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The Shortlist
Most curl creams are made for thick, dry hair, so the few that suit fine waves and curls get recommended over and over. Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls and Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Curl Cream are two of them, and they are the best-liked products in their brands' ranges.
They do a similar job: soft definition, no crunch, and light enough for fine hair. The differences are price, scent and how each one copes with very fine hair.
At a glance
| Pillow Soft Curls | Curl Talk Curl Cream | |
|---|---|---|
| Finish | Soft, defined, never crunchy | Defined, juicy curls |
| Weight | Light for most, heavy for some very fine hair | Light; a small amount covers the whole head |
| Scent | Strong, and the most common complaint | Strong for some |
| Pairs with | Works alone for many | Curl Talk gel or mousse |
| Price | Mid-range | Drugstore |
Miss Jessie's Pillow Soft Curls
Pillow Soft Curls is the most reviewed product in the Miss Jessie's range, and most people who use it love it. Reviewers with fine 2B to 3A waves and curls call it their go-to cream, or the only product they need. They describe curls that are defined but soft, never crunchy, with second-day hair that still looks good. People with 3B and 3C hair find it perfectly good, if not the best they've used.
The complaints focus on the scent. People compare it to laundry or dryer sheets, and some find it nauseating. Several reviewers who like how it performs say they are close to giving it up because of the smell. A few found it heavy or slightly greasy on very fine hair, and some had a breakout or a scalp reaction.
Read every reviewer comment on Pillow Soft Curls.
Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Curl Cream
In a range that splits reviewers, the Curl Talk Curl Cream is the product most people agree on. Fans call it magic, their drugstore go-to, and a cream they've used for years, and one says their hair has never looked better. A small amount covers the whole head, which suits fine hair. Many reviewers pair it with the Curl Talk gel or mousse for more hold.
The doubts come from a minority. A few found it made their hair frizzy and stringy, one found it sat on top of their hair, and a couple dislike its strong fragrance.
Read every reviewer comment on Curl Talk Curl Cream.
If you can stand the scent of Pillow Soft Curls, it gives the softer finish. If you can't, Curl Talk does nearly the same job for less.
Which to choose
Choose Pillow Soft Curls if you want the softest possible finish and you want a cream that can be your only styler. Smell it in a store first if you can. Fragrance is the main reason people stop using it.
Choose Curl Talk Cream if you're on a budget, you plan to layer a gel or mousse over it, or your hair is very fine and easily weighed down. A smaller amount covers more hair.
Skip both if your hair is thick, coarse or coily and very dry. These are light creams, and richer ones will do more for you. See SheaMoisture vs Cantu.
Getting the best from either
Light creams are easy to overdo. Start with a pea-sized amount for shoulder-length hair. Emulsify it between wet palms and glaze it over soaking wet hair, then scrunch. If you need your curls to last more than a day, put a gel over the cream rather than adding more cream. The Order to Apply Curl Products explains why. If waves still drop by midday, see Why Your Curls Fall Flat.
The verdict
These two are closer than their prices suggest. Pillow Soft Curls gives a slightly softer, more polished finish and works well alone on fine curls. Its scent is a real drawback. Curl Talk Cream costs less, goes further and layers more easily. For most people with fine waves and curls, especially those trying a curl cream for the first time, Curl Talk is the sensible first buy.