My waves and I have been through quite the journey.
All I wanted in those moments was silky-straight hairstrands so smooth the brush would glide through it with ease.
That desire led to years of frying my strands straight, believing it was the easier route to take.
Now (after ample time nursing my strands back to health), I adore my natural texture.
I love the wild twists and bends that give my mane its character.
A quick look at the best wavy hair products
Do you have wavy hair?
Before diving into products, it helps to know if you do, in fact, have wavy hair.
Not sure which throw in closely resembles your tresses?
Take ourhair key in quizto officially I.D.
Texture: 4
This shampoo lathers like a dream without making my scalp feel irritated.
Still, Id consider it a very gently lathering shampoo.
Hold: 0
Hold isnt applicable here, since its not a leave-in product!
Hydration: 5
This is a very hydrating shampoo.
I find this Curl Cleanse ticks both boxes effortlessly.
The humectant attracts water to the strand, and the added moisture leaves my waves bouncy and oh-so juicy.
Youll also find carrot and raspberry seed oil to unparalleled slip and shine.
), she tells me.
Its so rich, so moisturizing, and noticeably softens my hair for days.
Texture: 5
Its thick, its rich, and its oh-so-hydrating, says Frye.
Nevertheless, it spreads easily throughout longer, denser hair.
Frye swears this formula is so hydrating that she doesnt even need to follow up with leave-in conditioner post-rinse.
Thats how effective it is, she gushes.
The formula features sustainably-sourced olive fruit extract, which is great for softening the hair and eliminating frizz.
It also provides vitamin E, which is great for nourishment and fighting off free radicals.
The product does contain some silicones, if you avoid those.
I would suggest different packaging for the thicker consistency, but the formula is just too good to toss!
That said, it does provide slight hold for people who dont want to use a gel or mousse.
My waves feel so soft and hydrated when I use this leave-in.
It coats each strand in moisture without leaving behind a slick residue.
No silicones, but it does have fragrance if you tend to steer clear of scent.
I personally love the aromait makes my hair smell like a strawberry milkshake.
youll adore this butter.
This curl butter isthick,so much so that it almost feels like a super-hydrating paste.
If you have thinner hair, I will say this might be too heavy for you.
But its the perfect consistency for my dense, frizz-prone waves.
I have thick, 2c waves though and my locks drink the formula right up.
So hydrating and thickyou can really feel the shea butter at work here!
My hair is way less frizzy when I use it, and we know ample hydration is the No.
1 antidote to frizz.
No silicones, but it does have natural fragrance in the form of essential oils.
Bonus points for the rainforest grown rahua oil, which is super moisturizing.
Its lightweight yet buildable, so you’re able to layer it up to your desired hold.
When it dries, my hair feels soft and touchable (never crunchy), without any lingering residue.
Ive applied it on both wet and dry hair, and it remains practically undetectable!
No crunch, slime, or flaking with this gel.
I only give it a 4 because it doesnt provide as much hold as a thicker, stickier gel.
But if you have finer waves like me, you probably dont need anything stronger!
I definitely notice a difference when I use this gel.
My waves appear shinier, softer, and much more manageable compared to other gels Ive tried.
And it doesnt make my strands look greasy, either.
I especially appreciate how hydrating it feels even when it dries downno hard shell exterior here.
No silicones, but it does include a light fragrance.
I then made the mistake of associating the product with middle school woes.
Trust us, youll wind up with soft, defined waves, minus the crunch.
Like the name suggests, this mousse is super lightweight.
Hold: 5
The hold is great and also super buildable, Frye adds.
The ingredient list is free of parabens and silicones, toogreat for leave-in products.
How do I make my wavy hair not frizzy?
Hydration, hydration, hydration.
How do I start a wavy hair routine?
Every good hair care routine starts in the shower.
We have a full guide to starting a hair care routinehere, but ultimately, everyones strands are unique.
The takeaway
Anyone with textured hair will tell you: Styling products are your friends.
Just know that hair punch in is only one part of the product-selecting equationyou need to I.D.
your hairs porosity as well.
We haveanother guide for that.
