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What reviewers say
Most reviewers who use it love it. Fans with fine 2B-3A waves, 2C/3A curls and fine 3A/3B hair call it their go-to, favourite curl cream or only product needed, praising curls that are defined but soft, never crunchy, and second-day hair that still looks good. Reviewers with 3B/3C hair find it perfectly good, if not the best they have used. The complaints are about scent and skin. The smell is described as laundry, dryer sheets or nauseating, and several reviewers who like how it works say they are close to giving up on it. One broke out across the neck, another found it didn’t agree with her scalp, and two found it heavy or slightly greasy on fine hair.
Praised for
- Defined but soft curls, with no crunch
- Good second-day hair
- Light enough for many fine waves
- A go-to that reviewers repurchase
Complaints
- The scent, the most common complaint
- Heavy or greasy on fine hair, for a few
- A breakout or scalp reaction, for some
- Price
Every review
PositiveReddit comment
Used with the Curlsmith Soufflé, it makes my hair perfect.
u/Inside-Criticism918r/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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This with miss jessies pillow soft curls makes hair perfect
PositiveReddit comment
The product I always go back to; it smells good and I get compliments.
u/lucylulunar/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Pillow soft curls is the product I always go back to. It smells so good and my curls love it! Anytime I get a compliment about smelling good, it's when I'm using pillow soft curls.
PositiveReddit comment
My absolute go-to for soft, no-crunch hold; my curls are loose but not weighed down. I value volume over neatness.
u/gravitationalravefine, 2b-3ar/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Pillow soft curls is my absolute go to for soft, no crunchy hold whatsoever. My curls are a looser but not weighed down and I personally value volume over neatness. Jelly curls did not work for me at all, it weighed down my fine hair. I think I only tried it twice before I returned it, it was an absolutely not for me. I have fine hair, somewhere between 2b-3a depending on how my hair's attitude is that day.
PositiveReddit comment
My holy grail.
u/imhereforthemetar/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Miss Jessie's genuinely actually has products for all curl types, not just middle of the road curls- and they never stoped making Black texture products after they blew up like other brands. I can't use all of their products, but it's unreal how good their range is. Pillow and feather soft are my holy grails. To me this is best overall except for mizani, and their popularity has not damaged the quality
PositiveReddit comment
I like switching between it and the Multicultural curl cream; perfectly acceptable for my hair, though I've used better.
u/Emergency_Mirror_6433b/3cr/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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I like switching between pillow soft curls and the Multi cultural curl cream. They are the only two products from miss jessie I have tried but I like them a lot. Although I have used better. I think they are perfectly acceptable for my hair which is 3b/3c
PositiveReddit comment
My daily go-to, combined with Jelly Soft.
u/shouldidrophimr/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Pillow soft + jelly soft is my daily go-to!!
PositiveReddit comment
I love it; I wish it were cheaper, but it's worth it.
u/titsoutshitsoutr/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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I stand my pillow soft curls. Love it. I wish it was cheaper but it's worth it to me
PositiveReddit comment
My perfect cream for a lightweight, no-crunch feel: 12/10.
u/justpeachy23456r/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Pillow soft is my perfecttttttt cream for lightweight no crunchy feel. 12/10 no notes
PositiveReddit comment
I love it for soft, touchable curls; I like the fabric softener smell.
u/She_Devours2c/3a finer/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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I love pillow soft curls for my 2c/3a fine curls. I prefer softness and touchability over definition and I love the soft curls I get with it. I like the fabric softener smell.
PositiveReddit comment
My favourite brand, hands down; all great.
u/Big-Wash-7829r/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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This is my favorite brand hands down! I do the Multicultural cream, pillow curls, and jelly curls. All great
PositiveReddit comment
Not my absolute favourite, but pretty good.
u/maroontiefling3a, fine, med porosity, high densityr/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Not my absolute favorite but the Jelly Soft and Pillow Soft curls have both been pretty good for me!
PositiveReddit comment
I love it so much.
u/booboo620r/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Love pillow soft curls so much
PositiveReddit comment
I like it; it holds pretty well on my fine waves.
u/kiwisorarefine waves, 2a/2br/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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I like the pillow soft curls! I have fine waves, like 2a/2b and it holds pretty well
PositiveReddit comment
All I use for styling now: just enough hold without going crunchy. Other products' casts give me frizz.
u/Top_Emotion3937r/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Pillow Soft is all I use for styling now. It has just enough hold without going crunchy. I realize the crunch from other products is a cast that has to be broken but that method doesn't work out for me. Frizz is all I get from that.
MixedReddit comment
I loved how it worked, but the smell is absolutely nauseating.
u/GildaEphronr/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Yup yup yup - LOVED how Pillow Soft worked for me, but oh my god, absolutely nauseating.
MixedReddit comment
I like it, but it doesn't agree with my scalp.
u/blue-highlighterr/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Jelly soft curls is my girllllll. I was put on by a friend 10 years ago and she's still my #1. I've tried other products here and there, usually when I want more of a cast or a lower price, but jelly soft curls is always the standard and what I compare a new product to. Nowadays I'm more likely to add a product to my routine (leave in/mousse) rather than try to replace miss jessie's. I also like señora rizos and pillow soft curls, but the latter doesn't agree with my scalp. Coily custard is the only miss from the brand for me, but I know a lot of people love it too
MixedReddit comment
I love the texture, and it's the only frizz-control solution for my fine wavy hair, but I hate the smell so much I'm considering quitting.
u/quichelorrainebraccofine wavy 2br/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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love texture i get from the pillow soft curls and the leave in condish. theyre the only solution i've found for frizz control for my fine wavy 2b curls. i hate the smell so much though. like im thinking of going back to just having bad hair because of the smell
MixedReddit comment
I love it, but I can't stand the smell; it keeps me up at night.
u/Timmys_cappr/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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So glad I'm not the only one who loves the pillow soft curls but can't stand the smell. It keeps me up at night.
MixedReddit comment
I'm still ambivalent: not crunchy, but it feels slightly greasy. I'm not a fan of the scent, though it fades as my hair dries.
u/Ithilwen37r/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Update: turns out Miss Jessie's is what was making my hair so flaky. Pretty sure it's the linalool. Alas! I've been testing out the pillow soft curl cream this week. I'm still ambivalent. My hair isn't crunchy but it feels slightly greasy. On the other hand I've also been dealing with a seb derm flare up so my hair and scalp have been wonky. I'm not a fan of the scent but it fades once my hair dries a bit.
MixedReddit comment
It was my fave, and the only thing that defined my waves and curls without crunch or weight, but it made me break out all over my neck.
u/AesopsFablerr/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Pillow Soft Curls was my fave, but it would make me break out all over my neck. I still used it though bc it was the only thing that made my waves/curls look defined without being crunchy or weighed down. Love it!
NegativeReddit comment
The smell was unbearable.
u/GrouchyYoungr/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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The smell of pillow soft was unbearable for me
NegativeReddit comment
An overwhelming dryer-sheet, powdery smell I can't physically handle.
u/saltyslippersr/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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the pillow soft curls has such an overwhelming dryer sheet powdery smell that I cannot physically handle it, its overpowering
NegativeReddit comment
Weighed my hair down.
u/SimpleGlass485r/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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Pillow soft weighed my hair down
PositiveReddit comment
The only product I need: soft, defined curls, great second-day hair, and it smells amazing.
u/theworldizyourclamFine 3A/3Br/curlyhair, 2023Original comment
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Ms. Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls. I have fine 3a/3b hair and have tried a litany of products. I only have to use a little bit, and it's all I have to use. Paired with a Denman brush, it gives me big, soft, healthy defined curls, and it smells amazing. I never used to be able to do second day hair, and with a little refresh with water and the cream, my 2nd hair is even better than the first day. This cream has changed my relationship with my hair. Would 1000% recommend.
PositiveReddit comment
I love both.
u/mojopirateFine 2C-3A; fragrance sensitiver/curlyhair, 2023Original comment
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I have fine 2C-3A hair. Dollar General released a hair care line called Curl Rhythm and I’m obsessed with it. The entire line is fantastic for my hair. I’m super sensitive to fragrances, & Curlsmith products trigger a bad allergy on my scalp, but the Curl Rhythm line doesn’t bother me at all. I also love Miss Jessie’s Pillow Soft Curls & Jelly Soft Curls, Mielle Babassu & Mint deep conditioner, Mielle pomegranate & honey curl defining mousse (used very sparingly on my hair) and when I can muster the effort, I love home made flaxseed gel.
PositiveReddit comment
Defined but soft, not crunchy.
u/Unlikely_Issue2B/3Ar/curlyhair, 2023Original comment
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Miss Jessie’s pillow curls. I don’t like crunchy curls and this product leaves them defined but soft. I have 2b/3a hair
PositiveReddit comment
My favourite curl cream.
u/glabella312C/3Ar/curlyhair, 2023Original comment
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1. silk scarf/ bonnet 2. Curl Smith - Bond Curl Rehab Salve 3. Curl creams: garnier curl air dry cream (fav drugstore product), miss Jessie’s pillow soft curls & briogeo curl charisma 4. John Frieda frizz ease dream curls mousse - I swear by this!! ( i have 2c/3a hair)
Hasn't used itReddit comment
I want to try it, but I can't stand the smell; it's too strong and makes me nauseous.
u/Purplecapybara69r/curlyhair, 2026Original comment
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The pillow and jelly ones to be exact [I want to try these so bad but I can't stand the smell, it's way too strong for me makes me nauseous]
What reviewers use instead
Garnier
Fructis Air Dry Curl Cream Mention
Part of my updated routine.
u/74hehehaha47Original commentShop
How we collated these reviews
Drawn from 28 comments in 3 Reddit discussions below. We read every comment in each, logged each product a commenter had an opinion on, and classified each opinion as positive, mixed or negative. This is public commentary, not verified purchases or customer ratings. Our full method
