Heat protectant. Whether you regularly use heat styling tools or not, it’s never a good idea to put a hot tool on your hair without first using a heat protectant. While some hair creams promise to make your style last longer, the most important factor is that it can protect your hair from heat damage. Styling. Most hair creams fall into this category, as they’re intended for styling. This can include heat styling, setting hair (on twists or curlers), or texturizing. Depending on your hair type and specific styling concerns, there’s a hair cream perfect for your mane. Whether you’re trying to build definition, smooth your hair, or prevent frizz, hair creams can help you bring out the best in your tresses, one day at a time.

Available in two sizes, this cruelty-free product is safe for color-treated hair and is free from ingredients like formaldehyde, silicone, and phthalates. The cream doubles as a heat protectant for up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (perfect for curling your hair with a straightener), and promises to also keep your hair cleaner for longer. The brand doesn’t explicitly state that this product is best for those with straight hair (type 1), but the product images almost exclusively show models with straight hair. Apply a pump or two of Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream to damp hair and style as usual, or allow hair to dry naturally. Can be used on wet or dry hair. Don’t let the name fool you. You don’t have to be a 4C head to use this product. But if you’re part of the natural hair community, you know that 4C is an often overlooked and underrepresented subtexture within the type 4 portion of the Andre Walker Hair Typing System. Often assumed to have no curl pattern (which isn’t necessarily true), this texture struggles the most with dryness and achieving definition for their coils. Whether you’ve got straight hair, waves, curls, or coils, there’s a hair cream designed exactly for your hair type. A good cream shouldn’t weigh your hair down but should work to infuse shine and bounce —resulting in a healthier look that will have everyone wondering if you just left the salon. We’ve taken out the guesswork by rounding up a variety of creams to suit your needs. Best hair creams overviewDetangling. Many hair creams are also intended to use as part of an overall haircare routine to help detangle your hair —especially if you’re a type 3 or 4. Bleached/Relaxed. If you have bleached or relaxed hair, you may struggle with dryness, given the harsh nature of the chemical process. Look for hydrating hair creams that effectively penetrate the hair shaft. Type 1. If you have type 1 hair, then your hair is straight according to the Andre Walker Hair Typing System. While this won’t apply to everyone with straight hair, you may find that you struggle with flat or fine hair and should prioritize volumizers as well as anti-frizz creams. Type 4. Type 4 is the kinky section and is further divided into 4A, 4B, and 4C. Similar to 3B and 3C types, you’ll also want to focus on frizz control, hydration, definition, and manageability. Moroccanoil treatments are also doubly nourishing thanks to formulations that blend argan with a wide range of other hero ingredients. Expect rich products combining olive and avocado oils, known for their abundance of healthy fatty acids. Red algae, meanwhile, is a star option for providing powerful hydration while being gentle enough for daily use. As for the type of product you're after, it's up to you whether your nutrient-boosting solution comes as a spray-on, hair mask or even a strengthening shampoo.

If your hair tends to be on the flatter, finer side, the Moroccanoil Extra Volume Shampoo on Mankind will add that much-needed body and texture, while giving it shine, manageability and movement. Working to gently cleanse away the daily build-up of excess oil and other impurities from the hair and scalp, your hair will be left not only lifted from the roots, but thoroughly cleansed. Enriched with argan oil and other moisturising nutrients, it's safe for coloured hair thanks to its sulphate, phosphate and paraben-free formula. MY HAIR IS DRY AND BRITTLE. WHICH MOROCCANOIL PRODUCT WILL HYDRATE IT?But Alterna’s Caviar Anti-Aging cream is one of those rare unicorns that promises to work for all hair types and does a commendable job living up to the hype. This 10-in-1 CC cream is a leave-in product that uses ingredients like caviar extract, marine botanicals, and omega-3 fatty acids to protect your hair from environmental factors like UV rays but also infuses moisture for enhanced definition, improved shine, and less breakage. If you’ve got type 3 or 4 hair, you’re probably well-versed in the benefits of coconut oil —even if you don’t always use it. When you have curly or coily hair, moisture is critical. Not only does moisture aid in growth, but it also improves your hair’s ability to clump and achieve curl definition. Why? Because dry, parched hair tends to suffer from frizz, while properly hydrated hair doesn’t. Type 3. Type 3 is the curly segment and is divided into 3A and 3B. While 3A heads might occasionally need to fight limp strands, this isn’t the case for 3Bs. Most typically, frizz, definition, manageability, and hydration are critical factors that those with these hair types should prioritize. It features key ingredient pro-vitamin B5 that works to retain moisture and fight frizz. And the cream works especially well in high-humidity locations. While technically anyone could attempt to use this volumizer, Bed Head explicitly recommends this product for fine, thin, and flat hair textures. For best results, apply to towel-dried hair and then blow dry it to activate the product.