Finding the best curly hair products for men gets confusing because so many promise the same things: better definition, less frizz and healthier-looking curls. What they don’t tell you is whether your hair actually needs a cream, gel or foam, or whether more hold will help the style or just make it feel stiff.
I wouldn’t buy something just because the packaging says it’s made for curly hair. A softer cream might be exactly what your curls need, while another style needs more control. The product has to suit what your hair is doing, not your curl type alone.
I’ve kept this guide to the options I think are genuinely worth considering, with a clear reason for each pick and when I’d choose something else. You shouldn’t finish wanting everything on the list. You should know which one makes sense for your hair.
In this article
Quick Picks: The Curly Hair Products I’d Choose
If you already know what you want to change about your curls, you can narrow the list down quickly.
| Product | Best When | Why I’d Pick It |
|---|---|---|
| Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream | You want definition and frizz control | All-in-one cream with conditioning and soft hold |
| American Crew Forming Cream | A short curly style needs more control | Medium hold with plenty of pliability and some shine |
| Uppercut Deluxe Foam Tonic | You want lightweight curl definition | Light hold without loading the hair with a rich cream |
| Bumble and bumble Curl Light Defining Cream | Your curly hair has fine-to-medium strands | Lightweight moisture and definition with soft hold |
| Cantu Men’s Cream Pomade | Your curls feel dry and need more control | Richer moisture with strong hold without stiffness |
| Reuzel Fiber Hair Gel | You need strong but flexible hold | 8/10 hold without the extreme hold of the Curlsmith gel |
| Curlsmith In-Shower Style Fixer | You need maximum hold or humidity resistance | 10/10 weather-resistant hold with a firm cast while drying |
| Scotch Porter Curls & Waves Hair Balm | You want softer definition and flexible control | Moisture, frizz control and flexible hold |
| Curlsmith Essential Moisture Shampoo + Conditioner | You need a regular wash pair | Gentle cleansing and everyday conditioning for dry-to-normal curls |
Best Overall: Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream
Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream gets my overall pick because I think it hits the most useful middle ground. You get definition and frizz control without moving straight into firm hold, which is what I’d want for a curly crop, fringe or medium-length top where the curls still need to move naturally.
I also like the simplicity of it. If your curls already form well and the main problems are frizz or losing definition as the hair dries, I’d rather start with one cream like this than build the routine around several different stylers.
Moroccanoil recommends one to two pumps on towel-dried hair, but I’d start with less on shorter curls and add more only if you need it. I’d diffuse when I wanted more definition and bounce, or let the hair air-dry for a softer result. I would still use a separate heat protectant when diffusing because this cream isn’t sold as one.
The reason I’d skip it is hold. If your curls already look good but the hairstyle keeps falling out of position, I’d choose something stronger instead. It also contains silicones, including dimethicone, so if you prefer to avoid silicone-based stylers, this isn’t the one I’d buy.
Best for Short Curly Hair: American Crew Forming Cream
If your short curls already form well and the haircut mainly needs more control, American Crew Forming Cream is the one I’d choose. I think medium hold is about right for a curly crop, short fringe or faded curly top because it gives you shape without making the hair feel fixed in place.
I’d take that over a strong gel when you still want to reshape the style during the day. On shorter curls, that pliability matters more to me than maximum hold.
I wouldn’t buy it for the thickness claim. The control is the reason I’d choose it, with the option to work it through damp or dry hair depending on how you want to style it.
I’d skip it if you want a dry matte finish or if your curls feel very dry and need something richer. And if the style still keeps collapsing, I’d move to something stronger rather than keep adding more cream.
Best Lightweight Foam for Curl Definition: Uppercut Deluxe Foam Tonic
When curls need definition but richer creams feel like more than you need, Uppercut Deluxe Foam Tonic is the one I’d choose.
I like it most when you want some control without making the hair feel too fixed. For wavy hair, looser curls or a curly top where movement still matters, I’d take a light foam like this over a stronger gel.
I’d start with one or two pumps on damp hair and scrunch it through the curls rather than loading the hair with product. If I were blow-drying as well, the fact that it can be used as a heat-protective pre-styler gives it another reason to make sense in the routine.
If your curls keep falling out of shape and clearly need more hold, I wouldn’t keep adding foam. I’d move to Reuzel or the Curlsmith gel further down instead.
Best for Fine Curly Hair: Bumble and bumble Curl Light Defining Cream
If your curly hair has fine strands, Bumble and bumble Curl Light Defining Cream is the one I’d choose over the brand’s richer Curl Defining Cream. I’d rather start lighter on fine curls than use more product and risk weighing them down.
What I like about the Light version is that it gives fine curls a more sensible starting point than reaching straight for the richer cream. You still get moisture, frizz control and soft hold, which is the balance I’d want when definition matters but the hair gets weighed down easily.
On a short curly top, I’d start with a small amount on damp hair and then either air-dry or diffuse. I’d judge it once the hair is completely dry before deciding whether to add more next time.
I see this as a definition-and-moisture pick, not a hold-first product. If your curls already feel conditioned but the hairstyle keeps losing its shape, I’d choose something firmer instead.
Best for Tight or Coily Curls That Need More Moisture: Cantu Men’s Cream Pomade
If your tight or coily curls feel dry and need more control, Cantu Men’s Cream Pomade is the one I’d choose. I like it because it gives you more conditioning than a dry paste or clay while still giving the hairstyle some proper support.
The formula backs that up. Shea butter, hemp seed oil and coconut oil make it one of the richer stylers in this guide, and the strong hold gives it more purpose than conditioning alone. For me, that combination is the reason it earns a place on the list.
On short curls or coils, I’d start with a very small amount and build from there. I’d rather add a little more than put too much through the hair from the start.
I wouldn’t pick it just because your curl pattern is tight. If your hair already feels well conditioned and hold is the only thing missing, I’d move straight to one of the gels below instead.
Best for Strong, Flexible Hold: Reuzel Fiber Hair Gel
If softer creams aren’t giving your curls enough control, Reuzel Fiber Hair Gel is the one I’d choose next. I like it here because it gives you a clear step up in hold without going straight to the strongest gel in the guide.
Reuzel rates the hold at 8/10, which is about where I’d want it when the curls already form well but the hairstyle keeps losing its shape. You get proper support without making maximum hold the default.
I’d start with a small amount on towel-dried hair and let it set before deciding whether you need more. With gel, I’d rather add a little later than overload the hair from the start.
I wouldn’t pick this specifically for humidity. If weather is the main problem, I’d go with the Curlsmith option below instead.
Best for Maximum Hold and Humidity: Curlsmith In-Shower Style Fixer
When staying power is the main problem, Curlsmith In-Shower Style Fixer is the strongest option I’d consider. I’d choose it instead of Reuzel when even strong, flexible hold still isn’t enough to keep the hairstyle in shape.
The 10/10 hold rating is what separates it for me. I’d consider that level of control when humidity keeps breaking up the curl pattern or lighter stylers simply aren’t lasting long enough.
One thing I’d want to know before using it is that the gel dries hard around the curls at first. I wouldn’t judge the result until the hair is completely dry and you’ve scrunched out that hardness to bring back softness and movement.
That extra step means it isn’t the easiest option in the guide. I’d be most interested in it for medium-to-coarse curls that genuinely need serious staying power.
If your curls already hold their shape reasonably well, I’d stick with Reuzel rather than jump straight to this.
Best for Soft, Flexible Hold: Scotch Porter Curls & Waves Hair Balm
If your curls already hold their shape and you mainly want more softness and definition, Scotch Porter Curls & Waves Hair Balm is the one I’d choose. I like it when you want the hair to stay flexible rather than feel firmly set.
What appeals to me is that you get conditioning and frizz control alongside a lighter level of hold. That makes more sense for an everyday curly style than reaching straight for a strong gel.
I’d skip it if you want a dry matte finish because there is some shine. On shorter hair, I’d also start with a small amount and build from there.
If your hairstyle regularly loses its shape during the day, though, I’d choose something stronger.
Best Shampoo and Conditioner Pair: Curlsmith Essential Moisture
I wanted one shampoo and conditioner pair in the guide because styling products can only do so much if your curls already feel dry after washing. Curlsmith Essential Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner is the pair I’d choose for dry-to-normal curls that need a straightforward routine.
I like the shampoo here because it is made for regular cleansing rather than being an aggressive clarifier. It can remove everyday dirt and product buildup while still making sense for frequent washing. If heavier buildup becomes the problem, I’d use a dedicated clarifying shampoo instead.
I’d take the same approach with the conditioner. It is a regular rinse-out conditioner rather than a deep treatment, which is exactly where I’d start. I don’t think curly hair needs an intensive treatment every time you wash it.
I’d use the pair first and only go richer if your hair gives you a reason. If the curls still feel rough or unusually dry after conditioning, that’s when I’d start looking at a deeper treatment.
You Definitely Don’t Need All of These
The products above are options, not a shopping list.
Most short-to-medium curly styles don’t need a cream, gel, foam, oil, leave-in and refresher all fighting for space in the same routine.
There are perfectly good reasons to combine products. A moisturizing cream underneath a gel can make sense because the cream and gel are doing different jobs.
Copying a four-product routine because someone else’s curls looked good is where things start getting unnecessarily complicated.
Start with the product that addresses the main thing you want to change. Only add another when you can explain what the first one isn’t doing.
My rule is simple: if your curls already look good and stay that way, leave the routine alone.
Curl Cream, Gel or Foam? Here’s What Changes
Cream, gel and foam overlap more than you might expect. The name on the bottle gives you a rough idea of what the product will do, but I’d still check the actual hold and what the formula is made for before choosing one.
If your curls keep their shape but feel dry or look undefined, I’d usually start with a curl cream. You get moisture and softer definition without automatically moving into firm hold.
Gel becomes more useful when the shape itself is the problem. Some hair gels stay fairly flexible, while stronger ones form a cast and keep the curls in position for much longer.
Foam is where I’d look when you want something lighter than a cream. That’s particularly useful when richer products tend to leave your curls or waves flatter than you want. If texture and volume are the bigger priorities, I’d also compare the best sea salt sprays for curly hair.
Don’t assume foam always means weak hold, though. The individual formula still matters.
For me, the finished hairstyle is what makes the decision. From there, it’s about choosing the product that helps your hair do what you actually want it to do.
The Curly Hair Products I Wouldn’t Rush to Buy
Some of the extras in curly hair routines are useful. I wouldn’t buy them until you know why your hair needs them.
Take hair oil. I see it mainly as an extra for smoothing the hair, adding shine and helping the strands feel easier to manage. I wouldn’t treat it as the main answer to curls that feel dry.
If your hair already feels good after conditioning and styling, adding an oil isn’t automatically an improvement. On shorter curls especially, I’d want a clear reason for using it.
Leave-in conditioner has more of a case when your hair still needs moisture after washing or you want extra conditioning underneath your styler. It can be used before a cream or gel.
That doesn’t make it compulsory for everyone with curly hair.
Then there are refresh sprays. If a few curls have lost their shape overnight, try dampening and reshaping them first.
Sometimes water is enough to reactivate what is already in your hair. If you regularly need more moisture or definition between washes, a dedicated refresher starts making more sense.
None of these products are pointless. I want to know what problem a product is fixing before I add it to the routine.
If you can’t answer that, I’d leave it on the shelf for now.
How Much Product Should You Use?
Forget trying to find one perfect pea-sized or quarter-sized amount.
Different formulas spread differently, and your hair length and density both affect how much product you need.
For a short curly crop, fringe or curly top, focus on getting even coverage rather than hitting a specific amount. Work the product through properly before deciding you need more. Longer or denser hair will naturally take more, but what is sitting in your palm only tells you so much.
The better test is how your hair looks and feels once it dries. If your curls look flatter than normal, feel heavy or turn greasy, use less next time. If that heavy feeling builds over several styling days rather than after one application, product buildup may be part of the problem.
Frizz does not automatically mean you need to add more either. Poor distribution or applying your styler after the hair has dried too far can leave you with weak definition even when there is already plenty of product in the hair.
Get the application right first, then adjust the quantity if you still need to. Once your curls have even coverage and you are getting the result you want, leave it there. More product does not automatically mean a better style.
Your Haircut Changes What the Product Needs to Do
Two people can have very similar curls and still need different styling products because the haircut is asking the hair to do something different.
With a short curly crop, I usually want enough control to keep the curls defined without making the top stiff. There isn’t much length to manage, so strong hold can take away movement that would otherwise help the cut.
A curly fringe changes the job. The front now has somewhere specific to fall. If it keeps separating or moving away from that position, hold becomes more important than simply adding another moisturizing cream.
A curly quiff asks for lift as well as definition. A very soft cream might define the curls nicely but still leave the front without enough support. A lightweight foam can make sense as a starting point, but if the front keeps dropping, I’d move to something with more hold instead of reaching for more foam.
Longer or fuller curls don’t automatically need stronger hold either. If you want them moving naturally, moisture, frizz control and flexible definition may matter more.
The haircut is what I’d look at first, with the product decision coming second. Decide whether you need your curls to fall, lift, move or stay in position, then choose the styler that helps them do it.
My Verdict on the Best Curly Hair Products for Men
If you want one overall pick for the best curly hair products for men, I’d start with Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream.
It gives you definition, conditioning and frizz control without immediately pushing the hair into firm-hold territory. For a lot of short-to-medium curly styles, I think that’s the most useful place to start.
I wouldn’t buy it automatically, though.
If a short style needs more control, I’d go with American Crew. If richer creams weigh your curls down, Uppercut Foam Tonic makes more sense. Reuzel is the better move when you need strong, flexible hold, while Curlsmith In-Shower Style Fixer is where I’d go when maximum hold or humidity resistance is the real problem.
That’s why Moroccanoil wins overall. It isn’t the strongest, lightest or richest product here. It covers the middle ground better than anything else on the list, and I’d only move away from it when your hair gives you a clear reason to.