Maintaining your curls in the UAE and wider Middle East region can be a challenge if you do not understand your hair’s core needs, specifically curly hair textures which are naturally more prone to dryness.

Ensuring you are using products and techniques suited to your hair type and climate is crucial to seeing long term results on healthy hair journey.

To make your things easier for you, our team of experts here at Emerson have compiled a list of Top 10 Recommended Products for Curly Hair in the Middle East.

Before we dive into the list of recommended products, let’s first assess what your curls need to thrive particularly in the Gulf region.

Understanding your curls core need

At the most basic level, curly hair thrives on moisture. You may be thinking why is this noteworthy as one would believe all hair types need moisture. While this is true, it’s even more true for curly hair as you may have noted from our earlier blog post - we re-emphasise this time and time again, due to the structural features of curly hair moisture and hydration from the scalp doesn’t often make its way down to the top of the hair strands, so how do you tackle this? Through your moisturising technique, including your conditioning treatments, leave in, stylers and refreshers.

In the Middle East the need for added moisture is even more true given the dry heat that’s typically experienced particularly in the UAE (outside of the summer months). Dry heat essentially dries out the hair due to higher temperatures, leading to the need for regular moisture infusions.

In the summers, on the other hand, we often witness a shift from dry heat to heightened humidity. Despite general consensus, humid environments, in small doses, can provide some benefits to curly hair. Just think about it, when you apply deep conditioning treatments, we advise our clients to use some form of heat for greater penetration in the hair shaft, some people have access to steamers others a heat cap to allow for mobility during the treatment process. What does the steaming/adding heat do in practice, it allows for greater absorption of moisture by trapping the water vapour released by steam.

Of course, a deep conditioner should be done at most once a week to avoid excessive swelling of the hydrogen bonds in the hair shaft. Humidity can be viewed through the same lens particularly for low porosity which struggles to absorb moisture in the first instance, this is where humectants in conditioning products becomes useful for attracting the moisture in the air (thanks to humidity) to the hair shaft.

To be clear, we are not advising that your curls should have excessive amounts of exposure to humid climates, however we are highlighting that humidity can have some benefits in low doses. When exposure to humid environments for extended periods of time in the UAE, what tends to happen is excessive absorption of moisture leading to raised cuticles that causes frizz and a break down of hydrogen bonds in the hair.

Our product recommendations offer a balance of products for you to enjoy the benefit of humidity but also protect against the dreaded side effect of frizz! We offer a more in depth guide on caring for your curls during the summer months here.

Striking the balance: Your formula for healthy curls in hot climates

We’ve highlighted importance of understanding and addressing your curls core need’s, now lets look at how you strike a healthy balance in order to address your curls core need in the most effective way while accounting for hotter climates.

Effective moisture absorption and retention is made possible when your hair is in its strongest state – this is absolutely crucial in hotter climates, as it's easy for your curls to lie at either extreme  - moisture overload from excess humidity exposure OR extremely dry due to high heat and let’s not forget symptoms of hard water typically found in the Gulf region.

The winning formula = Clean slate + Moisture and Balanced Products

When your curls are free from product build up including mineral build up – a byproduct of hard water, plus the hair shaft is reinforced with protein, moisture is much more easily absorbed and retained.

With this in mind, here are your Top 10 Best Curly Hair Products in the UAE and GCC.

1. Innersense Detox Mask

A must have for providing your curls with that much needed reset, we advise this to be used at least one a monthly. The purifying ingredients such as Charocal, Kaolin Clay and White Vingear are a powerful combination which can draw out the smallest microparticles and deposits left on the hair shaft and deliver thoroughly cleansed, balanced and radiant curls. 

2. As I Am Coconut CoWash

Your go to cleanser, if you find you need to wash your curls more than once a week, this light no studs co wash will gently remove residue whilst maintaining a healthy level of moisture in your strands. A must have if you are a frequent gym or beach goer that needs to cleanse your scalp and strands at least twice a week.

⁠3. Camille Rose Algae Renew Conditioning Mask

If your curls become increasingly dry due to excess heat exposure, this is the intensive conditioning treatment you need. Not only does this smell so good, it provides the added benefit of a vitamin infusion loaded with antioxidants to strengthen and protect from environmental aggressors such as heat and UV rays.

4. Curls Blueberry Bliss Reparative Mask

The perfect moisture-protein balanced conditioner to include in your hair regimen which repairs the protein bonds in the hair shaft, and fills in any gaps found in the hair shaft naturally through Hydrolyzed Protein which helps to limit the escape routes for moisture.

5. Camille Rose Honey Dew Refresher 

On those days when your curls need a boost of moisture, this is your go to product! Infused with the beautiful humectant honey which will assist with drawing moisture from the air but don’t panic, frizz will be under control as this refresher contains Polyquaternium-37 which offers superior frizz control. You will also enjoy the added benefit of strengthening ingredients - Rice Water Extract and Nettle. 

⁠6. Kinky Curly Knot Today

This leave in/detangler is a holy grail for many for a reason. With minimal ingredients to enable a key focus on delivering a high degree of hydration and moisture through Mango Fruit Extract, Slippery Elm and Marshmallow Root which results in a smooth hair cuticle, enhanced curl definition in lightweight form.

⁠7. Treluxe Curl Supreme 4-in-1 Hydrating Creme

This is a fantastic option for infusing a balance of moisture and protein into your hair strands. Not only will this curl cream leave your strands with superior moisture, you're rewarded with soft and supple hold with this one.

8. Jessicurl Spiralicous Styling Gel

This is the humidity resistance curl gel that you never knew you needed! With this styling gel, you need not worry about your styling results lasting beyond Day 2 or 3, this gel offers superior hold and unmatched frizz control, formulated with Polyquaternium 69 as one of the Top 3 ingredients.

⁠9. Mielle Pomegranate and Honey Leave In Conditioner 

There is nothing like this leave in on the market. This leave in contains a powerful blend of dense moisture from Murumuru seed butter, honey and white leaf extract in a lovely lightweight consistency. Offering immense slip for detangling whilst enveloping every curl and coil with hydration and moisture. Even for fine curls, a little goes a long way.

10. Cachos High Porosity Hair Elixir

This is your moisture sealant, protectant and prepoo all in one and the formulation doesn’t disappoint! A unique blend of Brazilian oils that penetrate the hair shaft, please note not all oils are penetrating! This has been included in our recommended product list as it has been proven to fill in the gaps found in porous hair types, aid moisture retention and provide protection from environmental aggressors such as sunlight. 

We hope that the above recommended list serves as a useful guide when selecting your curly hair product must haves for hot climates such as the UAE. If you want a 1:1 Consultation to learn more about your hair's needs and build a personalised haircare regimen, book an appointment with one of our curly hair experts here today! It's never too late to get started.