15 Best Wavy Hair Products Tested 2025, Approved by Hair Stylists

The Color Wow Money Mask is a cult favorite, because it’s designed to deliver intense hydration and repair without weighing hair down. Formulated for color-treated or damaged hair, it melts right into strands to provide deep conditioning in just a few minutes. For even more dramatic results, you can leave the mask on for up to 20 minutes, according to package directions.

I’m not usually a hair-mask person, because I hate the waiting, but after putting this one to the test, I’m hooked. My 2A hair is dry and damaged from regular heat styling, and this product masks that. When I use it, I look like I just stepped out of the salon. My waves are soft, bouncy, and refreshed—even when air-dried. My only gripe: The shiny tub is slippery in my hands.

Best Styling Milk: JVN Complete Blowout Styling Milk

• What we love: Lightweight; great scent
• What could improve: May not be as effective on coarser hair types

A styling milk is a lightweight leave-in product that nourishes, smooths, and protects hair while enhancing natural texture—perfect for wavy hair, which can easily get frizzy or weighed down by heavier creams. The JVN Complete Blowout Styling Milk hits all the marks: it softens strands, tames frizz, and protects against heat and humidity without flattening waves.

“First off, I loved how this product smelled! It really was great and the glass packaging with the pump looked and felt really premium,” says Dana Smith, VP, content lead, Conde Nast Health. “I have thin, dry, curly hair so it straightens pretty easily but it can also get weighed down with heavier products. This didn’t make my hair feel greasy. My hair felt soft after it was dry and the scent lingered as well, which I thought was a big pro.”

Best Shampoo for Wavy Hair: Briogeo Farewell Frizz Smoothing Shampoo

• What we love: Cruelty-free; has natural ingredients; keeps hair flyaway-free
• What could improve: Pricey

This sulfate-free shampoo is designed to gently cleanse while taming waves and light curls with a boost of moisture. Its creamy, thick lather comes from a blend of deeply hydrating ingredients, including rosehip, argan, and coconut oils. The result is smoother strands, better frizz control, and more shine without weighing waves down.

“This curly hair shampoo has a nice floral scent and a runny, milky consistency that lathers easily,” says Griggs, who notes that her lightly curly hair skews frizzy, especially at the roots. “After use my hair felt very clean, light, and smooth. Shiny too! I was pleased and will keep using this in my wavy hair routine for sure.”

Best Hair Towel: Crown Affair The Hair Towel

• What we love: Soft and lightweight fabric; generously-sized; self-secures with built-in elastic
• What could improve: Expensive compared to other hair towels

For wavy hair, how you dry your strands can make a huge difference in frizz, wave definition, and overall texture. Crown Affair’s microfiber towel is ideal for “micro-plopping,” a technique that scrunches waves gently while hair dries to enhance natural shape and minimize frizz. Its soft microfiber fabric is highly absorbent, reducing drying time while preventing the friction that often leads to puffiness or breakage.