19+ Curly Hair Gift Ideas
Want to buy a gift for a curlfriend but overwhelmed with all the curly hair products on the market? I’ve got you covered. Whether you’re a curly hair beginner looking for gift ideas for yourself, or trying to decide what to buy your curly-haired bestie, this guide is packed with inspiration. Here are my top gift ideas for curly hair.
Skip to the below categories:
- Click above for discount at Curlsmith, Bounce Curl, LookFantastic and more!
- Curly Hair Journal
- Hair Dryer Diffuser
- Detangling/Styling Brush
- Spray Bottle
- Curl Towel
- Scalp Massager
- Diffuser Bonnet
- Bonnet or buff
- Silk Pillowcase
- My Fav Products
- Curly Hair Gift Sets
- Hair Product Storage
- Silk Scrunchies & Hair Bobbles
- Satin-lined Beanie Hat
- Headbands
- Hair Clips
For the curly who has everything
- Curly Haircut Voucher
- Virtual Curl Consultation
- Curl Magazine Subscription
- Selfie Light/Ring Light
Curly Hair Routine Gift Ideas
Price: £23.99
Pineapple pen: £2.95
If you’re not sure what to get your curly bestie, a curly hair journal makes the perfect gift for beginners and seasoned curlies. Tracking your curly hair progress can speed up the time it takes to get your curls back, and with this journal you can keep all your curly journey notes in one place!
With the hanzcurls curly hair journal you can:
- Learn how to get started with your curls
- Keep track of your favourite products
- Note down your hair type, problem areas and goals
- Add monthly progress pics and track achievements
- Record your wash days, refresh days and in-between days
Gone are the days of scribbling product combinations on random bits of paper, creating hundreds of new pages on your notes app, and forgetting what products you used on that fabulous wash day!
Hair Dryer and Diffuser
Diffusers are a curly hair staple – especially in the cold winter months. There are hundreds to choose from, so I can’t list them all, but I’ve included a few below. When it comes to hairdryers, I’d recommend opting for one that has a variety of heat and speed settings and a cold shot. For more diffuser ideas, head to my how to diffuse curly hair article.
Curlsmith Defrizzion
The Curlsmith Defrizzion dryer and XXL diffuser launched in the UK earlier this year, and if you have long curly hair, it’s a great option! The dryer has 3 heat settings, 2 speed settings, and a cool shot. The XXL diffuser bowl measures 8 inches! Because it covers so much surface area, it massively speeds up drying time. It dries my hair in as little as 10-15 mins depending on how lightweight the products I’m using are.
Shark Dryer and Diffuser, £177.99
Shark Hair Dryer & Diffuser
The Shark hair dryer and diffuser is number one on the wish lists of many! I purchased this last year and absolutely love it. The diffuser bowl is great – it’s a really good size and depth for long hair and has extendable prongs to help add root volume. It has 3 heat and speed settings, as well as a cool shot. The lowest heat setting is hotter than most dryers I’ve tried but I’ve gotten used to it and really rate this diffuser.
Bellissima Diffon Ceramic, £59.99
Bellissima Diffon Diffuser
The Bellissima Diffon Ceramic is a great curly hair gift idea for those looking for an all-in-one dryer/diffuser or travel-friendly option. The ceramic model has two heat/speed options (linked through the same control): medium and high. I haven’t tried the ceramic model but I believe it has the same heat controls as the original, which some find too hot, with its lack of a cool shot button. It does make a good option for those who use the hover diffusing technique though.
Bellissima Diffon Supreme, £129.99
Bellissima Diffon Supreme
The Bellissima Diffon Supreme allows much more control. It has two speed settings, three heat settings and a cool shot. The bowl is bigger than the ceramic, making it better for longer or higher density hair. They really did take onboard our feedback on the older Bellissima Diffon model to create a fab all-in-one diffuser tool for curlies!
Dyson Supersonic, £299.99
Dyson Hair Dryer & Diffuser
The Dyson is at a slightly higher price point than the Shark, and again on the wish lists of many. I don’t personally own one, but my hairdresser has used it on my hair, and lots of curlies find it cuts their drying time down significantly. The actual diffuser bowl is not particularly deep, so it may be best suited to those who hover diffuse, or who have shorter hair. My preference would be the Curlsmith or Shark purely for the diffuser bowl!
Babyliss Curl Dry Dryer
There are various Babyliss hairdryers that are a more budget-friendly option. At around £30, they’re perfect for curly beginners or those not wanting to spend £100+ on a dryer. While I haven’t personally tried these, the reviews look really good and the diffuser heads look a good size. I’ve linked a few different options below:
Xtava Black Orchid Diffuser, £17.65 + import fees
Xtava Black Orchid
The Xtava Black Orchid diffuser is not universal, so you may need to purchase a SnozzlePro attachment to connect your diffuser to your dryer, but I love it! It has a massive bowl which is great is you have lots of hair as it can cover more surface area and dry your hair more quickly. I purchased mine from the US Amazon as it worked out cheaper. According to reviews, some other hair dryers it fits are:
Bonnet Drying Cap, £13.98
Diffuser Bonnet
A diffuser bonnet is a great option for those who struggle with diffusing due to mobility issues, or to allow you to multi-task a little easier while drying your hair. I’ve seen curlies with shorter hair get brilliant results with these, but it’s a bit more of a struggle with longer hair from my experience, so I’d probably only part-dry with this.
Detangling/Styling Brush
For curlies with tangle-prone hair, a detangling brush is a great gift idea. I love using the Tangle Teezer Naturally Curly Detangler for both detangling and brush styling. It’s become a real fav of mine this past year and I now use it every wash day!
The Bounce Curl Styling Brush took the curly community by storm in 2023, with its innovative design. Perfect for those who like brush styling but want to separate curl clumps for more volume at the same time.
You could also opt for a detangling gift set, like the one pictured from No Knot Co. Love their detanglers!
Styling-wise, the Denman brush is a cult favourite in the curly hair community, so it’ll make a fab gift.
Mist Spray Bottle
Every curly needs a spray bottle! It’s a real staple in my curly hair routine – I use it when applying products, to refresh my hair and sometimes I use it to cool myself down in the summer. If you’re going to purchase a spray bottle, I’d recommend opting for a continuous mist type because these are much gentler on the wrist (and less of a harsh spray on your curls).
Amazon Mist Spray Bottle, £5.99
Curl Towel
If you’ve got curly hair, or you live with someone who does, you’ll probably know that regular terry towels can dry our hair out and cause frizz! While you can use a cotton t-shirt instead, a curl towel makes a lovely gift.
Scalp Massager
A scalp massager is a brilliant curly hair tool that can be used in a number of ways, depending on which type you opt for. A silicone scalp massager can be used when cleansing the scalp to give a really deep cleanse – ideal for those who co-wash or struggle with buildup. I like to use a plastic long-fingered scalp massager to fluff my hair out at the roots – it’s also fab for oil scalp massages.
Curly Hair Sleep Protection
Silk Pillowcase
A silk pillowcase is ideal if you’re looking for a luxurious gift for the curly in your life (or want to treat yourself). Silk pillowcases help protect curls overnight, helping them hold up into day two and beyond. They help keep curls moisturised, and because hair glides across them, they can drastically reduce frizz (unlike their cotton counterparts)!
If you’re looking for a vegan alternative, you can opt for a satin pillowcase instead – check out Curlsmith’s Vegan Silk Pillowcase – I have this and it feels so much like silk! It’s amazing quality!
Hair Bonnet or Buff
Another great way to protect curls overnight is with a hair bonnet or buff. Bonnet-wise, I love the one pictured from Only Curls because it looks super chic, as does the SILKE London one. LILYSILK also have a similar bonnet.
Some curlies prefer to wear a buff, like the ones pictured, to protect their curls at night. Both are great options. The BamBonn is fab – I actually got it for Christmas a few years ago!
BamBonn Hair Buff, £12.50
Curly Hair Products
Curly Hair Product Gift Sets and Kits
Shopping for curly hair products can be overwhelming – and it can be even more stressful when you’re shopping for someone else. Lots of brands offer gift sets with minis, allowing you to try a brand out before purchasing full-size products, which is fab!
HANZ10 for 10% off Curlsmith | HANZLF for 10%+ off LookFantastic |HANZ20 for 20% off Umberto Giannini | HANZ20 for 10% off Kiyo Beauty | HANZCURLS for 10% off Bounce Curl
Umberto Giannini Scalp Rescue Super Kit, £31.68 (contains my fav shampoo)
Best of Bouclème Kit, £33
Curlsmith Shine Kit, £54
Curly Hair Product Storage
If you or the curly you’re shopping for is a bit of a product junkie, some extra storage might come in handy. I personally have an Ikea Kallax shelf for my products these days, but I previously used a trolley (pictured), and I’ve seen others use back-of-the-door storage.
Amazon Over-Door Storage, £12.50
My favourite curly hair products
I thought I’d include some of my favourite curly hair products in a few different categories. I have many favourite products, so I haven’t featured them all (head to my discounts & favs, Amazon store, Instagram and YouTube for more), but here are some of my most commonly used ones. I tried to include only 3 for each category, but for some I just have too many favourites!
Shampoo and Conditioner
When it comes to shampoo, my preference is something that gives my scalp a really good cleanse. These three are my most-used shampoos, I use the Simple one as a clarifying shampoo as it contains sulphates. Make sure to follow up with a conditioner!
Umberto Giannini Scalp Restore, £8.95 (HANZ20 for 20% off)
Flora & Curl Superfruit shampoo, £16 (HANZ10for 10% off)
Curlsmith 3-in-1 Multi-tasking Conditioner, £24 (HANZ10 for 10% off)
Bounce Curl Cream Conditioner, £21.99 (HANZ10 for 10% off)
Umberto Giannini Scalp Restore, £8.95 (HANZ20 for 20% off)
Curl Cream and Leave-in
I only use a small amount of each of these curl creams, focusing on the driest parts of my hair (underneath and ends), which makes them last a long time.
Curlsmith Shine Cream, £23 (HANZ10 for 10% off)
Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm , £24 (HANZ10 for 10% off)
Curlsmith Featherlight Protein Cream, £24 (HANZ10 for 10% off)
Foam and Mousse
I love using foam and mousse for extra volume! I personally find foams add more grit whereas mousses are a little more moisturising. The Wella mousse was a new bargain find this year and gives amazing results on its own!
Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Foam, £24 (HANZ10 for 10% off)
Bouclème Super Volumising Foam, £20 (HANZCURLS for 15% off)
Umberto Giannini Curl Whip Mousse, £8.25 (HANZ20 for 20% off)
Curly Hair Styling Gel
I absolutely love gel for my curls. My favourite kind are strong hold ones that are slightly gloopy as these give my curls the most long-lasting results. Make sure to mix these with water in your hands first before applying to your hair to prevent you from applying too much. And don’t forget to scrunch out the crunch once your hair is dry!
Curly Hair Oil
Over the last year I’ve started using oils more often in my curly hair routine. I use them on dry hair to detangle between wash days, and sometimes to seal my hair once fully dry after styling.
Curlsmith Shine Oil, £25 (HANZ10 for 10% off)
Curlsmith Bonding Oil, £25 (HANZ10 for 10% off)
Bounce Curl Hair and Body Oil, £33 (HANZ10 for 10% off)
Sprays - Hairspray, Texture Spray, Dry Shampoo
I love using these in my routine for a bit of extra hold and grit for my soft curls.
Bounce Curl Hairspray, £19.99 (HANZ10 for 10% off)
Curlsmith Strong Hold Hairspray, £23 (HANZ10 for 10% off)
Umberto Giannini Texture Spray, £8.25 (HANZ20 for 20% off)
Umberto Giannini Dry Shampoo, £8.25 (HANZ20 for 20% off)
Curly Hair Accessories
Hairbobbles and Scrunchies
Every curlfriend with hair long enough to tie up needs a silk/satin scrunchie and some Invisibobbles (they don’t leave a kink in the hair, and if you take them out correctly, they don’t get stuck in your curls).
Silk or satin scrunchies are a great curly hair gift idea – not only do they look super cute, but they also help keep curls frizz-free. Some of my favourite silk scrunchies are from a small UK business, Dandy Lane.
Dandy Lane Satin Scrunchies, from £5 (I have the x-large tangerine one 😍)
Hair Clips
A brilliant way to accessorise curly hair is with some cute hair clips, and I love these giant tortoiseshell snap clips from Only Curls! If you want to buy your curlfriend a curly hair staple, though, you can’t go wrong with some small butterfly clips or crocodile clips – I use these every day!
Headbands
Headbands are back in style and I love how they add a little something to up-dos! All my favourite ones are from Dandy Lane – before being kindly gifted one of these headbands, I’d never found one that didn’t slip off my head!
Dandy Lane Leopard Print Twist Headband, £14.95 (my fav ever headband)
Satin-lined Beanie Hat
Baby, it’s cold outside, but us curlies struggle to wear woolly hats because…frizz. Thankfully, there’s a solution – silk and satin-lined hats! Perfect for the cold winter months, we can now keep our heads warm and prevent frizz at the same time! You can also get satin-lined headbands which are super cute and great for keeping your ears warm.
Bouclème Silk-Lined Beanie, £27 | HANZCURLS for 15% off
Gift Ideas For The Curly Who Has Everything
Haircut Voucher
What do we buy the person who has everything? A voucher, of course! Curly haircuts can be pricey, but lots of curly hair specialists now offer gift vouchers, which makes an ideal treat for the curly in your life. Not sure which salon to choose? Check out my guide to curly hair specialists in the UK.
Virtual Curl Consultation
If you need a little help along your curly hair journey, but don’t have access to curl specialists locally, why not book a virtual curl consultation? Curllist offers one-to-one consultations with certified curly hair specialists – plus you get a full report about what was discussed, product recommendations and further guidance!
Curl Magazine Subscription
The learning never ends when you have naturally curly hair, so how about a subscription to Curl Magazine? Yes, that’s right, a magazine dedicated to curly hair! The US publication is available in print and online, so wherever you are in the world, you can get your hands on a copy! Each issue is packed with curly hair tips, tricks and inspiration, as well as real-life stories.
Curl Magazine, from $8.95 | Use code HANZ10 for 10% off Curl Magazine
Selfie Light/Ring Light
If you (or the curly you’re gifting) are tracking your curly hair journey and taking lots of selfies in the process, a selfie light will help enhance your pictures! With clip-on selfie lights, mini tripod selfie lights, and full-blown ring lights, there’s something for every budget!
Discount Codes
In alphabetical order here are some discount codes for my favourite curly hair brands and online stores:
Bouclème – HANZCURLS (25% off)
Bounce Curl – HANZCURLS (10% off)
Curlsmith – HANZ10
Umberto Gianinni – HANZ20
hanzcurls journal – HANZ10
Curl Magazine – HANZ10
Kiyo Beauty – HANZ10
Look Fantastic – HANZLF (up to 20% off)
Only Curls – HANZCURLS (£5 off)
Sephora – HANZSPH (15% off)
So, there you go! That’s my guide to the top curly hair gifts for 2023 – hope it helps! Happy shopping!
*Disclaimer* This is a gift ‘guide’. I haven’t personally tried all of these products, and am not responsible for any product or shipping issues. Some affiliate links have been used throughout which earns me a very small commission per order.
2 Comments
Tara
This was a great read. Thank you for taking the time to post. Really helpful xx
Hannah Cook
Thanks so much! Glad you found it helpful 🙂