Holy Grail Curly Hair Products that I Can’t Live Without
If you have natural or curly hair, at some point in your hair journey you probably went on the search for the “holy grail” natural hair product. A “holy grail” is a product that is exceptionally effective and well-loved by individuals with natural hair. This product typically meets or exceeds expectations, addresses specific hair needs, and often becomes a staple in a person's hair care routine. Keep in mind that what works as a holy grail product can vary from person to person, as individual hair types, textures, and preferences play a significant role.
It’s important to note that finding a holy grail product involves personal preference, as what works well for one person’s hair may not work as effectively for another. Factors like hair density, techniques, product knowledge, and desired look can influence product efficacy. Reading reviews, seeking recommendations, and trying out samples can help you discover which natural hair products work best for your unique needs and preferences. That said, here are 14 of my holy grails, across multiple product categories. If you want more info on how I use these products in my weekly routine, read my blog post on My Flawless Wash and Go Routine.
Disclosure: All products featured on Her Elizabethan Era are independently selected and tested and some of the links are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
Shampoo
Innersense Organic Beauty Hydrating Cream Hairbath
This is a gentle moisturizing shampoo that aims to “boost hydration for thick, coarse, and damaged hair with raw shea butter and avocado, sage, monoi, and tamnu oils”. The sulfate-free formula cleanses hair without stripping away any of your natural oils, and the light slips keeps your hair from getting matted during the shampoo step. When I use this shampoo before my conditioning step, the slip and moisturizing ingredients help me to gently separate and smooth out tangles in a way that makes detangling a breeze.
Innersense Organic Beauty Bright Balance Hairbath
As a bottle blonde, one of my constant challenges is managing my curls’ brassiness in between visits to the salon. I use this purple shampoo to banish brass and keep my hair vibrant and toned. It’s also full of clean ingredients like apple and rice extracts, monoi oil, and witch hazel, which also help to give this product a little bit of slip.
Conditioner
Innersense Organic Beauty Hydrating Cream Conditioner
This conditioner is THICC and my strands slurp this up like a free slurpee at 7-Eleven on 07/11, OKAY. The conditioner pairs with the Hydrating Hairbath to close the hair cuticle, strengthen your hair follicles, and give you moisture like no other. The best part is that it has no silicones so you can kiss build up good bye! The conditioner is very concentrated, so a little goes a long way. I find it best when paired with a lot of water and/or my second holy grail conditioner.
AG Care Boost Apple Cider Vinegar Silicone-Free Conditioner
The name is a mouthful but this conditioner is THAT girl. While still just as moisturizing and conditioning as Innersense’s Hydrating Cream Conditioner, this product combines powerful superfood ingredients like mango seed butter and apple cider vinegar with amazing slip that will have your brush running through your strands like butter. As someone with medium to high density hair, I’m always looking for products that can make detangling as easy as possible, and with this conditioner I can thoroughly detangle my entire head in 5-7 minutes.
Curl Defining Gel
Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic Curl Stimulator
While this product won’t stimulate curls if you don’t already have them, it will make the curls that you do already have POP. Nourishing and hydrating ingredients like aloe, marshmallow root, and nettle extract, which also provide flexible hold, make leave in conditioner unnecessary. I apply this product directly to freshly washed and conditioned hair for curl elongation, separation, and definition. If you squeeze your hair after applying and it doesn’t sound like squeaky rain boots, you need more water.
Innersense Organic Beauty I Create Hold
As someone with a combination of fine, medium, and coarse hair strands, I like to use products that give me a little bit of extra weight and smoothing to give me a more polished wash and go look. I Create Hold combines ingredients such as aloe, honey, eucalyptus, and rooibos tea to give a strong hold that lasts for 5-7 days. After drying, you can scrunch out the crunch for soft, touchable curls that don’t flake. Aside from the bomb hold, the orange blossom fragrance is to die for.
Mousse/Foam
Innersense Organic Beauty I Create Definition
This product is for the girlies who like their hair to be FIRM without having to layer countless creams, gels, serums and potions. The lightweight formula with amaranth seed extract and pequi oil gives you voluminous, defined and frizz free curls that last for daaaaays, while also drying extremely FAST. As a professional woman who is always on the go and doesn’t have time to sit under the dryer for hours on end, adding this foam as the last step in my routine has saved me SO much time every week. This product is best applied to wet hair or layered over other aloe-based curl gels.
Treatments
Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector
My curly hair specialist Rebekah suggested that I add this to my routine after she turned me into a blonde baddie, and I can honestly say that this product has transformed my hair for the better. My hair is healthier now as a high lift blonde than it ever was when it wasn’t color-treated. The patented bond building technology repairs and strengthens your hair from the inside out, and reverses damage caused by routine wear and tear.
Innersense Organic Beauty True Enlightenment Scalp Scrub
This exfoliation treatment is the best thing I’ve used to support my scalp care. The treatment is made with Hawaiian red salt which has volcanic clay and minerals that remove impurities from the scalp. The peppermint oil stimulates blood flow and turns your shower into an aromatic experience. I used this every couple of weeks when I feel like my scalp could use a reset. The tingly and fresh feeling that it leaves my scalp with is truly just an added bonus.
Hair Tools
Brush With the Best Felicia Leatherwood Detangler Brush
I bought two of these brushes in 2019 and I haven’t used anything else to detangle my hair ever since. Wide toothed combs are not great at removing all of the shed hair in a single detangling session, and other brushes made for curly hair painfully tug and rip your hair right out. The flexible design and thoughtfully made bristles effectively remove all shed hair, work through knots, and detangle hair while providing an ouch-less experience.
Conair 1875W Pro Style Bonnet Ionic Hair Dryer
This bonnet hair dryer is an oldie but goodie. I’m pretty sure my sister stole this from our mom before I stole it from her. The large hood provides even air flow distribution and 2 heat/speed settings to help dry hair quickly. I use this for about 30 minutes to get the perimeter of my hair dry before touching up any damp spots with my Dyson.
Dyson SuperSonic Hair Dryer
Before you side eye me at the price of this product, first it was a gift, and second, it has more than paid for itself both in terms of its value and time saved. I use it at least twice a week since I got it for Christmas in 2021 so that’s over 100 uses by now. At a cost of $429.99, that’s only $4.29 each use, and it’s still going strong! #GirlMath. I use the diffuser attachment to dry my hair near my neck and ears that my hooded dryer can’t reach and go to bed like normal. The next morning, I use the styling concentrator attachment to quickly blast any damp roots and give me a quick stretch so I don’t serve Frederick Douglass all day at work.
Framar Pastel Alligator Hair Clips
I use these clips in the shower to keep my hair in sections while I detangle and apply my curl gels. I’ve had the same clips for over two years and the metal spring is just as strong and flexible as when I first got them. The best part is that the clips don’t snag or pinch your hair while you use them!
Let me know in the comments what some of your holy grail hair products are!
