To some, wavy hair is the fence-sitter of hair types. Neither straight nor entirely curly, those with a naturally wavy head of hair don’t often know which direction to go in the way of styling.
With a quick blow dry and a passing-over of the straighteners, you’d never know they had a wonderfully unique hair texture hiding in the folds of those locks. Yet one by one, those with wavy hair seem to be relinquishing the battle to tame the frizz, instead working to reclaim their curls after years of disguising them.
We ourselves can recall the lasting smell and brittle texture resulting from the constant, repeated attempts to straighten our hair so aggressively that it hung limp and frameless, making us look more like the girl from The Ring than Adriana Lima in the early 2000s. Yikes. If only we could tell our younger selves that irreparable damage caused by straightening your hair is entirely not worth it.
Girls weren’t the only gender to suffer this curl-destroying fate. Simply Google what One Direction used to look like in the 2010s (Harry Styles being the only exception, of course), and you’ll instantly find yourself remembering the straightened, VO5’d spikes that sprouted from boys’ heads like deadly spears or clung to their poor foreheads like Lego helmets.
One glance at the #CurlTok hashtag on TikTok, which has garnered over 1.3B views, will open your eyes to the wonderful community of curly hair-havers graciously teaching us about the many ways in which we can enhance, define, and protect our natural hair textures – waves included.
From applying products with the palm of your hand and never the fingers, to wrapping individual stands of hair around Denman brushes for the utmost definition – the tips and tricks garnered by those with curly hair who have embraced their natural texture are invaluable for those with wavy hair who haven’t a clue where to start.
However, the types and levels of curly hair are immense, and it’s important to understand your curl type before embarking on your own curly hair journey to prevent yourself from purchasing expensive haircare products which simply won’t work.
We recommend having a gander at Flora & Curl’s illustrated guide to curly hair classification. You might also want to give Naturally Curly’s fantastic texture typing quiz a go.
Without further ado, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best curl creams for wavy hair to buy in the UK. Keep scrolling to reclaim your curls.
Shop now.
JVN Hair Complete Air Dry Cream
Haircare angel Jonathan Van Ness is renowned for their incredibly high-quality and efficacious products– and this Complete Air Dry Cream from their eponymous brand JVN is no exception.
Suitable for all hair types, this fantastic product contains chia seed and linseed extract to deliver unbeatable hold without any crunch. It also contains hemisqualane to prevent damage and moringa seed oil for extra lustre and shin. Free from nasty silicones of sulphates and packaged sustainably, this Air Dry Cream provides unbeatable frizz control and a straight-out-of-the-salon finish.
Complete the set with the JVN Hair Conditioning Mist, which can be used daily to refresh your luscious waves with ease.
Buy now £10.00, Space NK
Act + Acre Cold Processed Soft Curl Lotion
Trichologist-approved and manufactured with a never-before-used cold processing system, Act + Acre’s Soft Curl Lotion truly harnesses the power of the plant-based ingredients which make it up.
The science behind the Cold Processed Curl System is supported by studies conducted by two leading scientists from the Princeton Research Education Service – which is already impressive. Said study revealed that the regimen not only removed 95 per cent of build-up on the scalp and hair, but the Cold Processing method (which uses ice water and high pressure) resulted in 97 per cent more Vitamin E being delivered straight to your scalp for healthier, more nourished curl.
The milky yet firm formula makes it easy to evenly distribute the product across an entire head of hair with just one or two pumps. Where the Act + Acre Curl Spray adds some much-needed texture, the Cream truly defines and nourishes the curl while simultaneously removing any frizzy static. Read our full review of the Act + Acre Cold Processed Curl set here.
Buy now £38.00, Cult Beauty
Wavy Everyday Curl Crème
A styling maverick enriched with spa-worthy scents of lemon, pepper, clary and geranium; Wavy’s Everyday Curl Crème has built up quite the cult following since its naissance earlier this year. You know when you miraculously wake up one morning with your curls looking just the way you want them to, but your commute into the office inevitably destroys them? This product from Wavy is designed to lock in those luscious waves while retaining a sense of relaxed, natural movement.
We’re a big fan of the versatility of this curl crème, which can be left untouched for an editorial wet look, brushed out with fingers for a matte and textured look, or combed through the lengths of longer hair as a tamer.
As this product’s primary purpose is styling, it’s not the most nourishing formula out there, so we recommend continuing your weekly conditioning hair mask routine for the best effect. Complete with fully recyclable packaging and a stick of sustainably sourced Palo Santo, we love the holistic approach to haircare that Wavy has taken, in particular by encouraging men to make a ritual out of treating their hair with love.
Buy now £22.00, Wavy
Oribe Styling Butter Curly Enhancing Crème
On the luxury end of the spectrum, we have the ever-glamorous Oribe. The brand’s styling butter is sumptuously soft and crafted to boost hydration and elasticity for bouncy, flouncy curls. All Oribe products are infused with the brand’s signature complex, which is made up of watermelon, lychee and edelweiss flower – giving the entire range of haircare products that recognisable delicious scent.
This curl-enhancing crème has also been loaded with wheat amino acids to boost moisture retention and strengthen the hair. Simply work the product through damp hair and leave it to air-dry, or dry with a diffuser.
Buy now £42.00, Cult Beauty
Ouai Curl Crème
Another fantastic product which adapts to bring out the best in your curls, whichever type they may be, the Ouai Curl Crème is silicone-free and filled to the brim with powerful plant-based ingredients. A combination of linseed and chia has been incorporated to help give shape to curls while maintaining natural texture and protecting them from the ghastly effects of humidity. Additional super ingredients include coconut oil and babassu oil to help heal the damage caused by improper curl care and deliver unbeatable shine.
Available in Ouai’s signature North Bondi scent or entirely unscented depending on what tickles your fancy and you can apply to wet or dry hair.
Buy now £28.00, Ouai
Aveda Be Curly Curl Enhancer
This lightweight, cloud-like curl enhancer by Aveda glides through the hair with ease and absorbs quicker than most products – preventing any nasty, crunchy build-up. Once again, this curl cream is suitable for all hair and curl types, meaning that it’ll work with your locks to enhance, define and show off what you’ve got. It’s almost like Spanx for curly-headed warriors.
Sulphate-free, vegan, and derived from 95 per cent natural ingredients, Aveda declares that this product is ideal for those who are prone to frizz no matter the humidity levels outside, with a powerful infusion of wheat protein and organic aloe to promote your bounciest, most voluminous and yet wonderfully soft waves yet.
Buy now £23.50, lookfantastic
Kevin Murphy Killer Curls
One of the only curl creams on the market that also doubles up as a heat protectant for up to 420°F / 216°C, this paraben, sulphate, and cruelty-free formula by Kevin Murphy is a revelation. The antioxidant-rich formula contains extracts from Kakadu plum, yerba mate leaf, watermelon, aloe vera and baobab seed oil. That’s practically a superfood smoothie for your hair.
It’ll soften your natural curls while providing subtle definition – which in turn creates a natural look with plenty of body and movement. It also helps to reduce friction and frizz, for your smoothest, tamest curls yet.
Buy now £26.99, Amazon
Amika Curl Corps Defining Cream
What makes this product particularly fantastic for wavy-haired girls is the fact that it actually encourages curl formation by coaxing curls into their natural shape – even after years of applying heat.
Oat peptides have been incorporated into the formula help to create a moisture barrier for the hair, locking in all that nourishing goodness and providing a silky smooth-to-the-touch feel. What’s more, Amika will plant a tree in your name with every purchase you make. Now that’s sustainable haircare.
Buy now £26.00, Amika
Noughty Wave Hello Curl Defining Taming Cream
A wallet-friendly option for those who go through their curl creams like there’s no tomorrow, Noughty’s moisture-rich formula is packed full of vitamin-rich sea kelp extract and avocado oil to nourish and define your curls while preventing frizz at all costs.
Noughty’s curl optimising formula, known as ‘Quinoxy’ contains a blend of wheat extract, camelia oil and linoleic acids which is scientifically proven to trap moisture, decrease volume and rid your hair of pesky flyaways. Go on, be Noughty.
Buy now £7.99, Boots
Olaplex No.6
A product to reach for every time your frizzy curls need a wavy refresh, Olaplex No.6 is a catch-all cure for tired, lacklustre hair. Another brand with a wonderfully refreshing unisex approach to haircare, this product works its magic by boosting hydration with a wonderfully balmy formula that won’t leave any sticky residue or frustratingly crunchy hair follicles. Use before or after styling to eliminate frizz and protect your precious hair follicles.
Buy now £28.00, LookFantastic
Bouclème Fragrance Free Curl Cream
Suited to those who suffer from dry hair, this fragrance-free curl cream from Bouclème isn’t all bark and no bite. That’s to say, your curls won’t just look soft and shiny, they’ll feel as silky and smooth as running water.
The brand recommends applying this product to soaking wet hair, rather than semi-dry or towel-dried locks. This helps to lock in even more moisture, though it can also be diluted with water and applied to dry hair to treat problem areas on days 2-3 of your hair wash.
Buy now £21.00, Bouclème
Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream
Though this product is technically marketed as a leave-in conditioner, it works wonderfully as a lightweight, daily-use curl cream. Vegan, cruelty-free and void of any parabens or sulphates - Curlsmith has instead formulated this fantastic cream with wild murumuru, babassu seed oil, hyaluronic acid, dragon fruit pulp and castor oil for silky yet incredibly bouncy, beach-ready waves.
Buy now £23.00, Amazon
