Here are some of the best hair creams for natural hair, based on the latest product reviews and expert recommendations:
Table of Contents
Best Hair Cream for Natural Hair #1: SheaMoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Great for thick, curly hair. It helps define curls, reduce frizz, and add shine using natural ingredients like coconut oil and hibiscus extract.
Best Hair Cream for Natural Hair #2: Cantu Coconut Curling Cream
Popular for defining curls and adding moisture.
It contains shea butter and coconut oil and works well on a variety of curl types.
Good Hair Cream for Natural Hair #3: Fenty Hair Homecurl Curl-Defining Styling Cream
A lightweight cream that provides moisture, soft hold, and frizz control.
It’s known for a nice scent and touchable finish.
- African Pride Moisture Miracle Leave-In Hair Cream – A rich leave-in that moisturizes and helps repair natural hair. It includes ingredients like baobab and coconut oil, making it ideal for damaged or dry hair.
- TGIN Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer – Designed for daily use, this cream hydrates, softens, and encourages healthy hair growth, especially in dry or coarse textures.
- Pattern Beauty Styling Cream – Formulated for curly and coily textures, this styling cream offers good hold and moisture without harsh ingredients.
- DAE Cactus Fruit 3-in-1 Styling Cream – A multipurpose cream that tames frizz, adds shine, and smooths hair. Works across various hair types and has a citrusy scent.
Natural Hair Cream
Here’s a comprehensive guide on natural hair creams:
1. What Is a Natural Hair Cream?
A natural hair cream is a leave-in styling product enriched with natural ingredients—commonly plant-based oils and butters like coconut, shea, jojoba, argan, avocado, and olive oils—that moisturize, define, reduce frizz, and enhance overall hair health.
These ingredients deeply nourish hair, helping with hydration, shine, and manageability while avoiding harsh chemicals such as sulfates, parabens, and silicones.
These natural alternatives contrast with some traditional creams and pomades that rely on petroleum-based or synthetic ingredients, which may lead to build-up or scalp irritation.
2. Key Natural Ingredients & Their Benefits
- Shea Butter: Intensely hydrating, helps lock in moisture, reduces frizz, and softens hair.
- Plant Oils:
- Aloe Vera: Soothes the scalp, promotes a healthy environment for growth.
- Honey & Maple/Agave: Natural humectants that draw and retain moisture.
- Essential Oils (like tea tree, peppermint, lavender, rosemary, chamomile): Offer benefits such as improved scalp health, reduced inflammation, and added shine.
- Beeswax: Seals moisture and provides light hold, often found in homemade creams.
- Monoi Oil: A scented coconut-based oil infused with gardenia petals, known for softening hair and reducing frizz.
3. DIY Natural Hair Cream Recipes
Here are a couple of effective recipes you can make at home:
A. DIY Shea-Based Styling Cream:
- Ingredients:
- Shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, aloe vera gel, vitamin E oil, plus essential oils (e.g., rosemary, chamomile, bergamot)
- Instructions: Melt the butters and oils, mix in the rest, refrigerate to solidify, then use sparingly on damp or dry hair.
B. Curl Cream Options:
- Softening Curl Cream: Shea butter, coconut oil, apricot kernel oil, aloe gel, essential oils
- Lightweight Definition Cream: Enhance conditioner with coconut oil, sea salt, blue agave nectar
- Refresher Spray: Coconut oil-based mist to revive curls and scalp hydration
4. Tips, Common Uses, and What to Avoid
Application Tips:
- Start with a small amount—natural butters and oils can feel heavy if over-applied.
- Apply to slightly damp hair for better absorption if using heavier creams like shea-based blends.
- Pair with lighter moisturizers for high-porosity or fine hair to avoid weighing strands down.
Effects and Benefits:
Natural hair creams moisturize, define styling (especially for curly and coily hair), reduce frizz, and enhance shine. Ingredients like coconut oil and shea butter strengthen strands and revive texture.
Avoid Harsh Ingredients:
Steer clear of silicones (which can build up), sulfates (that strip moisture), and parabens (potential health concerns) for cleaner, healthier results.
5. Best Natural Hair Cream
JVN Air Dry Cream:
A silicone-free, nourishing formula praised for taming frizz, enhancing natural texture, and keeping hair moisturized without heaviness.
Summary: Natural Hair Creams at a Glance
| Feature | Insight |
|---|---|
| Definition | Leave-in cream, richly moisturizing, made with plant-based ingredients |
| Key Ingredients | Shea butter, coconut/avocado/jojoba oils, aloe, humectants, essential oils |
| DIY Recipes | Options with shea butter blends or simple formulations with water, oils, beeswax |
| Applications | Moisturizing, curl-defining, frizz control, sculpting styles for natural textures |
| Best Practices | Start small, tailor to your hair’s porosity, avoid buildup-causing additives |
| Natural Commercial Option | Taliah Waajid Shea-Coco — highly rated for textured hair types |
Photo credits: iHerb, BeautyClick