Hello my curly beauties! As a curly girl living in small-town Nova Scotia, I know that it’s not easy to find curly girl approved products. And, we all know that the right products are key to helping your curls look their best. Some brands- such as Jessicurl and Not Your Mother’s Curls- aren’t widely available. But others- like Shea Moisture- are now carried by Walmart. Keep reading to learn the best sources for curly hair products in Canada.
Here’s where to buy curly hair products in Canada.
1. Drugstores & Grocery Stores
When I first began the Curly Girl method, I started using Girls with Curls shampoo and conditioner purchased from a local grocery store. Although I later realized they had some no-no ingredients, they helped me transition from “regular shampoo” to Curly Girl products.
In Nova Scotia, you can buy Curly Girl approved drugstore products at Atlantic Superstore, Walmart, Shopper’s Drug Mart, and Winners.
Pro Tip:
Check the multicultural hair section for specific hair brands. It usually has curly hair-specific brands. Walmart now carries Shea Moisture and I’m hoping to try out a couple of their products soon!
#CurlyGirlShopping
Best products to look for at drugstores and grocery stores:
Tresemmé Botanique Nourish & Replenish Conditioner (the one with the picture of the coconut)
Live Clean Argan Oil Shampoo
Aussie Instant Freeze Gel
Pantene Curl Perfection Defining Mousse
Sheamoisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie
Aussie Instant Freeze Gel
Cantu Shea Butter Moisturizing Curl Activator Cream
2. Curly Hair Products at Hair Salons
When I was visiting family in western Canada a few years ago, we visited Polo Park Mall in Winnipeg. Mom spotted a branch of Chatters Hair Salon and nudged me. “Claudine, you should go in. They might have some of those curly hair products you like.” Thinking they would likely have tons of overpriced brands for straight-haired girls only, I was skeptical. Since she insisted, I ventured inside.
Lo and behold, I discovered an entire wall of DevaCurl products (the personal brand of Curly Girl founder Lorraine Massey). For the next 20 minutes or so, I was in seventh heaven! I had never seen most of these products before, except online. I had only tried the Ultra Defining Gel before it, and I absolutely loved it.
You can actually purchase DevaCurl and other curly brands from Chatters online here.
Also, try shopping your local beauty salons for curl-friendly brands like Olaplex, Biolage, Bumble and Bumble, and, of course, DevaCurl. If one of the stylists has amazing curly hair, ask them for product recommendations!
3. Curly Girl Products at Sally Beauty
Don’t forget about your local Sally Beauty shop! Although this beauty store caters to professional stylists, it is also open to the public. When I visited a Sally Beauty shop in my nearest city, I found a great selection of curly girl brands, including SheaMoisture, As I Am, Cantu, Eden Bodyworks, etc.
Guess what the best part of that Sally Beauty trip was! It was opening all the bottles of black castor oil in different scents, trying to decide which one was our favourite. We finally settled on the peppermint version of the Jamaican Mango and Lime Black Castor Oil. It’s great quality and very concentrated!
Once in a while I use it as a dandruff/scalp treatment. I just put it on my fingertips and massage it into my scalp. I wait about 20 minutes, and then wash and style as usual. After I use it, my curls are even bouncier and tighter than normal!
You can also purchase that black castor oil on Amazon.ca.
4. Curly Girl Approved Products at Amazon
For most of my curly girl product needs, Amazon is my go-to resource. It has low prices and often free shipping on the Curly Girl products in Canada I want! Here are some of my favourite picks from Amazon:
Jessicurl Spiralicious Styling Gel
Aussie Gel Instant Freeze Sculpting 7oz Max Hold (2 Pack)
As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner
And these ones are on my wishlist to try:
Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Deep Treatment Masque
Jessicurl Rockin Ringlets Styling Potion
5. Curly Hair Products at Online Boutiques
If you’re new to the Curly Girl method, you might be surprised to learn that Canada is home to quite a few curly girl boutiques! Canada is also home to LUS Brand’s 3-step curly girl products which are manufactured in Canada.
Here are some of the best boutiques for Curly Girl Method approved products in Canada.
LUS Brands – Use affiliate code CURLYGIRL10 to save 10%!
Features Love Ur Self’s 3-step curl system: Cleanse, Condition, Style. All products are made in Canada.
An online beauty supply including curly brands like As I Am, Cantu, Carol’s Daughter, DevaCurl, and more. Ships with Canada Post, free shipping over $79.
An online boutique with curly brands like Aunt Jackie’s, Beautiful Texture, Cantu, Curls, Curls & Naturals, and more. Ships with Canada Post.
A curly boutique by curl specialist Krista Leavitt with lots of curly hair brands. Her site is designed so you can type in keywords for your hair type (3c low porosity, for example), and find products that will work for your hair. She also offers a curly hair course on styling your curly hair.
Founded in 2009, this is the first curly hair boutique in Quebec. It has lots of curly girl approved products in Canadafrom brands like Blended Beauty, DevaCurl, Jane Carter Solution, SheaMoisture, and more. They ship with Canada Post for $8.95 to $10.95.
Based in Calgary, Alberta, this curly girl company carries lots of popular brands such as Noughty, AG Hair, Curlsmith, Jessicurl, Zazzy Bandz, and more! Their shipping is at actual cost. They ship via Canada Post, FedEx, and UPS for Canadian orders. For cross-border purchases, they ship via USPS with a freight-forwarding service, which means that American customers don’t have to pay any duties or customs charges.
Founded in 2016, CurlShoppe sells their own collections of Canadian-made curly hair products. The “Coconut Is Everything” collection is formulated with coconut oil. For 3C-4C curly girls, their “Butter’d Up” collection is packed with naturally thick butters and oils. CurlShoppe even has a “For Men” line- with everything from beard oil blend to curl defining gel. CurlShoppe offers flat rate shipping for $10 CAD and free shipping over $35. Shipping is via Canada Post for Canadian customers and other local carriers for US customers (duties and customs will apply).
Want to learn more about curly hair?
Purchase a copy of my ebook, Embrace Your Curls: A Manual for Curly Girls. It’s 120+ pages of information, techniques, and methods to help you have the hair of your dreams! Check it out here and get 30% off with code welcomecurly30.
Let’s Chat:
Where do you usually buy your hair products? Have you ever tried buying curly hair products in Canada online, or from one of these boutiques? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
love,
Claudine
p.s. Some of the items in this post are affiliate links. I only post about products that I love + think you’ll probably love, too! As an Amazon Associate or affiliate for other programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you SO much for your support!