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Curls Guide
men
beginner 8 min read

Where to Buy Curly Hair Products: UK, US & EU Guide

Find the best retailers for curly hair products in your region. Store guides for Boots, Target, Ulta, and more with brand availability and pricing.

For hair types:
2A
2B
2C
3A
3B
3C
4A
4B
4C

Finding curly hair products shouldn’t require a treasure hunt. This guide maps out exactly where to find the products you need, whether you’re in the UK, US, or EU.


Quick Store Finder

Find Your Store

Jump to your region:

If you...

are a UK buyer looking for budget products

Boots or Superdrug · UK
If you...

are a UK buyer looking for premium products

Boots or LookFantastic · UK
If you...

are a US buyer looking for budget products

Target or Walmart · US
If you...

are a US buyer looking for premium products

Ulta · US
If you...

are an EU buyer

Amazon or Douglas · EU
If you...

want the widest selection anywhere

Amazon · All regions

Not sure about your hair type? Take our quick quiz to find out.


UK Retailers

Boots

The best all-round option for UK buyers. Good range of both budget and premium curly hair products.

Budget brands available:

  • Umberto Giannini (full range) — £6-10
  • Cantu — £5-10
  • Aussie — £4-7
  • Garnier — £4-8
  • Noughty — £8-10

Premium brands available:

  • Curlsmith (growing selection) — £12-20
  • Bouclème — £12-18
  • SheaMoisture — £10-14

Pros:

  • Advantage Card points/offers
  • Often has 3-for-2 deals on haircare
  • Click & collect available
  • Staff can order items not in store

Tips:

  • Check online first—store selection varies
  • Sign up for Boots email for exclusive discounts
  • Larger stores have better curly hair sections

Superdrug

Similar range to Boots, sometimes slightly cheaper. Worth comparing prices.

Brands available:

  • Umberto Giannini (full range)
  • Cantu
  • Aussie
  • Garnier
  • Noughty

Pros:

  • Health & Beautycard for points
  • Often matches or beats Boots prices
  • Good own-brand options

Cons:

  • Less premium selection than Boots
  • Smaller stores have limited stock

LookFantastic

Best for premium brands online. Free delivery over £25.

Brands available:

  • Curlsmith (full range)
  • Bouclème (full range)
  • Color Wow
  • Premium options not in stores

Pros:

  • Regular discount codes (10-20% off)
  • Subscribe & save options
  • Good customer service

Amazon UK

Widest selection, competitive pricing. Best for bulk buying.

Pros:

  • Everything available
  • Prime delivery
  • Subscribe & Save discounts
  • Bulk sizes often available

Cons:

  • Watch for third-party sellers (check reviews)
  • Some prices inflated
  • Authenticity concerns on rare products

US Retailers

Target

Best mainstream option for curly hair products. Growing selection of quality brands.

Budget brands:

  • Aussie Instant Freeze — $4-6
  • Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk — $7-9
  • Cantu — $5-8
  • LA Looks — $3-4
  • Garnier Fructis — $4-6

Mid-range brands:

  • Curlsmith (select products) — $15-25
  • SheaMoisture — $10-14
  • Maui Moisture — $8-10

Pros:

  • Target Circle for 5% off
  • RedCard gives 5% discount
  • Good in-store availability
  • Returns are easy

Ulta

Best for premium curly hair products. Salon brands and professional lines.

Premium brands:

  • Curlsmith (full range) — $18-28
  • DevaCurl (full range) — $20-40
  • Briogeo — $20-35
  • Pattern Beauty — $15-30
  • Ouai — $28-32

Budget/mid-range:

  • Not Your Mother’s
  • SheaMoisture
  • Cantu

Pros:

  • Rewards program with real savings
  • Professional recommendations
  • Salon-quality brands
  • Good return policy

Cons:

  • Higher prices on basics
  • Not everywhere (check store locator)

Walmart

Cheapest option for basics. Limited premium selection.

Brands available:

  • Aussie — $3-5
  • LA Looks — $2-3
  • Cantu — $4-7
  • Suave — $2-4
  • Garnier — $3-5

Pros:

  • Lowest prices
  • Everywhere
  • Online ordering + pickup

Cons:

  • Limited selection
  • No premium options
  • Stores vary in stock

CVS / Walgreens

Convenient but limited. Good for emergencies, not regular shopping.

Brands typically available:

  • Aussie
  • Garnier
  • SheaMoisture (some stores)
  • Basic drugstore brands

Pros:

  • Rewards programs
  • Locations everywhere
  • Open late

Cons:

  • Limited curly selection
  • Higher prices than Target/Walmart
  • Inconsistent stock

Sally Beauty

Professional products at consumer prices. Great for gels and styling products.

Why visit:

  • Large gel selection
  • Professional salon brands
  • Bulk sizes available
  • Beauty Club membership for discounts

Popular products:

  • Salon Care Super Hold Gel
  • Biotera Alcohol-Free Gel
  • Professional deep conditioners

EU Retailers

Douglas

Best physical store option in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Netherlands.

Brands available:

  • Curlsmith
  • Shea Moisture
  • Cantu
  • Some premium European brands

Pros:

  • Physical stores in major cities
  • Online delivery
  • Loyalty program

Amazon (DE/FR/ES/IT)

Widest selection for EU buyers. Best bet for finding specific products.

What’s available:

  • Most international curly brands
  • UK brands like Umberto Giannini
  • US brands like Cantu, SheaMoisture

Tips:

  • Check reviews for authenticity
  • Compare across Amazon UK for better prices
  • Some products ship from UK with no issues

Local Pharmacies

Varies by country but often stock:

  • Aussie
  • Garnier Fructis
  • Local brands

Worth checking for basics, but selection is usually limited.

Direct from Brands

Many brands ship to EU:

  • Bouclème — Ships from UK, EU-friendly
  • Curlsmith — Available on Douglas and brand website
  • Cantu — Available on Amazon EU

Brand Availability Quick Reference

BrandUKUSEUPrice Tier
Umberto Giannini✅ Boots, Superdrug⚠️ Amazon only⚠️ AmazonBudget
Aussie✅ Everywhere✅ Everywhere✅ Most storesBudget
Cantu✅ Boots, Superdrug✅ Target, Walmart✅ Douglas, AmazonBudget
LA Looks⚠️ Limited✅ Everywhere❌ Hard to findBudget
Not Your Mother’s⚠️ Limited✅ Target, Ulta❌ RareBudget
SheaMoisture✅ Boots✅ Target, Ulta⚠️ LimitedMid-range
Curlsmith✅ Boots, LookFantastic✅ Ulta, Target✅ DouglasPremium
Bouclème✅ Boots, direct✅ Ulta⚠️ Direct/AmazonPremium
DevaCurl⚠️ Limited✅ Ulta, Sephora❌ Very limitedPremium

Key:

  • ✅ Widely available
  • ⚠️ Limited availability
  • ❌ Difficult to find

Online-Only Options

Brand Websites

Often have exclusive products, bundles, and samples:

  • Bouclème (boucleme.com) — Ships UK, US, EU
  • Curlsmith (curlsmith.com) — Ships UK, US
  • Ecoslay (ecoslay.com) — US-focused but ships internationally

Specialty Retailers

  • Naturally Curly (shop.naturallycurly.com) — Curated selection, US
  • CurlMaven (curlmaven.ie) — EU/UK shipping, curated selection
  • The Curl Company — UK-focused

Subscription Boxes

Try products before committing:

  • CurlBox — US monthly subscription
  • Various UK options on Amazon

Saving Money on Curly Products

UK Money-Saving Tips

  1. Boots 3-for-2 — Wait for these sales for premium products
  2. Superdrug price match — They often match Boots prices
  3. Amazon Subscribe & Save — 5-15% off regular purchases
  4. LookFantastic codes — Check HotUKDeals for current codes
  5. Large sizes — Often better value per ml

US Money-Saving Tips

  1. Target Circle + RedCard — Stack for 10% off
  2. Ulta Points — Redeem for significant discounts
  3. Amazon Subscribe & Save — Set up for regulars
  4. Generic options — Suave and V05 work for some basics
  5. Sally Beauty membership — Discounts on professional products

General Tips

  • Buy shampoo less often — You’re using less than you think
  • Gel lasts months — Large tubs are always better value
  • Wait for sales — Products go on sale regularly
  • Try samples first — LookFantastic often includes samples

What to Buy First

If you’re just starting out, here’s what to get:

UK Starter Kit (~£20)

From Boots or Superdrug:

  1. Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Wash — £8
  2. Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly Conditioner — £8
  3. Umberto Giannini Curl Jelly — £8

Or budget option:

  1. Any sulfate-free shampoo — £5
  2. Garnier Hair Food Banana — £5
  3. Eco Style Gel — £5

US Starter Kit (~$15)

From Target or Walmart:

  1. Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Shampoo — $7
  2. Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Conditioner — $7
  3. Aussie Instant Freeze Gel — $5

Or budget option:

  1. Suave Professionals Shampoo — $3
  2. Suave Coconut Conditioner — $3
  3. LA Looks Extreme Sport Gel — $3

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