Here are some affordable Curly Girl Method products you can try. I’ve reviewed only the most affordable curly hair products including a CG friendly shampoo, serum and leave-in conditioner!
The curly girl method is a specifically designed approach for those with curly, coily or wavy hair that is completely natural.
So, if you are someone like me with naturally curly hair then make sure to check it out for the right ways to care for your natural hair!
Caring for curly hair can be quite expensive at times because it requires a lot of care from moisturizing to cleansing to the overall upkeep of the hair.
So, I tried out some of the Curly Girl Method recommended products that were relatively affordable and reviewed them as well.
I tried out 5 different types of Curly Girl Method products and I must say that I was quite impressed with the results that I got, with products at a relatively affordable cost.
Top 5 Best Affordable Curly Girl Method Products
| Best Curly Girl Method Products | Product Type | Top Ingredients |
| Dessert Essence Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner | Shampoo and Conditioner | Organic jojoba oil, olive oil, coconut oil |
| GIOVANNI Eco Chick Clarifying Shampoo | Clarifying Shampoo | Aloe vera, rosemary, other botanical extracts |
| Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioner | Leave-in Conditioner | Shea butter, canola oil, coconut oil |
| Pacifica Beauty Nourishing Hair Mask | Deep Conditioner | Rice proteins, avocado, coconut oil, pineapple extract, hyaluronic acid and other vegan ingredients |
| Garnier Fructis Styling Gel | Styling Gel | Acacia gum, active fruit protein, vitamins, plant extracts |
What are the most affordable Curly Girl Method products available at the drugstore?
The most affordable Curly Girl Method products include the Cantu Shea Butter leave-in conditioner. This particular cream is my favorite because despite being a drugstore product it's so hydrating, nourishing and good at enhancing your curls. I also love it's fragrance. So it's definitely going on my curly girl approved products list.
How did I review these Curly Girl Method products?
I test out these products based on a few parameters and that’s precisely how I review them so that it can help the readers get a better idea of the products they are buying.
Here are the parameters I chose to review these products on (wherever applicable):
- Cleansing power: Since curly hair is more prone to product buildup, I chose this parameter to test the cleansing power.
- Gentleness on the scalp and hair: I looked for products that are free from harsh chemicals and tested how gentle it felt on my scalp and hair.
- Fragrance: This parameter rates the scent of the product, as strong smells aren’t appealing to me.
- Moisturizing effect: Curly hair lacks moisture and therefore, I chose this parameter to tell how effectively moisturized my curls felt after I used the product.
- Curl enhancing effect: This parameter rates the curl enhancing effect of the product because my curls used to stand dull and limp earlier.
- Holding powder: This parameter will rate how well the product held my curls in place once I used it.
Top Affordable Curly Girl Method Products 2022
1. Dessert Essence Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner
This was my very first try at buying a product from the brand Dessert Essence and so I was quite excited to try this product.
Also, the fact that this shampoo came along with its own conditioner was one of the reasons I chose this shampoo in particular, so I do not have to look for another conditioner to use.
The shampoo comes in the form of a lotion, but lathers very well. I found it to be very gentle on my scalp and hair, as it contained no parabens and phthalates.
My curls felt super soft and moisturized once I used this product and it actually brought back a bounce to my curls, as the conditioner contained no silicones.
The conditioner also helped reduce my frizz to a large extent. This product has a very subtle smell of coconut, which I really liked.
Pros:
- Shampoo comes along with its own conditioner.
- Gives curly hair a bounce as the conditioner contains no silicones.
- Shampoo is gentle on the hair as it is paraben and phthalate free.
- Using this product helps keep the hair moisturized and reduces frizz.
- Fragrance of the shampoo is very subtle.
Cons:
- Slightly expensive as it comes with its conditioner as well.
My Ratings:
- Cleansing power: 4.2/5
- Gentleness on the scalp and hair: 4.3/5
- Fragrance: 4.5/5
Check the product on Amazon.com!
2. GIOVANNI Eco Chic Clarifying Shampoo
This was my very first try at using a clarifying shampoo on my curly hair and so I was quite apprehensive whether my buy was right or not.
But I have to say that it definitely was a super good purchase and it was relatively reasonably priced as well.
The reason I chose this shampoo is because it contains rosemary which is a good herb ingredient for the hair and it also made my hair smell fresh.
It cleansed my hair and scalp really well and I had absolutely no itchiness once I used it.
In fact, it got rid of my scalp and hair gunk so well, that my other hair care products began to have a better effect on my hair.
It didn’t strip my hair off too much moisture and it also didn’t leave my hair tangled.
Pros:
- Doesn’t strip the hair off all its moisture, like a clarifying shampoo usually does.
- Rosemary scented, but very subtle fragrance.
- Felt gentle on the scalp and hair as it contained no mineral oils, parabens or sulfates.
- Didn’t make the scalp itchy.
- Doesn’t make the hair tangled.
- Clarifies the scalp and hair well, making other hair care products work better.
Cons:
- None.
My Ratings:
- Cleansing power: 4.5/5
- Gentleness on the scalp and hair: 4.5/5
- Fragrance: 4.3/5
Check the product on Amazon.com!
3. Cantu Shea Butter Leave-in Conditioner
This was my second try at a Cantu branded product and since I was looking for a leave-in conditioner for my curly hair, I decided to go in for a tried and tested brand.
Well, of course the brand didn’t disappoint me as it was super revitalizing for my curls as it contains no silicones.
I recommend using this product when your hair is slightly damp, for the best effects.
It made my curls much more manageable and made my curls feel soft as this product contains no harsh chemicals like mineral oils, paraffins, sulfates, parabens etc.
Using this product helped keep flyaways at bay and reduced my frizz considerably. It is very moisturizing and keeps my curls moisturized for even upto 8 hours at a stretch.
I didn’t really find it smelling like any particular fragrance.
Pros:
- Keeps hair moisturized for long hours.
- Gives curly hair a bounce as it contains no silicones.
- Free from all types of harsh chemicals, making the hair feel smooth and soft.
- Makes the hair feel more manageable.
- Reduces frizz and flyaways considerably.
Cons:
- Doesn’t have any particular fragrance.
My Ratings:
- Moisturizing effect: 4.3/5
- Fragrance: 3.8/5
- Curl enhancing effect: 4.2/5
Check the product on Amazon.com!
4. Pacifica Beauty Nourishing Hair Mask
I bought this product because I planned to use a clarifying shampoo on my hair, so I needed a good hair mask to rejuvenate my scalp and hair of its lost moisture and I must say that this hair mask was super nourishing for my hair.
It actually brought my curls back to life, once I used this mask after I had clarified my hair. It reduced my hair frizziness to a large extent and gave my curls a bounce, as it contained no silicones.
It felt gentle on my scalp and hair as it contained no harsh chemicals like sulfates, petrolatum, parabens etc. It made my hair feel soft and left no residue on my scalp.
The only thing I didn’t like much was its fragrance. While it wasn’t too bad, it was more scented than I expected, but luckily it didn’t linger.
Pros:
- Brings life to curly hair as it contains no silicones.
- Very nourishing to the hair as it is free from sulfates, petrolatum, parabens etc.
- Makes the hair feel soft and helps reduce frizziness considerably.
- Residue doesn’t remain on the scalp and hair.
Cons:
- Slightly expensive as compared to other hair masks.
- The scent doesn’t linger, but is quite strong.
My Ratings:
- Moisturizing effect: 4.2/5
- Fragrance: 3.8/5
- Curl enhancing effect: 4.3/5
Check the product on Amazon.com!
5. Garnier Fructis Styling Gel
My curls have always been frizzy and hard to style, so I was looking out for a styling gel that will have a good hold on my hair and this gel did a considerably good job, I must say.
I’d say it has a relatively medium hold and will require a touch up after 4 to 5 hours. It works well for slicked-back hairstyles.
What I liked is that it is a lightweight product, as it contains no silicones and it didn’t make my hair stand stiff. It continued to leave my curls free-flowing.
This product has more of a liquidy consistency, so it definitely makes application way more easier.
It also washes off pretty well and the best part is that it leaves no residue at all. It has a light scent, which is quite pleasant. This gel also felt gentle on my hair, as it contained no parabens.
Pros:
- Works well for slicked-back hairstyles.
- It is a lightweight product containing no silicones, thus refreshing one’s curls.
- Doesn’t make the hair feel stiff.
- Perfect consistency for easy and even application.
- Washes off properly and leaves no residue.
- Has a pleasant fragrance.
Cons:
- Has a medium hold which will not last an entire day.
My Ratings:
- Holding powder: 4.2/5
- Fragrance: 4.5/5
- Curl enhancing effect: 4.3/5
Check the product on Amazon.com!
The final takeaway
Well, I hope this review came in handy for all you curly-haired people out there.
There are many curly girl products out there, but not all are as affordable. And I wanted to review a bunch of pocket-friendly products as maintaining your curls on a budget is no joke.
So, if you wish to try out the curly girl method, then you could buy some of these products as they are relatively affordable and work quite well too!