Best Products for Thick, Frizzy, Wavy Hair
Whether you’re a professional hair experimenter or have untouched virgin locks, these products are the holy grail for frizzy, wavy, thick hair.
Bumble & Bumble Dry Shampoo Hair Mist
I’ve definitely gone through a dry shampoo “Goldilocks” phase, and I usually prefer loose powder formulas - but this one genuinely surprised me. It’s a “dual-phase liquid dry shampoo that absorbs oil and neutralizes odor without leaving buildup”, and a little truly goes a long way. It refreshes my roots without making my already-dry ends feel worse (which is always my biggest issue with traditional dry shampoos).
It’s technically designed as a post-workout dry shampoo, but I use it anytime I want to extend the life of my hair between washes. My scalp tends to get slightly oily while my ends stay dry, and this keeps everything balanced without that heavy, gritty texture some sprays leave behind. Even my mom - who has fine, tighter curls - tried it and immediately loved it. The scent is fresh and subtle (notes of clementine and sandalwood), and it makes hair feel clean without feeling stripped.
Bumble & bumble Seaweed Air Dry Cream
I’ve tried an almost embarrassing number of leave-in conditioners, and most of them either feel too heavy or disappear into my hair without doing much. This one somehow hits the perfect middle ground. It’s technically part leave-in conditioner, part styling cream, and it gives my waves soft definition, real hydration, and noticeable frizz reduction without weighing anything down. I’ve been using it on soaking wet hair before air-drying, and it consistently gives me smoother, more defined waves with zero crunch.
What really surprised me is how well it works for refreshing second-day hair. I lightly dampen my hair, emulsify a small amount in my hands, scrunch, and let it air dry - and it brings everything back to life every single time. If you air-dry your hair and want lightweight moisture with soft hold, this is one of the best products I’ve found.
Odele volumizing foam
I don’t naturally reach for foams - I’ve never loved the slightly filmy feeling they can leave behind. When I apply it to damp (almost soaking) hair, it absorbs much better and gives me lift and shape without that heavy residue foams sometimes create. While this isn’t a product I personally would grab regularly, but I had my mom try it - who has finer more coily curls, and she really loved it. It does what it says, and the Odele brand is a great affordable line of reliable products!
ODELE Rejuvenating Scalp Serum
In the past, I’ve added rosemary oil to my co-wash routine - rosemary is often associated with stimulating circulation at the scalp and supporting hair growth and density over time. This serum takes that idea and makes it much easier to use consistently. It’s applied directly to dry or slightly damp hair (not in the shower), which makes it feel more like a treatment than a wash-step add-on.
It’s very lightweight and surprisingly concentrated - a few drops per section goes a long way. My biggest concern was that it would leave my roots greasy, but it absorbs quickly and doesn’t weigh anything down. It’s formulated with plant-based ingredients designed to support scalp health and thicker-looking hair, and funny enough I’ve found that it calms my scalp when it starts to get a little itchy.
odele hair oil
This one from Odele stands out because it’s super thin and lightweight, which gives you way more control. I can build it up slowly without accidentally overdoing it, and it adds serious shine without making my hair look greasy.
It’s formulated with camellia, baobab, and argan oils to smooth frizz and restore softness, and I’ve found it especially helpful for keeping my ends polished between washes. It’s concentrated but doesn’t feel heavy, which makes it ideal for medium to coarse hair that needs extra softness and shine. The scent is clean and subtle (oakmoss, ylang ylang, cucumber), and it feels elevated without being overpowering. If your biggest struggle is dry ends but you still want movement and bounce, this is a really easy one to incorporate into your routine.
ROZ STYLING OIL
ROZ describes this as lightweight and fast-absorbing, and while it is smoothing and beautiful, I’d say it’s a bit richer than the Odele oil in my routine. They recommend applying 1–2 pumps to towel-dried hair after a shower, and I can absolutely see why - this one really shines (literally) as a post-wash styling oil. When I’ve added it to sopping wet hair along with an air-dry cream, it dries down incredibly soft and glossy with noticeable frizz reduction.
I’ve also tried using it on my ends between washes, and for me it felt slightly heavy in that context. That said, if your hair leans dry or you’re doing a smooth blowout, this is a beautiful finishing oil. It’s color-safe and formulated with botanical oils for added moisture and control, and it pairs especially well with a leave-in or serum to lock in shine. If you’re looking for a styling oil to smooth frizz and boost shine right after washing, this is where it performs best.
HAIR STORY NEW WASH
Years ago, I had a genuinely miserable scalp situation. It was unbearably itchy - especially after workouts - and nothing seemed to help. At the same time, I hated how traditional shampoo made my hair feel like straw, only for conditioner to “fix” it temporarily. It felt like I was stuck in this strip-and-repair cycle. Co-washing was new to me at the time, and I wasn’t convinced it would actually cleanse my hair… but Hair Story’s New Wash completely changed everything.
New Wash is a detergent-free cleanser that replaces both shampoo and conditioner. Instead of stripping your scalp and forcing it to overproduce oil, it’s designed to balance your natural oils and support overall scalp health. Within weeks, my itching stopped, my hair felt softer and smoother, and my natural texture started looking better with less effort. I’ll occasionally use a traditional shampoo as a clarifier, but I always follow it with New Wash. I use the Original formula (they also offer Rich and Deep Clean versions), and I can confidently say I’ll never go back to a regular shampoo-and-conditioner routine.
Crown affair leave-in conditioner
This is one of the more lightweight leave-in conditioners in my lineup, and it’s the one I reach for when I want softness without heaviness. I’ll use it on damp hair before air-drying, but I’ve also added it to blown-out hair or even styled curls when my ends need a little extra hydration. It smooths, reduces frizz, and adds shine without leaving residue - which is key if you’re layering other styling products on top.
It’s formulated with a lightweight blend of nourishing fatty acids to help prevent breakage and lock in moisture, and it even acts as a natural heat protectant. It absorbs quickly and feels buildable, which makes it easy to use across different styles. And yes - I love the scent. It’s subtle but elevated, and it’s one of those products I’ve repurchased multiple times because it just works.
HAIR STORY HAIR BALM
Hair Story’s Hair Balm definitely brings more hold than I expected - in the best way. When I use it post-shower layered over a gentle leave-in (like the Bumble & Bumble Air Dry Cream), it defines my waves and curls beautifully. It gives structure and shape without turning crunchy, and it dries down soft and shiny. For me, it works best when paired with something moisturizing underneath — either a lightweight leave-in or a thin oil - to balance the hold with hydration.
It’s designed as an air-dry styling cream that smooths frizz and revives dry strands, and I’ve also used it between washes when my hair needs more aggressive moisture and control. A little truly goes a long way. If your waves fall flat or you want stronger definition without a traditional gel, this is a great option for creating soft, defined curls that still move naturally.
DPHUE Color depositing conditioner
I first bought dpHUE Gloss+ when my hair was a bold copper-strawberry blonde and fading faster than I wanted it to. Like most color-treated hair, the vibrancy would soften after a few washes, and I was looking for something that would keep it looking fresh without another full dye session. This color-depositing conditioner was the perfect solution. It temporarily boosts pigment while adding serious shine and moisture, so your hair feels healthier instead of over-processed.
I’ve experimented with several shades depending on where my color was at the time, and they’ve all performed beautifully. I typically use it every other wash to maintain tone and dimension, then stop a few weeks before a salon appointment. If you have color-treated hair and want to extend the life of your shade while adding shine and softness, this is one of the easiest ways to do it.
AMIKA “Reset” Scalp cleanser
I love love love this stuff. It has a subtly minty, fresh scent and leaves my scalp feeling genuinely clean without that tight, stripped sensation some clarifying shampoos cause. Since I don’t regularly use a traditional clarifier, I’ll reach for this every few washes when my scalp needs a reset. The nozzle tip makes application incredibly easy - you can apply it directly to your roots without making a mess.
It’s an oil-to-foam pre-wash treatment designed to break down product buildup, excess oil, and impurities using charcoal and pink clay. You apply it to dry hair, let it sit for a few minutes, then add water to emulsify before rinsing. It detoxifies the scalp without drying it out, which is key for me. If your hair routine involves styling products, dry shampoo, or color treatments, this is a great way to deeply cleanse your scalp while keeping it hydrated and balanced.
Products I’m Currently Trying
I always try new products for a few weeks to months before adding them to my recommendation list. Here’s what’s currently in my testing phase that I’m really enjoying, but have yet to fully review (click each for product page):
Initial thoughts:
Hair Story Pre-Wash: I expected this to be like the Amika “Reset” Scalp Cleanser, and it’s very much not. That’s okay! The consistency is a lot thinner, like water, and comes out FAST. (No, I haven’t continually dripped this into my eyes, why would you ask?) I haven’t noticed anything negative about it, but still feeling it out. Neutral scent.
Hair Story Undressed: This SALT FREE texturizing spray “adds waves without weight.” I’ve used it to touch up my hair in combination with hair balm, which might feel counterintuitive but for some reason works really well for me! Neutral scent.
Fenty Curl Cream: As someone who has dipped my toes into textured hair products, I was excited to give this (and the leave-in) a try. A little goes a long way, and the scent is incredible!
Fenty Leave-In Conditioner: A little goes a long way, the scent is incredible, and my hair is baby soft.