As someone with naturally stick-straight hair, wave sprays have typically been a disaster for me. I’ve always gravitated towards a beach wave look, but wave sprays just made my hair crunchy, sticky, tangled, and messy in a bad way. I’ve trained my hair to hold a curl over the years, but I’ve still had to work at getting that beach wave look, which is a little more undone than a perfectly curled look. Because I’m still too stubborn to give up on wave sprays, I’ve spent a lot of time working through trial and error to learn exactly how to use them on straight hair, which ones work best, and which ones are actually worth the money. These are my top picks, with tips on how to use each in order to work best on straight hair.

best wave sprays for fine, straight hair

unite hair BEACH day texturizing sea salt spray

This texturizing spray smells exactly like a day at the beach in the best way, and gives you the post-beach effect without any stickiness or tangles. Unlike a lot of salt sprays, this doesn’t dry out your hair and I find that it adds a layer of hydration and protection, which is key for color-treated hair. You can “scrunch” damp, straight hair with this product and it will leave a nice bend, but I like to use it on hair that is barely damp in order to maximize the results.

ouai wave spray

I love Ouai because they create really straightforward, easy to use products that perform well on all hair types, and they’ve really created a wave spray that works for straight hair, too. This product is perfect if you like to sleep with damp hair. It’ll turn pillow creases into softer bends, creating that perfect slept-in look that’s so hard for straight hair to achieve on its own. Most importantly, this product does not break me out or cause texture; I’m really weary of sleeping with product in my hair for this reason, but I’ve never had an issue with this wave spray, even with very sensitive skin. Lastly, it’s salt-free so you don’t have to worry about it leaving a film or making your hair feel gross.

dae hibiscus wave spray

Full transparency: this wave spray is hit or miss; I think if your straight hair doesn’t have any layers, it will be a miss for you, because that illusion of texture really enhances the results. I have found that it works best on next-day hair if you put your hair in a messy bun for a little (dry or damp) to give the product some bends to cling to (similar to the “scrunch” method that works well for wavy or curly hair). It’s also going to add an undone beachy texture to curls if you heat style it. I like that this doesn’t tangle my hair or leave it feeling dirty, and it makes my hair shiny, too. 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.

verb sea spray

The most subtle and lightweight option of the bunch, this sea spray is best used to enhance curling iron waves and help them hold all day, especially in more humid or inclement weather. I don’t have much success using this directly onto my natural straight hair, but I find this helps “undo” the perfection of curling iron curls while helping them hold all day. Used this way, it’s the perfect hybrid between texturizing spray and hair spray, and feels less harsh on your hair - no crunchiness, stickiness, or that weird film that can be common with wave sprays.

bumble and bumble surf sea salt spray

The OG wave spray, this has left my straight hair a mess in the past because it is the most heavy-duty option; it will absolutely leave a film and make your hair slightly crunchy if you’re not careful. I like to use this spray similarly to how I use the VERB spray - as an enhancer. If you have clean, straight, freshly washed hair, this product will not work. Yes, it will create texture and bend in your hair, but having straight hair, that usually falls within a few minutes and the leftover product then leaves your hair feeling dirty and gross. In order to get the most out of this sea salt spray, I like to use this on next-day styles to bring them back to life a little. I don’t love using this spray if I plan on having my hair in a bun because it can create tangles, but if I have a little texture from the day before, it really does enhance it in a natural, beachy way.