24 Hydrating 4c Hair Products Recommended by Curly-Hair Experts

Tracee Ellis Ross's beloved haircare line has won the hearts of many curly-haired girls for a reason: it actually works. Even Jawara Wauchope, celebrity hairstylist for notable stars/actual living goddesses Beyoncé and Naomi Campbell and global styling ambassador for Dyson, says the entire Pattern line works like magic on curls and coils.

Though the entire collection is worth stocking up on, the brand's leave-in conditioner has the overall best reviews on Ulta and even garnered praise from the editors over at Byrdie.

Read More: 10 Hair Diffusers for the Best Frizz-Free Curls of Your Life

Dealing with breakage and lackluster strands? Then you, my curly-haired friend,  are dealing with damaged hair. But don't fret: If your hair looks like it's screaming S.O.S, then hairstylist Nicole Taft recommends you whip out this bond-repairing hair treatment. 

Taft says that this fan-favorite hair treatment is the absolute best  keeping the bonds of the hair from breaking due to wear and tear from styling. Olaplex uses a patented technology that repairs the hair from the inside out and is the absolute best at maintaining healthy uniformed curls.

Ghanima Abdullah, hairstylist for TheRightHairstyles.com, says that Oyin Handmade's all-natural pomade is amazing for defining curls while helping your strands retain moisture and softness. This 100% vegan formula leaves a glossy (never greasy) look to your locks while adding a boost of shine and sealing your strands for a healthier look to your mane.

If you want each and every curl to stand out, then celebrity hairstylist Tonya Fairley suggests breaking out Mielle Organics's pomegranate and honey line, which nurtures each strand with hydrating properties while making them stand out in their bouncy glory.

This curling custard is our favorite pick from the line for moisturizing and conditioning your tresses while creating noticeable definition. The results: standout coils with total ease.

Are your curls looking a little dry and lackluster? Then this shine-boosting product from Contents Haircare is what your strands are begging for.

Bergamy notes that this shine-boosting glossifyer is high in antioxidants like linoleic acid to treat your strands to a pampering, strengthening session from the inside-out. Plus, it helps with natural oil absorption and promotes hair growth while making your hair look oh, so shiny.

Abdullah also recommends experimenting with all-natural oils to boost the hydration of your coils and kinks. For 4c hair, she recommends dabbling in black seed oil, a known hair strengthener that helps with damage and regrowth for stronger strands. 

Abdullah's favorite black seed oil is this one from Amazing Herbs, which contains solely 100% pure cold-pressed black seed oil.

We get it: Having a full haul of products can take up a lot of space ... and a lot of money. So, if you're looking for a quick product that tackles a multitude of hairy situations, then natural hairstylist Adrienne Leak says to grab this 5-in-1 spray.

This leave-in treatment helps to condition and refresh kinks, coils, and curls. But that's not all it does: This product also detangles, nourishes, protects against heat, reduces frizz, and adds moisture and shine to your hair.

Go above and beyond your usual in-shower shampoo and conditioner routine with this treatment. Celebrity hairstylist and Ulta Beauty Pro Team member Pekela Riley says this in-shower treatment is perfect for 4c hair for quite a few reasons: It's flake-free, super defining, and comes in a big tube that's designed so you can easily squeeze onto hair while in the shower. 

Beauty writer Amanda Mitchell loves this hair oil for nourishing her 4c locks. This fan-favorite, award-winning hair oil is infused with all-natural ingredients like kakadu plum to enrich, strengthen, and gloss every curly strand on your head.

Plus, this certified Clean at Sephora pick is light on your hair so you won't have any greasy mishaps.

For soft, shiny, and defined curls, celebrity hairstylist Camille Friend recommends grabbing this curl cream. This curl-defining cream is a great alternative to conventional hair gels for its crunch-free feel and lightweight formula that adds moisture and creates soft defined curls with incredible shine. 

Friend suggests cocktailing this curl cream with the Hask Curl Care Curl Shaping Jelly to create a more sculpted, defined look without any stiffness.

Cortne Bonilla, branded content editor at Vox Creative, says this is the ultimate hair gel for 4c strands — and its under-$5 price tag is also a major plus.

Unlike other hair gels on the market, this pick from Eco Styler opts out of using hair-drying alcohol and enriches your strands with moisturizing olive oil while it keeps your locks in place. This ultra strong hold hair gel also adds shine and doesn't leave your hair crunchy or weighed down.

Any person with natural hair knows how tricky laying your edges can be. So, when it comes to laying those baby hairs in just the right place, Bergamy recommends breaking out this edge-control gel. This extra-hold gel keeps every strand in place while its formula conditions and smoothens frizz and flyaways for shiny, sleek styles that last all day long.

Latifah Miles, parenting commerce editor at Verywell, says your curls are just begging to drink up this hair “smoothie.” It’s infused with nutrient-rich vegetable butters to condition your curls while bringing back their natural body and shine. Plus, expect your curls to look fuller and bouncier than ever without any frizz.

Celebrity hairstylist Derek Jae says this detangling treatment does wonders for knotty hair. He notes that this detangler stands out from the rest for its lightweight feel on hair that doesn't leave a greasy film. It also makes it easy to comb or brush through the most stubborn curls.

To give your strands an added boost in the shower, Six One Agency founder Kilee Hughes suggests trying out this pre-conditioning treatment from Naturally Drenched. 

Think of this pre-conditioner as the opening act before your conditioner headlines the show. It's packed with all-natural hair goodies like almond oil, bamboo extract, calendula, and papaya to give your hair the ultimate treatment. It works to strengthen your hair follicles, protect against dryness and breakage, reduce frizz, revitalize color, and restore your curl pattern to its all-natural glory.

Think of this pick as a tall glass of water for your strands. It's filled with rich moisturizing ingredients like meadowfoam seed oil and pro-vitamin B-5 to hydrate, smooth, hold, and define your natural curls. This light-hold gel conditions and defines all-in-one, and Riley says that she loves using it in combination with the Ouidad Curl Quencher Hydrafusion Intense Curl Cream for the ultimate curly look.

If you're looking for an easy fix, Mitchell says she can't get enough of this 3-minute deep conditioner. It's packed with avocado and jojoba oils to instantly moisturize your locks in half the time most hair masks take. Plus, it's less than $5 — a win-win!

If you're dealing with breakage or just trying to grow out your locks, then Bonilla says to grab this shampoo. It's infused with castor oil, a known all-natural hair growth stimulant, to help fortify and strengthen your strands from root to ends. Plus, it’s filled with moisturizing shea butter and scalp-clarifying peppermint oil for a flake-free look and grease-free feel.

Bergamy says this shampoo is the absolute best for 4c hair types, especially if you've dyed or color-treated your hair. The shampoo is perfect for washing away any buildup in your strands without stripping your hair of its natural oils, and it's formulated to tackle dry, damaged strands from the inside-out. 

To get the best out of this shampoo, Bergamy recommends pairing it with the L'Oréal Paris Professionnel Absolut Repair Instant Resurfacing Masque.

Miles knows that the root of 4c haircare is hydration, which is why she loves this ultra hydrating conditioner from Herbal Essences. This deeply conditioning pick costs you less than your morning latte, yet it's packed with hydrating essentials like coconut to keep your strands quenched.  

If you're looking for daily maintenance, then freshen up your curls in-between washes with Jae's favorite hydrating treatment. This water-based hydrating spritzer is light enough to use daily without weighing down your curls or creating a greasy look, and it can also be used as an easy detangler or heat protectant.

If your hair is screaming for hydration (think: frizz, flyaways, breakage, and a lackluster look and feel), then it's time to break out the heavy-hitters, like this hydrating conditioner. Riley says this conditioner is perfect for ultra dry hair since it's infused with glycerin, a much-needed hydrating essential that you may be familiar with through your skincare routine.

To give your curls a hydration treatment while adding some definition and strength, Bonilla says to grab this curl cream ASAP. This pure shea butter cream moisturizes and strengthens strands without weighing them down. The results: soft, bouncy curls that you won't keep your hands off of.

Jae loves this shampoo for one main reason: it's sulfate-free, which is an absolute must for 4c hair. It allows you to get all of the buildup in your hair without stripping it of essential natural oils. 

Plus, it's infused with shea butter to plump your strands with moisture and reduce breakage. Jae also recommends following up with the Cantu Shea Butter For Natural Hair Sulfate-Free Hydrating Cream Conditioner to give your locks the TLC they deserve.