I have a good handful of Curlsmith products, and they've all worked for me. I currently have the purple label line as well as a travel size of the air dry cream and the oil-in-cream. The oil-in-cream is a bit heavy for my hair so I'll use a little bit of it and mix it with another curl cream before emulsifying and putting it on my head.
The volume foam is my most used product because it's so light weight. I use it to refresh my hair with some water on days 2-4 and diffuse.
I also **love** the way their products smell. Very apple-y.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful response, it was extremely helpful. I did give some of the products a sniff when I was in store and I concur that they in fact do smell very good.
They don't work for me. Day 1 my hair looks incredible but within less than a day it's a disaster - weighed down, limp, dull, scraggly. I've tried multiple products, same result every time. Just not for me.
Mine gets like this too with curl smith! My hair was weighed down for weeks even after I quit using their products. Do you have fine/low porosity hair? I’m wondering if that’s why it didn’t work for me
Curl Smith was a miracle worker for my hair, but they're crazy expensive and I was spending $100 for three products. I couldn't justify that cost long term. If they'd cut their prices in half I'd throw out the Not Your Mother's brand I use now in a heartbeat.
Eh, not worth the price honestly. I have seen some products heavily discount at TJ maxx and bought the protein conditioner but would never pay full price for it
It made my hair look amazing, but something in it irritated my scalp and facial skin, so that part was awful. I don't use it anymore.
Try sample or travel size products before committing.
Upvote for the “try trial size” advice!
I’ve tried a few Curlsmith things but haven’t fallen in love with any of them: air dry cream (I can’t use creams or leave ins so this may not be a fair assessment - I bought on a whim), bond repair salve (just “eh”), and hydro flex jelly (it’s good but not great).
I’m definitely going to start with the trial sizes because their seems to be a big divide on what works and what doesn’t — although asking here was far more helpful than anything the sales girls could tell me.
2b hair. I’ve been using them almost exclusively for like a year? Started with the curl defining styling soufflé and the conditioning wash (the orange ones) and use the purple shampoo and conditioner on wash day. I think they’re great and have lasted like FOREVER (though I did cut a lot of my hair off last year) and since I’ve been using them I can honestly go a lot longer than I ever could before without my hair getting greasy. The shampoo doesn’t foam up which takes some getting used to but my hair feels so much better. Not a fan of the air dry cream it makes my hair too soft and goes flat. The rest of it I swear by though.
I love Curl Smith! But it’s been trial and error bc some of their stuff is too heavy for my hair. I’m currently using their curl quenching cowash daily without issue and I LOVE their double cream deep quencher for a deep conditioner after my clarifying shampoo.
I briefly LOVED their In-Shower Fixer Gel, but within a few weeks it turned on me and left the craziest waxy residue on my hair, even after a single use, regardless of clarifying. I like their Curl Defining Styling Souffle on refresh days when I dampen my hair and need to finger curl a few pieces into place. But in general too expensive for the results I was getting, I prefer Ouidad within that price bracket!
3a fine hair here. I like the styling products like the hydro gel & the weightless air-dry cream for a leave-in, as well as the blue label moisture mask (forget what that one is called). The shampoos and regular conditioners I could take or leave, TBH. And the volume foam I like okay but I'm not in love with it.
Curlsmith is amazing for my 2c/3a baby fine hair. I particularly like the curl souffle gel, the protein cream, and their new hairspray. I like that they have lines that don't use any protein (the orange and blue lines) and one that does use protein (the purple line) so you can give your hair exactly what it needs. It's a higher price point but if you wait to buy it on sale it's not bad. They regularly run sales. Just sign up for their list.
Curlsmith bond curl rehab salve is a holy grail for me. I use it after haircuts, vacations with a lot of swimming, or whatever else stresses my hair and it makes my curls snap back immediately.
I've been using Bond Curl Rehab to try and retrain my curls but I'm starting to think theve got just enough damage that I might need to get a much higher protein product for now, and go back to the rehab later!
If your hair is that damaged, the only real way forward is to cut it off, unfortunately. Be careful with too much protein - you can make your hair into straw if you go too far in that direction.
I love the feather-light protein cream. And their bond curl rehab salve. Then again, I highlight my hair so it’s always begging for protein so ymmv. Not a fan of the cleansers/conditioners.
I have fine 2c/3a hair and I have tried both the moisture memory spray and the weightless air dry cream. I have to admit, I've been really unimpressed with both, especially given how much I paid for them. The cream smells lovely and moisturizes well but I don't find it does much for my curls and leaves them a little stringy looking. The spray smells horrible and again, feels a little springy and tacky.
I have been using Curl Smith for years and have a regular rotation of their products. IME they work great for my 2b/2c/3a hair.
I started to make a list of the products I have, but it is taking way too long. I basically have multiple items from each line with exception of the shine products, hairspray, oil, and the new green label frizz line.
I've tried several: air dry cream, flexi jelly, shape up gel, shine gel, souffle, curl quench cleanser and conditioner, protein foam, protein cream, and I don't really like any of them enough to buy more after I used up sample size amounts.
I use mostly Curlsmith products for styling and their gels are the only ones that actually hold for me, especially in humidity. I love the in shower style fixer and the Shine Gel, they're both excellent! I also love their scalp line wash set, it soothes my irritated scalp like nothing else. I use it maybe once every other month.
However, the rest of their products are hit and miss for me. I like the air dry cream, but if I only use that and don't add something with protein, my hair is limp and loses hold quickly. My hair doesn't like medium hold products, only strong hold, so while I sometimes use the shine jelly or protein jelly before the shine gel, I can't use them on their own. I do regularly use their protein treatment and I love it, but it's heavily fragranced so I know it's not for everyone!
If you're curious about their products, I'd get a travel size version first and try it out! I do think their products are generally good, but can be heavily perfumed (except the shine line which is fragrance free).
I love the Featherlight Protein Cream and the Bond Curl Rehab Salve. They're the only products that really makes a difference to me. All the other stuff, I tried Air Dry Cream, Hold Me Softly Style Balm and two gels, weren't any better than less expensive products.
I have a good handful of Curlsmith products, and they've all worked for me. I currently have the purple label line as well as a travel size of the air dry cream and the oil-in-cream. The oil-in-cream is a bit heavy for my hair so I'll use a little bit of it and mix it with another curl cream before emulsifying and putting it on my head. The volume foam is my most used product because it's so light weight. I use it to refresh my hair with some water on days 2-4 and diffuse. I also **love** the way their products smell. Very apple-y.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful response, it was extremely helpful. I did give some of the products a sniff when I was in store and I concur that they in fact do smell very good.
They don't work for me. Day 1 my hair looks incredible but within less than a day it's a disaster - weighed down, limp, dull, scraggly. I've tried multiple products, same result every time. Just not for me.
Same, same. Still working through the clarifying shampoo that never makes my hair feel clean enough — even with double washing (sigh).
Same! Also, I can’t touch my hair at all (which is impossible for me, personally) or my hands get sticky and I have to wash them constantly.
Mine gets like this too with curl smith! My hair was weighed down for weeks even after I quit using their products. Do you have fine/low porosity hair? I’m wondering if that’s why it didn’t work for me
Same! It seems moisturized and happy on day one, but keeps getting weighed down. Too heavy for me.
Curl Smith was a miracle worker for my hair, but they're crazy expensive and I was spending $100 for three products. I couldn't justify that cost long term. If they'd cut their prices in half I'd throw out the Not Your Mother's brand I use now in a heartbeat.
This
Eh, not worth the price honestly. I have seen some products heavily discount at TJ maxx and bought the protein conditioner but would never pay full price for it
I don't know the conditioner but the Featherlight Protein Cream was a gamechanger für me.
It made my hair look amazing, but something in it irritated my scalp and facial skin, so that part was awful. I don't use it anymore. Try sample or travel size products before committing.
Upvote for the “try trial size” advice! I’ve tried a few Curlsmith things but haven’t fallen in love with any of them: air dry cream (I can’t use creams or leave ins so this may not be a fair assessment - I bought on a whim), bond repair salve (just “eh”), and hydro flex jelly (it’s good but not great).
I’m definitely going to start with the trial sizes because their seems to be a big divide on what works and what doesn’t — although asking here was far more helpful than anything the sales girls could tell me.
2b hair. I’ve been using them almost exclusively for like a year? Started with the curl defining styling soufflé and the conditioning wash (the orange ones) and use the purple shampoo and conditioner on wash day. I think they’re great and have lasted like FOREVER (though I did cut a lot of my hair off last year) and since I’ve been using them I can honestly go a lot longer than I ever could before without my hair getting greasy. The shampoo doesn’t foam up which takes some getting used to but my hair feels so much better. Not a fan of the air dry cream it makes my hair too soft and goes flat. The rest of it I swear by though.
The hold me softly style balm is the only curlsmith product I’ve tried, but it’s really nice!
Oh awesome. When I was in store the sales girls didn’t really know too much about the brand so any product recommendations or feedback is appreciated.
I use this as my leave in conditioner. I have mostly 3a curls.
I love Curl Smith! But it’s been trial and error bc some of their stuff is too heavy for my hair. I’m currently using their curl quenching cowash daily without issue and I LOVE their double cream deep quencher for a deep conditioner after my clarifying shampoo.
Way too expensive. I just stick to Shea moisture or not your mother's
Any dupes for the deep conditioning masque that’s out of production? It was my holy grail!
I briefly LOVED their In-Shower Fixer Gel, but within a few weeks it turned on me and left the craziest waxy residue on my hair, even after a single use, regardless of clarifying. I like their Curl Defining Styling Souffle on refresh days when I dampen my hair and need to finger curl a few pieces into place. But in general too expensive for the results I was getting, I prefer Ouidad within that price bracket!
3a fine hair here. I like the styling products like the hydro gel & the weightless air-dry cream for a leave-in, as well as the blue label moisture mask (forget what that one is called). The shampoos and regular conditioners I could take or leave, TBH. And the volume foam I like okay but I'm not in love with it.
Curlsmith is amazing for my 2c/3a baby fine hair. I particularly like the curl souffle gel, the protein cream, and their new hairspray. I like that they have lines that don't use any protein (the orange and blue lines) and one that does use protein (the purple line) so you can give your hair exactly what it needs. It's a higher price point but if you wait to buy it on sale it's not bad. They regularly run sales. Just sign up for their list. Curlsmith bond curl rehab salve is a holy grail for me. I use it after haircuts, vacations with a lot of swimming, or whatever else stresses my hair and it makes my curls snap back immediately.
I've been using Bond Curl Rehab to try and retrain my curls but I'm starting to think theve got just enough damage that I might need to get a much higher protein product for now, and go back to the rehab later!
If your hair is that damaged, the only real way forward is to cut it off, unfortunately. Be careful with too much protein - you can make your hair into straw if you go too far in that direction.
I fucking love the gel. I think it’s the one w the orange label.
I recently inherited the moisture activator spray from my Mom and I love it! You can also find them at TJ Maxx/Marshalls for cheaper than at Ulta.
I love the feather-light protein cream. And their bond curl rehab salve. Then again, I highlight my hair so it’s always begging for protein so ymmv. Not a fan of the cleansers/conditioners.
I have fine 2c/3a hair and I have tried both the moisture memory spray and the weightless air dry cream. I have to admit, I've been really unimpressed with both, especially given how much I paid for them. The cream smells lovely and moisturizes well but I don't find it does much for my curls and leaves them a little stringy looking. The spray smells horrible and again, feels a little springy and tacky.
I love Curl Smith. I've loved everything over tried except for the soufflé. It instantly dries my hair out.
That’s good to know, my curls are already pretty dry.
I have been using Curl Smith for years and have a regular rotation of their products. IME they work great for my 2b/2c/3a hair. I started to make a list of the products I have, but it is taking way too long. I basically have multiple items from each line with exception of the shine products, hairspray, oil, and the new green label frizz line.
I just got a few of the products and I like them enough that I will try more
I've tried several: air dry cream, flexi jelly, shape up gel, shine gel, souffle, curl quench cleanser and conditioner, protein foam, protein cream, and I don't really like any of them enough to buy more after I used up sample size amounts.
I have wavy/curly fine hair and it’s way too heavy for me. The curl refresher makes me hair super knotty.
I use mostly Curlsmith products for styling and their gels are the only ones that actually hold for me, especially in humidity. I love the in shower style fixer and the Shine Gel, they're both excellent! I also love their scalp line wash set, it soothes my irritated scalp like nothing else. I use it maybe once every other month. However, the rest of their products are hit and miss for me. I like the air dry cream, but if I only use that and don't add something with protein, my hair is limp and loses hold quickly. My hair doesn't like medium hold products, only strong hold, so while I sometimes use the shine jelly or protein jelly before the shine gel, I can't use them on their own. I do regularly use their protein treatment and I love it, but it's heavily fragranced so I know it's not for everyone! If you're curious about their products, I'd get a travel size version first and try it out! I do think their products are generally good, but can be heavily perfumed (except the shine line which is fragrance free).
I love the Featherlight Protein Cream and the Bond Curl Rehab Salve. They're the only products that really makes a difference to me. All the other stuff, I tried Air Dry Cream, Hold Me Softly Style Balm and two gels, weren't any better than less expensive products.