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Do you have a special person in your life with curly hair that you'd like to gift? If you don't have coily or curly hair yourself, it can be hard to know where to start! With so many products and tools out there, it can feel completely overwhelming. Still, it'll make an incredible gift that your curly-haired friend will definitely appreciate.
We want to get it right, and that's why we went to a curly expert. We got the deets on all the best products, tools, ingredients, formulas, and more that'll make fantastic gifts this holiday season. We sat down with Sharley Viola—Curlsmith’s lead stylist, educator, and textured hair expert. The brand is known for its focus on natural ingredients and powerful formulas for curly and coily hair.
Viola gave us the scoop on her expert hair care advice and product recommendations from Curlsmith that make perfect gifts. Keep scrolling to shop her recs, as well as even more curly-haired gifts inspired by her advice that'll arrive just in time for Christmas.
Gift Them a Custom Curly Wash-Day Kit
"When it comes to gifting someone with curly hair, I’d start with a curl-loving shampoo and conditioner," Viola tells E!. She recommends The Curlsmith Essential Moisture Shampoo and Essential Moisture Conditioner as "always a winning choice, after all, every curl craves moisture."
But if they already have plenty of their favorite shampoo and conditioner, Viola also recommends a styling or treatment product. Plus, pair it with a micro-fiber towel and a scented candle to give it an extra special touch. "This thoughtful trio transforms wash day into a self-care ritual," she says.
Curlsmith Essential Moisture Cleanser
Safe for colored-treated hair, this shampoo gently cleanses your curly locks with a nourishing foam that removes dirt and build-up without drying them out.
Curlsmith Essential Moisture Conditioner
This isn't your typical conditioner. It promises to deeply nourish and detangle curly hair without adding any extra weight.
Curlsmith Curl Conditioning Oil-in-Cream
Meant for curly to coily hair, this leave-in conditioner will leave your hair intensely moisturized and richly hydrated—like it was brought right back to life.
Curly Girl Towel
Everyone with curly hair needs a dedicated microfiber towel. So, make it extra special by getting them one that is super absorbent, hypoallergenic, and available in super-cute shades.
The New Savant Scented Candle in Mixed Feelings
Make their washing day extra special with a luxe hand-poured soy wax candle. This aesthetically pleasing one features notes of lychee, peach, lotus, cedarwood, and vanilla.
Gift Them A Handy Travel Hair Tool
When in doubt? Viola recommends a travel dryer that's curly-hair friendly. "I’d say the hidden gem tool for those with curly hair is a travel hair dryer. The struggle is real when you’re on the go with curls; hotel dryers are mediocre at best, and they almost never come with a diffuser," she said.
Curlsmith Defrizzion Travel Hair Dryer
"The dual voltage Curlsmith Defrizzion Travel Dryer is a true lifesaver. It’s designed with a fold-down feature to make it even more compact, and it comes with a 6-inch diffuser," Viola said. "Perfect for keeping your curls at their best wherever you are."
Collapsible Silicone Hair Dryer Diffuser
For curly divas who love to travel but don't want to carry a dryer, the next-best-thing is a collapsible silicone diffuser that fits over hotel dryers.
Powerful Ingredients To Focus on (And Ones To Avoid)
When it comes to gifting the curly-haired person in your life a product, Viola recommends steering away from ingredients that can strip moisture or cause buildup. "The main ones to avoid are sulfates, silicones, parabens, drying alcohols, and phthalates," she told us. "These can leave curls dry, weighed down, or less defined, making it harder to maintain healthy, bouncy hair."
As for ingredients, Viola shares that there isn't a singular "star" ingredient that's better than others at the moment—as long as you focus on brands that specifically formulate their products for curls.
Still, one ingredient she's loving right now is hyaluronic acid. "As a powerful humectant, it’s known for attracting and retaining moisture, helping to keep hair soft and hydrated," she said. "This is especially beneficial for curly hair, which tends to be naturally drier and more prone to frizz."
Amika Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Mask
Is it really a curly hair gift guide without a hair mask? This one from Amika uses hyaluronic acid and squalane as its main ingredients.
Eva NYC H2-Whoa Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner
A more affordable option, this Eva NYC leave-in conditioner promises to instantly hydrate, detangle, and protect against heat with its formula of hyaluronic acid and vegan collagen.
Kérastase Blond Absolu Hyaluronic Acid Hair Serum
For the curly blondes in your life, this hair serum from prestige brand Kérastase uses its highest level of hyaluronic acid to repair damaged bleached hair and soothe the scalp.
Gift Curly Products With Innovative Formulas
There's always innovation happening in the beauty and hair space, but there are specific formulas that have caught this curly expert's attention. What are they? Ones that use plant-based ingredients.
"Brands are increasingly turning to natural alternatives that deliver targeted benefits for curls," Viola said.
She suggests a few examples: mushroom extracts, seaweed, and chickpea proteins. "These innovations reflect a broader movement toward clean, sustainable formulations designed specifically to meet the unique needs of curly hair."
AG Care Nourish Snow Mushroom Hair Mask
"Mushroom extracts are being used to enhance curl definition," Viola said. This AG hair mask uses snow mushroom in its formula, which can absorb up to 500 times its weight in water, for damaged hair repair.
Bumble and Bumble Seaweed Whipped Scalp Scrub
"Seaweed is incorporated for its hydrating and strengthening properties," Viola told us. And this scalp scrub by Bumble and Bumble uses it to nourish the scalp (and cascading locks) while delivering exfoliation and shine.
Curlsmith Bonding Oil
"Chickpea proteins are added to support resilience and reduce breakage." The Curlsmith Bonding Oil is a weightless oil that uses a blend of chickpea, quinoa, and lentil proteins to penetrate the hair shaft to fortify it. Expect stronger locks than before!
Looking for more expert recommendations? Shop the best products for colored-treated hair!
How We Choose
The E! Insider Shop editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews, and use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think our readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not E!. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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