Best Baby Shampoo For Curly Hair (2022 Review)

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Our Top Picks

Below is a summary of the top picks from our BabySchooling.com team. Each pick as the key findings as well as "badges" to help you understand where each pick fell in our ranking. "Best Overall" is a combination of price and value. "Best Budget" is great for parents who want a top quality product but are on a tighter budget. "High End" is for parents who just want the best, and price is no object.

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Product

How did we pick these products?
Our Top Pick

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Johnson's Baby No More Tangles Shampoo

Tried and true detangler

Hypoallergenic

Tear-free formula

Best high-end shampoo

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So Cozy Kids Curl Shampoo

Conditions and cleanses

Keratin is a key ingredient for long-term hair health

Salon-grade formula

Best On A Budget

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Honest Conditioning Detangler

Add this detangler to the baby shampoo routine you already love

Sweet, light scent

Dermatologist tested and hypoallergenic

Reviews of Each Pick

Below are our detailed reviews of each product. Each product included in this review is reviewed by our team of parenting experts. Parents with 1,000s of hours testing and working with products to help you pick the best one for your specific situation.

Our Top Pick

Johnson's Baby No More Tangles Shampoo

Pros

2 in 1 formula with extra conditioning

Gentle on skin and eyes

mild, baby smell that we all love

Some adults love to use this formula for their own hair

Cons

There are multiple formulas, be sure to get the right one

Some reviewers still struggle if their child has especially thick or kinky hair

Low lather

The Johnsons Baby No More Tangles shampoo has a very light, pleasing scent. It also is super gentle and won't irritate eyes or skin. Many are able to use this one product and brush hair straight through without trouble. Some adults even use this baby shampoo for curly hair formula for their own hair, especially if they have recently undergone surgery, have allergies, or have other sensitivities. It's also an excellent budget pick shampoo and seems to work just as well if not better than a lot of higher-end detangling shampoos for curly hair babies. 

Best high-end shampoo

So Cozy Kids Curl Shampoo

Pros

Reduces breakage without stripping or drying our hair

Parents love the smell of this conditioner + shampoo combo

Adds a lot of shine to curly hair

Small amount goes a long way

Cons

Babies with known allergies should spot test

Can be a heavy formula for thinner hair

Breaking the spray bottle is a pain

Parents really love this salon-grade baby shampoo for curly hair formula. It has a great fruity, botanical smell due to natural ingredients like watermelon seed oil and keratin. Parents also love SoCozy Curl Shampoo for the added shine in their baby's curls. Keratin especially strengthens and adds shine. For babies with thinner curls, this shampoo can be a little heavy. 

Best On A Budget

Honest Conditioning Detangler

Pros

Naturally derived ingredients like orange, vanilla and coconut

Hypoallergenic formula is gentle

Don't have to give up the shampoo you already love for baby

Can be used to freshen up baby's hair too, in-between shampoos

Cons

Not a baby shampoo, you still need to shampoo baby's hair

Don't spray too much, which can leave baby's hair sticky

Breaking the spray bottle is a pain

Parents use this conditioning detangler by Honest for both aftercare (after shampooing baby's hair) and in the morning to freshen up baby! It's an easy-to-use, hypoallergenic formula that can be packed up on the go. It's not a miracle formula, and is relatively light. Some babies with kinkier hair will need a stronger formula shampoo to support detangling. For most babies with curly hair, this detangler is a great budget solution to use with your favorite shampoo. It smells good too!

Curly Girl Shampoo and Conditioner

Pros

Can wash hair less often with this product

Smells like oranges

Adults and children can use this shampoo

Great moisturizer for natural curly hair

Cons

Not formulated for babies specifically, although many use it on kinky hair

Trimethylsiloxyamodimethicone is not an official Curly Girl Method approved ingredient

This is a product that works when it comes to really thick, really curly hair. Many parents review that they love the orange scent and that especially for older babies, this product helps minimize the number of shampoos needed in between baths. It is not formulated for babies specifically, so you have to be careful (it's not tear-free).

Fairy Tails Curly Q Daily Hydrating Shampoo

Pros

Avocado and murumuru butters add shine and tame frizz

Quinoa and rice proteins protect hair, prevent breakage and retain curl moisture

Curly Q products are Soy, Gluten, Nut and Dairy Free

Great pear basil scent

Cons

The fragrance is a little strong for some parents

Can be too much for fine, curly hair

We LOVE this baby shampoo for curly hair by Fairy Tails. Parents love that they can use this during pool days during the summer to help their kids' hair retain moisture. It's gentle for baby and no detangler is needed to supplement, although the Fairy Tale Line has many to choose from. The Pear-basil scent is awesome, although some parents think it's a little strong. Overall your baby will have shiny, beautiful curls even the next morning after using this baby shampoo. 

Buying & Use Guide

What Is Baby Shampoo for Curly Hair?

We love our curly-haired babies! Their gorgeous and fluffy hair can also mean a great deal of care and attention for parents.

Curly hair often gets tangled up. Baby shampoo for curly hair is specially formulated to help soften and protect your baby’s curly hair strands as they grow.

Baby shampoos for curly hair are often referred to as detanglers. These baby shampoos are formulated to be extra moisturizing to effectively untangle dull and dry hair strands.

curly hair facts

What Makes Baby Shampoos For Curly Hair Different From Any Other Baby Shampoo?

Baby shampoos for curly hair are generally hypoallergenic and tear-free. These baby shampoos are free from all chemicals and unnecessary additives that can be harsh to the baby’s fragile and sensitive skin and hair.

Detanglers, shampoos and conditioners for curly-haired babies typically have extra moisturizing ingredients derived from oils or proteins. These ingredients coat hair strands and make curls more manageable in the long run.

Read Also: What is the best baby shampoo for eczema?

Here’s a short video clip that will give you more tips on taking care of your curly baby cuties:

How Does Baby Shampoo For Curly Hair Work?

As mentioned in the earlier part of this review, curly hair is much more challenging to maintain compared to straight hair. Curly hairs are prone to dryness and tangles.

Babies with curly hair also have fewer hair follicles compared to babies with straight hair. Curly-haired babies have fewer sebaceous glands that produce natural oil to nourish the scalp and hair.

Baby shampoos for curly hair provide extra nourishment to the baby’s hair from root to tip so that each strand becomes healthier, thicker, smoother, and shinier. These shampoos also help lock in moisture to prevent dryness and dullness of your baby’s hair. Baby shampoos for curly hair can come as a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner or with a separate conditioning product to go along with.

What To Look For When Buying Baby Shampoo For Curly Hair?

It’s easy for a manufacturer to write promising features on the front label of their baby products. As a responsible and wise parent, it is imperative to look past that front label and weigh the significance of the ingredients included in the formulation of the shampoo.

Curly hair is in its most gorgeous condition when each hair strand is bouncy and shiny. Look for natural ingredients like argan oil, aloe vera, shea butter, keratin, olive oil, and carrot seed oil.

Ingredients like honey and chamomile can also help keep your baby’s scalp healthy.

About The Author

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Review By Jenna Clark

Jenna Clark is a mother of 2 fiesty, curly-haired toddlers and has tried almost every baby product out there. She loves to cook and travel with her family.
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