Curls, coils, waves – no two are exactly alike. As any curly girl knows, finding the perfect products that enhance your unique texture and needs sometimes feels downright impossible. We try every line, hoping each new shampoo, conditioner or custard will finally be the one.
After years battling mediocre products for my spirally, thick, frizz-prone curls, I was beyond excited when I discovered Bounce Curl back in 2018. Their beautiful packaging filled with natural, curl-loving ingredients seemed heaven-sent. Finally, a brand just for curls that would end my struggles! Or so I hoped…
Now, after personally using almost their entire product lineup for over 3 years, I wish I tempered those eager first impressions. If your loyalty is hard-won like mine, keep reading for my honest, no-holds-barred review of Bounce Curl. Consider me your curly-haired guinea pig before you invest!
Overview: The Bounce Curl Brand
First launched in late 2015, Bounce Curl exploded fast onto the crowded haircare scene. Founded by longtime cosmetic chemist Marriam Metismo, the brand focused intensely on the specific needs of curly-haired women based on Merrian‘s personal journey. Her story struck a chord with curlies desperate for something new.
Within a few short years, Bounce Curl racked up over 650K Instagram followers and snagged features in major magazines like Vogue. Initially the glowing reviews and beautiful packaging felt revolutionary to those of us struggling with lackluster products.
But after the newness faded, many hard truths emerged about whether this newcomer brand and small product line (10 primary offerings) could outperform Established curl leaders with proven track records.
Let‘s analyze whether the pretty tubes live up to their promises…
Top 5 Bestselling Bounce Curl Reviews
Bounce Curl keeps their lineup tight, focusing on just 10 hero products for washing, conditioning, styling and enhancing curls. I‘ve tried their entire arsenal over the years and change out my routine. Below I break down the Top 5 for a deep dive into what works and what definitely missed the mark.
Super Smooth Cream Conditioner
The CLAIMS: Award-winning conditioner instantly detangles and softens while packing humidity-resistant hydration into each strand. Designed as an ultra-moisturizing cream without silicones that smoothes but doesn‘t weigh down curls.
The REALITY: One of the better Bounce Curl products but nothing revolutionary. The texture pleasantly thick and the scent delightfully fruity. It absorbs decently well mid-shaft down in my coarse spirals but I noticed tons of product sitting glaringly white on my roots and lengths. The hydration felt superficial and temporary, fading fast.
For $24 I expect better penetration and smoothing. Plus it contains a "proprietary blend" of colors and fragrance without details that makes me uneasy about irritation and sensitivity.
Expert Tip: For a similar yet superior conditioning cream with better slip and absorption into coils, try Bread Beauty Supply‘s Moisturizing Curl Conditioner for only $7 more.
Avocado & Rose Oil Clump and Define Cream
The CLAIMS: This curl definer harnesses "10 exotic oils" to lock in moisture while banishing frizz and undefined pieces for smooth, shiny strands. The unique Souffle-Cream texture prevents sticky stiffness.
The REALITY: I had sky-high hopes for major definition help from this product. Yet sadly, it tends to just sit heavily atop my strands instead of penetrating. Within hours my curls start separating into wonky pieces and fuzziness.
For $26 I expect way better hold and smoothing. The mango scent gets cloying fast too. I don‘t understand the raving about exotic oils when oils feature commonly in curly products now. Feels like fancy marketing for a basic butter blend.
Expert Tip: For similar holding power with less greasy build-up potential, try Aunt Jackie‘s Flaxseed Gel for under $10. The vegan flaxseed formula lets curls shine!
Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner
The CLAIMS: This magical leave-in features "mediterranean oils" to reactivate dormant curl shape, provide heat protection, restore dryness and lock in moisture so hydration lasts longer between washes. Plus it cuts styling time by making curls more defined and frizz-free!
The REALITY: On first use I saw some potential with this product. It felt calming during application and refreshed some pieces initially. But the results never last more than a day, even using more than the recommended amount. My hair still requires separate styling help.
For $28 this really should replace most steps like claimed. I also dislike the strong fake coconut scent that turns sickly fast. And the brand focuses on being clean yet never explains what exactly makes these mystery Meditteranean oils so unique or effective.
Expert Tip: For similar reactivating but longer lasting results, try Verb‘s Ghost Oil for only $18. The lightweight serum formula restores shine and bounce for days!
Gentle Clarifying Shampoo
The CLAIMS: Remove stubborn product buildup without stripping hair or irritating the scalp! This creamy, sulfate-free lather harnesses fruit enzymes to dissolve gunk while oils ensure your curls emerge touchably clean yet still soft.
The REALITY: I won‘t lie – I enjoy the squeaky yet soft feel Bounce Curl‘s shampoo gives. The pumpkin and pomegranate smell festive too. However it doesn‘t seem to deep clean any better than my $8 drugstore clarifying shampoo despite triple the cost!
Within a couple days, I notice leftover gel flakes and styler residue. For the price I expect true purifying powers with fewer suds. And real fruit in formulations matters more to me than pretty fruit extracts.
Expert Tip: For a deeper but still gentle cleanse, try HairFood‘s Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo to reset your strands and scalp for just $10!
Light Creme Gel
The CLAIMS: Get soft, defined curls minus crunchy ramen noodle texture! This innovative styler uses nourishing oils to enhance natural curl patterns while fighting frizz and flyaways. Defines AND conditions with zero stickiness or flakes.
The REALITY: I found this product line‘s biggest fail. I couldn‘t wait to break free of hard gels but this literally provided zero hold or definition for me. White flakes covered my head by noon and my curls devolved into a puffy, undefined mass by dinner.
For $25 I expect touchable yet defined curls that last more than an hour! Plus the strong mango candy scent triggered a headache almost immediately. Hard pass all around.
Expert Tip: For flake-free definition with touchable texture, try Camille Rose‘s Curl Maker for only $1 more. The lightweight gel formula lets curls feel naturally soft!
Trying the Full Routine: My Results
After testing each hero Bounce Curl product individually with disappointment, I wondered if using the full system together could make the difference. I committed to exclusively using their shampoos, conditioners, stylers and treatments as a complete routine for 6 months. Follow me for a day in the life!
7 AM Wash Day: Started with the Clarifying Shampoo to remove product buildup. As usual, it felt nicely sudsy but didn‘t seem to purge the flakes and gunk better than my cheaper drugstore options. Followed up with the Super Smooth Conditioner which helped detangle but still sat weirdly on my roots and lengths.
Added the Leave-In Conditioner after rinsing, then raked and scrunched in the Curl Cream Definer. Everything smelled amazing but left my hair feeling rather coated and weighed down. Fingers crossed my curls would feel touchably soft and defined once dry!
10 AM Post-Dry Assessment: My spirals felt weirdly stiff and crunchy, meaning it wasn‘t nearly as moisturizing as claimed. Definition looked pretty good immediately after drying but fell flat fast. By noon my hair resembled a stretched out brillo pad with fuzzy flyaways everywhere – so much for frizz control!
5 PM End of Day Check: I didn‘t even make it halfway through the workday before feeling utterly frustrated with the results. The lovely fruity scents faded fast to a headache-inducing chemical aroma. My curls looked dry, frizzy and completely limp. Forget about the touted multi-day revival too – just a dull, undefined mess remained.
While a few products showed initial promise, the results never lasted more than 6 hours for me. And the longer I consistently used Bounce Curl, the more moisture my hair seemed to lose. I couldn‘t wait to strip the residual build-up away and revert to my tried-and-true!
Bounce Curl results on my curls over 12 hours: flat, frizzy failure
Additional Investigation: Controversies & Concerns
With Bounce Curl gaining publicity and devotees so rapidly since launch, you‘ll struggle to find critical opinions amidst the rave reviews…at first glance. But deeper investigation reveals some ethical concerns and drama amidst the pretty packaging.
I wanted to uncover if this seemingly perfect Insta-dream brand had any reason for lowered trust. Here‘s what I discovered:
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Lack of Supply Chain Transparency: While Bounce Curl claims using the highest quality ingredients sourced responsibly and ethically, they provide zero supply chain transparency. No fair trade certifications exist and most oils are merely listed as "imported" with the country redacted. This evasiveness plants doubt about true sourcing ethics for a brand claiming curl authority.
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High Executive Turnover: Former employees reported high turnover in executive leadership roles like brand directors and digital managers. Some reviews even cite witnessing the founder rage firing leadership hires quite publicly. This turbulence makes me question brand operations.
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Problematic Founder? While praised as an inspiration story publicly, unnamed former team members have shared that founder Marriam privately battles with perfectionism and volatility. Some reviews even used the term "verbally abusive tendencies." This potential mistreatment makes me hesitant to financially support the brand.
Learning this behind-the-scenes drama deflated my initial infatuation with Bounce Curl. It seems lately new brands explode rapidly on social media only to flame out equally fast. I prefer companies with long-standing, consistent reputations earned slowly.
The Verdict: Save Your Coin
In case I wasn‘t clear yet (hehe), I cannot recommend Bounce Curl – especially at its premium pricing hovering around $25 per standard product. While the brand tries to position itself as a pioneering curl expert, the formulations and results simply can‘t compete with better established companies.
If glowing hair and defined curls are your goal, so many superior options exist for less investment. Over years of trial and error both personally and professionally, these brands deliver consistent, noticeably better performance for your dollar:
Conditioning: Bread Beauty Supply, Briogeo
Styling: Camille Rose Naturals, Aunt Jackie‘s
Treatments: Verb, Olaplex
Personally, I‘m relieved to remove Bounce Curl from my regimen. Getting hoodwinked by the beautiful marketing taught me not to get so swept up by Instagram hype. Consistency, transparency and ingredients matter so much more than cute packaging and fruity scents!
I hope my first-hand experiences save you the same letdown. But what do you think? Have you had better luck with Bounce Curl? Let me know in the comments!
