How To Use Curl Cream on Waves, Curls & Coils

Does a curl cream feature in your curly hair routine? If not, it should! 

Curl creams can bring a myriad of benefits to all hair types, from the driest, coarsest of locks to even the most baby-fine of curls. But what exactly is a curl cream, and how on earth should you use one? We unpick this crucial product and showcase why it should be a regular feature in your wash day!

Tables of Contents:

• What is a Curl Cream?
• How to use & How Much Curl Cream?
• 8 Benefits of Curl Cream
• How Curl Creams Differ from other Styling Products

What is a Curl Cream?

A curl cream is a unique curly hair product, with wide-reaching uses and benefits. They contain a unique ingredient blend of conditioning agents, such as emollients and humectants, and flexible hold agents. This means that you can expect a versatile, easy-to-use product that really works for all curly hair types.

Curl creams tend to be rich and creamy in texture and are certainly a “little goes a long way” type of product. Their primary function is to enhance curl definition and condition the hair. Unlike products such as leave-in conditioners, however, they also have a secondary function of adding a light hold to the hair. 

Coating each strand with a lightweight film of nourishing ingredients, curl creams are designed to soften and smooth the hair, helping to promote curl clumps and definition whilst also adding a flexible hold that helps your style last a little longer.

Whilst curl creams pair perfectly with many other stylers, they can also be used in isolation for a low-maintenance, one-and-done styling routine.

What curl creams are available at Curlsmith?

There are several creams available in the Curlsmith recipes, bringing a variety of benefits as follows:

FROM THE MOISTURE RECIPES: Hold Me Softly Balm

For those with medium to coarse textured curls, this cream provides a crunch-free soft hold whilst adding essential moisture for a frizz-free style.

FROM THE STRENGTH RECIPES: Feather Light Protein Cream

Perfect for finer or weaker hair types, this protein-enriched styler provides both moisture and light hold to the hair. 

How to use & How Much Curl Cream?

For maximum bang for your buck, a curl cream should be used on soaking wet hair, following shampoo, conditioner and leave in, as follows:

Decant a small amount of cream into the palm of your hands and rub your palms together to emulsify the cream. This is a crucial step as it will help a little go a long way and stop the overuse of the product.

Rake the cream through soaking wet hair. If you have high-density hair you may wish to section your hair and rake the cream into the hair in sections to ensure every strand is evenly coated.

TOP TIP: When raking cream into your hair, close your fingers as you rake. This helps to smooth the strands, minimizing frizz.

You can use a cream as a one-and-done styler or in conjunction with other products, such as a gel or foam if you would like to add more hold or volume.

As a one-and-done: Once you have thoroughly raked the cream through your hair, scrunch gently to encourage your natural curl pattern, then air dry or diffuse to enjoy defined, moisturized curls.

With other stylers: Once you have thoroughly raked the cream through your hair, decant your next styler into the palm of your hands and scrunch into the hair to encourage your natural curl pattern. Follow up with air drying or diffusing.

 

8 Benefits of Curl Cream

Curls creams are a fantastic addition to any curly hair routine, tackling several issues from frizz to dryness. You can use them in your routine…

To add moisture: Curl creams are designed to moisturize the hair strands, adding softness and malleability! It’s important to note that not all curl creams are created equal; some will heavily condition the hair, while others provide the lightest moisturization, making them suitable for all hair types, from fine to coarse.

To add shine: When your curls are well hydrated, your hair becomes shinier and healthier looking.

To add definition: Curl creams help bring the hair strands together, forming better curl clumps and enhancing definition as the hair dries. 

To protect the hair strand: Many of the ingredients in curl creams are designed to coat the hair strand, not only moisturizing the hair but also adding an invisible barrier to protect the hair strand.

To smooth away frizz: Adequately moisturized hair tends to have less frizz and more definition. 

To melt away tangles: Many curl creams add “slip” to the hair, meaning they allow the hair to be more easily detangled, leading to less overall breakage.

To add light hold: If you’re not a fan of the harder hold that gels bring to the hair, a curl cream may be your perfect solution. Many curl creams can be used as one-and-done stylers to add a crunch-free light hold to the hair.

To prep for styling: Many curlies may want to add a gel or foam into their styling routine. Curl creams help to smooth the hair strand prior to adding these products, making the hair easier to manage and apply extra product to.

How Curl Creams Differ from other Styling Products

Curl Cream vs Hair Gel

The main function of a gel is to provide hold to the hair, setting a style for the days ahead and ensuring longevity. Gels tend to be thicker in consistency, working hard to lock your curls in place, fighting humidity and frizz.

Whilst creams generally do contain ingredients that add a light hold, unlike gels, they also bring conditioning benefits to the hair, softening the strands and aiding definition. Where a gel will form a hearty cast on the hair, you will likely find that a curl cream does not.

Many harder-hold gels can be a little drying, so using a curl cream in conjunction with a harder-hold gel can prevent the hair from feeling dry and brittle.

Curl cream vs Souffle

Much more conditioning in nature, curl souffles offer a balance between a gel and a cream for those who need a harder hold, but more added softness. They moisturize as well as adding hold and are primarily designed for those who find gel may make their hair feel a little dry or stringy. 

A souffle has more of a custardy texture and gives the hair a harder hold than a cream will. Again, a souffle is likely to form a cast on the hair, whereas a cream will give a softer, less crunchy hold.

Curl cream vs Jelly

Jellies tend to be a lighter-weight option than gels, aiming to add a more flexible hold to the hair, without any of the weight. Jellies tend to be watery in consistency, with limited conditioning properties. They instead aim to fight and control frizz and keep curls in place during the day and overnight, however much you may fidget.

In this lies their primary difference with creams. Creams bring a lighter hold than jellies to the table, but all the conditioning benefits that you could need. These two products work beautifully together to add moisture and hold to those who feel a thicker gel may weigh their hair down.

Now you know what a curl cream is, how to use one, and the differences that set them apart from other products, we hope you feel empowered to choose a curl cream suited to you! 

How can Curlsmith help?

With a focus on an ethical approach to haircare that is cruelty-free, our vegan products are designed by experts to suit a wide range of curl patterns, textures, and needs. There are several curl creams on offer from Curlsmith, each targeted to tackle different curl complaints. If you are unsure which Curlsmith curl creams would most benefit your hair type, why not take our curl quiz to receive a personalized recommendation from our experts.