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The 15 Best Hair Stylers for Men with Curly Hair: Get Defined, Frizz-Free Curls
Define and hydrate your curls with these stylers, with a signoff from an A-list celebrity groomer.
by Adam Hurly
Jun 11, 2025
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Many of the most popular men’s hair styling products don’t work as well in curly and coily hair. Sure, most hair creams have taming, nourishing effects across all kinds of hair, but there are dedicated curl stylers and leave-in conditioners that crank up the conditioning benefits, and which do the job that much better for anyone with a curl pattern.
For my recs below, though, I’ll address the key curl-targeting hair stylers and prescribe them to the best type of curl pattern—but this is another category where the nomenclature and the end result can really go off the rails. It’s imperative to read how the brand positions its product, because no two curl creams are alike, nor are any two curl gels, or curl butters. However, one common denominator all curly stylers share is that they shield the strands from humidity and dehydration, allowing for better curl definition and all-day wear.
Anyway, your specific curl pattern, length, and desired style will dictate which stylers or cocktails or techniques work best for you.
For product recommendations, I asked celebrity groomer Colleen Dominique for her go-to choice in each category. Her curly-haired clientele includes Patrick Mahomes, David Jonsson, Corteon Moore, Ray Nicholson, and Daveed Diggs.
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Types of Curl Patterns
In my recs below, I’ll also make mention of hair curl patterns, like 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 4a, 4b, and 4c, using the following graph as reference. For the sake of simplicity, I’m considering anything “curly” to be types 3 and 4, though coily and kinky are definitely more on the 4 end of that spectrum. Wavy hair types fall under the 2s.
Curl Creams vs. Leave-In Conditioners
Just like with all other types of hair styling nomenclature, things get fuzzy when it comes to the difference between curl cream and leave-in curl conditioner. Often, the words are interchangeable, because curl creams often have conditioning properties, and because leave-in conditions often have a cream base. But technically they are different products; so if you’re shopping for either of these, just understand what performance you need from the product, and purchase accordingly.
Curl Creams
Of the two products (creams and leave-ins), curl creams are more for styling curls. The lightweight cream coats and smooths the strand, preventing moisture loss while preserving curl definition and bounce. They won’t focus as much on curl health as leave-ins, but the best ones will have simultaneously conditioning benefits. Curl creams are the bridge between leave-ins and other types of curly hair styling products.
“Creams are great if you want soft, defined curls without that crunchy feel,” says Dominique. “It works best on wavy to curly hair (like 2B–3B). Perfect for people who want a bit of control and shape but still want their hair to feel touchable.”
TRY THESE:
Dear Charlie Waves Hydrating Curl Cream: This cream understands curly hair’s complex and finicky needs: It hydrates while also defining, giving you spirals without the crunch or frizz that plague most curl products.
Bread Beauty Supply Hair Cream: “A super versatile styler,” says Dominique. “It’s like a leave-in and curl cream in one. Great for soft, hydrated curls without feeling heavy.”
Frederick Benjamin Crown Control Curl & Twist Cream: Designed specifically for Type 4 hair, this cream controls and defines curls while maintaining moisture; like a leave-in treatment for all-day definition and softness.
Leave-In Conditioners
These are more for hair care—like a curl conditioning mask that you wear for extended periods of time to pump nutrients into the strands while preventing frizz and breakage. Each leave-in will have different directions, but they will often be heavier than styling curl creams, and lighter than rinse-out conditioners. Some leave-ins can be left in for an entire day, which begs the question: Isn’t it just a curl cream at this point? In many ways, yes, especially if it allows for a cooperative style during wear. See the gray area here?
Says Dominique: “Leave-ins are honestly good for everyone with curls. Helps with moisture, softness, and detangling. Especially great if your hair gets dry easily or you want a smooth base before styling.”
TRY THESE:
Horace Bouncy Curl Leave-In: This leave-in enhances your natural texture while providing hydration and bounce, perfect for the curly-haired man chap on the go.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Leave-In Treatment: The ultimate rescue treatment for damaged curls, this leave-in repairs while it styles, giving you healthier, more defined texture that actually get better with each use.
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Curl Butter: To Combat Dryness and Take Control
Curl butter usually has a shea butter base, which is itself a carrier oil—yes, shea butter is an oil. However, in this state, it has a buttery texture, and so it provides the same deep hydration to curls as any carrier oil would—except it provides the user with more control over the finished style. Curl butter is really great for thick hair since the added weight can help soften and tame. (Whereas it could weigh down finer strands.)
Here’s Dominique on butters: “This one’s thick and rich, best for coily or super curly hair (3C–4C), or if your hair is really dense and needs extra moisture and weight. It’s great for twist-outs or when you want to stretch your curls a bit.”
TRY THIS:
Ouidad Moisture Lock Curl Butter: This butter locks in moisture like a vault while defining curls with precision. Consider it intensive hydration that doesn’t un-define curls.
Pomade: For More Defined, Sculpted, Shorter Styles
Classic pomade stylers are perfect for crafting short hair styles, and they’ll give you high hold and shimmery definition at the same time. There are some great pomades for building waves in short coiled styles, and some pomades can also straighten strands if you’re trying for a specific slicked-back style.
Dominique echoes the above and prescribes it to certain curl patterns: “Pomades are mostly for shorter curly styles or slicking down edges. Best on type 3–4 curls when you want sleekness and shine or a polished, defined look.”
TRY THESE:
Baxter of California Shea Pomade: Baxter’s shea-enriched pomade tames flyaways and nourishes the most defined curls, while also delivering some hearty, healthy shine.
Frederick Benjamin Sleek Water Pomade: This one smooths and defines curls without buildup, thus creating sleek and tamed styles to showcase natural texture.
Curl Gel: For Higher Hold and Easier Rinse-Outs
Curl gel will give you high hold and eye-catching shine in styles of all lengths, but with a water base instead of any oils. So, they’re essential if you want to have greater control over the style—whether it’s short and cropped, volumized twists, or a loosely worn mass.
“Gels are go-to for definition and hold,” says Dominique. “Works on all curl types, but especially helpful if you want long-lasting curls, more shape, or frizz control—perfect for wash-and-gos or humid days.”
TRY THESE:
Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic: “This gel is amazing if you want defined, frizz-free curls that last,” says Dominique. “It works really well on tighter curl patterns too.”
Davines This is a Curl Gel Oil: Davines’ hybrid curl definer boosts shine and bounces frizz.
Curl Milk: For Barely-There Hold and High Shine
Curl milk is perfect if you want maximum moisture and curl definition, but no hold. You’ll get your most bouncy, shiny, lightweight finish with a milk, which almost acts like a featherlight leave-in conditioner.
Adds Dominique: “Milks are lightweight and easy, great for waves or looser curls (2A–3A) that need some moisture without getting weighed down. Also nice for refreshing curls on non-wash days.”
TRY THIS:
Pattern Moisture Milk: Pattern’s moisture milk understands curly hair on a molecular level. It ever so lightly hydrates and defines curl patterns, so you get to sport soft, touchable curls all day.
Hair Oil
Another one on the list that isn’t technically a styler. But hair oil is really good at sealing in moisture to thick, coarse, frizz-prone strands, and adding a dash of shine for some eye-catching definition, says Dominique.
TRY THIS:
Bevel 3-in-1 Hair Oil: The multitasker nourishes, conditions, and lightly styles in one step, providing subtle control without the heaviness of traditional products.
Curl Custard
Custard is kind of this middle between gel and butter, says Dominique. “It gives moisture and hold, great for thick curls.”
TRY THIS:
Aunt Jackie’s Curl La La Curl Custard: One of the defining products in this category—literally, this shea butter + olive oil formula not only defines “curl custards” en masse, but it also gives serious definition to your curls or coils.
Detangling Spray
This itself is not a styler, but it’s going to make your life a helluva lot easier. It’s essentially a conditioning spray that deploys high school chemistry to flatten the cuticles of your hair, thus smoothing out each strand and preventing them from catching on one another and risking frizz, breakage, and split ends. You can then apply your product of choice afterwards.
“Detangler is only a must if your hair tangles easily,” says Dominique. “In which case, it’s super helpful for finer curls, kids’ hair, or anyone who wants to detangle without pulling or breaking their hair.”
TRY THIS:
Sachajuan Leave-In Conditioner Detangling Spray: Hydration, body-building, and natural-looking shine: that’s what you get from Sachajuan’s spritzer, not to mention a frictionless comb-through that sorts your curls or coils with aplomb.
Detangling Spray
Dominique loves curl mousse for its “awesome volume with light definition, especially if you’ve got wavy or fine hair.”
TRY THIS:
R+Co Aircraft Pomade Mousse: Dominique’s favorite gravity defyer for fine-haired curls, since it won’t weigh anything down and makes your thin strands look so much fuller.
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