Plus, Ateh Jewel brings her expertise as an award-winning beauty journalist, sharing her personal hair heroes. Another award-winning journalist and editor of Black Hair Magazine, Keysha Davis has also revealed her extensive knowledge to help us uncover the very best formulas to cater to the unique hair needs of textured hair.
Keep scrolling to discover the ultimate product guide to treating, styling and caring for textured and Afro hair with recommendations for co-washes, shampoos, conditioner, masks, leave-in conditioner, detanglers, oils, blow-dry protectors, hair butters, curl definers, the lot…
1. Shampoos
It’s the foundation to a comprehensive hair care regime, which can prep hair for any treatments that follow, so it’s important to choose a good shampoo. The best shampoos will provide a thorough cleanse of strands and scalps, without stripping the hair of essential moisture. Luckily, our panel of textured hair experts have whittled it down to fast track your search…
Subrina’s shampoo of choice is the Aveda Dry Remedy Shampoo, £24.50, Look Fantastic. “I love this shampoo because it is just so hydrating. It still cleanses thoroughly, but while moisturising,” says Subrina. Keysha recommends the Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Shampoo, £24, Net-A-Porter. “This rich, creamy cleanser leaves my thick, coily hair feeling smooth and nourished, priming it for styling,” While, Hairstylist Mimi Kone says: “I always go for Keracare Hydrating and Detangling shampoo because as soon as you apply it into the hair it instantly soften it and the hair feel less dry and more hydrated and moisture.”
2. Conditioners
Rich, moisture-restoring nourishment is the name of the game when it comes to choosing a conditioner for textured hair. Luckily, there’s a plethora of expert formulas, packed with natural oils and intelligent ingredients that promise in-shower results. Here are the experts’ favourites…
Ateh’s go-to? The Aveda Dry Remedy Conditioner, £27, Look Fantastic “This leaves hair feeling silky soft with Organic jojoba oil and makes your bathroom smells like a spa,” While Charlotte rightly picks her own product, the Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil Conditioner, £24, Net-A-Porter, she carefully created to really cater and enrich curls and coils. “It’s a rich creamy formula that nourishes each strand by replenishing lost moisture. Plus, it replenishes and protects the hair from further damage from styling and heat tools,” she says. While Mimi says: “I love KeraCare Humecto Crème Conditioner 8oz, £8.45, Look Fantastic it has been my go to conditioner for my clients with Afro and curly hair who haven’t had any keratin.” For best results, leave the conditioner on hair for at least 10 minutes and watch it work its magic.
Keysha’s reccom is the Dizziak Deep Conditioner, £22, Cult Beauty. Aside from the impressive blend of Quinoa Protein, Babassu Oil, Inca Inchi, Coconut Oil, Argan Oil, it’s the heavenly smell that sets this conditioner apart; “the citrus scent of this enriched conditioner is just one of the reasons why I continually go back to it during wash day,” she says.
It’s the moisture, nourishment and the scent for me. This Maui Moisture Smooth & Revive+ Vanilla Bean Conditioner, £5.99, Boots has a supple blend of vanilla, cocoa and kukui nut oil. With aloe vera as its main ingredient it does an excellent job at taming dryness in Afro hair, making it way more manageable to detangle.
3. Masks
An essential in every textured hair regime, a hair mask is not only an intensive treatment to restore vital moisture but it can also provide a moment of much deserved pampering. From bounce-boosting treatments to oil-based creams, here’s our round up of the best masks for textured hair.
“The Big Hair Deep Conditioning Clay Mask, £20, Big Hair is a great home-care Treatment/Mask. The Moroccan Rhasssoul Clay helps reduces dryness while removing toxins and product build up. Leaves hair soft and moisturised.” says Subrina.