The 9 Best Wavy Hair Products for Healthy, Defined Curls

Celeb stylist Jen Atkin knows her way around red carpet-worthy waves, and her wave-centric product doesn’t disappoint. It’s meant to be applied both on damp hair (just scrunch and go) and dry (apply mid-lengths to ends for a soft, non-crunchy pick-me-up).

If you find that standard salt sprays tend to dry your hair out, try this lightweight aerosol texturizer: The salt-free formula helps add volume to fine roots (to balance out more voluminous ends) and adds definition without stickiness.

Another spray that earned high marks, Verb’s offering includes seaweed extract to absorb oils (it doubles as a dry shampoo), quinoa protein to repair damage and sunflower extract for natural UV protection.

Even if your “wave” is really more a handful of seemingly random bends, this concentrated cream works to enhance whatever natural texture you have, while taming frizz and adding definition. Pro tip: Apply with a light hand—a little goes a long way.

Buy it ($19)

Some days we’re feeling that matte, just-went-surfing look, but when we want something a little more polished, this oil-enriched mist adds moisture and gloss without weighing strands down. (If the price gives you sticker shock, we also love this spray from Kristin Ess.)

Now available at the recently relaunched Dermstore site, where there's a new focus on skincare education and high quality beauty products.

This longtime cult-fave product is more lightweight than standard mousse, which can be a little too stiff if you have a less-defined curl pattern. And it works equally well for air-drying and blowouts.

Devotees swear by this ultra-moisturizing (and color-safe) line, which brings dull, dry hair back to springy life. And it still cleanses thoroughly enough that you can skip a day or two without worry.

For fine hair, it’s hard to find that magical balance between oil control and hydration, but this sulfate-free combo nails it. The formulas contain maltodextrin, a natural sugar starch that binds to strands to create fullness without a sticky residue.

Whether you diffuse or air-dry, getting quickly from the sopping phase to the damp phase is key for minimizing potential frizz. This top-rated towel is gentler on cuticles thanks to ultra-fine fibers finer than silk, and works especially well when combined with the “plopping” method (basically, piling your hair in upside down to scrunch while drying).