The best products for curly hair, according to GLAMOUR editors

Her top tip is to opt for products that perform and styles that provide low manipulation throughout your week. “Aim to touch your scalp weekly or bi-weekly to massage and circulate blood flow. All living things need movement to thrive and so does your scalp.” She adds.

Then consider talking to your hairstylist about cutting in some tactical layers to intensify the shape and boost volume at the roots.

Curly girls are more prone to dry and dehydrated strands since it’s more difficult for the natural oils produced by the scalp to make it all the way down and around curls, from the root to the tip. Regular masking makes a huge difference. Do it as often as you need (but weekly is a good starting point).

And, when deciding on the best curly hair products like shampoos, leave-in-conditioners, and styling gels and masks, pay attention to what your hair needs and responds to – is it dehydrated and needs moisture? Or is it damaged and needs keratin and proteins? Or perhaps both? Keep an eye on ingredients like sulphates. They do a mega job of deep-cleaning, but the trade-off is that they can be super stripping and, if your hair doesn’t get very oily or greasy, it could be more cleansing action than your delicate curls need.

As for tips, GLAMOUR’s Beauty Writer, Shei Mamona, recommends brushing your hair while still in the shower or bath to gently detangle it. “For looser curls split your hair into four (or six, if your hair is super thick) sections, or for tighter curls, maybe six,” she advises. “I like to braid those sections while I apply conditioner as it helps to soak it all up. And to insulate it, I’d recommend a shower cap or cling film.” Another of Shei's top tips? “Do it while you’re in the bath, that way you can sit back and relax while your hair marinates in hydration and conditioning galore.”

Shei also claims her bounciest curls are revived with a good conditioner. “I was curious about the Ouai Thick Hair Conditioner, £28, Cult Beauty but had no major expectations as the brand didn't appeal to me as a consumer with Afro hair.

She adds: “However, I'm now almost all out of product (not solely because I'm very generous with the amounts I use per wash) but because I've liked it enough to use it religiously on every single hair wash since. It's hydrating, moisturising and leaves a nice scent to the hair even post blow dry. I admit it, I'm hooked and ready to drain my second bottle...”

Adwoa Beauty Baomint Deep Conditioning Treatment

£40 at Sephora

The Steam Bar The Scalp Saviour Mask

£40 at Selfridges

Then comes the masks. Shei interchanges between two. “I've been using the The Steam Bar The Scalp Saviour Mask (£40) and the Adwoa Beauty Baomint Deep Conditioning Treatment (£40) (which I use as a mask alternative) and I've noticed a genuine difference in how they both leaves my post-swim dry and brittle afro curls. The Scalp Saviour Mask works harder if you let it sit under a hair steamer for 15 minutes or so.”Curly girls have overlooked hair steaming for long enough. Shei says “Steaming in conjunction to using this mask helps to unclog pores in the scalp, add moisture to your hair, prevent dryness and reduce dullness overall. I would use the Baomint Deep Conditioning Treatment in low-maintenance hair-wash days, for shiny hair in an instant.”

When using hot tools Shei says: “I've started using the Pattern Beauty Heat Protectant Spray and haven't looked back since. It's sort of oil based so it leaves a nice sheen as well and bonus, it smells really good.”

Ouai Thick Hair Conditioner

£28 at Cult Beauty

£28 at Look Fantastic

Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler and Dryer Complete in Onyx Black and Gold

£479.99 £399.99 at Dyson

For styling, Shei is loyal to her Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler. “I'm yet to find a brand with as many useful attachments as the Dyson Airwrap. The hot brush is the perfect width for medium length coily hair, as it's wide enough to get the air flowing but not so wide that it doesn't allow the hair to efficiently wrap around it. The afro comb is also perfect for detangling.”

Post-wash, apply your products lightest to heaviest (for instance, leave-in-conditioner, then hair oil) while your hair is still damp so the moisture is sealed in while it dries. Plus the mix of products can offer different benefits (e.g. softening vs strengthening), so it’s good to experiment to find a combo that works for you.

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Since ditching her natural hair colour for a toffee brown hue, GLAMOUR's Video and Social Media Producer Chrissie Moncrieffe has been more keen to sport and embrace her natural hair over other protective styles. She has found a happy medium between using hot tools and leaving her natural curls flourish. Her go-to? Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo: “My hair is coloured and has been texture release (which is chemical processing) and I find that this shampoo keeps my hair in the best condition.” Chrissie says. For deep conditioning she finds that SheaMoisture Strengthen & Restore Hair Treatment is best to revive the colour and curl pattern of her hair when she's doing her straight to curly routine.

For quick styling she opts for the Ruka Hold Me Down Edge Gel, £16, Selfridges and for tools her go-tos are the ghd Glide Professional Hot Brush, £159, Cult Beauty and the Dyson Supersonic, £329.99, Dyson. “There is a misconceptions that your curly hair routine should have like ten steps. I find it that my hair thrives when I strip it all back. Also deep conditioning further time apart instead of that weekly routine people talk about really helps. I find it that if I do it too often it weighs my hair down and my curls look tired so I'm more keen to do it once a month.” She adds: “I follow it up with Bread Beauty Supply Hair Oil which gives me the gloss and nourishment without weighting it down.”

Ruka Hold Me Down Edge Gel

£16 at Selfridges

£16 at Amazon

ghd Glide Professional Hot Brush

£159 at Cult Beauty

£159 at Look Fantastic

While, GLAMOUR’s Social Media Manager, Luca Wetherby-Matthews, swears by Only Curls microfibre towel for ​​smoothing flyaways to revive day-2 curls “If there is one hair product you could invest in to keep your curls actually curly and not frizz balls, this might just be the one.”

GLAMOUR's Operations Manager, Esohe Ebohon is all about protective styling, and for that reason alone she insists that in her hair cabinet Afrocenchix is a must. “Their moisturising spray is the one. It moisturises and revives curly and afro hair without leaving build-up. Also good for moisturising braids.”

For more from Glamour UK Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona

These are the best products for curly hair according to GLAMOUR Editors...