Best Curl Cream? 750 Ulta Reviews of Curlsmith, PATTERN and OUAI

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Review-analysis guide: 750 customer reviews read on Ulta (October 24, 2026), sorted and counted by us; product details from brand and retailer pages checked October 24, 2026. We paraphrase patterns and never copy reviews. Results are patterns that customers described and we counted.

By The Beauty Read · Checked October 24, 2026 · AI-assisted research and editing · Contains Amazon affiliate links

The best curl cream depends on your hair type. In 592 usable Ulta reviews, Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream (paid link) was the lightweight pick (33% say it did not weigh hair down), PATTERN Styling Cream (paid link) drew the most moisture praise (41%), mostly from reviewers with type 4 or thick hair among those who named a type, and OUAI (paid link) drew definition praise (35%) but the most heavy or greasy reports (19%).

Best curl cream: what 750 Ulta reviews agree on

We read 750 Ulta reviews of three curl cream picks, each a curly hair cream with its own fans: Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream, PATTERN Styling Cream and the OUAI cream. The listings aim them at different hair: Curlsmith says it is best for fine to medium textures, PATTERN's title says 3b-4c curls, and OUAI says loose waves to tight coils. [R-ULT-CS] [R-ULT-PT] [R-ULT-OU] [A1] [A2] [A3]

The reviews mostly follow that split, though no OUAI reviewer said they have type 4 hair. The top praise for Curlsmith is soft, moisturized hair (34%) and a light feel (33%). For PATTERN it is moisture (41%), then defined curls (31%). For OUAI it is defined curls (35%) and the scent (30%). Every one of these hair products for curly hair is mostly praised, so the useful signal is who each one disappoints. [R-ULT-CS] [R-ULT-PT] [R-ULT-OU]

How we read 750 reviews at Ulta

We read the newest reviews on each Ulta product page, 250 per cream. Our 250 newest OUAI reviews reach back to March 2021, its launch month; 140 of them are from that month, and many say the cream was free. We set that month aside as a block, so OUAI's numbers come from 103 later reviews. [R-ULT-CS] [R-ULT-PT] [R-ULT-OU]

Another 18 reviews were dropped: 6 that said the cream was free or a sample, 7 about another product or version, 2 about shipping, and one each not yet used, repeated or not in English. That leaves 592 usable reviews: 249 for Curlsmith, 240 for PATTERN and 103 for OUAI. [R-ULT-CS] [R-ULT-PT] [R-ULT-OU]

Two cautions. Reviews bunch in time: 172 of Curlsmith's usable reviews are from 2024 and 146 of PATTERN's from 2023, so recent bottles are a small part of the picture. And OUAI's smaller count makes its percentages rougher than the other two. [R-ULT-CS] [R-ULT-PT] [R-ULT-OU]

Curlsmith, the best curl cream for fine hair in our reviews

Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream is a light, silky cream that the listing also calls a leave-in conditioner, with hyaluronic acid and wild murumuru. We link the 8 fl oz tube sold by Amazon.com. [A1]

Of 249 usable reviews, 84 (34%) say hair felt soft or moisturized, 83 (33%) say it did not weigh hair down, 66 (27%) say curls looked defined and 49 (20%) say it cut frizz. Forty-two say they have fine or thin hair, and 31 of them say it worked without weighing hair down. Only 22 (9%) gave one or two stars. [R-ULT-CS]

The complaints are small but real: 16 (6%) found it heavy or greasy, 15 (6%) got no definition or drier hair, and 10 (4%) disliked the scent, 3 of them saying it gave them a headache. Three reviewers since July 2025 say the formula changed; two found the newer orange-label version heavier. Thirty-one (12%) pair it with a gel, mousse or other styler. [R-ULT-CS]

See Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream, 8 fl oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 8 fl oz tube sold by Amazon.com; the 2 and 16 fl oz sizes are options on the same page.

PATTERN Styling Cream as a curl cream for 4c hair and twist outs

PATTERN Styling Cream is the thick one: the listing compares it to buttercream, names shea butter, cacay oil and sweet almond oil, and lists twist outs, braid outs, Bantu knots and wash-and-gos. We link the 15 fl oz jar sold by PATTERN Beauty and shipped from Amazon. [A2]

Of 240 usable reviews, 98 (41%) say hair felt soft or moisturized, the most of the three, and 74 (31%) say curls looked defined. Twenty-three (10%) say the style lasts into day 2 or longer, and 23 use it for twist outs, braid outs or protective styles. Just 16 (7%) gave one or two stars, the fewest of the three. [R-ULT-PT]

Thirty-one reviewers say they have type 4 or thick hair, and 8 of them had a complaint, most often the scent or dryness. Across all 240, 12 (5%) disliked the scent, 12 (5%) got no definition or drier hair, and 4 saw a white cast, flakes or build-up. One reviewer with fine curly hair said it did not hold; the listing is made for 3b-4c curls. [R-ULT-PT] [A2]

See PATTERN Styling Cream, 15 fl oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 15 fl oz jar sold by PATTERN Beauty and shipped from Amazon.

OUAI gives defined curls but feels heavy to some

The OUAI cream is pitched for loose waves to tight coils, with coconut and babassu oils for frizz and chia and linseed oils for humidity. We link the 8 oz tube sold by FRONT ROW and shipped from Amazon. [A3]

Of 103 usable reviews, 36 (35%) say curls looked defined, the highest share of the three, and 31 (30%) liked the scent. Twenty-two (21%) say hair felt soft or moisturized and 11 (11%) say a little goes a long way. [R-ULT-OU]

It also has the highest share of complaints: 43 of 103 reviews (42%) mention at least one. Twenty (19%) found it heavy or greasy, 19 (18%) got no definition or drier, frizzier hair, and 11 (11%) complained about the price. Of 9 reviewers with fine hair, 4 say it worked on fine hair or felt light, 4 found it heavy or greasy and 1 praised softness only. Nineteen (18%) gave one or two stars. [R-ULT-OU]

See OUAI Curl Cream, 8 oz on Amazon (paid link) · This link opens the 8 oz tube sold by FRONT ROW and shipped from Amazon.

Curl cream for wavy hair, fine hair or coils: which to choose

For a curl cream for wavy hair, Curlsmith had the most wavy reviewers: 26, and 23 of them had no complaint. OUAI drew 18 wavy reviewers, and 14 had no complaint. For the best curl cream for fine hair in our reviews, start with Curlsmith, which its listing describes as a lightweight curl cream. [R-ULT-CS] [R-ULT-OU]

As a curl cream for 4c hair and other type 4 hair, PATTERN has the most reviewer support: 22 say they have type 4 hair, against 3 for Curlsmith and none for OUAI. For 3a-3c curls that want definition, OUAI is worth a try: 13 of its reviewers say they have 3a-3c curls, and 10 of them had no complaint. As a curl cream for frizz, Curlsmith drew the most less-frizz reports (20%). [R-ULT-CS] [R-ULT-PT] [R-ULT-OU]

How each cream feels, and how reviewers layer it

Some reviewers use the cream as one layer of a routine. Thirty-one Curlsmith, 11 PATTERN and 8 OUAI reviewers pair it with a gel, mousse or other styler, and OUAI's listing suggests using it on wet hair or to touch up dry curls. [R-ULT-CS] [R-ULT-PT] [R-ULT-OU]

If you already use a curly hair leave in conditioner, a lighter cream like Curlsmith may replace it, since its listing calls it a leave-in. Scalp or skin reactions were rare (4 Curlsmith, 3 PATTERN, 1 OUAI reviewers), but reviewers mention a scent for all three, so try a small amount first. [R-ULT-CS] [R-ULT-PT] [R-ULT-OU] [A1]

Keep reading

• Curly hair shampoo: 502 reviews of Briogeo, Bumble and COLOR WOW
• Best hair perfume: 750 reviews of Gisou, OUAI and Kitsch
• Brown hair color at home: 750 reviews of 3 box dyes

Frequently asked questions

What is the best curl cream for fine hair?

In our reviews, Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream: 31 of 42 reviewers with fine or thin hair say it worked without weighing hair down. Of OUAI's 9 fine-hair reviewers, 4 say it worked on fine hair and 4 found it heavy or greasy; PATTERN's listing is made for 3b-4c curls.

Is PATTERN Styling Cream a good curl cream for 4c hair?

Mostly yes in our reviews: 41% of 240 usable reviewers say hair felt soft or moisturized, and 23 of the 31 who say they have type 4 or thick hair had no complaint. The other 8 most often mentioned the scent or dryness.

What is a good curl cream for wavy hair?

Curlsmith drew 26 wavy reviewers and the most reports of a light feel (33%). OUAI also has wavy fans, but 19% of its reviewers found it heavy or greasy.

Can a curl cream replace a curly hair leave in conditioner?

A light one can. Curlsmith's Amazon listing calls its Weightless Air Dry Cream a leave-in conditioner. PATTERN's listing presents its cream as a styling cream rather than a leave-in.

Do I need a gel with these creams?

Some reviewers add one: 31 Curlsmith, 11 PATTERN and 8 OUAI reviewers pair the cream with a gel, mousse or other styler, and 14% of OUAI reviewers say it gave no definition or hold.