Bounce Curl is a popular hair care brand for curly and natural hair. The brand claims that their products are “made with modern science & nature,” and that they only use “carefully selected ingredients for the body.”
But does Bounce Curl contain ingredients shown to improve hair quality? Are there actually specific ingredients for curly hair, or are the same ingredients good for all hair types? Does Bounce Curl contain any unhealthy additives? And is the brand better or worse than similarly-branded products like Tréluxe?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze the ingredients in two of the brand’s most popular products (Clump & Define Cream and Clarifying Shampoo) to give our take on whether or not they're likely to improve the appearance of curly hair, and whether or not they're healthy.
We'll also compare Bounce Curl to other popular curly hair care brands like Tréluxe to pick our winners.
Key takeaways:
- Contains many research-backed active ingredients
- Contains some unhealthy inactive ingredients
- We do not currently recommend Bounce Curl
Clump & Define Cream Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Bounce Curl Avocado & Rose Oil Clump & Define Cream are shown above.
There are a number of research-backed ingredients in this formulation.
Argania spinosa (argan) kernel oil was shown to protect hair from damage in a clinical trial published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Nigella sativa (black seed) oil is a potent natural antifungal according to a 2017 medical review, so it may help keep the scalp healthy and free of dandruff.
Astrocaryum murumuru seed butter is derived from a plant native to Brazil, and is clinically shown to be rich in lipids, which suggests it’s an effective hair conditioner and texturizer.
Adansonia digitata (baobab) seed oil is frequently used in cosmetic products due to its ability to create a natural barrier on the skin that keeps the skin underneath hydrated, as described in a 2017 clinical trial.
Trigonella foenum-graecum (fenugreek) seed extract was shown to be potentially effective for hair regrowth in a series of medical case reports, but only when combined with other botanical ingredients.
We can’t find any studies suggesting this ingredient improves hair on its own.
Clearly there are a number of research-backed ingredients in this styling cream. However, there are also a few ingredients we consider questionable from a health perspective.
Fragrance is the number one inactive ingredient we recommend consumers look out for, because as we documented in our review of Ouai Shampoo, clinical studies have shown that fragrance poses a risk to human and environmental health.
Cetrimonium chloride and phenoxyethanol are synthetic preservatives, the latter of which was shown in a 2020 clinical trial to be toxic to human cells.
Overall, we consider Clump & Define Cream likely to improve hair quality and texture. It has a large number of research-backed ingredients. However, we don’t currently recommend the product due to the questionable inactive ingredients highlighted above.
Bounce Curl vs. Popular Curly Hair Brands
Here's how Bounce Curl compares to other popular curly hair care brands in terms of potential effectiveness and healthiness, in our opinion:
SheaMoisture
Contains synthetic preservatives which are clinically shown to have an irritating effect on skin in some cases.
Also contains fragrance, which is harmful to human health.
Winner: Bounce Curl
Tréluxe
Both of the formulations we analyzed contained fragrance, as we documented in our Treluxe review article.
Winner: Bounce Curl
Prose
This individualized shampoo brand offers formulations for women with healthy hair, but in some cases uses ingredients we don't approve of.
Winner: Bounce Curl
Clarifying Shampoo Ingredient Analysis
The ingredients in Bounce Curl Gentle Clarifying Shampoo are shown above.
This is the brand’s most popular shampoo product, and it contains a several effective active ingredients that we already discussed in the previous ingredient analysis section: black seed oil, baobab, and argan oil.
This shampoo also contains some unique research-backed ingredients.
Coconut oil was shown in a clinical trial published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science to prevent hair damage, and is widely considered one of the most effective plant oils for dermatological effects.
Geranium maculatum was shown in a 2017 clinical trial to cause a significant amount of hair growth, but this was an animal study and used an extracted version of the plant which is more potent than the oil used in Bounce Curl’s shampoo.
Lavender oil was tested for its effectiveness in promoting hair growth in a 2016 clinical trial, and the study authors concluded the following: “These results indicated that [lavender oil] has a marked hair growth-promoting effect.”
Panthenol is clinically shown to support scalp health, as we discussed in our review of another shampoo brand called Briogeo.
Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract is one of the most well-studied natural hair growth promoters, and was shown in a clinical trial published in the Skinmed journal to cause significant hair growth after 6 months of treatment, and its effects were comparable to minoxidil, which is the active ingredient in Rogaine.
Unlike the previous product, Bounce Curl’s shampoo is entirely free of questionable additives like fragrance or synthetic preservatives.
We would recommend this shampoo as we consider it likely effective for improving hair quality, potentially effective for improving hair growth, and one of the best-formulated shampoos we’ve analyzed on Illuminate Health.
Bounce Curl Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Contains many natural ingredients with research backing
- Should improve hair appearance
- Should improve hair health
- Reasonably priced
- One of few research-backed brands for curly hair
- Mostly positive online customer reviews
- One of best shampoos we've reviewed
Cons:
- Styling cream contains fragrance
- Styling cream contains synthetic preservatives
- Brand website charges for shipping
