The Essential Curl Accessories Guide: Tools Every Curly Girl Needs
Your products might be doing all the heavy lifting, but the right accessories can completely transform your curl routine. From how you dry your hair to how you protect it overnight, the tools you use matter just as much as the products you apply. Here are the four accessories every curly, coily, and wavy-haired person should have in their kit.
1. A Microfibre Towel
If you're still drying your curls with a regular bath towel, this one change alone could dramatically reduce your frizz. Traditional towels have a rough texture that disrupts the hair cuticle, causes friction, and breaks up your curl clumps before they've had a chance to form. A microfibre towel, on the other hand, is ultra-soft and absorbs water quickly and gently without disturbing your curl pattern.
The technique matters too. Instead of rubbing, use the plopping method: lay your microfibre towel flat, flip your hair forward onto it, and scrunch upwards before wrapping the towel around your head for 15 to 30 minutes. You'll notice the difference immediately.
Our picks:
- Jessicurl Microfiber Scrunching Towel — designed specifically for curly hair, with the perfect absorbency for plopping and scrunching.
- Rizos Curls Microfiber Towel + Wrap — a versatile option that works beautifully for all curl types and doubles as a post-wash wrap while your products set.
2. A Bounce Curl EdgeLift Brush
The EdgeLift Brush from Bounce Curl has become a cult staple in the curly hair community — and for good reason. Its unique design uses a wide, flexible paddle to lift and separate curls at the root, adding volume and definition without disrupting the curl pattern.
Use it to:
- Lift flat roots for added volume
- Clump and define curls
- Apply products more evenly through thick or dense curl patterns
Bounce Curl make several versions, each designed for a different curl need:
- Bounce Curl Define EdgeLift Brush — the original. Ideal when precision clumping and definition is the goal.
- Bounce Curl Volume EdgeLift Brush — perfect for when you to volume boost without curls losing their shape.
- Bounce Curl Detangle Define EdgeLift Brush — combines gentle detangling with curl definition in one tool. A great shower tool for wash day.
- Bounce Curl Slick-Dense Define EdgeLift Brush — designed for delicate, lightly damaged, or color-treated hair.
- Bounce Curl Slick-Flex Define EdgeLift Brush — low-tension brush, ideal for fragile, breakage prone, bleached, or damaged hair.
3. A Satin Bonnet
What you do with your curls overnight is just as important as your wash day routine. Cotton pillowcases absorb moisture from your hair and create friction that disrupts your curl pattern while you sleep, which is why so many people wake up with frizzy, flattened curls. A satin bonnet solves both problems at once.
Satin creates a smooth, low-friction surface that lets your hair move without snagging, and it doesn't pull moisture away from your strands. Pop your curls into a loose pineapple (a high, loose ponytail at the top of your head) before putting on your bonnet to preserve volume and curl definition overnight.
The Kitsch Adjustable Oversized Satin Bonnet is a brilliant option — the oversized fit accommodates all hair lengths and volumes, and the adjustable tie means it stays put through the night without leaving a dent in your curls.
4. A Satin Pillowcase
If bonnets aren't your thing, a satin pillowcase gives you the same benefits while you sleep naturally. Like the bonnet, satin reduces friction and moisture loss, meaning you'll wake up with curls that are closer to how they looked when you went to bed. It's also a great backup for nights when you forget your bonnet, and works beautifully alongside one for extra protection.
The Kitsch Standard Satin Pillowcase is a simple, affordable upgrade that makes a noticeable difference to your curl health over time. Your hair will thank you within a week.
Build Your Curl Kit
These four accessories work together to support every stage of your curl routine — from wash day to morning refresh. Browse our full range of curl accessories and tools to complete your kit and give your curls the care they deserve.
