Wavy hair has been on-trend for years, and it’s safe to say it’s a go-to hairstyle no matter the occasion. Whether your hair is naturally wavy or not, anyone can achieve this defined look. All you need is the right product for waves that work with your hair type and texture!
There are many reasons why wavy hair is popular, but its versatility is one of the main reasons. Wavy hair is suitable for daily wear, special events, and anything else in between. Also, wavy hair is easy to maintain and achieve; anyone can do it.
This low-maintenance hairstyle can be adapted to fit your hair type regardless of whether your strands are stick-straight or thick and curly. However, with all the wave products on the market, how do you know which hair styling item will be right for you?
What are the best products for waves? The best products for waves will depend entirely on your hair type and texture, along with your lifestyle. For example, if you don’t like to heat style, you may want an air-dry styling cream or mousse.
Hair is personal, and everyone will have a different way to achieve wavy hair. However, let’s break down the most popular hair-waving products and consider what you should do before purchasing! Are you ready to find out more?
Wave Products – Buyer’s Guide
Formula
Wave products come in all kinds of formulas. For example, there are wave sprays, cream, balms, mousses, and more. Mists are generally great for fine hair, while creams, balms, and mousses suit wavy, curly, and coily hair types.
Hair Type
Your hair type can also determine what products will work for you. As mentioned earlier, mists are great for fine hair because it’s lightweight and won’t leave the hair looking greasy.
Creams are suitable for curly/wavy hair because they will define your curl pattern, add hold, and eliminate frizz.
Lifestyle
Surprisingly enough, your lifestyle can also determine what product will work the best for you! For example, if you hate to heat-style your hair, you should opt for an air-dry formula. This will allow your hair to dry perfectly without a hot tool.
Whether you love to heat style or you want to air-dry your strands, finding a product with UV protection is a must! This will ensure your hair is strong and will be protected against heat damage.
If you love to heat style, most wave products can also be amplified with heat.
Hair Length
The longer the hair, the more product you will need to apply. Waves are for all hair lengths and genders. Even men with short, natural, and textured hair will need a product to enhance and define waves.
Creams are great for medium to long hair with coarser textures, while mists are lightweight and add defintion to short or fine hair!
Best Products For Waves
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | DevaCurl Wave Maker Lightweight Moisturizing Definer | Moisturizing, defining, frizz-free |
| 2. | DevaCurl Frizz-Fighting Volumizing Foam | Anti-frizz, humidity resistant, defining |
| 3. | John Frieda Frizz Ease Cream Air-Dry Waves Styling Foam | Tackles frizz, adds texture |
| 4. | Sun Bum Curls & Waves Styling Cream | No-frizz, lasting hold, UV protection |
| 5. | OUAI Wave Spray | Works with straight and fine hair |
| 6. | Cantu Natural Hair Wave Whip Curling Mousse | Frizz-free, curl and wave defining |
| 7. | L’ange Hair Sea Salt Spray For Hair | Adds waves and body to fine hair |
| 8. | Pacifica Beauty Salty Waves Beach Hair Balm | Hydrating, frizz-fighting, antioxidants |
| 9. | Ocean View Deep Waves Pomade Hair Cream | Strong hold, wave defining |
| Bonus: | Shu Uemura Wata Wave Dry Finishing Spray | For fine hair, volumizing |
1. DevaCurl Wave Maker Lightweight Moisturizing Definer
DevaCurl is a fan-favorite hair system that many people with curly hair love.
DevaCurl is designed to instantly define, structure, and enhance your waves and curls. One way to achieve this look is with the Wave Maker Moisturizing Definer.
This lightweight waving cream is ideal for wavy/curly hair that’s dehydrated, brittle, and dry. It will encourage your hair to take on the shape of its natural curl pattern. The best part is that you’ll get a salon-quality finish quickly at home.
The Wave Maker Lightweight Moisturizing Definer will offer numerous benefits to the hair, like moisture, frizz-free strands, and structured curls.
DevaCurl claims that this cream will fight frizz for at least 48 hours. How can you incorporate this cream into your routine?
DevaCurl suggests working a nickel-sized amount into wet curls. Scrunch your hair as you apply the cream for volume and frizz-free waves to achieve flawless results. Don’t rinse it out; this product will provide a long-lasting hold to your curls.
2. DevaCurl Frizz-Fighting Body Booster
If you have natural waves but fine hair that tends to fall flat, check out this other awesome product from DevaCurl.
It’s designed to give your hair a volumizing boost for light, fluffy, and defined waves.
Not only will this foam help define and shape your waves, it will also eliminate unwanted frizz and protect your hair from humidity, which we’re sure has ruined many a good hair day.
After applying this product to wet hair and drying it, your hair will feel smooth and hydrated due to moisturizing ingredients.
Co-developed by dermatologists, this product will not damage your hair or irritate your scalp, and it is free of sulfates, silicones, and parabens. It’s even cruelty-free as well!
3. John Frieda Frizz Ease Cream Air-Dry Waves Styling Foam
Did you know you don’t have to spend your whole paycheck on a good hair product? John Frieda is a well-known drugstore hair care brand that formulates products just as good as high-end brands. They have the ideal product to create and maintain waves.
The Air-Dry Waves Styling Foam is the quickest and healthiest way to achieve stunning waves without using a hot tool. You’ll be left with a soft and natural result without feeling the product in your hair. It will instantly enhance your texture.
John Frieda’s formula is ideal for medium-thick and wavy-curly hair types. However, it will tackle all levels of frizz and will even work for color-treated hair. John Freida claims this product will “create a flexible barrier” for your waves to stay in place all day.
All you need to do is dispense a few pumps of the product into wet hair and scrunch! Then, let your hair air-dry and watch the product work its magic. You’ll have silky, frizz-free, and evenly defined waves/curls that last! Crunchy textures are a thing of the past!
4. Sun Bum Curls & Waves Styling Cream
Have you ever wanted to create the ultimate beach babe hairstyle? Sun Bum has the product for you!
Meet their Curls & Waves Styling Cream that helps you achieve effortless beachy hair. It will keep your strands protected and strong.
What will the Curls & Waves Styling Cream do for you? Sun Bum has created this cream to fight frizz, provide long-lasting hold, intense shine, and UV protection. A little-known fact is that UV rays can also damage your hair if it’s not protected.
This product is formulated for wavy and curly hair. It also contains a nourishing blend of ingredients that your hair will love, like seaweed protein, kukui nut oil, and monoi coconut oil. Together they will keep your hair vibrant, shiny, and defined.
Sun Bum recommends gently applying a dime-sized amount of product into damp or dry hair. They also state to start from the bottom, and dry your hair with a t-shirt to increase definition.
This will also ensure your waves and curls are frizz-free. Finally, The Curls & Waves Cream will leave your hair crunch-free!
5. OUAI Wave Spray
Do you dream of having hair like your favorite celebrities? Then, check out OUAI’S Wave Spray! OUAI was founded by celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin whose clients include the Kardashians and Hailey Bieber.
She created a hair care line for you and the celebs!
This wave spray is ideal for straight, wavy, and fine hair to gain texture and body. It will help create an effortless “I just got out of bed” wavy look.
OUAI also ensured these wave-enhancing ingredients are gentle and that the hair will love!
For example, this product is formulated with rice protein, and it’s even safe for color and keratin-treated hair. OUAI’s Wave Spray will be your perfect match if you want to have a minimal and effective hair routine. This product is also easy to use.
All you need to do is mist the product onto damp or dry hair, about ten inches away from the head, to instantly create wave, body, volume, and texture. You can even use this product as a prep step before curling or waving your hair with a hot tool.
Now you can have celeb-level hair, and you only have to do the bare minimum using OUAI’s Wave Spray.
6. Cantu Natural Hair Wave Whip Curling Mousse
Cantu is another well-loved brand because they are affordable and care for Natural hair types. It’s time to embrace your textured hair and define your curls and waves. You can do all of this and more with Cantu’s Natural Hair Wave Whip.
This product is perfect for frizzy, curly, and textured hair that wants to achieve loose curls, styling naturally wavy hair, or having the mousse define their curls. It is formulated with ingredients your hair will love and is gentle enough for daily use!
Cantu’s cruelty-free product contains shea butter to soften and define your textured hair without it feeling crunchy. It’s the ideal product to prep the hair for a hot tool or define your curl pattern.
Cantu also formulated this product without sulfates, parabens, and more!
Apply the Wave Whip Curling Mousse to wet hair and scrunch to get the best results. Then, depending on your hair or desired outcome, you can let your hair air-dry or style it with a diffuser. Finally, you’ll have frizz-free, soft, and defined waves!
Cantu’s Natural Hair Wave Whip will instantly become a must-have product in your hair routine!
7. L’ange Hair Sea Salt Spray For Hair
How can you bring the beach into your home?
L’ange Hair’s Sea Salt Spray will make you look like you swam in the ocean every day.
Now you can feel like you’re on vacation while also achieving the wavy hair of your dreams. Say hello to thick and defined hair!
L’ange Hair’s Sea Salt Spray will add texture, definition, body, and wave to fine hair.
It also provides a light hold to keep your style in place without that crunchy effect. Sea Salt is a key ingredient to help bring beachy strands to life!
L’ange Hair claims that this product will help create waves in fine hair and offer UV protection to keep your strands healthy.
This also makes it the ideal product for color-treated hair. The scent of this spray will be refreshing for you and your hair!
The Sea Salt Spray can be used on dry and damp hair. You can apply it to wet hair and heat style if you want volume and body. You can use it on dry hair if you want that “I just rolled out of bed” look. Which way will you be using this product?
8. Pacifica Beauty Salty Waves Beach Hair Balm
If there is anyone who knows wavy hair, it’s Pacifica Beauty. Their Salty Waves Beach Hair Styling Balm is the perfect match for wavy hair that needs to be defined.
Pacifica Beauty claims this balm offers five benefits for the hair.
The Salty Waves Beach Hair Styling Balm will add texture, nourishment, hydration, protection, and fight frizz.
While it’s formulated for all hair types in mind, this balm is excellent for natural, wavy, or slightly curly hair.
This balm will bring the ocean to you!
Pacifica Beauty is cruelty-free and formulated this balm with nutritional components like sea algae, banana, bhia, and various fatty acids and antioxidants. You won’t find any questionable ingredients like SLS, parabens, phthalates, and more.
Thankfully, the Salty Waves Beach Hair Styling Balm is easy to use and beginner-friendly. You can use this product on wet or dry hair. If you want more texture, add this product to dry hair, but if you want volume, apply it to wet hair!
Overall, this simple wave balm will change the look of your hair with one simple step! Now you can have defined waves daily!
9. Ocean View Deep Waves Pomade Hair Cream
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Who said wavy hair was only for women or people with long hair? Men and women with short, natural, or textured hair can also achieve waves!
The Ocean View Deep Waves Hair Cream is ideal for men looking to perfect and enhance their wave pattern. This wave pomade will change your hair routine for the better.
Ocean View states this cream will work wonders no matter what stage you’re in at defining your waves. It will ensure your style lasts all day long. Pomades are known to offer grip, hold, and texture while still keeping the hair natural.
Because this is a water-based cream, it will instantly simplify your routine. Kiss build-up goodbye because this water-based product will gently wash out with ease. The Deep Waves Pomade will offer a strong-hold for all hair types.
Overall the Ocean Views Deep Waves Pomade will help achieve the desired wave pattern, lay down the hair, and keep your hair intact all day long thanks to this pomade’s superior-hold.
Bonus: Shu Uemura Wata Wave Dry Finishing Spray
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Most of the products on the list will help create or enhance waves. However, what if you need to seal in your style or ensure your waves will last long after styling?
Say hello to the Shu Uemura Wata Wave Dry Finishing Spray for defined hair!
This finishing spray will add texture and hold for all hair types, but this will be especially helpful for fine hair that can’t maintain a shape. Shu Uemura’s Wata Wave Dry Finishing Spray is versatile and can be used in multiple ways.
First, you can use this spray to build texture while also receiving a flexible hold. This is wonderful to do to amp up waves after styling. You can add movement and volume for extremely fine hair types that lack definition.
Lastly, this product can maintain your hairstyle for days on end. For example, you can extend your waves and even refresh your 2nd/3rd-day hair! Think of this product as a touch-up powder for your makeup. Now you can make your waves last 24/7.
Whether you have normal hair or thick hair, you can find a spot for this product in your hair routine! Spray the product onto the hair until you achieve your desired results.
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