Best Curl Cream NZ: For Curly and Wavy Hair

Updated November 2026. Prices are our live online prices.

Curl cream is the product we get asked about most by curly clients, and the one most people use wrong. Too much, on hair that's already half dry, and you get frizz with a crunchy edge. The right amount on wet hair gives soft, defined curls that last until the next wash. Here's what we use in the salon, and how to choose a curl cream for your hair.

Best curl cream NZ: our shortlist

What does curl cream do?

A curl cream is a leave-in that does two jobs. It adds moisture, so each curl clumps with its neighbours instead of puffing apart, and it gives a little soft hold so the shape stays put as it dries. It won't create curl you don't have. It shows off the curl or wave already there.

Gels and mousses hold harder. Leave-in conditioners hydrate but barely hold. Curl cream sits in the middle, which is why it suits most people as the first styler to try.

Curl cream for curly hair vs curl cream for wavy hair

This is where most people go wrong. Curly hair (3a to 4c) usually wants a richer cream; wavy hair (2a to 2c) usually wants something lighter, or it drops straight.

• Waves that fall flat by lunchtime: a spray or milk such as Milky Waves, or a pea-sized amount of Twisted Curl Magnifier with a mousse on top.
• Defined curls that frizz: Twisted Curl Magnifier or EIMI Soft Twirl.
• Dry, thick or tight curls: Curl Manifesto Crème de Jour. It's richer, and it's made with manuka honey and ceramides for moisture.

Not sure which you have? Our 2b to 3a wavy hair routine has photos and a simple test.

Two ways to define curls: choose by budget

Same job, different weight. If your curls are fine or you live somewhere humid, start with Sebastian. If they're coarse and always thirsty, Kérastase. UKIYO is Wella New Zealand's No.1 Sebastian Professional retailer, so Twisted is a range we know well. The full range is covered in our Sebastian Twisted guide, and the Kérastase side in our Curl Manifesto guide.

How to use curl cream

1. Wash and condition, and detangle with your fingers while the conditioner is in.
2. Don't towel-dry. Apply curl cream to soaking-wet hair, straight out of the shower. This is the step that matters most.
3. Use less than you think: a 20-cent coin for shoulder-length waves, a 50-cent coin for long curls. Add more next time if it's not enough.
4. Rake it through, then scrunch upward until you hear a little squelch.
5. Leave it alone. Air-dry, or diffuse on low heat. Touching curls while they dry is the fastest way to frizz. Our diffuser guide shows how.
6. Once completely dry, scrunch out any stiffness with a drop of oil on your hands.

Curl cream or gel: do you need both?

Often, yes. Cream first for moisture and clumping, then a light layer of gel or mousse for hold, especially in humid weather. If you only want one product, a cream with some hold, such as Curlixir Balm, is a good middle ground. For wavy hair that wants volume, Wella EIMI Curl Craft ($33.00) is a curl mousse that won't weigh it down.

Curl cream for guys

Men with curly or wavy hair can use exactly the same products. The only difference is usually length: on short curls, use a pea-sized amount and scrunch it through towel-damp hair. Twisted Curl Magnifier works well because it has no perfume-counter feel and doesn't leave a shine.

Why are my curls still frizzy with curl cream?

Usually one of four things: the cream went on hair that was already drying, there wasn't enough water in the hair, you touched it while it dried, or the curls need more moisture underneath. Try a richer conditioner, or a mask once a week such as the Twisted Elastic Curls Mask ($51.88). If it's more fluff than frizz, read why your hair goes fluffy. For the full routine, start with how to care for curly hair.

Best curl cream for thick, 3c and coily hair

Tighter curls and coils (3c to 4c) lose moisture fastest, so they usually want the richest cream you can find, and often a leave-in conditioner underneath it. Our order for coily hair: Curl Manifesto Fondant ($70.56) in the shower, then Crème de Jour on wet hair, sectioned and smoothed through with your fingers. Once a week, swap the conditioner for the Masque Beurre Haute Nutrition ($91.56).

How to refresh curls on day two

You don't need to re-wash. Mist the curls with water or a curl refresher until they're damp, not dripping, then scrunch in a very small amount of cream and let them dry again. Curl Manifesto Refresh Absolu ($70.56) does both steps in one spray. Sleeping on silk, or in a loose pineapple on top of your head, saves most of the work.

Why buy from UKIYO

We're working curly-hair stylists in Wānaka, and everything here is genuine salon stock from the brands' New Zealand distributors. Free NZ shipping over $75, or pick up from 28 Helwick Street.

Questions we get asked

What is the best curl cream in NZ?

For most curls, Sebastian Twisted Curl Magnifier. For dry or thick curls, Kérastase Curl Manifesto Crème de Jour. For fine waves, a lighter spray such as Wella NutriCurls Milky Waves.

Does curl cream work on wavy hair?

Yes, if you use a light one and not too much. A pea-sized amount on soaking-wet hair, or a curl spray or mousse instead, stops waves dropping flat.

Do you put curl cream on wet or dry hair?

Wet. Apply it to soaking-wet hair straight out of the shower. On drying hair it causes frizz.

How much curl cream should I use?

Start with about a 20-cent coin for shoulder-length waves and a 50-cent coin for long curls, then adjust.

Is curl cream better than gel?

They do different jobs. Cream adds moisture and soft definition; gel adds hold. Many curly people use cream first, then a little gel.

Can men use curl cream?

Yes. Use a small amount on towel-damp hair and scrunch it in. Sebastian Twisted Curl Magnifier suits short curls well.

Why is my hair crunchy after curl cream?

Too much product or too much hold. Use less, or scrunch out the crunch once hair is fully dry.

Everything we sell is genuine salon stock, bought direct from the brands' New Zealand distributors and shipped from our salon on Helwick Street in Wānaka. Free NZ shipping over $75.