalahari melon plant produces berries that are rich in fatty acids, leaving hair moisturized and scalp conditioned. Additionally, these fruits are sustainably harvested from natural rainfall. The red raspberry and strawberry seed oils are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, protecting your hair and scalp from UV damage. Aside from giving your hair and scalp an Edenic treat, the formula is lightweight, meaning it can be used as a light refresher, daily styler, or leave-in conditioner.
4. Fenty Hair- Debut Collection
Image Source: @fentyhair
Remember when Rihanna broke the internet with her historically inclusive Pro Filt’r Foundation color range? She’s now attempting to break her record in the hair market, as curly, protective, and straight hairstyles and textures are all covered in Fenty Beauty’s debut hair care collection.
The eight products (and a bonus styling tool for edges) have a warm, ambery smell with yuzu and coconut. The Fenty website makes it easy to navigate which products are best for your needs by including a lookbook of models with a variety of hairstyles and textures and the accompanying products used to achieve their look. Notable are the three unique styling products: the HomeCurl Curl Defining Cream, the Controlling Type Hair Thickening Edge Control Gel, and the Gelly Type Strong Hold Gel.
The collection has products ranging from $18 to $36, and bundle options are currently on sale for $110 each.
5. DevaCurl- CurlHeights
Image Source: @devacurl
This new 3-step collection from DevaCurl is intended for dry, fine curls, but can be used for any hair type. The lightweight formula for the cleanser, conditioner, and styling cream is designed to increase volume on lightweight hair that is easily weighed down by too much or too heavy a product. According to DevaCurl, the products show the best results when used together in a routine and applied when soaking wet hair in small dollops, applying more as needed.
6. Innersense – Healthy Hair Detox Set
Image Source: @innersenseorganicbeauty
The latest from Innersense is a four-piece bundle that includes 2 oz sizes of some of their most popular products. This is an excellent option for a curly girl on the move who needs some mid-vacation refreshment. Ingredients like kaolin, the soft white clay that absorbs buildup, and ultra-hydrating aloe vera make this $38 set a steal and travel essential.
7. CÉCRED- Debut Collection
Image Source: @cecred
If you thought the celebrity brand market was oversaturated, I implore you to hold your skepticism until you try Beyoncé’s award-winning, cruelty-free hair care collection. Suppose the sculptural packaging isn’t enough of a reason to entice customers. In that case, the key ingredient to most of the products is a patent-pending Bioactive Keratin Ferment – a version of the protein that rebuilds and strengthens hair follicles.
Largely inspired by and developed in tandem with her mother, former hair salon owner Tina Knowles, Cécred’s products are geared towards refreshing hair that has been through heat styling, coloring, and wig ringer. Products like the hyaluronic rich Hydrating Shampoo, vitamin e and antioxidant heavy Reconstructing Treatment Mask, and keratin ferment-based Moisturizing Deep Conditioner give customers the opportunity to have their own Bey-worthy at home spa day.
8. Briogeo- Style+Treat Collection
Image Source: @briogeo
The basis of each of these products is a blend of super B vitamins: yuzu extract, an antioxidant that protects hair from heat and chemicals, and plum oil, which hydrates and adds shine. With this formula, the product has a fresh citrus and green scent with a musky finish. Unlike most other products included in this roundup, the Style+Treat collection is intended for all hair types and textures. The products are getting overwhelmingly positive reviews, with customers saying the formulas are lightweight while adding definition to their curls.
9. Redken- Acidic Bonding Curls
Image Source: @redken
If frizz is your main problem, this release may be your best solution. Using citric acid and glycine to decalcify your hair while keeping it shiny, Redken’s latest trio is specifically designed for 3A+ curl patterns. To prevent buildup, Redken removed all silicones from the products in favor of their bonding treatment formula. This product line is also designed to repair hair damaged by coloring and heat styling.
10. Shea Moisture- New Bond Repair System
Image Source: @sheamoisture
We know and love Shea Moisture for their reliable, curl-centric products. This year, they gave their loyal customers something new and useful in their Bond Repair System, a four-step routine to heal damaged 3A-4C curls. Amla oil, extracted from gooseberry, is the key ingredient for Shea Moisture’s new series. The fruit is said to be beneficial for hair growth, reducing dandruff, and preventing graying. Unique to this release is the inclusion of a regular conditioner in addition to a lightweight leave-in conditioner option for refresher days!
11. 4U by Tia – Soft Curl Defining Mousse
Image Source: @4ubytia
Tia Mowry might remind you of the 90s, but the new mousse from her hairline is anything but retro. Alcohol-free, with a strong-hold and frizz-control formula, means this is the mousse of this year. The formula is made with Hemisqualane, also known as Hemi15 – a patented, renewable sugarcane-based alternative to silicone. The vegan ingredient list also includes chia seeds, flaxseed (for curl strengthening), and lilac extract (for shine and UV protection). The $12.99 price makes this one of our roundup’s most affordable individual products.
12. KISS Colors and Care – Edge Fixer Extreme
Image Source: @kisscolorsandcare
If you’ve used the original Edge Fixer Gel from KISS, get ready to be nearly blown away but glued to the spot with the strong-hold remix. This version is intended for 4c, coily, and coarse hair without flaking. Avoid the wait from ordering online since this product is easy to find in person at Walmart or CVS near you.
13. TPH byTaraji- Ultra Chill Cooling Serum
Image Source: @tphbytaraji
Tea tree oil, biotin, and avocado are the three refreshing, strengthening, and calming key ingredients to Taraji P. Henson’s new scalp treatment. The product has a tri-touch applicator that makes direct-to-scalp soothing easy and effective. While this can help with winding down on wash day, the Ultra Chill was actually developed to be used immediately after installing braids for some much-needed R&R.
14. Dae- Signature & Leave-In Trio
Image Source: @daehair
Inspired by Arizona’s sunny climate and dreamy landscapes, Dae is a new hair company with vegan ingredients. This bundle is for the curly-girl seeking minimalism: a shampoo, a conditioner, and a mist leave-in that can be used on wash and refresher “Daes.” The warm citrus scent will have you feeling a summer breeze year-round.
15. Ceremonia – Mascarilla de Guava
The Latinx-owned and inspired by Ceremonia has received plenty of acclaim for its core products. Their newest release, a guava and agave-based hair mask, is no different, as it’s already been awarded by Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, and Glamour for its healing and hydrating benefits. Specifically formulated with vitamin C rich ingredients to repair hair that’s been overexposed to UV rays and heat damage, this mask is perfect for someone who may have spent too much time by the pool this summer. Image Source: @myceremonia
16. Aunt Jackie’s Curls & Coils – Braid + Twist Collection
Image source: @auntjackiescurlsandcoils
Just like the name suggests, this release from Aunt Jackie’s is specifically formulated for hair that goes through the twist, braid, and loc process. The key ingredients are honey, which acts as an antioxidant and increases moisture retention, and the biotin vitamin, which stimulates keratin production. The products can all be used before, during, and after braiding to keep hair nourished and shiny. At $8.99 a product, the entire four-piece collection can be bundled for an affordable $31.99.
17. Niles + Chaz- Debut Collection
Image Source: @nilesandchaz
While this year’s innovations have provided us grownups with plenty of options, children with textured hair need clean, safe product options they can use, too. Niles + Chaz is the new hair care line from Iva and Miles Coulter (whom you may recognize from Netflix’s Luke Cage), a couple that wanted a formula tailored to the unique needs of their children’s mixed-textured hair, using 90% naturally derived ingredients.
Products include a detangler, a curl refresher spray, a styling cream, and a pre-shampoo scalp treatment. With colorful packaging reminiscent of shows from your own childhood, like Rocko’s Modern Life and Rocket Power, and prices ranging from $8-$16, this debut collection will make wash day more fun for you and your kids without breaking the bank.
18. African Pride – Feel It Formula
Image Source: @myafricanpride
Peppermint, rosemary, sage: this isn’t the herb garden you’ve been tending to, but the ingredients to restorative, calming Feel It Formula collection from African Pride. The Strengthening Shampoo, Mask, Balm, and Oil can be used fresh and old protective styles on wash day, from edges and nape to the top of your scalp. Better yet, the entire collection can be bundled for $22.79 at Target.
Which new product have you tried out this year? Let us know in the comments!
