A detailed review of the shampoo, conditioner, mask, and gel for hydrated, defined curls
As a curly hair enthusiast, I’m always on the lookout for affordable, accessible products that actually work. Dove’s Beautiful Curls Range—which includes a sulfate-free shampoo, conditioner, mask, and defining gel—caught my attention for all the right reasons. This blog breaks down how each product works, what to watch out for, and how my curls responded.
Review Summary
| Product | What it Does Well | How it Feels | Key Ingredients | CG Approved? |
| Shampoo | Lathers well, safe for color-treated hair | Squeaky clean scalp, soft hair | Aloe, Shea Butter, Glycerin | ✅ Yes |
| Mask | Detangles easily | Great slip | Aloe, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Glycerin | ❌ No |
| Conditioner | Excellent detangler, works as leave-in | Soft, moisturized curls | Aloe, Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Glycerin | ❌ No |
| Gel | Defines curls, soft hold | Light and non-flaky | Aloe, Shea Butter, Glycerin | ✅ Yes |
▶️ Watch my full video review here
1. Dove Beautiful Curls Sulfate-Free Shampoo
Let’s start with the shampoo. It impressed me with its rich lather and a little goes a long way. Unlike most shampoos, it has excellent slip, which makes detangling during the wash surprisingly easy.
Buy this Dove Curls Shampoo from my amazon affliate link here.
✅ Great for simple wash days – especially if you don’t use pre-poo or masks.
✅ Gentle cleansing – perfect if your hair feels dry, hard, or brittle.
✅ Protein-free formula – suitable for coarse, color-treated, or transitioning hair types.
Heads-up: I used it 4 times in a row and eventually needed a clarifying shampoo. That’s normal—always rotate shampoos based on what your curls need. For hard water areas, pair this with a chelating shampoo like this one from India Manetain Oh So Clean! (Shop here: Use code HONESTLIZ for 10% off.)
Ingredient Insight
Includes mild surfactants, aloe, shea butter, glycerin, and a chelating ingredient (Disodium EDTA)—though it’s at the end of the list, indicating low concentration. That tells us it’s low in concentration, making this a gentle shampoo.
✅ Curly Girl (CG)-approved!
2. Dove Beautiful Curls Deep Moisture Mask
I skipped a detailed test of this mask due to my coconut oil sensitivity. Using it alongside the conditioner left my curls feeling frizzy and stiff—common signs when my hair doesn’t tolerate high coconut oil content.
⚠️ Tip: If your curls react negatively to coconut oil, proceed with caution. Learn more about coconut oil sensitivity here.
3. Dove Beautiful Curls Conditioner
This one really surprised me in a good way. The slip was amazing, and it made detangling effortless. It includes aloe, shea butter, coconut oil, and glycerin—great for moisture.
✅ Worked beautifully as a rinse-out and even as a leave-in (though that’s not officially recommended).
✅ Delivered bounce and volume without weighing curls down.
⚠️ It contains silicones, but my hair didn’t feel sticky or limp afterward.
4. Dove Beautiful Curls Defining Gel
This gel offers a soft, flexible hold with no flakes and no crunch. I used it generously, especially when layered at different stlying moments like after plopping and/or mid-diffusing for a medium hold. Worked well both on wet and dry hair.
Buy this Dove Curls Gel from my amazon affliate link here.
💡 Tips:
- For fine curls: works well as a one-and-done.
- For coarse/color-treated curls: layer with leave-in or cream.
- Apply on damp hair as suggested, or use to refresh between wash days.
- If you want more hold or want to use up this gel, layer it first in 123 Gel method styling!
Fragrance Profile
The entire line has a mild salon-like fragrance—not overpowering at all. If you’re like me and sensitive to scents, you’ll won’t mind using this too.
Price vs Performance
For a drugstore range, Dove Beautiful Curls is a steal, especially the shampoo! Similar products can come in smaller sizes, and/or cost way more without delivering this level of performance.
✅ Accessible
✅ Gentle formulas
✅ Soft, hydrated curls
Final Verdict
Dove’s Beautiful Curls Range is a solid option for curlies looking for hydration, moisture, and softness. While the gel and shampoo are CG-approved, the conditioner and mask are not. But if you don’t mind silicones or coconut oil, they’re worth trying.
Personal fave: The defining gel—it gave my rough coarse curls volume, definition, and a soft feel, all at once.
This review is not sponsored. I’m not affiliated with Dove, and there’s no discount code—but I’m still glad I tried it!
Here’s to more curl-friendly finds!
Sincerely,
HONESTLIZ