As a curl connoisseur, you know just how many products are available to care for your strands. From maximizing volume to maintaining defined curls, there’s no shortage of options on the shelf (or the bathroom counter) for your tresses.
When it’s hydration & shine you’re after, you’ll want to use a curl cream or leave-in. But how can you figure out which formulas are right for you? More importantly, what’s the difference between these two popular curl quenchers?
Read on to learn more about curl cream & leave-in conditioner, including their unique benefits, how to use them & which is most effective for your curl type.
Understanding Curl Cream & What Sets It Apart in Hair Care
Curl care is all about loving, empowering & caring for your natural curl pattern, highlighting your texture & giving your strands the ingredients they need to flourish. Enter: curl cream.
Products like the PATTERN Styling Cream offer deep moisture & lightweight hold, making it an excellent curl defining cream that you can combine with your other wash day favorites.
Creamy & dense in texture, curl creams offer your hair a boost of moisture, plus an added layer of definition to support your tresses, loops & coils. Bonus: no need to rinse it out after application!
When it comes to curl cream, a little goes a long way. It’s the right product if you’re looking for something to nourish your curls while also offering a light hold.
Exploring Leave-In Conditioner & Its Unique Benefits for Curls
A staple in many curlies’ wash day routines, leave-in conditioner locks in moisture but does not weigh down your natural curl pattern. It’s a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, your regular conditioner or co-wash.
Leave-in conditioner is a styling product that keeps your curls protected & nourished long after styling, helping your curls flaunt their moisture & shine. After you shampoo & condition your curly hair, you can apply leave-in conditioner to your wet or damp hair before layering on other styling products like curl gel or mousse.
You can even refresh & revive your strands in between washes by spraying a mixture of water & leave-in on your curls. Then, tousle them gently to apply the product evenly throughout your tresses.
Key Ingredients: What Makes Curl Cream & Leave-In Conditioner Different
The biggest difference between these powerhouse products is their ingredients. While curl cream acts as a light-hold styler, leave-in is all about hydration. That’s why you’ll find humectants (which help encourage the hair to absorb more moisture) & other hydrating ingredients in the PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner, including:
- Honey
- Aloe
- Jojoba Oil
The PATTERN Styling Cream, on the other hand, focuses on giving your tresses hold & curl definition in addition to moisturizing them. It’s packed with ingredients like Shea Butter & Sweet Almond Oil to promote hair strength & longevity. The oils in these creams help seal in the moisture provided by humectant-rich conditioners.
Moisture Management: How Curl Cream & Leave-In Conditioner Differ
While both curl defining products can boost the health & feel of your locks, they offer different benefits when it comes to moisture.
Whether you’re after a wash-&-go look or a more intricate protective style, leave-in conditioner will help keep your coils healthy & hydrated until your next wash day.
If you have fine curly hair & you want to give your curls a soft & luscious texture while encouraging them to stay volumized throughout the day, curl cream is your go-to.
Effectiveness on Various Curl Types: Curl Cream vs Leave-In Conditioner
When you’re on the lookout for the perfect products for your curly & coily crown, it’s all about understanding your curls & their unique needs. For some curlies, it’s less about deciding whether to use leave-in conditioner or curl cream & instead about learning how to combine the two into your routine.
- Opting for leave-in conditioner – Not only will you find humectants & other hydrating ingredients in your favorite Leave-In Conditioner, leave-in conditioner enriches your hair with moisturizing ingredients, making it the right hair product when you’re after softer, shinier strands. It also offers lightweight moisture, so if you have a looser curl or wave pattern, you don’t have to worry about it weighing down your curl clumps.
- Deciding on curl cream – Your favorite curl cream will not only be packed with moisturizing elements & oils, but its formula also includes styling agents, helping you achieve an even more defined curl pattern. Whether you have tight, bouncy coils or wavy hair, this product will help your wash day go the distance by locking in the bounce & definition of your natural hair.
- The best of both worlds – The beauty of both leave-in & curl cream is that they’re lightweight, dynamic products making it easy to layer them with other curly hair stylers & each other. For guaranteed moisture & flexible hold, add leave-in to your wet strands before layering curl cream on top.
To put a cherry on top of your gorgeous style, pair your styling cream or leave-in with other defining products like the PATTERN Strong Hold Gel to get the most out of your latest look.
Nourish Your Curls with PATTERN
Whether you have coils, curls or a crown all your own, the right products can help you elevate your look & nourish your natural hair. At PATTERN, we’re passionate about helping you embrace the elegance of your curls’ in their beautiful natural state.
Whether you’re comparing leave-in conditioner vs curling cream or you’re upgrading your curl routine by combining the two, we’ve got you covered. With formulas that contain key ingredients like Honey, Shea Butter & Sweet Almond Oil, we make it easy to find ultra moisturizing curly hair products you love (& love your curls right back).
Sources:
WebMD. What Is a Humectant? https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/what-is-a-humectant
