They say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That phrase can apply to plenty of things, but for folks with curly hair, “they” refers to fans of Be Curly, the beloved Aveda line that has been enhancing curls for over two decades. And it’s not so much that Aveda wanted to “fix” the famous original four-product collection; after all, there are countless fans who can’t imagine using anything else to bring out the best in their coils and waves. But with years of additional ingredient research and recognizing new and evolving needs, the Aveda team felt it was time to take it to a new level: Be Curly Advanced.
“The original Be Curly was launched in 2001. Since then, we’ve learned a lot about the structure and needs of textured hair, how to test textured hair, and we’ve identified a lot of new naturally derived technologies,” says Christine Hall, Aveda’s vice president of research and development, noting that they gained insights into cleansing without stripping, bolstering the resilience in response to daily stresses, and to providing better moisturization.
The goal—and if you ask Allure’s many curly-haired editors, the triumphant results—of Be Curly Advanced is frizz prevention in the face of humidity, increased hydration, strength, shine, and significantly improved curl definition for those with hair types of 2A to 4C. The collection includes seven formulas: a shampoo, a conditioner, a co-wash, a mask, a primer, a styling cream, and a gel.
“We designed the line so that a regimen can be tailored for each guest,” Hall tells Allure, noting that different curl types have different needs. “That’s why the conditioner can be rinsed out or left in. If your hair is more 2A, you may want to use the shampoo, conditioner as a rinse-out, primer, and curl-enhancer cream. If your hair is more 4C, you may want to use the shampoo, masque, primer, and coil-defining gel.”
Regardless of your curl type, one thing is true about the entire line: It was developed with ingredients that will bring out the best in textured hair—and without ones that could sabotage its potential. “The shampoo is now free of sulfate cleansers, the entire line is silicone-free, each product contains pea and vegetable peptides to strengthen delicate curls and coils, and we’ve used several natural oils and butters, including kokum seed butter, to moisturize,” Hall says.