When it comes to fine, wavy hair, we have to walk a delicate line between dry strands and greasy, weighed-down ones.
There is no one magic solution for every head of hair, so sometimes we have to take a few extra steps to find that perfect deep conditioner that works for us. It’s all about striking the right amount of moisture for your unique curls and your lifestyle.
Follow these 5 top tips to help find the perfect balance of moisture for your waves.
1. Regular conditioner can be a deep conditioner for wavy hair
When searching for a deep conditioner for your fine waves, do not look past a product that might not be advertised as a deep conditioner. In your case, you may not need to retain as much moisture as other curl patterns; therefore, these will work just as well.
I like using traditional conditioners for deep conditioners because there are more options, and they can be easier to rinse out completely without worrying about anything weighing your hair down for styling. I leave it in for about 5-10 minutes while showering. It leaves my waves light and bouncy while still being well-moisturized.
When you apply your deep conditioner, the ends of your hair need a little more love than your scalp. If you layer too much product near your scalp, the excessive build-up may make it troublesome to rinse out, leaving you with lifeless and stringy waves.
The best way to address this is by applying a ton of conditioner at your ends, and then gently running your fingers over your halo. To avoid putting conditioner directly on my scalp, I like to flip my head upside down and scrunch the deep conditioner upwards.
3. Use a wide-tooth comb
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A wide-tooth comb can be your best friend while deep conditioning and is also a great time for detangling. This makes sure your product is evenly distributed, which is helpful when you have wavy-textured hair because you will not have to worry about creating a greasy spot of hair.
While it is tempting to deep condition every time you shower, this can be altogether too much moisture for fine wavy hair. I find that planning to deep condition once every two weeks is a pretty good time frame for my hair most of the time, but occasionally my hair needs to be deep conditioned once a week. Sometimes, I can even go for a whole month. Depending on whether your hair is heat-damaged or chemically processed, or colored, you may need a different schedule.
By adding too much moisture to your hair, you may make it more prone to stretching or excessive elasticity, which is not good for your waves.
5. Don’t skip protein treatments
It can be easy to just focus solely on moisture for your hair, but it is equally important that you find the correct balance between moisture and strength in order to have the best hair. You can achieve this by adding in a protein-heavy conditioner to your deep conditioner rotation.
There is never a shortage of styling products you can use for wavy hair, whether your texture is thick, medium, or fine. The best products for wavy hair can help keep your waves smooth, frizz-free, and full of bounce. Type 2 waves can have a loose, S-shaped pattern, beach waves, or loose spirals with a thicker and coarser texture.
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While formulas that promise beach waves for straight hair or perfect spirals for tighter curl patterns usually garner a lot of buzz, there aren’t many headline-making products out there for naturally wavy hair. People often assume waves don’t even need product assistance. As someone with Type 2 hair, I’ll often hear, “You’re so lucky your hair just dries like that!”– as if I didn’t spend 20 minutes in front of the mirror that morning trying to get my hair to lay just so!”
“It’s another common misconception that wavy hair is thick, but plenty wavy girls are on the finer side,” says celebrity stylist Justine Marjan, who–besides being the go-to girl for the Kardashians–counts Type 2s like Chrissy Teigen, Ashley Tisdale, and Shay Mitchell among her clients. Her must-haves include light jellies and creams that won’t weigh down fine waves.
“Curly and wavy hair types are naturally more dry, so hydration and moisture are essential,” she adds. But what elusive miracle products will give Type 2 hair the definition, hold, and hydration it needs, without compromising on volume? We’re glad you asked. Here’s a list of the top styling products for type 2 waves.
Marjan swears by Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream because it’s “great for drier hair types that need extra moisture and definition.” This is one of my personal go-to’s, as well – I love that it’s infused with argan oil and smells amazing, too.
As a reviewer with Type 2c hair says, “I would suggest this to anyone who is in need of a product that doesn’t create frizz and doesn’t make [my] hair sticky or crunchy!”
With a slightly-tacky, creamy texture, ELEVEN AUSTRALIA Keep My Curl Defining Cream is a must-try for any Wavies who want extreme hold and definition. This completely changed my hair when I first started using it in high school, and it’s still on rotation in my product lineup!
You won’t find any sulfates, silicones, phthalates, and parabens in Not Your Mother’s Naturals–but it’s what you will find inside that makes all the difference. Tahitian gardenia flower helps shape waves, while mango butter reduces frizz and adds shine.
AG Hair Re: Coil Curl Activator has five stars from the NaturallyCurly community – so you know it’s good. Need more convincing? One CurlTalk reviewer promises that with Re: Coil, “My hair is consistently and predictably curlier, softer, and relatively frizz-free.”
Marjan always reaches for OUAI Curl Defining Cream (a cross between a cream and an oil) when she works with her celebrity clients. To get Insta-ready waves, she recommends “applying in sections for even distribution. If you are letting the hair air dry, make sure to avoid touching or scrunching the hair, as friction from our hands can cause frizz.”
Miss Jessie’s Jelly Soft Curls is a miracle in a tube. It manages to leave waves super-soft (AKA, no crunch whatsoever) while still defining their shape and holding it all in place.
Over on the Type 2 boards on CurlTalk, Bread Beauty Hair Gel gets a lot of love. User Guide 65 says, “It gives my hair definition like I’ve never seen it before! I have to be careful how much I use, because all that definition takes away from the volume. But I get day two hair that needs no refreshing.”
If you prefer your haircare certified organic and all-natural, then you need to check out this alcohol-free styling gel from Curlsmith. It offers medium-to-firm hold, and ingredients that won’t harm your hair, all for under $30.
“My HG wave-defining products are hard-hold gels. I like the Rizos Curls light hold gel the best,” says Therese1, a Wavy who shares her feedback on Type 2 styling products on CurlTalk.
Sometimes, wavies can get away with skipping stylers with the right conditioner – that conditioner is DevaCurl One Condition. “It’s so creamy, but it’s light enough for my fine hair,” says a CurlTalk community member.
Another CurlTalk favorite? Kinky-Curly Knot Today leave-in conditioner. Users love that it keeps waves detangled and smooth, which is the first step towards a good hair day, right?
Even though Love Beauty and Planet’s Leave-In Smoothie isn’t marketed towards waves or curls, I find it to be the best leave-in formula on the market. I don’t have to follow up with other stylers – I love simply smoothing this through my damp waves and going!
LA-based hair stylist Helena Lambert opts for Living proof Style Lab Control Hairspray to lock in shape and shine. “If your hair type is frizzy, this will smooth any frizz,” she says.
Here’s how to get waves with more body and bounce, courtesy of Marjan: “Once the hair is completely dry, finish with TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray for volume.”
Lambert’s secret for “woke up like this” hair? “I’ll spritz DESIGNME PUFF.ME Volumizing Dry Texture Spray, scrunch the ends a bit, then gently twist it into a top knot. I leave it up for a bit, letting it semi-air dry. Then take it down and air dry it the rest of the way,” he says.
The Gisou Honey Infused Hair Mask is the way to go for hair that needs some extra attention. Marjan says she often uses it on her clients to add moisture and hydration to dry, frizzy waves.
You can deeply quench, nourish, and soften dry, damaged strands to get your hair back to looking healthy with these blends with creamy shea butter, rich coconut milk, and pure macadamia oil.
Wavies love this amazing, nourishing mask because it deeply conditions, hydrates and restores dry hair to its natural vibrancy and health with this replenishing treatment.
DIY TREATMENT
20. DIY Flaxseed Gel
If you’d rather whip up your own styler, try this combination from CurlTalk connoisseur BeinDeb: “I make [my DIY flaxseed gel] using a marshmallow root tea as the base, and add a pinch of honey and oil.”
Of course, you can’t rely on products alone for perfect waves. To get the most out of these stylers, make sure you’re not over-washing your waves or damaging them with your diffuser! What are your top styling products for type 2 waves? Share them with us in the comments below!
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