Managing curly hair can be a daunting task, whether you're dealing with gentle 2B waves or robust 4C coils. So, when you stumble upon a product that effortlessly enhances your curls, making them defined and voluminous, it becomes a staple in your hair care routine until something superior comes along.
One such brand that blew up on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram after it launched and piqued my attention a few months back is the epic UK-based brand Only Curls. Founded by Lizzie Carter in 2016, her mission was to encourage others to abandon the straighteners and embrace their natural curls with products specifically designed for their hair type. The products, free from sulphates, silicones, and parabens - and tested on actual curly hair, not animals - contain "natural nourishing ingredients" like avocado, argan, kukui, and jojoba oil, which "penetrate and hydrate the hair, bringing curls back to life".
With over a million views on TikTok, 206K followers on Instagram, and hundreds of five-star reviews, this brand's products have received some high acclaim for helping put the va-va-voom back into tired curls and waves. It's become so popular that Boots has caught wind of its impressive results and is now stocking the 'small but mighty' Only Curls here - an exciting 'milestone' for the innovative and game-changing brand.
Announcing the news on its Instagram, the brand wrote: "We’re beyond excited to share that our small but mighty brand is officially launching in 390 x @bootsuk and @boots.ireland stores. Honestly, we couldn’t have done this without you. Every follow, every purchase, every time you’ve told a friend about us—it all adds up in ways you might not even realise! Your support means the world, and it’s what has made Only Curls possible. Stepping into Boots is a huge milestone for us."
With my own hair product shelf brimming with Only Curls products (and a smattering of Curlsmith, of course), I can attest the transformative powers of the brand's formulas - and here's why you need to get your hands on some if you're a curly girl.
You may think I'm being dramatic, but my hair went from dull, limp, lifeless, bleach-damaged locks to bouncy, voluminous and positively GORGEOUS curls in the space of one wash with Only Curls products.
To set the scene, back in 2020, my curls were naturally bouncy and needed little product assistance to get them into a wild mane that defied gravity - they were a sight to behold.
However, in 2021, my hair journey took a detour when I attempted to see if blondes do, in fact, have more fun - indeed, I bleached it (with my hairdresser - I'm not that brave - who did forewarn me that my curls may see a change, going from deep brunette to warm blonde...).
And he was right. My curls were so affronted by the change that they completely fizzled out. The frizz remained, a few coils and waves too, but the curls? They were somewhat history.
In a desperate attempt to resurrect them, I tried every remedy under the sun - apple cider vinegar, rice water, Imbue protein masks, moisture masks, Shea Moisture hair smoothies, and every conceivable hair mask and 'revival' technique available at the time. Unfortunately, most proved futile (note: this is my personal experience, everyone's hair is unique and some of those may work for you). So, you can imagine my delight upon seeing some immense results from Only Curls.
I first tried the brand's All Curl Cleanser, Conditioner, Hydrating Curl Creme, and Enhancing Curl Gel - the essential quartet to kickstart your curl journey. I also treated myself to the brand's ultra-soft grey microfiber hair towel.
With instructions and tutorials for technique available on the brand's website to help you achieve optimal results, I jumped into the shower, having painstakingly detangled my hair, and started with the All Curl Cleanser, £18. It had a fresh scent that wasn't overwhelmingly fruity, which was pleasant.
The product lathered up well, a surprising feature for a shampoo claiming to be free of sulphates/parabens etc. , as they usually just feel squeaky. My roots felt clean and less tangled than they typically do with 'natural' shampoos. I then applied conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends of my hair.
The conditioner, also £18, felt silky and not overly thick and made my hair incredibly soft and smooth - so much so I was doubtful my waves or curls, at a push, would hold. Nevertheless, I persevered, squishing my hair up to my roots to "condish" (further moisturise), ready for the crucial steps of applying curl creme and gel.
Applying a small 20p coin sized amount of Hydrating Curl Creme, £18, to my soaking wet hair, I followed the instructions of "comb the product through with your hands and scrunch upwards towards your scalp".
The creme itself had a light, almost watery texture - somewhere between a cream and a liquid - which made it easy to apply and didn't leave a sticky residue on my hands. As I scrunched my hair upwards, I was thrilled to see tiny curls start to form, and to my surprise, they held their shape rather than disappear instantly.
To enhance definition, I used a microfibre towel to scrunch my hair again, holding each scrunch for 3 seconds. Be warned, this process can be tiring on the arms, but the end result is well worth the effort.
The final step before drying was to apply the Enhancing Curl Gel, £18, which I again scrunched into my hair to lock in definition, bounce, and shine. For those new to using gel, it's normal for it to set with a solid cast that feels crunchy, but this is a sign that it's working (once dry, simply scrunch out the crunch to reveal beautifully defined curls).
As I applied the gel, I felt a surge of excitement as I could see my hair becoming more curly and defined than I'd seen it in months.
The gel, enriched with avocado, aloe and kukui nut oil, surprisingly doesn't have the chemical scent I was anticipating based on past experiences with gels. Instead, it has a delightful, citrusy aroma.
It also doesn't leave your hair feeling like it's encased in concrete either, thanks to the natural hydrating and nourishing properties of the oil. Once this step was completed, all that remained was to dry it.
Due to time constraints, I couldn't wait five hours for my hair to air dry naturally, so I turned to my diffuser (I love the Curlsmith and Bellissima models) and prepared myself for a swift 30-45-minute drying session.
Once my hair was completely dry and the gel cast had been crunched out, a small gasp escaped my mouth. My hair was bouncier than it had been in a while. It boasted defined ringlets, both large and small, that held their shape even after the heat had dissipated. Plus, my hair was incredibly soft. I was overjoyed.
After an evening out, I half-expected my curls to have completely deflated by the time I returned home a few hours later. To my delight, they were still holding up well, maintaining their bounce with slightly less definition in places but overall, still looking refreshed.
As expected, after sleeping on my curls (in a silk bonnet, I should note), they weren't as defined by morning, but they retained significant volume and were far from straight or even wavy. A quick spritz of its Curl Refresh Spray helped give them more definition in the days following.
While I wasn't anticipating miracles, Only Curls fully renewed my confidence not only in curly hair products but also in my own curly hair, and for that, I commend the brand.
You can bet I'll be racing to Boots to stock up on the brand's products when I'm running low.
The full-sized 300ml bottles are each priced at £18 on both Only Curls and Boots. With bundles available on the brand's site like the Ultimate Bundle (which includes the starter pack essentials along with a towel, mousse, and oil) for £100, and a full-sized Mega Hold bundle for £64.
Get yourself some Only Curls products at Boots here.
Now, with many of us wanting to resort back to our natural hair, Only Curls isn't the only brand earning accolades for giving your curl hair some life.
Curlsmith offers products that prioritise "performance first" and includes a quiz tailored to help determine your hair type, texture, porosity, and more. Boucleme also stands out in helping you celebrate your natural curls, with one user proclaiming: "My hair is soft and the curls look healthy." Their curated curly hair starter set will set you back £47.
I'm also fond of the Hask Curl Care 5-in-1 Leave In Conditioner when you just need to shower and go as it leaves my hair soft, smooth and with some lovely curls.
