Curlsmith Hold Me Softly Style Balm

Every review

1. + Positive

   Used it with products from other brands and also liked it a lot.

   u/marine_bptr/curlyhair, 2025Original comment

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   I tried curlsmith for the fisrt time today and honestly loved how my hair looked (never looked better honestly). I used : * Curlsmith Wash and Scrub detox * Curlsmith Essential Moisture Cleanser * Curlsmith Essential Moisture Conditionner * Curlsmith Bond Rehab Salve * Curlsmith Weightless Airdry Cream * Curlsmith Miracle Shield * Curlsmith Bouncy Strenght Volume Foam * Curlsmith Shape Up Aqua Gel And one product not from curlsmith : As I Am olive oil and tea tree oil. I also have the curlsmith hold me softly Style Balm that i used with products from other brands and also liked a lot !

2. ± Mixed

   Love it for when hair is dry and flash drying with gel because it creates a barrier, but the buildup is insane and causes a cycle of dryness.

   u/AbirdwhofliesFine, medium porosity 2Br/curlyhair, 2025Original comment

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   Fine, medium porosity 2B here—extensive use of their line—here are my thoughts— ✅Curling Souffle— Love. Used up a jar or two. Can cause frizz in high humidity (rain) or cause hair to fall flat in very low humidity (<40%) due to high glycerin. Functions best in mid-humidity and operates much like Kinky Curly Curling Custard or other light humectant gels. ✅Hydro Style Flexi Jelly- finished a couple of bottles. Great all-purpose gel that is very resistant to humidity. Low or no protein, low glycerin. It’s a great one stop shop. It doesn’t give you the best hair you’ve ever had, but it’s super consistent and great for people living in variable climates. ✅Shine Jelly (6)- Unscented!! I’ve used at least one bottle. Light hold thin gel. I tend to need a lot of it, but I like it. Reminds me of Jessicurl Confident Coils. Humidity resistant due to lower glycerin. ✅Shine Gel (9)- Unscented!! On my 2nd tube and it appears to be discontinued. It’s strong hold and does have a learning curve for finer hair. It’s easy to use too much and make your hair sticky and buildupy. Use a lot of water with it. I mix it with water and leave-in. But it’s such good hold you can sleep in it wet and be ok. Be careful of flash drying. Definitely use leave-in conditioner first. Humidity resistant due to lower glycerin. ✅ Curl Quenching Conditioning Wash- on my 3rd bottle. Good co-wash. Does build up, so I don’t use it more than once a week. And then I clarify once a month. But more cleansing than just using conditioner. Not stripping. Fantastic for outdoorsy trips in which I need to just remove sweat or dirty from my hair. ❌In Shower Fixer— heavy and sticky with flash-drying ❌Shape Up Aqua Gel— Thin gel, strong smell. Not good hold. I have to layer it over the souffle or under a foam to get good results. It works ok as a 2nd or 3rd day product add-on. Struggling to use it up. ❌Hold Me Softly Balm— I do love this for when my hair is dry and I’m getting a lot of flash drying with gel because it creates a nice barrier to stop flash drying. But the buildup is insane and it causes a cycle of dryness by building up and blocking out good moisture. ❌Effortless Waves spray— good spray gel in a pinch. I used half a bottle. I find it dries sticky and I can’t get a second day out of it. It works to add product if you didn’t use enough gel originally, but there are better products for that, and I don’t think this performs better than the drugstore ones. Not worth the price. ❌Double Quench mask- too heavy. Builds up.

3. − Negative

   Absolutely hated it.

   u/Reasonable-Garlic-67r/curlyhair, 2025Original comment

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   Love the souffle and fragrance free gel. Volume foam and protein gel are meh. Volume mousse is okay. I remember LOVING both their foam and mousse the First time I tried them but could never recreate it again. I like the fragrance free leavein okay. Didn’t love the fragrance free shampoo and conditioner. Absolutely hated in shower style fixer and hold me softly style balm. Also strongly dislike the miracle shield

4. + Positive

   A staple in their routine.

   u/ohmysexrobotr/curlyhair, 2023Original comment

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   Same. I don't use only CurlSmith but their Oil in Cream and Hold Me Softly are my staples. Their Bond Salve and intense treatment serum are also fantastic prepoos depending on what you need. CurlSmith was definitely my game changer on my curly journey.

5. + Positive

   Named as a best product.

   u/nolimit_08r/curlyhair, 2023Original comment

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   Curl Smith- hold me softly balm