Best Wave Sprays for Fine Hair

Wave sprays can be tricky for fine hair. Some formulas are too heavy, which makes hair look flat, whereas others can be too drying, leaving your hair crunchy and tangled. The best wave sprays for fine hair add texture and create soft waves without stiff hold; they also enhance natural movement and work with your hair, rather than against it.

Stick with lightweight formulas; you can always enhance your waves with a curling iron or add a hairspray for hold after the fact. Styling fine hair is like icing a cake; you can always add more, but too much is messy and hard to overcome. Start with a light layer of wave spray as your “crumb coat” and add more later on as needed.

That said, these are my absolute favorite wave sprays for fine hair. They add shine, soft curls, still allow for movement, and are easy to work with. They layer beautifully with other styling products if desired, but are functional enough to stand on their own, too.

best wave sprays for fine hair

davines this is a sea salt spray

Oftentimes when you’re looking for a good wave spray, you have to choose between texture or shine. Davines This is a Sea Salt Spray gives you both, and is such a high quality option. It’s easy to work with, gives you lots of body and wave, yet doesn’t dry out your hair or leave it sticky. You also get shine and volume, so if you tend to like the look of texturizing sprays but want something a little more beachy/ undone, I highly recommend it.

That said, you don’t want to use this one close to the roots; I found it made my scalp a little dry but I felt totally fine once I used a hydrating shampoo. For mid-lengths to ends, though, it’s great. The perfect mix of salt spray yet styled, you truly get “it girl” hair with this salt spray.

dae hibiscus wave spray

I’ve seen some unfavorable views for this wave spray, but what really makes it work for fine hair is using it in conjunction with heat styling. Dae Hibiscus Wave Spray is lightweight yet gives your hair grit. It has a more matte finish, but you can go back and add another layer without weighing down fine hair, which makes it perfect for day to night styling. The results truly get better as the day goes on, too. I like that this doesn’t tangle my hair or leave it feeling dirty like other wave sprays do.

Most Dae hair products smell great, but this product is stronger than the rest of their line, so I would skip this if you are sensitive to fragrance, as it noticeably lasts all day - I don’t wear perfume when I wear this one, but it doesn’t give me a headache.

ouai wave spray

It’s no secret I love Ouai, but their Wave Spray was a total miss for me until they reformulated it a year or so ago. This new version is so good for fine hair, and it’s my top recommendation if you want to use it on damp hair but don’t like that super gritty texture you get with other wave sprays. Salt-free, this uses rice protein to create texture, which helps enhance natural waves. You get a little more structure and shine, but it’s still true to that beachy, tousled look.

The scent is their signature floral and not my favorite, but not so strong that it’s overpowering. Another important thing to note: if you like to sleep in damp hair, this wave spray will give you such a good, lived-in wave by the time you wake up without causing any skin breakouts.

bumble and bumble surf sea salt spray

The OG wave spray, this is a strong formula that can be kind of a nightmare for fine hair unless you use it very sparingly and as a style enhancer. By that, I like to add a spray or two to my curling iron curls to add a little grit and texture (“mess it up” if you will). Use the tiniest amount of Surf Sea Salt Spray - a little goes a LONG way because it is so gritty and salty. I also love the results when I use this on next-day styles to bring them back to life a little.

The Surf Sea Salt Spray requires a bit of a learning curve. If you want stronger beach texture, you’ll love it. However, it can feel slightly drying on fine hair, so I like to follow-up with a hydrating shampoo whenever I use it.

how to use wave spray on fine hair

If you have fine hair, you can use wave spray on damp or dry hair. I recommend damp hair, unless your hair is also straight or struggles to hold a curl. Either way, using too much product can weigh down fine hair, so start with a small amount.

For damp hair:

  1. Spray 6-8 inches from the hair. Start with just a few mists to start; I usually do about 3.

  2. Scrunch hair in upward motions to create bend and enhance natural waves.

  3. Let your hair air dry or diffuse. For added texture, continue to scrunch or twirl pieces of hair as you dry.

For dry hair:

  1. Heat style your hair as desired - curling iron, waver, straightener, etc.

  2. Spray 6-8 inches from your hair, scrunching each section as you go.

  3. Go back and touch up any section or small pieces as desired; I like to do a few tiny pieces to create variation and make the waves look more natural.

Remember, the best wave spray for fine hair depends on the level of texture you want.

beautyPaige DiTulliohair, wave sprayComment