Hey curl friend! If you‘re reading this, I‘m guessing you‘ve been on the curly girl hair journey for a while now. You‘ve probably tried countless products and techniques in search of the perfect combination to make your unique curls look their best. I‘ve been there too, and I know how frustrating and overwhelming it can be.
That‘s why I was so intrigued when I first heard about LUS Brands, a newer curly girl-focused haircare line that promises a simple, customizable solution for all curl types. In this post, I‘ll be sharing my honest review of the LUS products I‘ve tried, along with feedback from other curly customers and a comparison to popular brands like Shea Moisture and DevaCurl.
My goal is to give you all the info you need to decide if LUS is right for your personal curl goals. I‘ll be covering the good, the bad, and everything in between – so grab your favorite curl refresher and let‘s dive in!
What Is LUS Brands?
Before we get into the products, let‘s talk about the brand itself. LUS (which stands for "Love Ur Self") was founded in 2017 by Sahar Saidi, a curly girl who was frustrated with her own hair journey and the lack of effective options on the market. She set out to create a line of haircare products that would simplify the curly girl routine while still delivering amazing results.
Fast forward to today, and LUS has become a major player in the curly haircare world. The brand has racked up over 200,000 followers on Instagram and has been featured in major publications like Allure, Refinery29, and Cosmopolitan.
So what sets LUS apart from other curly girl brands? The main differentiator is their streamlined "3-Step System" – a curated shampoo, conditioner, and all-in-one styling product designed to work together for each curl type (wavy, curly, and kinky-coily). All of the products are sulfate-free, silicone-free, and formulated with clean, nourishing ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil.
The idea is that by taking the guesswork out of building a routine, LUS can help curly girls achieve more consistent, foolproof results in less time. As someone who has spent way too much money and mental energy trying to perfect my product cocktail over the years, I was definitely curious to see if the 3-Step System could live up to the hype.
My Experience with LUS Brands Products
Over the past 6 months, I‘ve been testing out the LUS Wavy and Curly 3-Step Systems along with a few of their other popular products. Here are my thoughts on each:
LUS Wavy 3-Step System: I was surprised by how much I liked this shampoo and conditioner! The shampoo lathered well without stripping my hair, and the conditioner gave me enough slip to detangle easily. I wasn‘t a huge fan of the All-in-One Styler for my hair type – I found it a bit too heavy for my fine, low-porosity 2C waves. It might work better for thicker, denser waves.
LUS Curly 3-Step System: This is the star of the show IMO! I‘ve repurchased the All-in-One Curly Styler three times now because it gives me the best wash and go results of any one-and-done product I‘ve tried. It has the perfect balance of moisture and hold, and I get amazing clumps and definition without any crunchiness. The Curly Shampoo and Conditioner are also lovely – very hydrating but lightweight.
LUS Elixir Oil: This multipurpose oil is amazing for sealing in moisture, taming frizz, and adding shine. I love that it‘s lightweight enough to use on my fine hair without weighing it down. It also works well as a body and face oil! Definitely a staple for me now.
LUS Deep Conditioner: This baby is THICK – like, practically a butter. A little goes a long way! I like using it as an overnight treatment or quick 10-minute mask in the shower. It does a great job of softening and hydrating my curls, especially when they‘re feeling dry or tangly.
What Other Curlies Are Saying
But enough about me – let‘s see what other curly customers think of LUS! Here‘s a summary of the feedback I found across the brand‘s website, Amazon, Influenster, and social media:
- Most reviewers give LUS products 4-5 stars and rave about the effectiveness, clean ingredients, and curl-enhancing results. The All-in-One Stylers are the most popular by far.
- Many mention that LUS simplified their routine and cut down on styling time without sacrificing results. Lots of comments like "Holy grail!" and "Never going back!"
- Some negative reviews note that the products didn‘t work well for their specific hair type or concerns (e.g. the Wavy Styler was too heavy, the Kinky-Coily system wasn‘t moisturizing enough for 4C hair, etc.). A few also had issues with flaking or curls falling flat over time.
- The most common complaint was around the price – LUS is definitely more expensive than drugstore options. However, most say the quality and results are worth it, especially with the 1 liter sizes.
- Customer service seems to be a big plus – the brand offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and the team is very responsive to questions and concerns.
The numbers don‘t lie either – here‘s a quick overview of the average ratings for LUS‘s most popular products:
| Product | LUS Site | Amazon | Influenster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curly 3-Step System | 4.7/5 stars (1,924 reviews) | 4.4/5 stars (628 reviews) | 4.5/5 stars (221 reviews) |
| Wavy 3-Step System | 4.5/5 stars (811 reviews) | 4.2/5 stars (312 reviews) | 4.3/5 stars (96 reviews) |
| Kinky-Coily 3-Step System | 4.6/5 stars (792 reviews) | 4.3/5 stars (205 reviews) | 4.4/5 stars (74 reviews) |
| All-in-One Curly Styler | 4.8/5 stars (2,406 reviews) | 4.5/5 stars (1,042 reviews) | 4.6/5 stars (331 reviews) |
Of course, everyone‘s hair is different, so what works for one curly may not work for another. But based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback and my own great experience, I feel confident recommending LUS to anyone looking to enhance their natural texture and simplify their routine!
How Does LUS Compare to Other Curly Girl Brands?
If you‘re a curly girl veteran, you‘re probably wondering how LUS stacks up against the OGs like DevaCurl, Shea Moisture, Briogeo, and Ouidad. Here‘s my take:
Shea Moisture – The OG of affordable, natural haircare for textured hair. SM products are hit or miss for me – some are too heavy/greasy, others not moisturizing enough. I do love their Manuka Honey & Yogurt Protein Treatment though! Overall, LUS is more expensive but I find the formulas more consistent and effective for my hair.
DevaCurl – DevaCurl walked so LUS could run! They really popularized the curly girl method and sulfate-free cleansing. I used to swear by their Ultra Defining Gel but the constant wet reformulations lost me. LUS gives me similar hold and definition with cleaner ingredients and no flaking. The 3-Step System is also way simpler than Dev‘s huge product range.
Briogeo – A clean, high-performance haircare brand that I love for treatments and stylers. Brio products are pricey but so luxe and effective – the Don‘t Despair, Repair mask is my HG. I prefer LUS for shampoo/conditioner and all-in-one styling, but Brio is great for zhuzhing techniques and extras.
Ouidad – Another classic curly brand known for their signature "rake and shake" styling technique. I find Ouidad products very hit or miss – the Curl Quencher cream is nice but the Climate Control gel was way too drying for me. LUS all the way for one-and-done styling and reliable results.
The Bottom Line
To wrap it all up – do I think LUS Brands products are worth it? For me, 100% yes! The Curly 3-Step System and All-in-One Styler have become staples in my routine for the past 6 months and I don‘t see myself straying anytime soon. I‘m amazed at how much more consistent, defined, and hydrated my curls look with such a simple routine.
That said, I know LUS won‘t work for everyone and the price can be a barrier. If you‘re unsure, I recommend starting with the All-in-One Styler for your curl type – for me, that‘s the standout product that really makes the brand unique. And remember, LUS offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on everything, so you can try the products risk-free!
At the end of the day, everyone‘s curly journey is personal. What works for me may not be your curl soulmate, and that‘s okay. But if you‘ve been struggling to find your perfect routine or want to simplify your wash day, I hope this review has given you a helpful starting point to explore LUS.
I truly believe this brand has the power to change lives by helping us curly girls embrace our natural beauty and feel confident in our own skin. LUS, thank you for coming into my life and transforming my curl game – I‘m a lifer!
Now it‘s your turn – have you tried LUS Brands products? What did you think? Any other curly girl brands you swear by? Let me know in the comments. And if you found this review helpful, please share it with a curl friend who might benefit!
Here‘s to living our best curly lives,
Jess
P.S. Use my code CURLYPOP for 15% off your first LUS order! You can thank me later. 😉
