Creams, oils, masks and shampoos for afro and curly hair.
2 products selected by our network of pro afro hair stylists.
A few markers to pick the right product, by category of need.
Hair that breaks, frizzes or feels dry despite oil treatments? Hydration. Hair that's limp, soft, stretches like wet chewing gum? Protein. The right balance comes from alternating: hydration every wash, protein every 4 to 6 weeks.
Sulphates (SLS, SLES) strip the scalp. A gentle sulphate-free shampoo based on coco-glucoside or decyl-glucoside tensioactives cleanses without drying. But also check for the absence of water-insoluble silicones (dimethicone) that build up and choke curls over time.
Not all oils are equal. Coconut, olive, avocado and argan penetrate the fibre. Jojoba, baobab and castor oil stay on the surface, useful for sealing hydration at the end. Combine both: a penetrating oil as pre-shampoo, a sealing oil at the end.
The first ingredients make up 80% of the product. Water ("Aqua") first: normal. Paraffin, mineral oil or a sulphate right after: walk away. Our hair products selection only contains references that pass this read.
Once or twice a week at most. Less often if your hair is protected by braids or locs. Between two shampoos, a co-wash (conditioner-only wash) or a warm-water rinse on the scalp is enough to refresh.
Castor oil doesn't speed up growth, but it dramatically reduces breakage, which gives the impression hair grows faster while it simply retains length. Massaged into the scalp, it stimulates blood flow and feeds the bulb.
A protein mask (keratin, silk, hydrolysed wheat) every 3 weeks to rebuild the fibre, alternated with a hydrating shea mask, avocado or aloe vera mask. Avoid protein-rich masks if your hair is already brittle: they can stiffen it.
Yes, that's the LOC (Liquid, Oil, Cream) or LCO (Liquid, Cream, Oil) method depending on your porosity. Low porosity: LCO. High porosity: LOC. Try both to see which seals hydration better on your hair.
Give it at least 3 to 4 uses. A product that deposits a silicone film gives a false positive on first use, then degrades after. A good leave-in or conditioner improves texture and softness over weeks, without buildup.
Beyond the shop, Miapoda runs a worldwide directory of pro afro hair stylists. Ask a question before buying, or book an appointment to try a product in salon.
Finding the right hair products for kinky, coily, curly or afro hair has become a maze: high-street shelves dominated by brands for straight hair, contradictory advice on social media, uneven specialty sites. Our shop simplifies the sort. We only list brands whose formulations are clean: no aggressive sulphates (SLS, SLES, ALS), no insoluble silicones, no paraffin, no mineral oil. You'll find gentle hydrating sulphate-free shampoos, co-washes for in-between days, thick detangling conditioners, protein masks and shea masks for hydration, pure cold-pressed plant oils (Jamaican black castor oil, jojoba, West African baobab, virgin coconut, Moroccan argan), unrefined plant butters (shea, mango, cocoa), leave-in conditioners in spray or cream form, gels and stylers for twist-outs, wash-and-go, perm rods and bantu knots, and heat protectants for the days you straighten or blow-dry. The selection covers all levels: minimalist 3-product routines for beginners, full 10-product routines for care enthusiasts, large-format brands for pro stylists. Whether you're in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Dublin, New York, Atlanta, Houston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal, Sydney, Melbourne, Lagos, Accra, Cape Town, Johannesburg or Nairobi, your order arrives within 3 to 7 days with transparent tracking. Miapoda operates as a worldwide marketplace for afro hair styling: if you're unsure, our network of pro afro hair stylists answers your questions for free on the platform.
