Best Shea Butter Hair Styling Creams of 2025

Lisa Bechard Avatar
Lisa Bechard
Last Updated: Jan 9, 2025

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Shea butter hair styling creams are an excellent solution for those looking for a natural, non-greasy way to style their hair. Made from the fat of the shea tree, this cream provides moisture and nourishment to hair, leaving it soft and manageable. Shea butter hair styling creams are perfect for those with dry or damaged hair, as it helps to repair and protect hair from further damage. These creams provide a medium hold, making it easy to style hair without the use of harsh chemicals. They are also great for those who prefer a more natural hair care routine, as they are free of sulfates, parabens, and other harmful chemicals.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Marc Anthony Nourishing Curl Cream Cover #TOP 1
Marc Anthony Nourishing Curl Cream
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie Cover #TOP 2
Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie
ftb score rating icon 9.7
Cantu Avocado Curl Activator Cream Cover #TOP 3
Cantu Avocado Curl Activator Cream
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 10 Shea Butter Hair Styling Creams

Marc Anthony Nourishing Curl Cream

129327
Gold
Marc Anthony Nourishing Curl Cream Cover
Marc Anthony Nourishing Curl Cream, Coconut Oil & Shea Butter - Anti-Frizz Biotin Detangling Cream to Enhance Curls, Defrizz, Hydrate & Adds Shine - Color Safe & Sulfate Free Styling Product

The Marc Anthony Nourishing Curl Cream is a 6.17 oz styling cream that moisturizes hair while smoothing frizz, defining curls, resisting humidity, and adding shine. It is crafted with biotin, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, and Shea Butter to provide the necessary nourishment and hydration to leave hair soft and smooth. The curl cream can be applied generously to wet or damp hair, distributed from roots to ends with fingertips, and dried naturally or with a diffuser. The product is sulfate-free, paraben-free, SLS-free, and phthalate-free.

What We Like
Moisturizes hair and smooths frizz
Defines curls and adds shine
Resists humidity and provides natural finish and soft hold
#TOP 2

Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie

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Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie Cover
Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Bonus Size – Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Cream with Shea Butter & Coconut Oil for Curly Hair Care, Frizz Control, Curl Defining Cream, Leave-In Conditioner, 16 Fl Oz

The Shea Moisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie is a nutrient-rich, leave-in conditioner and styling product that smooths thick, curly hair for a soft, silky look with frizz control. Infused with organic shea butter, coconut oil, hibiscus flower, neem oil, and silk protein, it moisturizes, strengthens, and restores hair's shine. Perfect for twist-outs, braids, and wash-and-go styles.

What We Like
Formulated with organic shea butter, coconut oil, hibiscus flower, neem oil, and silk protein
Smooths thick, curly hair for a soft, silky look with frizz control
Moisturizes, strengthens, and restores hair's shine
#TOP 3

Cantu Avocado Curl Activator Cream

White
Cantu Avocado Curl Activator Cream Cover
Cantu Avocado Hydrating Curl Activator Cream with Pure Shea Butter, 12 oz (Pack of 2) (Packaging May Vary)

Cantu Curl Activator Cream is designed to enhance your curls with its nourishing formula. Infused with pure shea butter, it deeply moisturizes your hair, helping to keep it soft and hydrated without any harsh chemicals. The addition of avocado oil smooths your curls, giving you frizz-free volume that lasts all day. This cream is easy to use; simply apply it to damp hair in sections, and you can even reapply it to dry hair for an extra boost of moisture whenever you need it. Enjoy worry-free styling with a product that is free from sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, and is never tested on animals.

What We Like
Deep moisture and hydration
Frizz-free curl definition
Easy application
Sulfate and paraben-free
#TOP 4

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Kids Curling Styling Cream

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Transparent
6 Ounce (Pack of 1)
SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Kids Curling Styling Cream Cover
SheaMoisture Curling Styling Cream For Curl Definition Coconut & Hibiscus Curl and Detangle Kids Hair 6 oz

SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Kids Curling Styling Cream is a hair styling cream that detangles while keeping curls moisturized, defined, and shiny for ultimate hair health. This frizz control styling cream defines curls and leaves hair feeling moisturized, with beautiful bouncy curls and free of flyaways. Formulated with Fair Trade Shea Butter, it contains no silicone, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, or petrolatum. To use, apply a small amount to hair and use fingers to gently work through from roots to ends before styling.

What We Like
Defines curls and controls frizz
Moisturizes and detangles hair
Leaves hair feeling soft and shiny
#TOP 5

Curl Activator By Creme Of Nature

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PEACH
Curl Activator By Creme Of Nature Cover
Creme Of Nature, Curl Activator Pure Honey, Coconut Oil And Shea Butter Formula, For Dry Dehydrated Hair, 10.5 Oz

This Curl Activator By Creme Of Nature is a hair styling gel that defines and elongates curls, perfect for those with dry, dehydrated hair. The formula contains pure honey, coconut oil, and shea butter, and does not contain sulfates. The item package weight is 1.0 lb, making it easy to store and use.

What We Like
Defines and elongates curls
Contains pure honey, coconut oil, and shea butter
No sulfates
#TOP 6

Alaffia Beautiful Curls Styling Cream

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8 Ounce (Pack of 1)
Alaffia Beautiful Curls Styling Cream Cover
Alaffia Beautiful Curls Styling Cream for Tight Curls, Nourishing Shea Butter Curl Cream, 8 Oz

Alaffia Curl Styling Cream is designed to enhance your natural curls using fair trade shea butter and herbal extracts. This cream moisturizes and stretches your curls, ensuring they stay defined while feeling soft and residue-free. Whether you’re finger styling, twisting, braiding, or coiling, this product is perfect for all your DIY hairstyling needs. Plus, you can use it without worrying about harmful ingredients, as it’s free from sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. By choosing this cream, you also support a socially responsible brand committed to sustainability and women’s empowerment in West Africa.

What We Like
Hydrates and elongates curls
Residue-free soft hold
Great for various styling techniques
Sulfate and paraben-free
Supports fair trade practices
#TOP 7

CANTU Shea Butter Curl Cream

07665-24/12PK
B01L9HRJN8
2 Ounce (Pack of 1)
CANTU Shea Butter Curl Cream Cover
CANTU Natural Shea Butter Coconut Curl Cream 2 Oz

CANTU Curl Cream is a great choice for anyone looking to enhance their curls. It deeply hydrates and strengthens your hair, helping to keep it healthy and vibrant. The travel-friendly size makes it easy to take with you, so you can maintain your style on the go. Plus, it's free from sulfates, silicones, parabens, and mineral oils, meaning it’s gentle on your hair and scalp. You can enjoy beautiful curls without the worry of harsh chemicals, making this cream a smart addition to your hair care routine.

What We Like
Moisturizes hair effectively
Travel-friendly size
Free from harsh chemicals
#TOP 8

SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Smoothie Cream

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SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Smoothie Cream Cover
SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Smoothie Cream for Unisex, 11.5 Ounce (Pack of 1)

The SheaMoisture Smoothie Cream is designed to nourish and define your natural curls while also smoothing out chemically treated or heat-damaged hair. Its rich formula hydrates brittle strands, helping to restore their health and reduce frizz. With key ingredients like Organic Shea Butter, Jamaican Black Castor Oil, and Peppermint, this cream not only enhances curl definition but also provides essential moisture. Simply apply it to damp hair from roots to ends and enjoy the benefits without rinsing. This product is also ethically produced and cruelty-free, making it a responsible choice for your hair care routine.

What We Like
Defines natural curls
Reduces frizz
Restores damaged hair
Ethically produced
Cruelty-free

Marc Anthony Curl Envy Cream

129322
6 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Marc Anthony Curl Envy Cream Cover
Marc Anthony Curl Envy Cream - Defining Cream for Coarse, Frizzy Curls with Avocado Oil & Shea Butter - Sulfate-Free, Adds Bounce - 6 Oz

Marc Anthony Curl Cream is a highly sought-after curl defining cream that tames even the most unruly and frizzy curls, allowing your natural curls to shine. Enriched with nourishing ingredients like Shea Butter, Avocado Oil, and Vitamin E, this cream is suitable for all types of curls, whether they are big or small, thick or fine. It effectively softens coarse curls, adds bounce, and fights frizz, giving you beautiful and manageable curls. The cream is easy to use - simply apply to wet or damp hair, scrunching it from root to end, and use your fingers to enhance the natural movement. Let your hair dry naturally or lightly diffuse for stunning results. Marc Anthony Curl Cream is part of the Strictly Curls collection, which is designed to moisturize, defrizz, detangle, and tame unruly curls, while still allowing them to be natural and free. With Marc Anthony, hair care becomes easy and fun, as they deliver professional-quality products at an affordable price.

What We Like
Tames unruly and frizzy curls
Softens coarse curls
Adds bounce to curls
#TOP 10

tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer

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Butter Cream
tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer Cover
tgin Butter Cream Daily Moisturizer for Curly, Coily and Wavy Hair, Rich Moisture for Dry Hair and Defined Curls, 12 oz

The tgin Butter Cream is designed to provide maximum hydration for natural hair, ensuring your curls stay moisturized from root to tip. Enriched with Shea butter, it helps maintain beautiful, healthy hair. Plus, the inclusion of Vitamin E oil promotes hair growth by improving blood circulation to your scalp, making it an excellent choice for those looking to enhance their hair's vitality. This moisturizer also doubles as a styling cream, allowing you to create defined, shiny twists and twist-outs effortlessly. With its thick consistency, it effectively reduces frizz and flyaways, giving your hair a smooth, soft finish without feeling heavy or greasy.

What We Like
Maximum hydration for natural hair
Promotes healthy hair growth
Effective styling for defined curls
Reduces frizz and flyaways
Buying Guide Image
Editor's Notes

During our shea butter hair styling cream research, we found 48 shea butter hair styling cream products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 256,000 customer reviews through our big data system to write the shea butter hair styling creams list. We found that most customers choose shea butter hair styling creams with an average price of $12.63.

The shea butter hair styling creams are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of shea butter hair styling creams, including Marc Anthony, SheaMoisture, Cantu, Creme of Nature, Alaffia. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Written by
Lisa Bechard Avatar

Lisa Bechard is a skin therapist with 12 years of working experience in the beauty industry and also an experienced beauty writer who has expertise in skincare, medical aesthetics and cosmetic surgery, and wellness. Her writing skills are excellent and all her content is very persuasive and insightful.