When I began to transition my bleached, damaged, curly hair, I learned that many popular curl products just aren’t available in Canada. I’ve tried dozens of products, and narrowed down my list of favourites– to hopefully save you time and money!

Helpful Resources

If you’re new to this, The Curly Girl Method isn’t a list of products– it’s a list of ingredients to avoid (sulfates, parabens, non-water soluble silicones, drying alcohols) and methods to stop using (brushing, heat styling, regular towels).

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you might want to get a copy of the book that started it all: Curly Girl: The Handbook. This is an easy, quick read and gave me the foundation to move forward with confidence.

If you’re unsure if your current products are Curly Girl Approved, you can find the answers at: Curlsbot Ingredients Analysis and Curlscan Database of Curly Girl Approved Products.

In addition, the Canadian Curlies Facebook Group is an active, supportive sounding board and gold mine of ideas, Canadian products and techniques. If you have a question, the 26,400 members are there to help you!

Before + During Curly Girl Method:

Sometimes it seems like the universe is trying to tell us something. Last winter, I had friends tell me about the Curly Girl Method and how they’re embracing their natural colour and texture. I had been bleaching and straightening my hair since I was 15, and was intrigued by what the Curly Girl Method could do for me. After looking it up online, I felt overwhelmed and decided to buy “Curly Girl: The Handbook”.

Most women who transition from dyeing and straightening to embracing their natural colour and texture will tell you that it’s about more than just hair. It’s about letting go of control. It’s about nourishing and going along with what’s happening instead of fighting with and resisting it. If you’re like me and cut your hair short to grow out your natural colour and texture, it’s also a radical lesson in patience.

It’s not to say that women who dye or straighten their hair aren’t practicing self-love– not all all. Everyone is different. But for women who are on the Curly Girl Method (or something close to it), the change is just as much inside their heads as what’s growing on top.

Before: Lots of bleach. Not conditioning properly. Not reading or understanding ingredients. Blow drying and straightening on high. The end result was frizzy, straw-like, matte hair.

During: 1 year later. The strategy was stop dying hair (for the first year), get a big cut, use mainly Curly Girl Method-approved products, diffuse on low or air dry, and have a consistent routine of clarifying, Olaplex 3, and deep conditioning.

This is a journey. I called this section “during” because I’m not sure if there will ever be that one defining moment where things are “after”. And that’s OK.

My Favourite Curly Hair Products:

Shampoos and Conditioners

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl and Shine Shampoo and Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl and Shine Conditioner: These two products have been a staple since day one for me, and they’re a protein-packed moisturizing combo for fried, high porosity hair. Designed specifically for frizzy, dry, delicate curls, the shampoo provides a sulphate-free cleanse to leave hair vibrant, bouncy and healthy looking. The conditioner is super rich, and restores moisture, softens and enhances definition of natural curl pattern. A little goes a long way. The hero ingredients include Silk Protein and Neem Oil. And they both smell incredible– think pina colada.

Both are Curly Girl Method Approved.

For my clarifying wash, I love Live Clean Apple Cider Clarifying Shampoo. It’s affordable, and removes all the dulling residue and build up. I do this every 2-3 weeks depending on how weighed down my hair feels. Be sure to ALWAYS deep condition after using. My favourite is the Shea Moisture Strengthen and Repair Mask below– it’s heavy duty for moisture and protein.

Not Curly Girl Method Approved. Has sodium lauryl sulfoacetate– but you need this ingredient to clarify.

Leave-In Conditioners and Curl Enhancers

Garnier Whole Blends Smoothing Cocoa Conditioning Milk is an affordable, lightweight one and done for when I’m feeling extra lazy. It provides the care of a mask in the lightness of a milk to deeply hydrate with no weigh down. This instantly absorbed milky recipe is enriched with organic almond milk from Spain and cocoa butter extract from cocoa beans from Africa to deeply nourish and smooth unruly, frizzy hair. It boasts no silicones, but that’s not technically correct. It does have a water-soluable silicone (which I’m fine using), and promises 3X more nourished hair. The results I get from this product remind me a LOT of those I get from LUS Wavy— at a fraction of the cost.

NOT Curly Girl Method approved. Contains lauryl pegpg-1818 methicone water soluable silicone, drying isopropyl alchohol and dodecene wax.

I’ll be honest. I have a passionate love/hate relationship with Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie. I decide it’s too heavy for my hair type and put it in a drawer. . . only to find myself reaching for it the next week and loving it. A very little bit goes a long way. It’s very moisturizing and packed with curl-enhancing protein.

Think of this as a really heavy Leave-In and Curl Enhancer combined. If you’re just starting out and your hair is totally fried, this could be the only product you use until your hair gets healthier.

I find I need to clarify more often when I use this product, as it builds up quickly on my hair. Hence why I put in back in the drawer. Until my hair gets over-moisturized and needs some protein ASAP. Lol.

Curly Girl Method Approved.

This AG Recoil Curl Activator is a holy grail product that adds protein and bounce to fine, limp hair. A dime sized amount is all I need! I find this drying, so need to use this with a moisturizing leave in.

Curly Girl Method Approved.

If I’m looking for more moisture, Lush R&B (now renamed Revive) is my all-time favourite curl product. It leaves my hair so soft, shiny, and hydrated. It’s very, very moisturizing also provides a small amount of hold. I find it doesn’t have enough protein, so use it with AG Recoil.

I recommend you try this one ONLY IF you can stomach STRONG floral scents. I wish they made a scent-free version, or even a half-scented version.

It’s very pricey, and is now $49 for the smallest container. Welp.

Not Curly Girl Method Approved: Has candelila wax.

Stylers

This Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Curl Boosting Mousse gives you a massive bang for your buck. It’s great for light hold or next-day refresh. I love its ‘thick’ texture that reminds me of a much more expensive salon mousse.

Curly Girl Method Approved.

Cantu Twist and Lock Gel: As my hair is recovering, I find ‘normal gel’ results in a frizzy mess. A friend recommended Cantu Twist and Lock Gel as a moisturizing, frizz-reducing, flexible-hold styler.  We pair it with a protein-rich leave-in (nickel sized amount of Shea Moisture Curl Smoothie). This combo has been a favourite since day one, and I keep on returning to it. 

The main downside of this combo is that it quickly builds up on my hair, and I need to clarify weekly with a sulphate.

We did research and found that Sally’s has the cheapest, biggest tubs with pumps. It retails for $7.99 for 16 oz.

Curly Girl Method Approved.

One of my personal faves for clumping is my DIY Kinky Curly Curling Custard Dupe, which I share the secret to in this blog post.

Morrocan Oil Curl Control Mousse is actually a lightweight, airy foam that seals in moisture while taming curls and encouraging clumping. This is my favourite product for refreshing, and stretching out the time between my wash days.

Curly Girl Method Approved.

Morrocan Oil Curl Defining Cream is a true ONE AND DONE. It can be used on its own or with the Curl Control Mousse. This product defines and enhances the appearance of curls. Argan-infused formula increases bounce and movement while improving curl pattern. Has protein, which my hair needs and loves.

Not Curly Girl Method Approved, as contains dimethicone (silicones). But my hair loves it anyways!

Olaplex

Olaplex 3 is a cult-favourite for good reason. It repairs chemically, thermal, and mechanically damaged hair from the inside out by repairing and re-building its bonds. It’s a whopping $38/ bottle, but worth every penny. Deep condition afterwards.

Curly Girl Method Approved.

Deep Conditioners

I’ve been deep conditioning weekly with this Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque since day one. Although it smells kind of like playdough, I love how it adds moisture and protein. Specifically made for chemically processed, colour treated or heat style hair, this one is an intense, heavy treatment. My hair is deeply moisturized and healthier looking afterwards.

Potentially Not Curly Girl Method Approved. Contains water-soluable silcones: hydrolyzed vegetable protein pg-propyl silanetriol.

Morrocan Oil Restorative Hair Mask is for weakened and damaged hair, and moisturizes with argan oil and strengthens with vegetable protein. I actually wash with a sulphite at night and sleep with this left in, rinsing out in the morning. I find this makes my hair super soft and bouncy.

Not Curly Girl Method Approved, as contains isopropyl alcohol.

Oil

I get my Righteous Roots Oil at Curl Warehouse (Canadian). It’s great as a pre-poo, deep conditioner, for scalp massage oil, and to scrunch out the crunch. I love how rich and thick it is, and also how it contains tea tree and rosemary oil to help calm a sensitive/ irritated scalp. It’s also a Black woman-owned business, which I love to support. It’s $24/ bottle, but lasts forever.

Curly Girl Method Approved.

Marrakesh Argan and Hemp Oil Hair Styling Elixer: If you’re like me and live in a humid temperate rainforest, you may also find your silky locks transform into a frizzy mess when you go outside. I sometimes resort to using silicones to help tame frizz, add shine, and make my hair super soft. Even though some curly girls consider this sacrilegious, I’m ok using silicones, as long as I wash with a sulphate every now and then to prevent buildup (and a deep conditioner afterwards). This product feels lighter than a straight oil, and transforms the look and feeling of my hair. I also love the exotic nutty, floral scent.

NOT Curly Girl Method Approved: Contains Silicones

Dry Shampoo

This AG Dry Lift Paste is an interesting take on ‘dry shampoo’– I put a dime sized amount on my fingers and rub it into my greasy roots. A very little bit goes a long way. This helps me stretch out my wash days. $24/pot.

Has some drying alcohol. Not Curly Girl Method Approved.

Tools & Gadgets

This Wet Brush is great for getting tangles out in the shower, for evenly distributing product, and for creating large, frizz-free curl clumps. It comes in a bunch of colours, but I like basic black.

This Kitsch Consciously Created Wide Tooth Comb is perfect for detangling my hair in the shower. I also love that it has a hanging handle and is black. I actually now prefer it to the Wet Brush, as it makes my curls clump in more uniform, smaller sections.

This Deva Curl Microfiber Towel is my favourite for gently absorbing moisture and for plopping. I have two of these, in a rotation. It’s plush and thick.

This continuous mist spray bottle is different from a normal spray bottle. It lightly coats the hair with a VERY FINE mist, as opposed to soaking it. I use this for refresh days 2-3 in between washing my hair. I find this makes my curls springy and lightly misted. And my son loves to play with it. lol. I’m sure there’s a simple explanation why this delivers a continuous light mist, but it seems kind of magical.

I use my scalp massager for nightly scalp massages with Righteous Roots Oils, and also for fluffing up my hair after scrunching out the crunch. This comes in a pack of two– which is good for me, because my turquoise one didn’t survive a battle with my drawer.

A reusable plastic shower cap is needed for wet plopping or deep conditioning (you can use a towel around it to keep some warmth in).

Here’s a similar shower cap.

This sassy Hot Head by Thermal Hair Care is a microwavable flaxseed cap to maximize your deep conditioning. It’s $29 US, and their free shipping doesn’t include us Canadians. However, I truly love this product and feel it’s worth the investment to speed up my transition to healthy, hydrated hair. I had a tough time choosing the pattern, but just couldn’t resist the leopard one. Use with a plastic shower cap, like the one above. This company is also Black women owned.

Curly Girl Method Approved.

This LULUSILK Mulberry Silk Pillowcase cuts down on the frizz overnight. I like silk better than satin, as it breathes better. Silk isn’t as hot in the summer!

I bit the bullet and invested in a Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer. I do love how quickly it diffuses my hair when I’m in a rush, and how it adds volume to my curls. These never go on sale and retail for $499. I know. To be creative, I redeemed two Visa Gift Cards and all the Shoppers Drug Mart Optimum Points I had saved up to help out with the cost. I also waited until their 20X Optimum Points event to get a savings on future purchases.

I had a friend recommend 10,000 mcg of Nature’s Bounty Biotin to promote healthy, thicker hair growth. I take one of these every morning.

I also started taking Priorin Hair Growth Stimulant with Biotin, Millet Extract, L-Cystine and Calcium Pantothenate. In just one month, I’ve noticed more growth than usual. I’m looking forward to the results after 12 weeks!

Every morning, I add a scoop of Progressive Complete Collagen with Vitamin C to my morning smoothie (or sometimes into my coffee) to promote healthy hair, skin and nails.

Thanks for making it this far! I’d love to hear your favourite curly hair products that are available in Canada!

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