"Only Curls are on a mission to encourage curly-haired people of all textures to ditch the chemicals, forget the straighteners, and start loving their natural curls," something we were excited to test.
Specialising in products for those with curly and wavy hair, all of the styling products across Only Curls are packed with naturally nourishing ingredients that penetrate and hydrate the hair. From their range of cleansing and conditioning products, to styling products, curly tools, and hair accessories, Only Curls aim to give curly hair the special care that it needs by bringing curls back to life.
Founder of the company, Lizzie Carter, began packing orders at her kitchen table and started the brand with the goal to inspire others to embrace their natural curls. Today, the brand has amassed thousands of followers across Instagram and has become a successful brand that specialises in products for curly and wavy hair.
But how did they live up to the test? Our Commercial Content Writer, Samantha Price, tried and tested the Only Curls products to see how they performed on her hair.
Only Curls overview
1 of 4Starter Pack
A mini starter pack including the All Curls Cleanser, All Curl Conditioner, Hydrating Curl Creme and Enhancing Curl Gel in 100ml size to get you started on the Only Curls Curly Method.
Key features:
• Perfect for all curl types
• Super hydrating
• Fresh citrus and coconut fragrance
2 of 4Mega Hold Curl Gel
An oil-infused, curl-defining gel with a long-lasting strong hold.
**Key features:
**• Long-lasting hold to curls
• Locks in moisture and minimises frizz
• Helps curls to form with maximum definition
3 of 4Volumising Curl Mousse
A volumising, conditioning, protein-rich mousse perfect for curly or wavy hair.
Key features:
• Gently foams without stripping hair of its natural oils
• Helps strengthen curls, replenish moisture and prevent breakage
• Boosts volume, smooths frizziness, and defines with a weightless hold
4 of 4Microfibre Hair Towel
An award-winning, thick, fluffy microfibre towel that speeds up drying time and reduces frizz.
Key features:
• Leave cuticles intact and absorb just the right amount of moisture
• Drastically reduces drying time, resulting in less heat damage
• Scrunch drying with this towel encourages bounce and enhances curl pattern
Key features
Ingredients
There is a full ingredient list available for all products made by Only Curls. The company also has a fragrance-free range for those with sensitive skin or allergies, and ingredients for these products are also available to see on the ingredient list.
All products are free from sulfates, silicones, and parabens in order to have a better impact on the hair in the long run. Only Curls is against animal testing on all cosmetic products and ingredients, therefore all of their cosmetic ingredients are vegan-friendly.
Pros
• The scent!
• Suitable for all curl types
• Vegan-friendly and cruelty-free
• Free from sulfates, silicones, or parabens
• Sustainable packaging made from bioplastics derived from sugar cane
Cons
• Too much product may make the hair greasy or crunchy
• Some bottles may be hard to snap open
Ratings
On the Only Curls website, their products have been given a five-star rating based on thousands of reviews, with an overwhelming majority of them positive.
Trustpilot reviewers are in agreement, with Only Curls being rated a solid 4.7 stars out of 5 stars. Out of nearly four hundred reviews on Trustpilot, a whopping 89 per cent believe Only Curls products to be worth a five-star rating.
Price
Given that most hair products can be picked up in a supermarket for a much cheaper price, Only Curls would probably be considered within the medium to higher price bracket. However, knowing that wavy and curly hair needs a lot more care, their products are fairly good value for money. The bottles are of a generous size, and you will get a great amount of use from each product.
With the average Only Curls product retailing at around £16, it may be worth purchasing a bundle, mini set, or starter pack to begin with. This way, you'll be able to sample all of the products on offer, as well as get a few of their products at a cheaper price before committing to individual bottles.
Testing the Only Curls products
"Believe it or not, it was only recently that I discovered I had wavy hair," says Sam. "When wet, my hair could hold a defined wave but when it was dry it was a totally different story. The best way to describe it was an unmanageable mane of frizz. Years of straightening it to an inch of its life only contributed to the damage and using every smoothing serum known to man still never made much difference to the texture. That's why I've also never known how to manage my hair, or never known which products were best to use for my hair.
"It was only when I actually realised I had wavy hair that I looked into how to wash, style, and care for my hair properly. Since discovering the waves, I've tried a few different products but I can honestly say not one of them has quite compared to Only Curls. Following the step-by-step guide in the Starter Pack, I finally managed to achieve full-bodied waves that were free from frizz and held all day. As a result, I've stopped using my curlers and started to wear my hair the way it occurs naturally after using Only Curls products.
"I tried out the All Curl Cleanser and Conditioner, the Hydrating Curl Creme, the Enhancing Curl Gel, the Volumising Mousse, Mega Hold Gel. All products smelled divine, with hints of coconut that left my hair smelling heavenly. The Microfibre Towel dried my hair in half the time and helped to reduce frizz significantly.
"The only thing I would say is that I'm still practising getting the perfect balance between products. Too much can sometimes leave my hair feeling crispy or oversaturated, but when I've put the right amount in, it works a dream. I can't speak for all wave or curl types, as everyone's hair is unique, but I honestly don't think I'll ever have to use another product for my wavy hair again."
Our final verdict
"In terms of rating, I would give Only Curls products a 4.5 out of 5-star rating," says Sam. "Where the products fall slightly short is down to the fact that one bottle I received wasn't possible to snap open, meaning I had to unscrew the top which is simply a minor inconvenience. The other is that finding a balance between products can be difficult, but I imagine this will become easier the more I use each product.
"However, Only Curls products have given me the confidence to go out with my hair wavy. 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 will just use the Curl Enhancing Gel and Mega Hold Hair Gel in my hair routine to achieve defined waves.
"Lately, after learning about the damage certain ingredients can do to your hair (especially when it comes to wavy hair), I've been avoiding harsh products with sulfates and parabens that strip the hair of moisture. Only Curls are free from these harsh ingredients, hydrate the hair and work to reduce frizziness. These are some of the key features I look for in hair products and these features are some of the key selling points of Only Curls products."
Only Curls FAQs
How do Only Curls compare to rival products?
"While some may find Only Curls expensive, having tried cheaper competitor products such as Phil Smith Curly Locks Curl Control, I can say it's worth the money given the comparison," says Sam. "Other products that I found that worked well in defining the waves of my hair were Curlsmith Bond Curl Rehab Salve and Kristin Ess Curl Defining Creme, but I can honestly say that the full step-by-step routine from Only Curls still worked the best every time."
Where to buy Only Curls products?
Not only can you find Only Curls on their website, but you can also find their products stocked at salons that specialise in curly and wavy hair types. However, you may not be able to find their products stocked in larger retail stores, and here's why. On their Instagram, the company addressed the fact that if their products were sold in high street stores, then salons will no longer want to stock them. They also said that these larger stores would be unlikely to offer the same curl care support as a salon or from the company itself. Finally, stocking larger stores would mean having to increase the prices of their products, which is not something they are currently willing to do.
How to use Only Curls products?
Only Curls have put together a handy guide on how to use their products in your routine. As well as products used from the Starter Pack, this routine also includes the Microfibre Hair Towel, Mega Hold Hair Gel , and the Volumising Hair Mousse.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to achieve defined curls with video tutorials on how to achieve the look:
Step one: Cleanse
Shampoo your hair using the All Curl Cleanser and rinse thoroughly.
Step two: Condition
Gently comb the All Curl Conditioner through the hair, so that curls are detangled whilst wet. Then, rinse thoroughly.
Step three: Hydrate
Apply the Hydrating Curl Creme to soaking wet hair. Apply from root to tip using your hands and scrunch upwards.
Step four: Scrunch
Scrunch dry with the Microfibre Hair Towel. Scrunch upward and then hold each scrunch for three seconds and release.
Step five: Volume
Add volume and a protein boost to your curls by scrunching in a handful of Volumising Curl Mousse.
Step six: Define
For extra hold and definition, finish by applying the Enhancing Curl Gel or Mega Hold Hair Gel. Finer curl types may prefer to end their routine with the Volumising Curl Mousse. On next day hair, simply scrunch the mousse in to refresh curls.
Glossary
Bioplastics: A type of biodegradable plastic derived from biological substances.
Sulfates: Creates a lathering effect to cleanse the hair, especially in shampoo. These can strip the hair of moisture and natural oils.
Parabens: A type of synthetic preservative used to prolong the shelf life of certain ingredients particularly for preventing mould growth and bacteria in a product. This ingredient has been linked to dry scalp, dry hair and hair loss.
Silicones: Used in hair products for the effects of smoothing, detangling and conditioning. However, silicone accumulates on the hair and can prevent moisture from penetrating your hair shaft.