These Are the 18 Best Shampoos for Wavy Hair

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Let’s be real—wavy hair can be confusing to shop for, mainly because it straddles the line between straight and curly. Explains MariLynne Cosmillo, a hairstylist and the founder of hOURS Haircare, “Straight hair often benefits from volumizing products and curly hair from conditioning products, but wavy hair is a little bit of both. The porosity of wavy hair can vary, but it generally always benefits from shine, moisture, and protection, which it tends to lack and can lead to dull, uneven, or inconsistent waves.” Because wavy hair can vary so much, the same hair mousses, salt sprays, and shampoos that work for one person aren’t always a match for another wavy-haired individual.

But there is one thing that everyone with wavy hair should keep in mind when shopping for a shampoo for wavy hair: moisture level. Basically, if you have wavy hair, you’re kind of like Goldilocks: you don’t want something with too little moisture, but you don’t want a formula with too much of it, either. “Too much moisture or heaviness can make waves go limp, and not enough can make waves matte and dry in appearance,” says Richard Marin, a celebrity hairstylist. However, as we’ve discussed, no two people with wavy hair have the same texture. Everyone has different moisture needs, so we’ve gathered the 18 best shampoos for wavy hair—there’s bound to be a pick on the list that’s meant to be your shampoo soulmate. Shop below and meet the one!

be curly™ Shampoo

The Aveda be curly line has been a staple for so long–and there’s an excellent reason why. While many products designed for curly or wavy hair tend to fall either on the hydrating or volumizing side, this shampoo lands somewhere in the middle, offering hydration without weighing down finer textures.

Key ingredients: Wheat protein, aloe vera

Size: 8.5 fl. oz.

Nordstrom rating: 4.5/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “So many shampoos I’ve tried are very moisturizing but don’t cleanse well (or the other way around), but this does both perfectly. I don’t feel like I need a lot, but I still shampoo twice and it leaves my hair so soft and clean. Very reliable product!”

Love Ur Curls Shampoo

As opposed to slathering on lotions and potions once you’re out of the shower, LUS believes in allowing wash-out products to do some of the hard work, too. Packed with hydrating oils and butters, this shampoo gently cleanses the hair without leaving it feeling dry or too squeaky clean. The end result is hair that requires fewer leave-in treatments to add definition and texture.

Key ingredients: Shea butter, moringa oil

Size: 8.5 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “My hair is both wavy and gets greasy. I use the shampoo and conditioner to help keep my waves bouncy and fresh, moisturized without being weighed down. Love it!”

Lightweight + Coconut Fine Curls Shampoo

A drugstore favorite, this shampoo is great for people who have fine waves and curls. Rather than piling on butters than might weigh down finer textures, this shampoo uses milder ingredients to instead encourage definition and volume.

Key ingredients: Flaxseed, coconut oil, citrus oil

Size: 13 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “This shampoo is great if you have thin, fine, curly or wavy hair. It gives moisture without adding weight to the hair. My thin, fine, curly hair feels clean, and isn’t flattened by too much moisture.”

Coconut & Hibiscus Curl & Shine Shampoo

For dehydrated waves, no brand packs on the hydration like SheaMoisture. While their viral leave-in products have created a community online, their shampoo deserves just as much credit. With neem oil and shea butter, this shampoo never strips healthy oils from the hair, instead replenishing them, so you encounter less frizz and more definition. “This is a staple in my bathroom. It’s super hydrating and quickly revives my curls,” says our Digital Beauty Director, Danielle James.

Key ingredients: Silk protein, neem oil, coconut oil, shea butter

Size: 13 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I like this product and would recommend it for people who have curly or wavy hair. It didn’t make my hair as flat as other products, and it smells good.”

Weightless Hydration Shampoo for Fine/Thin Hair

“Ceremonia just launched their new Weightless Hydration Shampoo for Fine/Thin Hair,” says hairstylist Rene Villalta. “This cocktail is sulfate-free and contains natural ingredients, including yucca extract and witch hazel, which make this an effective cleanser without stripping your scalp’s natural oils. Since wavy hair tends to have a finer texture, this product is perfect.”

Key ingredients: Yucca extract, witch hazel, keratin

Size: 8.5 fl. oz.

Sephora rating: 4.4/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “This shampoo lathers very nicely. I have curly/wavy hair and it really cleans my hair. The scent is pretty strong, and it does stay in your hair. The packaging is so nice because it has a pump, so it’s really easy to use in the shower!”

The Daily Shampoo

This award-winning shampoo is full of ingredients that’ll give your hair lots of love. According to Cosmillo, while “humectants like glycerin and PCA lock in moisture for healthy, supple strands,” amino acids and coconut, avocado, and soybean oils “improve hair texture and strength, provide shine, and help protect hair from damage.”

Key ingredients: Glycerin, PCA (pyrrolidone carboxylic acid), amino acids, coconut oil, avocado oil, soybean oil

Size: 8 fl. oz.

hOURS haircare rating: 5/5 stars

An hOURS haircare reviewer says: “I love this shampoo. It's rich, and a little goes a long way. I like how my hair feels soft and not dry or stripped when I rinse it out!”

Curl Cleanse Shampoo

The newest launch from scalp-focused hair brand Act+Acre is their Soft Curl collection. “I love our Curl Cleanse for anyone with wavy hair,” says trichologist and Act+Acre founder Helen Reavey. “It’s packed with glycerin for added hydration and formulated with fulvic acid, which acts as a probiotic for the scalp to remove product buildup and balance the scalp microbiome.”

Key ingredients: Glycerin, fulvic acid, carrot seed oil

Size: 10 fl. oz.

Act+Acre rating: 4.9/5 stars

An Act+Acre reviewer says: “I am very sensitive to chemical fragrances in many hairstyling and cleansing products. I was so excited when I used this shampoo for the first time. It’s natural, smells beautiful (subtle and lovely) and it works great!”

No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Olaplex has made a name for itself as the brand for damaged hair. Whether your wavy hair is highlighted or you’ve used a flat iron one too many times, this bond-building cleanser repairs damage in the long run and helps your strands appear healthier, less frizzy, and more hydrated immediately.

Key ingredients: Bis-Aminopropyl Diglycol Dimaleate

Size: 8.5 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “Not getting this for your hair is doing a disservice for yourself. This revived my hair after just one use. I can feel a difference. My hair is so soft and the ends have been brought back to life. My hair feels and smells amazing. Clean and really soft and ALIVE!”

Curl Shampoo

Sachajuan is one of those underrated Scandinavian brands that’s all about helping your hair look its best with minimal interference. This shampoo uses strengthening ingredients to make your waves and curls less prone to breakage, making them appear healthier and bouncier.

Key ingredients: Wheat protein, ocean silk, vitamin C

Size: 8.4 fl. oz.

Dermstore rating: 5/5 stars

A Dermstore reviewer says: “Love this and how it made my curls smooth and bouncy! I am so happy I decided to try this curl shampoo. Worked well for me and I will buy again!”

LOVE Curl Shampoo

Not only is Davines’ packaging ultra-chic, but they have a less-is-more policy regarding their ingredients. With hydrating ingredients and gentle cleansers, this shampoo allows your natural texture to flourish, rather than taming it into the status quo.

Key ingredients: Almond extract

Size: 8.45 fl. oz.

Amazon rating: 4.6/5 stars

An Amazon reviewer says: “I have fine, curly hair and this product is a rockstar. It doesn’t dry out my hair like other shampoos. I’ve tried a bunch of products and this is by far the best. Worth the $$ and never going back.”

The Shampoo

Achieving optimal scalp health is the first step to having your hair look its best. This shampoo uses ingredients commonly found in skincare, like hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, to reduce unwanted oiliness while still giving your hair and scalp the hydration they need. It will provide a very deep clean, so if your hair is on the dryer side, use this as a detox once a week, and use a more hydrating formula on alternate wash days.

Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide

Size: 8.4 fl. oz.

Nordstrom rating: 4.4/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “I tried this shampoo on a whim and I was not expecting to love it as much as I do! It doesn’t irritate my scalp and my hair doesn’t get greasy as quick as it used to.”

Regenerating Shampoo with Prickly Pear Oil

Wavy hair can be prone to frizziness, so if that bothers you, a smoothing shampoo is a low-effort way to reduce flyaways without affecting the overall texture of your hair. Using prickly pear oil, this shampoo cleanses without stripping, leaving the hair feeling–and looking–healthier than before.

Key ingredients: Prickly pear oil

Size: 8.4 fl. oz.

Nordstrom rating: 4.1/5 stars

A Nordstrom reviewer says: “Gently foaming and with a lovely aroma. This shampoo detangles gently and leaves hair sleeker and shinier. It definitely helps my dry, damaged-colored hair. I really liked the shampoo and will be buying it again. I also recommend this to other customers.”

Thick Hair Shampoo

If you’ve been blessed with thick hair, this shampoo was made for you. This product uses strengthening and hydrating ingredients like keratin and avocado oil to reduce frizziness and add shine, without leaving a residue on the scalp.

Key ingredients: Keratin, shea butter, avocado oil

Size: 10 fl. oz.

Ulta rating: 4/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “I wash my hair 2-3 times a week, give or take, depending on how greasy it gets through my daily activities. This shampoo has saved me from an itchy, dry, flaky scalp! I love it! The cost is honestly SO worth it. I have never been able to find a shampoo that works for my hair to treat my scalp and also get rid of the greasiness until now!”

Embody Daily Volumizing Shampoo

Wavy-haired people with fine hair know the struggle with balancing definition and volume. This shampoo, created by Jonathan Van Ness, uses skin-loving ingredients like squalane and aloe to gently cleanse, removing residue that can weigh down the hair.

Key ingredients: Squalane, caffeine, aloe leaf juice

Size: 10 fl. oz.

Sephora rating: 3.8/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “Loving this. My hair is thin and curly. Added a lot of volume and has a nice fragrance.”

Don't Despair Repair Super Moisture Shampoo

Wavy and curlier hair types are prone to dryness because of the shape of each hair strand, and oftentimes shampoos are the cause exacerbating this issue. But Briogeo is here to change all that with this ultra-hydrating cleanser that uses shea butter and coconut oil to add strength and moisture to even extremely brittle, damaged hair.

Key ingredients: Shea butter, coconut oil, biotin

Size: 33.8 fl. oz.

Sephora rating: 4.5/5 stars

A Sephora reviewer says: “Amazing. I’ve been looking for an everyday shampoo like this for a while. It is so simple and light. It cleans the hair really well and doesn’t leave a gross residue. I use a clarifying shampoo once a week and this every other day! I love this shampoo.”

Go Easy Shampoo

Nature lovers, meet your new favorite cleanser. This everyday shampoo uses natural ingredients and extracts to give a gentle shampoo that’s no-muss, no-fuss. An extra bonus? It smells incredible.

Key ingredients: Bergamot, licorice, macademia, aloe leaf juice

Size: 8 fl. oz.

Dermstore rating: 4.6/5 stars

A Dermstore reviewer says: “Above and beyond everything else. Super smooth, clean, shiny hair without stripping all the moisture. Plus, the smell is fantastic. Very natural and invigorating.”

Frizz Dismiss Sulfate-Free Shampoo

While I’m all for embracing frizz, it can feel frustrating to feel like your styling never lasts. This shampoo changes all that, using gentle oils to increase hydration in and out of the shower.

Key ingredient: Babassu oil

Size: 10.1 fl. oz.

Ulta rating: 4.1/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “I’ve used just about every anti frizz shampoo on the market, and nothing works quite like this. You don’t need a lot, so the bottle lasts a long time. It leaves my hair fresh and clean, without stripping moisture, or fading color. I highly recommend!”

Moisture Rich Curl Shampoo

This nozzle for this ultra-hydrating shampoo makes it easy to get the product directly onto your scalp. With shea butter and castor oil, this cleanser adds a healthy shine to dull, damaged strands that crave extra hydration.

Key ingredients: Shea butter, castor oil

Size: 10 fl. oz.

Ulta rating: 4.1/5 stars

An Ulta reviewer says: “Love this product! My first time switching to a cleaner brand and I’m so happy I made the switch! Definitely never going back to cheap, stripping shampoos ever again. It smells and feels just like you left the salon! The bottle design is fabulous as well! 10/10!!”

Meet the Experts

Angela Onuoha is a trichologist specializing in scalp and hair health.

Helen Reavey is a trichologist and the founder of Act+Acre.

Anne-Sophie Brac de la Perriere is the Research & Development Director for Prose Hair.

Rene Villalta is Ceremonia's Hair Expert and a hairstylist at the Fabio Scalia Salon in Soho, New York.

MariLynne Cosmillo is a hairstylist and the founder of hOURS Haircare.

Richard Marin is a celebrity hairstylist who works in Los Angeles and New York City.

How are the needs for wavy hair different than for other hair types?

“Wavy hair (also known as type II hair) is by nature neither straight nor curly and can be easily identified by its loose S shape,” says de la Perriere. “It’s a rather versatile hair type that can easily become straight or curly with the use of styling tools such as curling irons or flat irons. Hence, people with wavy hair often use styling products such as curl cream to create their desired hairstyle, such as beach waves or defined curls. They may also need special hair care products such as leave-in conditioners to protect their hair fiber from the heat of styling tools and to fight unwanted frizz.” With Prose, people can complete an online consultation to create a custom shampoo.

Often, dryness is the leading complaint from wavy-haired people. “Both wavy and curly hair tend to become dry more easily than other hair types, so it’s important to ensure you’re using moisturizing and hydrating shampoos in order to maintain your wave patterns,” says Reavey. “Dryness typically stems from the scalp, which has a delicate microbiome and a low barrier function, meaning that it has difficulty maintaining and replenishing moisture. This can leave the scalp prone to dryness and irritation, which can lead to drier waves and texture issues. Using moisturizing shampoos and hydrating serums on the scalp will balance the microbiome while restoring your natural wave pattern.”

What are some ingredients people with wavy hair should look for in shampoos?

“Look for ingredients that hydrate, smooth, and define,” says Villalta. “Light, natural oils are great in moderation, and should be used to help block out humidity and help dry hair down faster.” Reavey recommends, “Shampoos rich in protein and hydrating ingredients, such as squalene, are great for people with wavy hair. Protein is vital to wavy and curly hair since these ingredients repair damage and dryness while strengthening the follicle. I would just stray away from using too many products with protein to avoid protein overload, which can damage the hair.”

It’s also important to know which ingredients to avoid. “It’s more so what they need to prevent using. Try to avoid shampoos that contain heavy butters and oils. Everything in your routine should be moisturizing yet lightweight,” says Onuoha.

However, “Hair texture is not the only criteria to consider when selecting shampoo ingredients,” says de la Perriere. “Indeed, we should also look at the regrease delay of the scalp, the dryness of lengths as well as the damage level of hair fiber. It’s important to select sulfate-free shampoos as sulfates are known to strip oil and dry out scalp and hair. Then, ingredients such as green tea water and Shikakai extract will help provide a deep cleansing while controlling oiliness for those with a high regrease delay. Wavy hair prone to dry lengths may prefer hyaluronic acid and plant collagen that are known to help support damaged hair by creating a protective outer layer that hydrates hair fibers.”

What's the best technique for shampooing wavy hair?

“We recommend pouring the right amount of shampoo into your hands before applying it onto the scalp and massaging with a gentle back and forth gesture, avoiding circle motion that may create tangles,” says de la Perriere. “Then when moving to the roots, we recommend working on a large hair section while gently detangling. When rinsing, follow the movement of the water with your hands to keep hair untangled. Do the same way with other shower haircare products and keep strands well untangled after the last rinse when hair is still humid to keep the natural hair definition and enhance waves when drying out.”

Reavey, Onuoha, and Villalta all highlight the importance of focusing on the scalp while shampooing. “Scalp health is the priority! People have the misconception that they need to shampoo roots, lengths, and ends, but dirt and pollution are usually found on the scalp, and that is where you should focus your cleansing,” says Villalta. “Shampooing the ends will strip the cuticle of the hair and potentially cause frizz, A.K.A. ‘the fluffy effect.’ I usually recommend that my frizzier prone clients apply conditioner on their mid-lengths and ends to protect from over-cleansing while treating the scalp. It makes a major difference. Additionally, I recommend pre-shampooing the hair with a scalp treatment prior to shampooing to remove any buildup that shampooing alone might miss.”

Focusing on the scalp also has an aesthetic benefit. “A clean scalp is not only important to grow healthy hair, but it also gives your hair an amazing lift and will create volume due to it not being weight down by sebum, sweat, and pollution that’s stuck to the scalp and roots,” adds Onuoha.

How should you style wavy hair?

For styling wavy hair, “Products are not an option but a requirement!” insists Villalta. “I can never stress enough to use water while preparing the hair for styling. Understanding your hair type and curl pattern is also key, as it will guide you into what product categories you could cocktail.”

“To enhance beautiful natural waves, after a shower routine, apply a leave-on product with hands-on wet lengths with a light scrunching, instead of applying them from roots to tips,” de la Perriere recommends. “You can accentuate the look by rolling some individual strands onto your fingers and let them dry naturally.”

Also, think about the tools you’re using. “Leave-ins are perfect for finer hair types because they saturate the hair, providing definition and hold without a crunch,” adds Villalta. “I always say: cleanse for the hair you have, and prime for the hair you want. Always think about the final outcome. It’s important to have the right brush as well, which is an often-overlooked product that needs to be carefully selected. For wavy hair, I recommend the Fabio Scalia ‘La Sophia’ Boar Bristle Brush Collection, available at Fabio Scalia locations. This luxury hair brush features reinforced wild boar bristles of different heights, which ensure an optimal grip of hair from the root without creating too much tension, which will over-relax the hair.”

Why trust ELLE Beauty?

As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, Tatjana Freund and Carol Lee spoke with trichologists and hair stylists about the benefits of shampoos for wavy hair and how to apply them. Freund also tested a few top-rated formulas and pored over reviews for dozens of others, evaluating each on their ingredients offered and customer feedback.

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