Saltar al contenido principal

The best drugstore products for different hair types

Have curls to tame? Hair feeling dry and lifeless? Read about the best, can't-miss products at your local drugstore for every kind of tress.

Published: March 18, 2024 |8 minute read

Written by: Lisa DeSantis

Young woman applying a drugstore hair spray to her wet hair in the bathroom.

Curly-haired girls know that hair styling requires more than just running a brush through their strands. In fact, hair brushing is likely the last thing someone with cascading coils is going to do.

The same can be said for those with frizzy hair; they know that having the right products on hand when humidity strikes can be a game-changer. And thin hair? Give us something lightweight and volumizing any day.

The point is, it’s all about using the right products — and those products aren’t going to be one size fits all.

The good news? You can still find everything you need at your local drugstore. To help you on your next shopping excursion, we talked to hair experts and rounded up the best products for curly, dry, frizzy, thin and wavy hair.

En este artículo:

Best products for curly hair

Your best friends for curly hair are leave-ins y mousses.

One of the biggest concerns for curly-haired folks is dryness, which can lead to bigger problems, like breakage and shedding. "Curly hair is one of the naturally driest hair types, so things with moisture are a big plus," says Siobhán Quinlan, a hair stylist at Cutler Salon in West Hollywood.1 That’s why leave-ins and deep conditioning masks — which can help keep curls looking nourished and well-defined — should be part of your wash-day routine, she adds.

In terms of ingredients, Raven Hurtado, a hair stylist at Maxine Salon in Chicago,2 recommends looking for oils that nourish the hair and tame frizz, along with butters to moisturize curls.

Beauty website Byrdie recently released its list of best leave-in conditioners for curly hair and recommends SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil.3 Not only is it infused with black castor oil and shea butter, but it also contains panthenol, a humectant that draws moisture into the hair.

The best leave-in conditioner for damaged hair, according to Byrdie, is the It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product. This product is also great for adding a little extra shine and shape to your hair and can help protect curls if you frequently use hot tools, like a hair dryer or flat iron.

(Pro tip: After your shower, use a microfiber towel, like the Turbie Twist - Toalla para el cabello de microfibra estampada, to remove excess water. It will be gentler on your hair and can help prevent damage, according to Hurtado.)

For styling, Quinlan recommends “a mousse or gel that will give curls a nice hold, so they keep their shape throughout the day.”

While hair is still damp, apply a generous amount of something like the highly-rated Camille Rose Spiked Honey Mousse 4-in-1 Styler, which is on the Best Products for Curly Hair 2023 list released by CVS.4 Just remember to always check the product label for specific usage instructions.

Best products for dry hair

No surprises here, folks. The secret is moisture, moisture, moisture.

For hair that's dry and feels lifeless, it's all about infusing moisture back into your strands, explains Quinlan, who equates dry hair with having dry skin that's visibly in need of a lotion. She recommends putting some type of moisturizing product on your ends daily — even when you’re not shampooing — to keep hair soft and manageable.

On ingredient lists, look for products that include oils (argan oil, coconut oil or avocado oil) and glycerin, adds Quinlan.

Some products that tick these boxes include Sun Bum Protecting Anti-Frizz Oil Mist y SheaMoisture - Tratamiento hidratante sin enjuague de uso diario, 100% aceite de coco virgen, both of which have coconut oil in them and can be used on your ends as needed. For after washing, Babassu Oil & Mint Deep Conditioner has a combination of oils plus glycerin for a mega-dose of moisture.

And while you may think that you’re doing a service to your hair by washing it frequently, the act of doing so can actually dry it out further, so try cutting back a bit.5 When you do wash, use a moisturizing formula like Dove Nutritive Solutions Daily Moisture Shampoo, recommends Quinlan.

Best products for frizzy hair

With this hair type, oil-infused products are the right tool for the job.

Dry, damaged hair is more porous, so when it experiences humidity, it tends to hold on to water.6 The result? A halo of fuzz.

To tame frizzy hair, moisture is the name of the game. Specifically, products with oils will help add flexibility and smoothness to your hair, taming flyaways and boosting shine, explains Hurtado.

Quinlan explains that John Frieda Frizz Ease Touch Up Crème is a staple because it’s “easily absorbed by the hair to help combat frizz, but doesn’t leave any heavy residue.”

Hurtado likes suero antiestático Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine because it packs argan oil and offers a 72-hour, frizz-free finish.

If you want to try straight oil, check out SheaMoisture Extra Virgin Coconut Oil o Hask Argan Oil.

Best products for thin hair

The watch words for thin hair are volume and protein.

The goal for thinner-haired folks is to create a fuller appearance. This can be done with volumizers in the form of sprays, powders and root-lifting products, explains Hurtado.

It's also important to incorporate nourishing products that will help strengthen hair - especially if your thinness stems from breakage or shedding. Hurtado recommends looking for products with ingredients like biotin, collagen and protein.

Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil, for instance, is biotin-infused and may help promote scalp and follicle health.

When hair is still damp, try a mousse, like SexyHair Big Root Pump, before blow drying, adds Hurtado. This product may help give you some volume along with humidity protection, so strands won’t fall limp by midday.

"A dry texture spray is always good to help refresh flat hair," says Quinlan. "Adding that extra texture helps give a boost at the root and fullness through the lengths."

Try something like Tresemmé Volume Thickening Spray, which is meant for adding volume.

Best products for wavy hair

Your go-tos here are light creams and mists.

Wavy hair doesn't need quite as much TLC as super curly hair, but products that help define and encourage your natural pattern are good staples - you don't want anything too heavy that'll weigh hair down and wind up eliminating your waves. Hurtado explains that light creams and mists, specifically, are the way to go.

To enhance waves, Quinlan suggests using a lightweight texture spray.

Tresemmé 5-in-1 Wave Defining Mist, for instance, can not only help define waves but can also add shine and smooth hair. Or try Salon Grafix The Do-It-All 3-in-1 Dry Texture Spray, which can give you just enough grit for that tousled-beach-wave look without feeling crunchy or weighed down.

Hurtado adds that, even though you don’t want anything quite as rich as what curly-haired folks use, wavy strands will still benefit from moisturizing ingredients like oils and butters.

One popular product is Mielle Avocado Moisturizing Hair Milk, which is infused with avocado oil and jojoba oil, among other hydrating ingredients.

And lastly, because wavy hair can tangle easily, Hurtado recommends incorporating a detangling mist, like Honest Conditioning Detangler, into your hair care routine.

Ingredients and practices to avoid

In general, constantly using heat to style your hair — no matter the type — isn’t a great idea because it can cause damage.7 So if you are a frequent hot-tool user, your first step should be applying a heat protectant to stave off some of the effects high temperatures can have on hair.

Products that can help protect your strands include Pantene Pro-V Heat Primer Thermal Heat Protectant, Hask Biotin Boost 5-in-1 Leave-In Spray Conditioner y Not Your Mother’s All Eyes On Me 10-in-1 Hair Perfector.

The types of ingredients you should stay away from will depend on your hair type, but curly haired people should typically avoid alcohols and other drying agents, explains Hurtado, while those with thin hair should avoid too-rich products that can weigh hair down, adds Quinlan.

*Este contenido es solo para fines informativos y no constituye un asesoramiento médico. Consulte con su proveedor de cuidado de la salud antes de tomar alguna vitamina o suplemento y antes de comenzar o cambiar alguna práctica relacionada con el cuidado de su salud.