Ladies with curly hair know that finding the right hair products can be an endless quest. Adding the requirements that the products don’t harm the planet and add serious toxins to your body, and it starts to feel like mission impossible.

Not to fear! I spent several months testing products designed for curly hair. Here I share the cream of the crop, all of which are free of parabens and petroleum-based ingredients. Many contain essential oils and certified organic ingredients, and every one is worth a try.

Gentle Shampoo

Alaffia’s Shea & Virgin Coconut Enriching Shampoo: Gentle and rich, it does the trick. Purchases support Alaffia’s mission of empowering West Africa through fair trade. 8 ounces, $11 at Whole Foods and alaffia.com.

Kinky-Curly’s Come Clean: Cleanses without stripping precious moisture. Signer of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. 8 ounces, $12 at local shops and kinky-curly.com.

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Double-duty Conditioners

Alaffia’s Virgin Coconut & Shea Enriching Hair Lotion: Well suited for thick or coarse hair. Try as a leave-in or wash out. 8 ounces, $11 at Whole Foods and alaffia.com.

Kinky-Curly’s Knot Today: A creamy, lightweight formula that detangles and moisturizes with a heavenly scent. Blend with dab of gel or pomade for use as a leave-in. 8 ounces, $12 at local shops and kinky-curly.com.

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.Moisturizing Creams and Gels:

Curls’ Curly Q Milkshake: Designed for kids but perfect for grownups. Defines curls without crunch. 8 ounces, $14 at local salons and curls.biz.

Kinky-Curly Curling Custard: Get the hold of a gel without the dulling build-up. 8 ounces, $12 at local shops and kinky-curly.com.

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.Smoothing Pomades

PRODUCT: Made from only five plant-derived and natural ingredients, it adds sheen and coaxes curls into order. 1.5 ounces, $14 at local shops and thenameisproduct.com.

YDT Deal: readers get 20% off online using code YDTCURLS, valid through June 30^th.

BABYBEARSHOP’s Cheeky Baby Butter: A multipurpose balm that soothes parched skin and tames unruly curls. Perfect for travel when space is limited. 4 ounces, $32 at Nordstrom at the Grove and babybearshop.com.

.Natural Shine

Russell Organics Argan Oil: We love Argan Oil for the skin. Put it on double-duty by rubbing on a few drops for lustrous locks. This top-notch option is Certified Organic through ECO-CERT and is additive, filler, and fragrance free. 2 ounces, $28 at The Green Life in Santa Monica and russellorganics.com.

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. Ingenious Time Savers

DevaCurl’s DevaFuser Kit: This diffuser’s funky shape achieves 360-degree airflow to reduce dry time and give roots a lift. Its adaptor fits almost any hair dryer. $34.95 at local salons and devachansalon.com.

Lulu Organics’ Hair Powder: Revive droopy roots or extend the life of a blowout without shampooing. Use sparingly. 1 ounce, $10 at lockandmane.com.

Turns out, it’s not such an impossible mission after all. Do you have advice from your quest for the perfect product for your curls? Share your tips by leaving a comment!

Image via Supernova83′s Flickr

Tags: green products for curly hair, natural products for curly hair, organic hair products, organic pomade, organic products for curly hair