I tried Only Curls for my wavy hair – and here’s my honest review

You might find it hard to believe when we tell you that the haircare brand Only Curls started out as a small business, where customer orders were packed up at the kitchen table by founder, Lizzie Carter, especially as the brand has amassed a whopping 163K followers (and growing!) on Instagram, but now Only Curls has emerged as one of the best shampoos and conditioners for curly hair. I was given the opportunity to try and test some of their products on my wavy hair, and here's our honest Only Curls review.

From salon endorsements to celebrity recommendations, Only Curls has taken the haircare industry by storm. The brand has a range of cleansing, conditioning and styling products, curly tools and hair accessories galore. The question is does Only Curls actually work on wavy hair? This is what I have to say about it.

Our favourite Only Curls products at a glance:

Best beginner products for wavy hair: Starter Pack, WAS £40, NOW £35

Best enhancing gel for wavy hair: Enhancing Curl Gel, £18

Best mousse for wavy hair: Volumising Curl Mousse, £18

Best towel for wavy hair: Microfibre Hair Towel, £18

Only Curls review: Here are my honest thoughts...

It was only fairly recently that I realised I had wavy hair. When wet, my hair had no problems holding a defined wave. When dry? Whole different story. Years of straightening it to an inch of its life only contributed to damage, and using every smoothing serum in existence still never made much difference to the texture. Seeing videos of fellow wavy-haired girls finding their waves on TikTok, I started to look into how to wash, style, and care for wavy hair properly.

Learning that moisture can struggle to travel down the curl pattern, leading to drier ends in wavy and curly-haired babes was a game changer. Finding curly hair products that nourish the hair, all while providing moisture is essential. Enter: Only Curls. I can't speak for all hair types as everyone's hair is totally unique, but I can honestly say that I don't think I'll ever turn to another product for my wavy hair again.

Thanks to Only Curls, I finally managed to achieve fully defined waves that were free from frizz. Not only has Only Curls given me the confidence to ditch the curlers, but I've also been able to cut back on the heat damage from all of the straightening and drying. The range is free from harsh ingredients like parabens that strip the hair of that much-needed moisture. Hands down, they've been my ultimate hair saviour.

Only Curls review: Before and after

Following The Only Curls Method, I had the opportunity to review the All Curl Cleanser and Conditioner, the Hydrating Curl Creme, the Enhancing Curl Gel, the Mega Hold Gel and the Volumising Mousse. All products are cruelty-free, smell unreal and are suitable for all curl types. While the different steps involved can take a little bit of time, you can also scrunch in a bit of product if you're in a rush. Sometimes I'll just use either the Curl Enhancing Gel, Mega Hold Hair Gel or Volumising Mousse after washing to achieve low-maintenance waves.

Fancy shopping the range - here are some of our favourite tried and tested Only Curls products that we love. But don't just take our word for it, why not give it a go yourself?

SHOP: Only Curls

Only Curls review: Our top tips

Before trying Only Curls, get to know your hair type. This will help you determine what products are best for your hair. Shorter, thinner hair that's on the wavy side might do better with a lightweight mousse. Applying heavy curl creams on thinner hair might weigh it down, which will mean your curls will drop. Whereas for those with thick curly hair, as well as afro hair, these products are formulated specifically for this hair type to help make curls, coils and kinks pop.

We can't emphasise this enough: scrunch, scrunch, scrunch! When it comes to drying your hair, air drying is usually best along with scrunching in your product. However, hair dryers for curly hair tend to come with diffusers that can help define your curl pattern. But, don't forget the heat protectant spray.

If you're not seeing results straight away - be patient! If you've bleached and straightened your hair for years, it'll take a while for your natural curl pattern to return. In the meantime, avoid using heat as much as possible, allow your hair to air dry and avoid using hair products with parabens, sulphates and silicones. Continue using Only Curls and experiment with the different products to see what works for you. Read the full guide on how to use the products below.

Samantha Price is a Senior Commercial Content Writer for heat. During her time at Bauer, she has worked on several projects, from championing the heat newsletters to writing expertly crafted buying guides on beauty, fashion and lifestyle.