Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish Air Dry Butter Cream Curl Nourish Air Dry Butter Cream

Average rating includes incentivized reviews
Get defined, frizz-free curls with Fructis Curl Nourish Air Dry Cream, a lightweight leave-in treatment that provides up to 48 hours of moisture and lasting curl definition—no heat tools needed. Perfect for air drying, this cream helps you skip diffusers while achieving soft, bouncy curls effortlessly.

Real Results. Designed to keep curls hydrated, defined, and frizz-free for up to 48 hours* without using heat styling tools.

Nourishing Formula. Enriched with moisturizing ingredients to strengthen and protect curls, enhancing their natural shape and shine.

Made for Curly Hair. Specifically formulated to nourish and define curls while reducing frizz, helping you embrace your natural texture with confidence.

Effortless. Ditch heat tools like diffusers—air dry your hair for beautiful, healthy curls in less time and with less damage.

*when used with Curl Nourish shampoo and conditioner.
size

$7.99 MSRP

$10.99 MSRP

Where to buy

Meet your go-to air-dry essential for soft, frizz-free curls.

Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish Air Dry Butter Cream Leave-In Treatment is a sulfate-free formula infused with coconut oil, jojoba oil, glycerin, and vegan protein to hydrate and define curls without heat styling.

• Instantly moisturizes for expertly defined waves, curls, and coils
• Eliminates frizz by locking in hydration with a non-drying sulfate-free formula
• Provides definition without the need for heat tools

Clinically tested for up-to-48 hours of curl definition and frizz control when used with the Curl Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner. Designed for wavy, curly, and coily hair (Types 2–4).

Formulated without sulfates or parabens, and made with Garnier’s vegan & cruelty free philosophy.

The formula contains amodimethicone, a lightweight silicone that targets damaged areas to smooth and add shine without heavy buildup—ideal for curls needing control and movement.

• Defines and softens curls for up to 48 hours*
• Delivers lasting frizz control and hydration
• Promotes natural curl pattern without heat tools
• Vegan & cruelty-free formula, infused with plant-based oils
• Lightweight texture won’t weigh down fine or loose curls

*Instrumental test, Curl Nourish regimen (shampoo + conditioner + leave-in).

• Texture: Creamy leave-in
• Format: Tube / pump-bottle depending on size
• Available Sizes: 10.2 fl oz and 16.9 fl oz
• Hair Type: Wavy to Coily (Types 2–4)
• Vegan Protein: Plant-derived amino acids that help strengthen curl strands
• Lightweight Silicone Technology: Amodimethicone for targeted frizz control
• Fragrance Notes: Clean citrus-fruit blend with coconut undertones

1. Prep: Start with damp hair after washing and conditioning with Curl Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner.

2. Apply: Work evenly through mid-lengths to ends.

• Short hair → dime size (~0.5 g)
• Medium hair → nickel size (~1 g)
• Thick or long hair → quarter size (~2 g)

3. Style: Do not rinse.

• For air dry-definition → scrunch upwards with hands.
• For diffused definition → use a diffuser on low heat.
Note: can also be applied to dry hair

4. Layer: For enhanced hold, apply gel or mousse after the cream.

5. Clarify: Use a mild clarifying shampoo weekly to prevent residue build-up.

DO / DON’T
• Use on damp hair and pair with Curl Nourish wash & conditioner.
• Do not overapply on fine or low-density hair.

1041717 FS2 AQUA/WATER/EAU, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM/MINERAL OIL/HUILE MINERALE, STEARYL ALCOHOL, PARFUM / FRAGRANCE, BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE, AMODIMETHICONE, PYRUS MALUS FRUIT EXTRACT/APPLE FRUIT EXTRACT, SODIUM BENZOATE, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, HEXYL CINNAMAL, LINALOOL, NIACINAMIDE, PYRIDOXINE HCl, BENZYL ALCOHOL, CITRIC ACID, BENZYL SALICYLATE, TRIDECETH-6, BENZYL CINNAMATE, CHLORHEXIDINE DIHYDROCHLORIDE, COUMARIN, SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM EXTRACT/SUGAR CANE EXTRACT/EXTRAIT DE CANNE A SUCRE, LIMONENE, MACADAMIA TERNIFOLIA SEED OIL, GLYCERIN, SIMMONDSIA CHINENSIS SEED OIL/JOJOBA SEED OIL, COCOS NUCIFERA OIL/COCONUT OIL, GERANIOL, CITRONELLOL, HYDROXYPROPYLTRIMONIUM LEMON PROTEIN, CITRAL, PHENOXYETHANOL, CITRUS LIMON PEEL EXTRACT/LEMON PEEL EXTRACT, LEUCONOSTOC/RADISH ROOT FERMENT FILTRATE, CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT. F.I.L.# D192337/2 U.S. PATENTS: 7,223,385; 7,485,289

No matter what your curl type, get up to 48 hours of frizz-free definition with the sulfate-free Curl Nourish system:

1. Cleanse with the moisture-rich shampoo.
2. Prep for definition with the hydrating conditioner.
3. Seal in lasting moisture with this Curl Air Dry Cream Leave-In Treatment for curly hair.

A "BEFORE" and "AFTER" comparison showing curly red hair. The "BEFORE" side appears frizzier, while the "AFTER" side shows more defined curls, with a claim of "Up to 48 hours of frizz-free definition."
A smiling woman with curly hair holding a section of her hair, with text "UP TO 48 HOURS OF DEFINED CURLS*" and "No heat tools needed."

Your go-to for effortlessly stunning curls—no heat tools required! Say goodbye to diffusers— just apply, air dry, and watch your natural curls come to life with soft bounce, beautiful definition, and lasting shine. It’s the easy, damage-free way to love your curls every day.

The Curl Nourish technology in this curl cream delivers the ideal balance of strength and frizz-free definition. Plant protein fortifies hair with nature’s building blocks while nourishing coconut oil softens and protects deep into the cortex. The result is penetrating hydration and long-lasting definition.

A stylized green liquid loop with bubbles, highlighting key ingredients "VEGAN PROTEIN + COCONUT OIL."
A collection of Garnier Fructis Curl Nourish hair products, including shampoo, conditioner, a flexi-hold curls product, curl knot melter, and curl air dry cream.

Check out the rest of the Curl Nourish collection to complete your regimen. Enriched with a blend of plant protein to strengthen hair fibers and coconut oil to deeply moisturize, it reduces frizz and breakage. That means 48 hours of definition and hydration for all curl patterns.

SHOP NOW

Styler Comparison Guide

Styler Comparison Guide
Texture/Finish Texture/Finish
Humidity Resistance Humidity Resistance
High
Medium
Medium
High
Very high
Best Use Case Best Use Case
Defined wash-and-go
Flexible hold, soft texture
Lightweight volume boost
Quick refresh, targeted lift
Longwear or humidity-heavy days

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What ingredients should I look for in a curl cream?
  • How often should I use curl cream?
  • Can I use curl defining cream with styling products?

Garnier Commits to Greener Beauty

Reviews

Rating Snapshot

Select a row below to filter reviews.
300 reviews with 5 stars.
111 reviews with 4 stars.
54 reviews with 3 stars.
17 reviews with 2 stars.
13 reviews with 1 star.

Overall Rating

4.3

Review this Product

Select to rate the item with 1 star. This action will open submission form.
Select to rate the item with 2 stars. This action will open submission form.
Select to rate the item with 3 stars. This action will open submission form.
Select to rate the item with 4 stars. This action will open submission form.
Select to rate the item with 5 stars. This action will open submission form.
Adding a review will require a valid email for verification

Average Customer Ratings

Most Helpful Favorable Review

amazing!!!

10 years ago
Best product i ever used in my hair!! keeps it hydrated, curly, strong, and super soft!!! And just a side note.... it smells sooooo good!!!!!!!
40 people found this helpful
Show Reviews:

Most Helpful Critical Review

Natural

9 years ago
It would be 100% perfect without the mineral oil and silicone (same goes for the rinse-out conditioner of this line). :( A lot of curly girls try to avoid those ingredients in hair care and it's sooo hard to find a nice brand that isn't expensive. Maybe replace this leave-in with heat/humidity resistance ingredients like Polyquaternium-69? To even give it a little hold as a styling cream?
21 people found this helpful
Show Reviews:

Filter Reviews

1 to 8 of 495 Reviews .
1 – 8 of 495 Reviews
Review 1
Votes 8
Age:18-24
Gender:Female
Hair LengthMedium
Hair Type:Frizzy or Thick
Hair ConernFrizzy
Hair Color:Brown

Affordable and effective!

a year ago
I decided to try this cream because I wanted an affordable option. I always heard bad things about garnier for some reason, but my hair has never looked so good! These products are super cheap but give me such good results and I get to save more money :)
Product Works Well ForCurly Hair, Thick Hair
Product Helps AddressAnti-Frizz, Hydration, Volume

Yes, I recommend this product.

  • Review photo 1.
  • Review photo 2.
  • Review photo 3.
Helpful?
Review 1
Votes 11

A little goes a long way

a year ago
I absolutely love this product it works absolute wonders for my curls, it leaves them shiny soft and always smelling good, a little really goes a long way with this product and holds my curls for a long time I never have to add more to it once I've styled it
Helpful?
Los Angeles
Review 1
Votes 9
Age:45-54
Gender:Female
Hair LengthMedium
Hair Type:Curly
Hair ConernFrizzy
Hair Color:Red

Yes! Yes! Yes!

a year ago
I cannot tell you how happy I am to have found this product! It's incredible on my curls. I'm on the third day and they still look amazing, frizz free, and perfect. I'm getting older and my natural curls were failing me, so I got a perm. I hated the curls I got from it until I found this amazing stuff. I use three products — this, the Curls Sculpt gel, and the curl mousse, and let it air dry. SIMPLY MAGIC.
Product Works Well ForCurly Hair, Thin Hair, Thick Hair
Product Helps AddressAnti-Frizz, Hydration, Volume

Yes, I recommend this product.

  • Third day curls. Still clumped!
Helpful?
Oregon
Review 1
Votes 19
Age:65+
Gender:Female
Hair LengthMedium
Hair Type:Frizzy or Thick
Hair ConernFrizzy

Great product

a year ago
Really love this product. It leaves no residue so my curls are soft and pliant. Highly recommend
Product Works Well ForCurly Hair
Product Helps AddressAnti-Frizz
Helpful?
Denver, Co
Review 1
Votes 23
Age:35-44
Gender:Non-binary
Hair Type:Curly
Hair Color:Brown

Doesn't keep the promises the description claims

2 years ago
This stuff is kind of a let down. First the smell is really overwhelming -- kind of obnoxious. It does leave hair pretty soft, but it doesn't seem to help that much with frizz. I end up with a fluffy head of hair, which is kind of fun but not what I want all the time nor what I'd expect from product description.

No, I do not recommend this product.

Helpful?
Response from Garnier:
2 years ago
Consumer Care Center
Hello Penelope Piazza. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us regarding our Air Dry Butter Cream Leave-in Treatment. We aim to provide the highest quality products to our consumers. Your feedback is important to us. We hope that you will continue to explore the many products we have to offer, and we thank you for reaching out!
Irvine, CA
Reviews 3
Votes 29
Age:65+
Gender:Female
Hair LengthMedium
Hair Type:Curly
Hair ConernDry
Hair Color:Blonde

EXCELLENT LEAVE IN CURL CREAM!!!

2 years ago
I haven’t found anything better for my natural white wavy curly hair. This is amazing and has a light scent. I use it on damp hair every two to three days. It works great on dry hair to refresh my waves as well. I use it with the Garnier Curl Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner and the three products work like a charm! I have tried high end products and nothing works better than Garnier.
Product Works Well ForCurly Hair, Fine Hair, Thin Hair, Thick Hair
Product Helps AddressAnti-Frizz, Hydration, Repair & Strengthen, Volume

Yes, I recommend this product.

  • My air dried hair using Garnier Curl Nourish Shampoo/Conditioner & Curl Cream.
Helpful?
Buffalo, NY
Review 1
Votes 17
Age:18-24
Gender:Non-binary
Hair LengthMedium
Hair Type:Frizzy or Thick
Hair ConernDry
Hair Color:Brown

One and only Curl Cream

2 years ago
I had really curly hair as a kid but since I was 10 or 12 I've always just had wavy and frizzy hair. Using this product has helped me to get my curls back with little to no frizz.
Product Works Well ForCurly Hair, Thick Hair
Product Helps AddressAnti-Frizz, Hydration, Volume

Yes, I recommend this product.

  • Before use
  • After use
Helpful?
Response from Garnier:
2 years ago
Customer Care
Hi there! Thank you for your feedback on the Air Dry Butter Cream Leave-in Treatment. We are so happy to hear that you are enjoying the results you are getting with product. We will share your comments with our team and we hope that you will continue to explore our products in the future with confidence.
Review 1
Votes 13

Love it

3 years ago
I absolutely love this helps my hair so much but I recently dyed my hair and was wondering if this is safe for colored hair?
Product Works Well ForCurly Hair, Thick Hair
Product Helps AddressAnti-Frizz

Yes, I recommend this product.

Helpful?
Response from Garnier:
3 years ago
LeCare
Hi there! We appreciate you sharing your thoughts regarding Garnier Curl Nourish Butter Cream. We are glad you like the product! The product is safe for color-treated hair. Your comments will be shared with the team. Thank you for providing your feedback to us!
1 – 8 of 495 Reviews

Questions

1 - 10 of 28 Questions

Q: What is the difference between this leave in and the 'sleek and shine' I currently use

a year ago
1 Answer
  • A: Hi debw908! Thank you for your interest in Curl Air Dry Butter Cream Leave-in Treatment. The Curl Air Dry Butter Cream Leave-In Treatment instantly moisturizes and provides up to 48 hours of defined curls when used with the Curl Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner. (For curly hair) Fructis Sleek & Shine system smooths hair for visibly sleeker, shinier hair. Our leave-in conditioner's technology is infused with argan oil and plant keratin for long-lasting frizz control even in 97% humidity. (For straight hair)
    a year ago
    Helpful?

Q: Will this product hold up in extreme humidity, like 79%? Or would it be preferable to pair with another styling product?

a year ago
1 Answer
  • A: Hi There anttt! Thank you for reaching out to us about the Air Dry Butter Cream Leave-in Treatment . The sulfate-free system instantly moisturizes for perfectly defined waves, curls, and coiled without frizz. . Our technology is infused with plant protein and coconut oil for hair. We suggest using this after using the Curl Nourish Shampoo and Conditioner, by applying a quarter-sized portion of the Curl Nourish Butter Cream Leave-In Treatment to damp or dry hair. Distribute throughout hair. Do not rinse. We hope that you give this a try and love you results.
    a year ago
    Helpful?

Q: Can I use the curl nourish leave in treatment butter cream and the Curl treat smoothie defining cream together or should I only use one at a time?

a year ago
1 Answer
  • A: Hi there Shell143! Thank you for reaching out to us about using the Air Dry Butter Cream Leave-in Treatment. We do recommend using this alone and not using this with the Curl Treat Smoothie Defining Cream, using 1 or the other as not to weigh your hair down. We hope this information is helpful and you love the results!
    a year ago
    Helpful?

Q: Can you use with curlers? My natural gray on top, black underneath hair is two textures. The top layer wants to be straight and wispy, the bottom is wavy/curly. So I wonder if it will help to hold the curl from my curlers on top.

a year ago
1 Answer
  • A: Hi GGgray, Thanks for reaching out! Apply a quarter-sized portion of the Curl Nourish Butter Cream Leave-In Treatment to damp or dry hair. Distribute throughout hair. Do not rinse. We see no reason why you cannot use this with curlers. Thanks for your interest in Garnier!
    a year ago
    Helpful?

Q: After chemo therepy my hair is growing back curly and hoping your product will help "style" my unruly curls?

2 years ago
1 Answer
  • A: Hi there Grandma Jackie! Thank you for your interest in Air Dry Butter Cream Leave-in Treatment. We hope this will be the product for you, and that your new hair will respond well to this concitioner! We are committed to bringing our consumers high-quality, innovative products that meet their needs and expectations. We sincerely appreciate your interest.
    2 years ago
    Helpful?

Q: Will this be as effective if I use this with the Whole Blends Coconut Oil/Cocoa Butter shampoo/conditioner instead?

3 years ago
1 Answer
  • A: Hi lb18! Thank you for your interest in our products! Using the Whole line of Whole Blends Coconut shampoo, conditioner and Butter Treatment works great as a system! We hope you enjoy using them!
    3 years ago
    Helpful?

Q: Does the air dry butter cream leave or cause buildup on hair?

3 years ago
1 Answer
  • A: Hi ly00, Thank you for your interest in our Curl Nourish Butter Cream, which leaves your hair nourished detangled with defined curls. We hope you enjoy using it!
    3 years ago
    Helpful?

Q: How far up toward the scalp can you apply this cream? Is it only suitable for the ends?

3 years ago
1 Answer
  • A: Hi lb18. Thank you for reaching out to Garnier regarding the Curl Nourish Butter Cream. You should apply a quarter-sized portion to damp or dry hair and distribute throughout all your hair. Do not rinse out.
    3 years ago
    Helpful?

Q: How long the colored hair stays smooth with this application?

4 years ago
1 Answer
  • A: Hi Ramek! Thank you for your interest in the GARNIER FRUCTIS Curl Nourish Butter Cream. This product is gentle and suitable for color-treated hair. Our Leave-in air dry cream offers up to 48 hours of frizz-resistant curls. For more help selecting the perfect product for your hair type, you may wish to explore our Hair Care Feature on our website. We thank you for choosing Garnier!
    4 years ago
    Helpful?

Q: Love love love... how my hair feels and looks after using the stated product. Is there a stand alone conditioner that has the same ingredients as conditioner bottle provided in the box of Garnier Olia Permanent Hair/Soft Dark Mahogany permanent hair dye?

4 years ago
1 Answer
  • A: Hi, Thank you for being such a huge fan! It is heart warming to see the difference our products can make. Consumers like yourself are what keep us going and striving for more! We appreciate your warm comments and will be sharing them with other members of our team!
    4 years ago
    Helpful?
1 - 10 of 28 Questions
Alt
10.2 fl.oz
size 10.2 fl.oz 16.9 fl.oz