As curly girls, we use a ton of products to keep our locks luscious and manageable. But, it can get expensive to keep stocking up on luxury curly hair products. It can feel like a gamble to purchase drugstore brands knowing that many of them don’t have the ingredients our curls need.  

Lucky for you, we’ve vetted drugstore brands that sell great products that are under $10 AND Curly Girl approved. 

What is Curly Girl Approved?

The Curly Girl Method was developed by fellow curly girl Lorraine Massey to properly care for and style naturally curly hair. 

This method involves avoiding certain ingredients that are commonly found in hair products including:

• Sulfates. 

• Non-water soluble silicones.

• Parabens.

• Drying alcohols.
  
  
  

It’s important to note that some mild sulfates and alcohols are approved for use for the Curly Girl Method, but most you should stay away from. 

Besides avoiding certain ingredients, there are several healthy ingredients that you should be looking for in your hair care. These include: 

• Aloe vera.

• Glycerin.

• Amino Acids.

• Hyaluronic acid.

• Keratin.

• Shea butter.

• Coconut oil.
  
  

Keep reading below to find out which drugstore curly hair products are good for you and won’t break the bank every time you need a refill. 

 

Gel

Aussie Instant Freeze Sculpting Hair Gel 7 oz.

$4.59

 

 

 

The Aussie Instant Freeze Gel for curly girl hair leaves you with soft and frizz-free locks for the full 20 hours it promises! It smells amazing and after scrunching out the crunch, your hair is silky and luscious. It doesn’t build up or flake. Overall, amazing gel for curly hair.  

 

ECOCO Moroccan Argan Oil Styling Gel 8 oz. 

$5.26

 

ECOCO Moroccan Argan Oil Styling Gel is one of the best curly girl-friendly drugstore products--  it has everything you need in a gel. First off, it defines curls while avoiding the crunch. This gel won’t let you down even on scorching hot or humid days.  

 

Garnier Fructis Style Curl Treat Jelly Shaping Leave-in Styler 10.5 oz 

$6.97

 

 

 

This gel from Garnier Fructis is AWESOME. It contains nourishing coconut oil that gives curly locks beautiful shine. The formula is thick but is light on your hair so it doesn’t weigh curls down. Best of all, it holds up all day. 

 

 

Shampoo

Suave Professionals Natural Shea Butter & Pure Coconut Oil Shampoo 16.5 fl. oz. 

$4.99

 

For less than $5, this curly girl approved product does exactly what it says it does: moisturize hair, enhance curls, tame frizz, detangle and create a natural, healthy shine. Unlike many other affordable hair product lines, this one does not leave hair feeling over-cleaned or dry. It truly delivers on its promise to clean your hair without stripping away natural moisture. 

 

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo 13 oz.

$5.97

This SheaMoisture shampoo is an amazing curl and shine enhancer. The hibiscus, neem oil and coconut help to tame frizz and make curls healthy and smell sweet and refreshing. 

 

Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Retention Shampoo 13 oz.

$7.99

 

Another great shampoo option from SheaMoisture. It has no foam, thus will not remove natural hair oils. This Moisture Retention Shampoo will help make your hair so soft you won’t want to stop touching it. 

 

 

Conditioner

Suave Essentials Conditioner Tropical Coconut 30 oz.

$2.99

 

This Suave Essentials, curly girl-approved, Conditioner is amazing for all types of curls and coils, especially those that are more susceptible to dryness. It is able to moisturize and soften brittle, damaged and treated curls without weighing them down.

 

TRESemme Botanique Nourish & Replenish Conditioner 22 oz. 

$6.79

 

For curly girl Tresemme lovers, this conditioner is perfect, especially if your hair needs a hydration boost. After one use, you’ll find brittle, dry, frizzy hair transformed into nourished, quenched and healthy locks. The formula is thick with tons of slip, allowing for easy detangling.

 

As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner 16 oz. 

$7.99

 

This curly girl drugstore conditioner is so healing for your hair. It gently cleanses, moisturizes and defines all types of curls, leaving tresses free of frizz and your scalp healthy. 

Not Your Mother's Naturals Tahitian Gardenia Flower & Mango Butter Curl Defining Conditioner 16 oz. 

$9.99

 

This conditioner delivers in more ways than one. It’s great for co-washing, as a regular condition, leave-in, AND styling! 

Whether you’re new to the Curly Girl Method or have been a loyal Curly Girl for years, these products are sure to help keep your curls healthy and gorgeous without having to break the bank. But if you need a little something extra to accentuate your tresses, Bebonia Hair extensions are the way to go.

They are thick, luscious and blend in with many hair patterns and textures. Find your style here!

We hope this helps give you a better understanding of which hair products are best for hair extensions, and shows you that great hair care doesn't always have to break the bank. Of course, there's nothing wrong with elevating your hair care either. Happy shopping!