The best twist activator - TOP 5 ranking in 2025
Owners of naturally curly hair and waves know well that achieving perfectly defined and shiny curls requires not only dedicated care, but also the use of the right styling products. Among these, curl activator takes a place of honour as an indispensable ally in the battle to bring out and maintain the perfect curl. It not only nourishes and moisturises, but also reduces unwanted frizz, bringing relief to those whose hair tends to frizz. Therefore, a curl booster is a key product that can revolutionise your daily styling routine, making it not only more effective but also more enjoyable. We've put together a ranking of the top 5 curl activators that we've chosen for anyone who wants to enhance the beauty of their natural curls and waves.
The ranking factors we took into account are:
- Bringing out the natural curl
- Hair care
- Composition
- Fragrance
- Consistency
- Undesired effects
- Price
What ingredients to look for in good curl activators?
Emollients: These ingredients, such as shea butter and vegetable oils, are key in a twist activator as they soften the hair, making it smooth and easy to style without weighing it down.
Humectants: Thanks to their ability to attract moisture from the environment, humectants provide hair with lightness and volume, which is essential in activating and accentuating twists.
Natural oils and butters: Avocado oil, grape seed oil, abyssinian oil, and shea butter intensely moisturise and nourish the hair, protecting it from dryness and providing a healthy shine.
Hyaluronic acid: As a humectant, hyaluronic acid is particularly valuable in a twist activator as it increases the elasticity of the hair, helping to maintain its natural curl.
Plant extracts: Linseed extract is valued for its moisturising and twist-defining properties, making it an ideal ingredient in a twist activator to support the formation and maintenance of curls.
Sorbitol: As a natural fixative, sorbitol adds lightness and hold to styling without artificially sticking or weighing hair down, allowing curls to retain their natural look and bounce.
Take a look at our ranking of the best curl activators:
Curl Booster Twist And Shout by Twisty has won praise from our testers with curly and wavy hair. The curl activator not only accentuates and preserves natural curls, but also deeply nourishes hair. Its lightweight formula is perfect for styling hair of any length without weighing it down or making it sticky. The ingredients in Twisty's 98.7% natural twist activator include cocoa, walnut and vanilla extracts for softness, hydration and freshness, and amino acids to strengthen hair from the roots, improve elasticity and add shine. Testers appreciated that the activator can also be used on straight hair to create subtle waves. For them, Curl Booster Twist And Shout is the foolproof way to beautiful curls, anti-frizz, strengthen and style curly hair. The natural formula effectively brings out the curl and once fixed, you can enjoy your curls for a long time.
The Twist Activator from Cantu, according to our reviewers, is effective in highlighting and defining curls and waves. The formula of this product is free of irritants such as SLS, parabens, and silicones, making it scalp and hair friendly. Key ingredients such as glycerine, propanediol, and shea butter not only facilitate the absorption of active ingredients, but also intensively moisturise and protect the hair from harmful external influences. Reviewers pointed out imperfections such as a peculiar smell, an ineffective dispenser and a lower-than-expected packaging capacity, which, combined with the high price, affects the overall rating, although it should be noted that this is still an option worth considering.
The Twist Activator from Trust My Sister is designed to nourish hair, accentuate natural waves and provide control for hard-to-manage strands. Its creamy formula, rich in linseed oil, grapeseed oil, linseed extract and shea butter, intensely moisturises, strengthens and smooths hair while protecting it from frizz. Thanks to the ALMONDERMIN complex, hair is further nourished and protected from harmful external factors. However, there are three types of alcohol in the product's formulation, including isopropyl alcohol, which is used to clean electronics and may negatively affect those with sensitive scalps.
Anwen's Spray Twist Activator, Pina Lokada, is a product designed to define curls and waves, significantly improving curl with flax seed extract. It creates a protective layer on the hair, providing moisture to help reduce frizz and give a healthier look. With an almost 100% natural composition, the mist is safe for the hair and can be used as a base for oil in an oiling routine, but despite its natural composition, its effect is not the best. First of all, the product has a strong fragrance, which may not be comfortable in the long run, and on top of that, it is easy to overdo the amount and then the product may create clumped pods instead of bringing out the curl.
