Wavy hair is one of the most recognizable hair types because it often sits between straight and curly with loose loops or “S” shaped waves. These curls can look like spirals, beach waves, and swirls and often fall between straight and curly hair. Typically categorized as type “2” curly hair, wavy hair commonly deals with challenges like frizz and needs lighter products like creams and mousses to help with definition. As a matter of fact, wavy hair patterns need products that will enhance the waves without weighing them down because it can create a bulky effect. If you’re in need of a product refresh, we’ve compiled a list of the Best of the Best wavy products too add to your shelf!
Best CoWash for Type 2 Wavy Hair: As I Am Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner
As I Am has been bringing a game-changing co-wash to curlies for years and they aren’t stopping anytime soon. This cowash is very gentle for type 2 wavies looking to preserve moisture and is an alternative to your normal shampoo routine. As an award-winning product, it has a great blend of tangerine, coconut oil, castor oil, and saw palmetto, that works with your waves to gently remove product buildup, residue, and scalp sebum from your hair.
Best Leave-In for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Bounce Curl Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner
Bounce Curl is bringing the juice with their Moisture Balance Leave-In Conditioner which is ultra-concentrated and works to provide the ultimate nourishment for customers sporting waves. The leave-in is blended with 5 ancient eastern Mediterranean oils Egyptian, neroli, jojoba, olive, and argan oil which provides fantastic moisture and daily protection. A little goes a long way with this product and is clinically proven to help improve shine and moisture retention.
Best Conditioner for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Maui Moisture Curl Quench + Coconut Oil Curl-Defining Anti-Frizz Conditioner
Your curls take front and center with this rich oil blend conditioner that blends papaya butter and plumeria extract. For our type 2 wavies this is a fantastic product for helping to detangle, defrizz, and define your curls. It’s a very moisturizing and curl-enhancing conditioner that helps with softness and shine.
Best Deep Conditioner for Type 2 Wavy Hair: amikaThe Kure Intense Bond Repair Hair Mask
If you’re looking for an intense bond repair mask, look no further than the Kure which helps to reduce breakage and prevent future damage for finer textures like type 2 waves. It was specially formulated for thick and coarser hair types and includes ingredients like mango, shea butter, and borage oil. The clinically tested and proven results are deeply hydrating and can provide significant help to dry and brittle hair.
Best Shampoo for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Suave Professionals for Natural Hair Cleansing Sulfate Free Shampoo
If you’re a type 2 looking for a moisturizing shampoo that will create a creamy lather and gently cleanse the scalp to remove buildup, look no further than the Suave Professionals for Natural Hair Cleansing Sulfate Free Shampoo. This formula includes terrific ingredients like shea butter and pure coconut oil to help fight frizz, reduce breakage, and enhance shine. Wavies love it for its ability to tame frizz and reduce brightness at a cost-efficient price point that only Suave can deliver.
Best Pre-Shampoo for Type 2 Wavy Hair: SheaMoisture Apple Cider Vinegar Anti-Dandruff Pre-Wash
Let’s give your scalp something to look forward to with this SheaMoisture Apple Cider Vinegar Anti-Dandruff Pre-Wash that’s fantastic for taking care of your scalp’s microbiome and strengthening your hair. For type 2 wavies, this can gently exfoliate and remove flakes while detoxifying your scalp. It’s best used as a pre-shampoo treatment on either a wet or dry scalp and is beloved for its powerful blend of apple cider vinegar, vitamin B3, and shea butter.
Best Clarifying Cleanser for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Aveeno Scalp Soothing Apple Cider Vinegar Blend Shampoo
Type 2 wavies need a product that is going to be gentle and lightweight in their hair and this product does the job with a scalp-soothing formula of oat and apple cider vinegar. As a sulfate-free shampoo, it is clarifying and adds shine to the dullest hair that can be massaged generously into the hair and rinsed out.
Best Mousse for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Innersense I Create Lift Volumizing Foam
Did someone order volume with their mousse? This lightweight styling foam is perfect for type 2 wavies looking to uplift their roots and build body in their hair. It includes ingredients like aloe vera, honey, and sugarcane for an airy foam that you will love. The lightweight foam won’t weigh down your hair and helps to increase fullness and manageability so each strand is moisturized and hydrated.
Best Styling Cream for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk Defining Hair Cream
Let’s maximize our definition with this cream that adds a little extra bounce to type 2 curls and waves. As a daily styler, the curls benefit from hydrating ingredients from the rice curl complex that include amino acids, enzymes, and keratin. This muti-functional product provides a range of benefits such as sealing in moisture, adding shine, and is safe for color-treated hair.
Best Gel for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Ouidad Advanced Climate Control Heat and Humidity Gel
Say goodbye to frizz with this award-winning gel that is infused with ceramides and defines curls with a strong, long-lasting hold. Designed for extreme humidity, this helps to bring hod and definition to finer curls with a crunch-free finish. The combination of sericin, anti-frizz nano technology, and molecules works to protect your curls in any climate.
Best Hair Butter for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Innersense Inner Peace Whipped Creme Texturizer
Innersense is here to bring your curls inner peace with their whipped creme texturizer that focuses on hold, separation, and texture. As a lightweight texturizing formula with shea butter and bee-friendly honey, you can look forward to flexible and defined waves. For type 2 waves and finer curls, this is a very moisturizing formula that protects from humidity, and elimination frizz, and flyaways.
Best Refresher Product for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Maui Moisture Lightweight Curls+ Flaxseed Curl Refresher Mist
As an Aloe Vera-focused product, this curl-defining mist can deliver perfect hydration for type 2 waves. Maui created a lightweight conditioning spray that is vegan, silicone-free, and works to invigorate flat and dull curls without weighing them down. The tropical blend of coconut water, flaxseed oil, and aloe vera is an excellent combination for fine to medium curls that need an extra boost between wash days.
Best Anti-Frizz Product for Type 2 Wavy Hair: COLOR WOW Dream Coat Supernatural Spray Anti-Frizz Treatment
As the #1 anti-frizz treatment that waterproofs your hair to stop frizz even in the worst humidity, it’s no secret why type 2 wavies love this product while applying heat or just wearing their waves loose. This advanced formula leaves hair super glossy, glassy, and ultra-smooth with humidity-blocking technology that stops moisture from ruining your style especially when you’re out in the heat. It’s an ultra-light spray, doubles as a heat protectant, and can last through 3-4 shampoos.
Best Heat Protectant for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Pantene Heat Protectant Spray with Jojoba Oil for Curly Hair
The moisture lock curl mist with jojoba oil is rich in Vitamin E and helps to detangle and define curls. As a hairspray, it protects against heat and allows you to use a variety of hot tools without any damage. It can be sprayed evenly on dry, styled hair and used as a finisher to help hold your style throughout the day.
Best Hair Oil for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Pattern Beauty Jojoba Oil
Pattern Beauty is coming through with a jojoba oil blend that type 2 wavies love for its super lightweight and oil residue-free blend. Ingredients like safflower oil, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, and lavender oil help low-porosity hair that prevents damaged hair by reducing breakage. You can massage this oil into your scalp to help with pesky problems like itchiness, soothe dandruff, and prevent a dry scalp.
Best Hair Growth Product for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
It’s no secret that this viral sensation dominated all of social media and the haircare aisle for 2022 and it’s certainly given users countless reasons to love this product. Mielle’s Rosemary Mint Scalp and Hair Strengthening Oil is an intensive formula infused with biotin and features more than 30 essential oils and extracts to get curls, coils, kinks, and waves strong and healthy. This multi-faceted oil can be used for braids, weaves, and protective styles to increase longevity and preserve the hair under the scalp. Get ready to smooth split ends, condition dry scalps, and help improve your overall length retention with this all-star oil that won’t disappoint.
Best Strengthening Treatment for Type 2 Wavy Hair: Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair!™ MegaStrength+ Rice Water Protein + Moisture Strengthening Treatment
This is a concentrated hair formula that works to protect against breakage and moisturize the curls before any real damage can occur. Your hair will go from dry and brittle to nourished and happy due to the fortifying rice protein complex. It can be used as an intensive treatment as left on overnight with users citing seeing a 60% decrease in hair breakage after just one use. Mixing rosehip oil, algae extract, B vitamins, and rice protein complex can help balance hair hydration and control frizz.
If you’re looking to improve the definition of your waves with any of these products, check out How to Clump Your Waves For Better Definition.
