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Wavy hair can be prone to good and bad hair days like any hair type, but while wavy hair doesn’t require the heavy hydration of curly and coily hair types, getting proper moisture is key to gorgeous smooth waves. So if you’re looking for some of the best conditioners for wavy hair you’ve come to the right place.
Though easily overlooked, a good conditioner can take waves from dry and frizzy and smooth and bouncy. I love conditioner and am guilty of using maybe too much on occasion, but I love the softness it gives my hair to use something strong and moisturizing, not to mention how it can reduce frizz. So what are the benefits of a good condition for wavy hair?
First off, wavy hair tends to be dryer than straight hair, which is why a good conditioner is like a drink of water for your tresses. It keeps them hydrated and healthy, and nobody wants dry, brittle hair. Plus, have you ever tried to brush out wavy hair when it's tangled? Ouch! That's where a good conditioner comes in, making it easy to detangle and comb through without causing any damage.
I've compiled some of my favorite conditioners that leave my wavy hair feeling soft and looking shiny.
While wavy hair needs moisture, it can also be weighed down by too much, especially if a conditioner is heavy on oils and butters. What kind of conditioner you should use will depend on your hair texture—whether your hair is fine, medium or thick—as well as how frizzy or damaged your hair is. Using a conditioner that is lightweight but still has enough moisture to provide for smoothness and hydration is important.
To make the most of your waves and reduce frizz, saturate the hair with conditioner. Better yet, detangle your hair before getting wet so that the conditioner can more easily spread amongst your strands. When your hair is completely saturated with conditioner, you can try the squish to condish method to add some definition to your waves, or you can rinse out without this technique and still have moisturized frizz-free hair.
Using a deep conditioner or hair mask is recommended for wavy hair, especially if the hair is damaged, dry, or prone to breakage. Hair masks and deep conditioning treatments give hair an extra dose of moisture to counteract how dry waves can get.
A deep conditioner is typically used in place of regular conditioner once a week or every other week, depending on the needs of your hair. It is formulated to penetrate deep into the hair shaft, providing intense hydration and nourishment to the hair. Deep conditioners often contain ingredients such as shea butter, coconut oil, or argan oil, which are rich in vitamins and antioxidants that help to strengthen the hair and prevent damage.
Fine wavy hair can be easily weighed down by most anti-frizz or curl conditioners, but to tamp down frizz and revive waves it needs bit more moisture than a volumizing conditioner can deliver. This conditioner from Amika is lightweight enough for fine hair but it has sea buckthorn and omega-7 fatty-acids to deliver shine and smoothness along with a little bit of volume.
This is the rare conditioner formulated specifically for waves and it’s at a drugstore price! It’s lightweight so likely won’t provide enough moisture for those with a ton of frizz or dryness, but for those wanting to add a bit more moisture to fine wavy hair it’s a great option.
Briogeo’s anti-frizz conditioner is really nourishing with enough slip to make your hair feel soft before you’ve gotten out of the shower, but it also makes waves dry to be springy and lightweight. This conditioner uses argan oil and rosehip oil for mega hydration and softness.
Pattern is a line for those with wavy, curly, coily and highly-textured hair so a lot of their products are aimed at delivering moisture to hair that is dry and prone to frizz and unmanageability. This conditioner is lightweight which makes it a perfect choice for those with medium waves who are battling dryness.
This conditioner from Davines is a must if you have heavy, weighed down or frizzy waves. This leaves them springy, bouncy, shiny, and moisturized. Truly a miracle conditioner for any with waves or curls.
I was skeptical of the Sun Bum hair line as I am of any company that comes out with haircare secondarily (in this case, Sun Bum’s sunscreens), but this conditioner uses a magical blend of coconut oil and seaweed protein to strengthen and soften the thickest of hairs.
This conditioner is infused with avocado and jojoba seed oil for an ultra-smoothing and softening finish for your hair. It has so much slip and is one of the best conditioners at the drugstore for anyone with dry hair, period.
Overall, a conditioner with a lot of moisture can help to nourish and protect wavy hair, leaving it looking and feeling its best. By providing hydration and enhancing the natural wave pattern of the hair, a good conditioner can help to achieve the beautiful, beachy waves that we’re all looking for. Go ahead and try one of these conditioners for gorgeous, bouncy, healthy waves.
