Cruelty-Free Curly Hair Products for Compassionate Curls

Posted by Kaitlyn on February 12, 2025

Curly hair routines are not for the weak. 😅 The arm strength and neck strain alone can make keeping up with your wavy locks challenging. Make sure your hard work benefits you and animals by choosing our fave cruelty-free curly hair products.

Find Out Your Curl Pattern

Like every animal is a unique individual, we each have unique hair types. Your shampoo and conditioner should be tailored to your curl pattern (wavy, curly, kinky), hair texture/thickness, and porosity (how well your hair absorbs/retains water and oil). Most curly hair products, including gels, mousses, and oils, will have these specifications on the bottles.

For example, a product like Pattern’s Leave-In Conditioner contains many beneficial oils. This is great for coiled, thick, and highly porous hair.

Meanwhile, Living Proof’s Curl Conditioner, with no built-in oils, is more appropriate for wavy to curly hair of any thickness and a lower porosity.

Cruelty-Free Tools and Accessories for Curly Hair

To get the best results during your cruelty-free curly hair routine, stock up on the proper combs, brushes, and even a scalp massager. These will help move your hair in the right direction (literally) and keep your scalp healthy (bonus points for the scalp massager feeling like an at-home head spa).  

Avoid brushes made with animal fur and opt for cruelty-free products, such as Bounce Curl’s Define EdgeLift Brush with vegan boar bristles. Your curls will thank you!

Satin is ✨Everything✨

Be sure to take care of your hair between washes. Satin bonnets, wraps, and pillowcases can prevent hair damage overnight. Choosing satin over silk provides the same benefits and prevents the suffering of moths who are boiled alive for silk.

If you have the time and energy, doing a quick curly routine before putting your hair in these wraps or bonnets is best.

• Start by thoroughly wetting your hair, then sectioning it into at least two parts. The top and bottom are great places to start, but if you have thick hair, you’ll also want to separate the left and right sides.
• Depending on your hair type, you can use mousse, gel, or oil to define your curls, scrunch your hair to dry it slightly, and then wrap it up in your satin wrap or bonnet.

If You Feel Lost, Consult a Curly Hair Stylist!

The last two cities I’ve lived in (Atlanta, GA, and Tulsa, OK) both had hair salons specializing in curly hair of all shapes and sizes. Following the cruelty-free curly hair routine is a great start, but going to a salon will help you find the process and products that work best for YOU. 😊 Make sure to tell your hair stylist that you prefer to use vegan and cruelty-free hair care, and check out PETA’s cruelty-free shopping guide to know which products are on that list.

*****

Remember to love your hair—it’s uniquely yours! ❤️ Find more animal-friendly products that work with your hair type on our Target list.