Monde’s Founder Shares Her Favourite Curly Hair Products and Tools

I am sure that I’m not speaking for myself when I say that, in the not too-distant past when Brazilian Blowouts were de rigueur and smoothing products dominated the shelves, we curly haired folk thought that there was never ever going to be a time when our curls were ever going to be a major consideration in the lexicon of hair.

But over the past few years, we have seen a steady crop of hair products specifically formulated for curly hair types, more often than not created by people with curly hair themselves. And if the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that in-home hair care and styling isn’t quite as difficult as we once thought.

It may come as no surprise that curl types can vary from person to person. What works for one can be an absolute disaster for another.

Every hair texture has a different way of behaving, so getting to know your very own unique hair curl pattern is essential in choosing the right products to bring your best curls forward.

A classification system for curly hair shape and patterns group curly hair types into three broad categories – wavy (type 2), curly (type 3), tight and coily curls, and within these are sub classes – from A to C – which classify the diameter of the curl.

In my eternal pursuit to find hair products that work for my hybrid curl patterns, I have tried more products than I can count, with many of them being completely wrong for my hair. Having curly-haired friends helps, where we try products and swap between ourselves until we find the perfect combination.

For my 2C/3A loose curls, moisture is key as my hair has the tendnecy to dehydrate, leaving it looking frizzy and sometimes dull.

Stretching out my washing and alternating the shampooing step helps to keep the frizz at bay and every second wash I use a hair mask like the L’Oreal Kerastase Curl Manifesto Masque for extra hydration.

In between washes, a curl reactivator is just what my hair needs to refresh and redefine. My favourite at the moment is Iles Formula Curl Revive Spray.

In terms of styling, for a more tousled looser curl with a bit of volume, I’ll use a lightweight, crunch-free mousse like the Oribe Grandiose Hair Plumping Mousse, and for more definition I prep with Cantu Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream.

There are too many curly hair products and styling tools to write about here, so I’ve put together a curated edit of my current favourites. Happy hair styling!