What kind of styling cream does wavy hair need?
If you have wavy hair, the hydrating and lightweight styling properties of a curling cream will suit your looser curl type perfectly. Here, we explore what to look for when choosing a styling product for waves…
The science behind waves
People spend a lot of time and money trying to achieve effortless-looking mermaid waves, so if you were born with them, lucky you. But there’s still a lot to be said for using the right styling products to eke out their true potential.
Wavy hair strands are elliptical, shaped that way by the curved follicles they grow out of, and the asymmetrical production of proteins within the fiber (both of which are determined by genetics). The unique waves that grow from the scalp as a result look different under the microscope to straighter hair, its kinky texture causing the cuticle layer to sit more raised, leaving it more fragile and prone to dryness and frizz.
For this reason, most experts recommend a curl cream for wavy hair, ideally a gel-cream hybrid that offers moisture-boosting benefits alongside hold and definition. If you’re researching the benefits of hair cream for curly hair, read What to look for in a curly hair cream, depending on your curl type.
The best curl cream for wavy hair
The NEW Nexxus Curl Define Climate Control Gel Cream offers hydrating and defining benefits to boost lackluster waves, with your hair’s long-term health in mind. Think of this styling range as the hair version of makeup with skincare benefits, thanks to a NEW STYLEPROTECT Technology engineered to encapsulate every strand with weightless protection, offering lasting power alongside long-term hair health.
If you have a lot of hair, try sectioning it when wet to achieve even application of your curl cream (about two quarter-sized amounts), tipping your head upside down while you scrunch, and with a diffuser attachment on your hairdryer, use a gentle heat for some extra mussed-up volume.
Heat-styled waves
As well as being more prone to moisture loss and frizz than straight hair, wavy hair is also more vulnerable to the protein-depleting damage caused by heat styling. Nexxus scientists are continually studying how the hair fiber reacts to different proteins through a research method known as ‘proteomics’. Heat damage is a key external hair stressor (alongside chemical coloring, extreme weather and heavy-handed styling), so, if you enhance your texture with a tool, or add waves to straight hair, heat protection is a must.
Many Nexxus styling products come with built-in heat protection up to 450°, including the Epic Shine Anti-Humidity Spray and Repair & Nourish Ultra Lightweight Oil, but having a dedicated heat protectant in your styling arsenal will future-proof your hair, whatever its type. Try the , which can be used as a detangler and softener before you apply your wave-boosting curl cream.
