I’ve been a fan of the haircare brand Ouai for years, but was sadly disappointed by their Wave Spray. When I saw they were reformulated it to a new and improved version, I knew I had to try it again. As someone with straight, fine, hair finding a wave spray that gives me texture, instead of just leaving my hair sticky and tangled, is rare. The Ouai Wave Spray is supposed to be great for wavy and curly hair, too, and meant to be used on dry or damp hair for all hair types, making it one of the most versatile wave sprays on the market.

To see whether it lives up to the hype and whether I think the new reformulated Ouai Wave Spray is worth it, with before and after photos and tips for using it, keep reading.

PS: curious to see how Ouai Wave Spray compares to the Dae Hibiscus Wave Spray? Check out my side-by-side results photos and full review of both products compared together.

ouai wave spray review

ouai wave spray before and after

how to use the ouai wave spray

The Ouai Wave Spray can be applied to wet or dry hair. Always shake the bottle first!

If you have straight or wavy hair:

For wet hair, spray from 6-8 inches from roots to ends. Then scrunch, braid, or squeeze to add texture.
- I have straight hair, and find I get the best results when I loosely braid my hair instead of scrunching.
Air dry, or blow dry in sections. (Tip: use the blow dryer while your hair is still in braids for more defined waves).
For dry hair:
- Apply a heat protectant.
- Next, create texture using a curling iron, waver, or flat iron. I prefer a cheap $20 curling iron for all my heat styling.
- Spray from roots to ends, then scrunch to enhance texture.
- For a more lived-in, undone look, brush gently with your fingers.

For curly hair:

Follow your curl routine.
Apply the wave spray 6-8” from your hair.
Scrunch your curls into shape.
Use a diffuser, flipping your hair upside down for extra volume.

pros

Gives you piecey beach waves
Enhances natural texture
Stronger formula gives you a little bend even if you have straight hair
Not sticky
Adds shine

cons

Using too much will make your hair crunchy
Floral scent isn’t my favorite, but isn’t overpowering

who the ouai wave spray works best for

The Ouai Wave Spray works beautifully if you have naturally wavy or curly hair, and you’ll get a beachy, undone texture whether you air dry or heat style.

If you have straight hair, the Ouai Wave Spray will give you textured, piecey waves if you style with a curling iron. I don’t love the results with the scrunch method, but you’ll still get some texture if you try it.

I also love the results the Ouai Wave Spray gives you if you have duller hair, because this adds lots of shine and bounce - think Gisele Bündchen beachy waves, rather than Olsen twin boho texture.

who it might not work for

The Ouai Wave Spray might not work for you if you have naturally straight hair and want to add texture without heat styling.

You would also prefer a different wave spray (like the Dae Hibiscus Wave Spray) if you hate the gritty or crunchy feeling that you get with most sea salt wave sprays. Check out my Dae vs Ouai Wave Spray guide for side-by-side results photos and full review of both products compared together.

Lastly, if your hair is naturally dry, the Ouai Wave Spray might be too intense for you, though it does add lots of shine.

is the ouai wave spray worth the money?

Ultimately, it’s not my favorite wave spray, but I do think the Ouai Wave Spray is worth the money, especially now that they’ve reformulated it. If you’re someone who wants slightly structured, slightly piecey waves without sacrificing shine, you’ll love the results you get from the Ouai Wave Spray.

Retailing for $30, the price is fair compared to other wave sprays, and you don’t have to use much to notice a difference, so one bottle will last you at least a few months.

The scent is subtle, and while you get a little bit of the gritty texture that comes with wave sprays, it’s not overpowering and doesn’t leave your hair feeling dirty. A perfectly middle-of-the-road wave spray that does enough but not too much, I especially recommend it if you have naturally wavy or curly hair.

Ouai Wave Spray Review