What 3B hair looks like
3B ringlets are springy and well defined, smaller than 3A curls and looser than 3C corkscrews. The hair often looks fullest at the ends and shrinks noticeably as it dries.
A 3B wash day
- Cleanse the scalp; if the lengths dry out, wash less often and refresh in between.
- Use enough conditioner for slip and detangle in sections, ends first.
- Put leave-in on wet hair, as its label says, section by section.
- Follow with a gel, or a cream and then a gel if you want softness and hold.
- Wrap any curl that won’t clump around a finger, then air-dry or diffuse on low.
A 3B hair routine and what it costs
One product for each wash-day step, chosen only from products whose makers say they’re for 3B 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 or co-wash As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner · its maker says every curl pattern 16 oz, $8.99 at As I Am ($0.56/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 PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner 25 fl oz, $49.00 at PATTERN ($1.96/fl oz); 3 fl oz to try, $12.00 What a wash costs at your amount
- Styler 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
To try it in the smallest sizes: $46.93
In the sizes above: $83.93
Middle of the price range
The product in the middle of each step’s prices per ounce.
- Shampoo or co-wash 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 Bouclème Curl Cream 1 liter, $85.00 at Bouclème ($2.51/fl oz); 100 mL to try, $19.00 What a wash costs at your amount
- Styler PATTERN Curl Gel 25 fl oz, $49.00 at PATTERN ($1.96/fl oz); 3 fl oz to try, $12.00 What a wash costs at your amount
To try it in the smallest sizes: $61.50
In the sizes above: $238.00
35 of the 53 products we list for 3B hair at these steps had a size in stock at the maker’s store when we read it, so only those are ranked. 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
3B curls are most often let down by dry ends and handling. If the ends look frizzy and dull, check how much leave-in reaches them and whether you style on wet enough hair before buying something new.
Products whose makers say they’re for 3B hair
These products’ own pages say they’re made for 3B 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 3B hair or a range that includes it (33)
- Bouclème Curl Cleanser · Shampoo · Bouclème: “Good for Curls & Coils”
- Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Cleanser · Shampoo · Bouclème: “Good for Curls & Coils”
- Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Shampoo · Shampoo · Maui Moisture: “For thick, curly hair”
- As I Am Curl Clarity Shampoo · Clarifying shampoo · As I Am: “The Coconut Collection is suitable for Type 3 & 4 hair”
- Camille Rose Clean Rinse Clarifying Shampoo · Clarifying shampoo · Camille Rose: “ideal for curly, coily, and textured hair”
- PATTERN Cleansing Shampoo · Clarifying shampoo · PATTERN: “formulated for curly hair types who have type 3 & type 4 curls”
- Aussie Miracle Curls Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · Aussie: “Best for 3A-3C hair types”
- Bounce Curl Super Smooth Cream Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · Bounce Curl: “Pattern : Wavy, Curly”
- Kristin Ess Moisture Rich Curl Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · Kristin Ess: “for anyone with curly hair”
- Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · Maui Moisture: “For thick, curly hair”
- PATTERN Medium Conditioner · Rinse-out conditioner · PATTERN: “geared towards both curly & coily hair textures”
- 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”
- Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Curls Deep Conditioner · Deep conditioner · Aussie: “Best for 3A-3C hair types”
- Cécred Moisturizing Deep Conditioner · Deep conditioner · Cécred: “Best for curly, coily, and zig-zag coiled hair”
- SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque · Deep conditioner · SheaMoisture: “especially curly hair”
- As I Am Leave-In Conditioner · Leave-in conditioner · As I Am: “especially beneficial for curly, coily, and dry hair types”
- Aussie Miracle Curls Leave-In Detangling Milk · Leave-in conditioner · Aussie: “Perfect for curly hair”
- Bouclème Curl Cream · Leave-in conditioner · Bouclème: “Good for Curls & Coils”
- Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Cream · Leave-in conditioner · Bouclème: “Good for Curls & Coils”
- Camille Rose Curl Love Moisture Milk · Leave-in conditioner · Camille Rose: “bring new life to curly hair and coils”
- PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner · Leave-in conditioner · PATTERN: “curly, coily, and tight-textured hair (3B–4C)”
- As I Am Curling Jelly · Styler · As I Am: “2C–3C curl patterns”
- Aussie Miracle Curls Frizz Free Curl Cream · Styler · Aussie: “Perfect for frizzy, curly hair”
- Bounce Curl Light Hold Creme Gel · Styler · Bounce Curl: “Pattern: wavy, curly”
- Innersense Organic Beauty I Create Hold · Styler · Innersense Organic Beauty: “Best for curly to tight curls.”
- Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl Smoothie · Styler · Maui Moisture: “For thick, curly hair”
- Maui Moisture Flexible Hold + Coconut Milk Curl Foam Mousse · Styler · Maui Moisture: “For dry, curly hair”
- PATTERN Curl Gel · Styler · PATTERN: “every coil & curly hair type”
- 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”
- TRESemmé Bouncy Curls Air Dry Foam · Styler · TRESemmé: “Perfect for wavy and curly hair types (2B–3B)”
- 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.