What 2A hair looks like
Dried clean and product-free, 2A hair is mostly straight at the roots and bends into loose, wide S-shapes lower down. It can look straight when brushed, long or weighed down, which is why many people with 2A hair never knew they had waves.
2B has a clearer, deeper S that starts higher up and frizzes more. If some strands form loose loops, read the 2B or 2C page.
A 2A wash day
- Shampoo the scalp as often as it gets oily; fine waves often look best washed frequently.
- Condition the mid-lengths and ends only, and rinse well.
- Skip leave-in, or use a pea-sized amount on the ends.
- Scrunch a foam or light gel into wet hair, as its label says, from the ends up.
- Blot with a T-shirt, then air-dry or diffuse on low; stop touching once it starts to dry.
A 2A hair routine and what it costs
One product for each wash-day step, chosen only from products whose makers say they’re for 2A hair, priced at each maker’s own store. The left column takes the cheapest per ounce at every step; the right takes the one in the middle. We haven’t tested them, and how your own hair responds matters more than the price.
Lowest price per ounce
The product at each step that costs least per ounce.
- Shampoo Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Clean Slate Daily Shampoo · its maker says every curl pattern 9.7 oz, $10.99 at Not Your Mother's ($1.13/oz) What a wash costs at your amount
- Conditioner Aunt Jackie's In Control Moisturizing Softening Conditioner · its maker says every curl pattern 15 oz, $10.95 at Aunt Jackie's ($0.73/oz) What a wash costs at your amount
- Leave-in, if your ends feel rough (not in the total) Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream · its maker says every curl pattern Jumbo 16 oz, $40.00 at Curlsmith ($2.50/oz); Mini 2 oz to try, $12.50 What a wash costs at your amount
- Gel or foam The Doux BIG POPPA Defining Gel · its maker says every curl pattern 16 oz, $14.99 at The Doux ($0.94/oz) What a wash costs at your amount
The three bottles: $36.93
Open this routine in the plannerMiddle of the price range
The product in the middle of each step’s prices per ounce.
- Shampoo Curlsmith Essential Moisture Shampoo · its maker says every curl pattern Full 12 fl oz, $26.00 at Curlsmith ($2.17/fl oz); Mini 3 oz to try, $12.50 What a wash costs at your amount
- Conditioner Bouclème Curl Conditioner · its maker says every curl pattern 1 liter, $78.00 at Bouclème ($2.31/fl oz); 100 mL to try, $18.00 What a wash costs at your amount
- Leave-in, if your ends feel rough (not in the total) DevaCurl Leave-In Decadence · its maker says every curl pattern 7.6 oz, $28.00 at DevaCurl ($3.68/oz) What a wash costs at your amount
- Gel or foam Bouclème Curl Defining Gel · its maker says every curl pattern 1 liter, $73.00 at Bouclème ($2.16/fl oz); 100 mL to try, $17.00 What a wash costs at your amount
To try it in the smallest sizes: $47.50
In the sizes above: $177.00
22 of the 28 products we list for 2A hair at these steps had a size in stock at the maker’s store when we read it, so only those are ranked; leave-in stays out of the totals, as this page suggests skipping it at first. Some makers print “oz” without saying fluid or weight; we compare them as printed. Prices checked between and ; stores change them. Every price per ounce.
What usually goes wrong
Most 2A trouble is weight: conditioner left on the roots, oils, butters or a rich cream pull the bend straight. The rest is handling: brushing, running fingers through or sleeping on it before it is fully dry breaks the wave into frizz. Change one of these at a time and compare the next wash.
Products whose makers say they’re for 2A hair
These products’ own pages say they’re made for 2A hair, or for a range of curl patterns that includes it. The words are the maker’s; we haven’t tested these products, and how your own hair responds decides more than the label.
Named for 2A hair or a range that includes it (7)
- Bounce Curl Super Smooth Cream Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · Bounce Curl: “Pattern : Wavy, Curly”
- SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · SheaMoisture: “Specially designed for wavy, and curly hair”
- As I Am Hydration Elation Intensive Conditioner · Deep conditioner · As I Am: “Condition your curls & waves”
- Bounce Curl Light Hold Creme Gel · Styler · Bounce Curl: “Pattern: wavy, curly”
- SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie · Styler · SheaMoisture: “Specially designed for wavy, and curly hair”
- SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Frizz-Free Curl Mousse · Styler · SheaMoisture: “enhancing natural curl and wave patterns”
- SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Hydrate + Repair Protein-Strong Treatment · Protein treatment · SheaMoisture: “Restore, repair and maintain gentle to medium waves or curls”
Made for every curl pattern (42)
- As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner · Shampoo · As I Am: “Ideal for maintaining curls, coils, and waves”
- Curlsmith Essential Moisture Shampoo · Shampoo · Curlsmith: “designed for all curl types, even straight hair”
- DevaCurl No-Poo Original · Shampoo · DevaCurl: “For Medium to Coarse Waves, Curls, and Coils”
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Clean Slate Daily Shampoo · Shampoo · Not Your Mother's: “For all curl types”
- OLAPLEX No.4 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Shampoo · Shampoo · OLAPLEX: “Formulated for straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair types”
- OLAPLEX Nº.4CURL Bond Shaper Hydrating Curl Shampoo · Shampoo · OLAPLEX: “For all coils, curls, and waves, and all porosity levels.”
- SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Hair Shampoo · Shampoo · SheaMoisture: “wavy, curly or kinky, coily hair”
- Bounce Curl Gentle Clarifying Shampoo · Clarifying shampoo · Bounce Curl: “Pattern: wavy, curly, coily”
- DevaCurl Buildup Buster · Clarifying shampoo · DevaCurl: “For All Waves, Curls, and Coils”
- OLAPLEX No.4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo · Clarifying shampoo · OLAPLEX: “For straight, wavy, curly, coily hair types”
- Ouidad Water Works Clarifying Shampoo · Clarifying shampoo · Ouidad: “For all curl types”
- Aunt Jackie's In Control Moisturizing Softening Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · Aunt Jackie's: “Curls and waves become more elongated; smoother coils”
- Bouclème Curl Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · Bouclème: “Good for Waves, Curls & Coils”
- Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · Bouclème: “Good for Waves, Curls & Coils”
- Cécred Hydrating Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · Cécred: “straight to coily and fine to coarse”
- DevaCurl One Condition Original · Rinse-out conditioner · DevaCurl: “For Medium Waves, Curls, and Coils”
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Clean Slate Daily Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · Not Your Mother's: “For all curl types”
- OLAPLEX No.5 Bond Maintenance Strengthening Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · OLAPLEX: “Formulated for straight, wavy, curly, and coily hair types”
- Bouclème Intensive Moisture Treatment · Deep conditioner · Bouclème: “Good for Waves, Curls & Coils”
- Bounce Curl Ayurvedic Deep Conditioner · Deep conditioner · Bounce Curl: “Pattern: wavy, curly, coily”
- DevaCurl Melt Into Moisture · Deep conditioner · DevaCurl: “For All Waves, Curls, and Coils”
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Deep Hydration Mask · Deep conditioner · Not Your Mother's: “For all curl types”
- SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque · Deep conditioner · SheaMoisture: “regardless of the wavy, curly, or coily texture”
- Bounce Curl Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner · Leave-in conditioner · Bounce Curl: “Pattern: wavy, curly, coily”
- Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream · Leave-in conditioner · Curlsmith: “All curl types and textures”
- DevaCurl Leave-In Decadence · Leave-in conditioner · DevaCurl: “For Coarse Waves, Curls, and Coils”
- SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Leave-In Conditioner · Leave-in conditioner · SheaMoisture: “even in wavy, curly, or coily textures”
- Bouclème Curl Defining Gel · Styler · Bouclème: “Good for Waves, Curls & Coils”
- Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Defining Gel · Styler · Bouclème: “Good for Waves, Curls & Coils”
- Bouclème Super Hold Styler · Styler · Bouclème: “Good for Waves, Curls & Coils”
- Bouclème Super Volumising Foam · Styler · Bouclème: “Ideal for loose waves and curls but perfect for giving hold to coils too”
- DevaCurl Ultra Defining Gel · Styler · DevaCurl: “For Medium to Coarse Waves, Curls, and Coils”
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Defining Cream · Styler · Not Your Mother's: “For all curl types”
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Fragrance & Protein Free Sculpting Gel · Styler · Not Your Mother's: “Safe for all curl types (2A–4C)”
- Rizos Curls Curl Defining Cream · Styler · Rizos Curls: “Works great on all curls, coils & waves!”
- The Doux BIG POPPA Defining Gel · Styler · The Doux: “every curl type, from loose waves to tight coils”
- The Doux MOUSSE DEF Texture Foam · Styler · The Doux: “For all curl types”
- ApHogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor · Protein treatment · ApHogee: “Hair Type:Straight, Wavy, Curly, Coiled”
- Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! MegaStrength+ Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment · Protein treatment · Briogeo: “Hair types: straight, wavy, curly and coily.”
- Bouclème Curl Defence Spray · Heat protectant · Bouclème: “Good for Waves, Curls & Coils”
- Curlsmith Curlshield Cream · Heat protectant · Curlsmith: “All Curl and Texture Types”
- Curlsmith Miracle Shield · Heat protectant · Curlsmith: “All Curl and Texture Types”
Updated · The sources for this guide are on our Sources page. Report a changed detail.