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Wave cream is a very effective tool that helps you get and maintain all-day waves. Whether you use a thinner cream, heavy cream, or even pomade, you can enjoy lovely waves without too much effort.
If you’re unfamiliar with how wave creams work, don’t worry. We’ve compiled a list of the best wave creams on the market, so you’re sure to find one that works wonders for your hair.
What’s the Best Wave Cream?
What constitutes the best wave cream is different for every type of hair, so you should look at the texture and style of your locks before purchasing your ideal cream.
There are quite a few things to keep in mind, including how sturdy you want your waves to be, how long you want them to be in your hair, and whether or not you’re allergic to any components of the cream.
Certain wave creams are hypoallergenic and will not irritate your scalp. However, if you have dandruff or a sensitive or itchy scalp, you will want to stay away from creams with a lot of additives in them.
Additionally, it’s best to consider the texture of your hair and where you want the waves to be. If you wish to have waves throughout your entire head of hair, choose a heavier cream that will stand up to the elements.
You should also consider your budget and how much time you want to spend styling your hair.
For example, some wave creams are all-in-one products that can help you maintain your luxe locks without any additional care. For other creams, you might want to include a moisturizing spray or oil to go along with the cream itself.
Why You Need a Wave Cream
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Wave creams work wonders for your hair because they can hold your locks in a specific style throughout the whole day. In addition, the best wave creams will not clog your pores or irritate your scalp.
Even if you go for a thicker cream, like a pomade, you can still rest easy that your skin won’t be adversely affected.
Wave creams can also moisturize damaged or dry locks. So if you have trouble keeping your hair from frizzing or looking dehydrated, a sound wave cream can work wonders for you.
Our Top 7 Picks for the Best Wave Cream:
- Best Overall: Suavecito Pomade Firme Hold
- Best for Light Hold: Sun Bum Curls & Waves Styling Cream
- Best for 360 Waves: Luster’s S-Curl 360 Style Wave Control Pomade
- Best for Budgets: Cantu Shea Butter Hair Dressing Pomade
- Best for Shine: Soft Sheen Sportin’ Waves Pomade
- Best for Nourishing Hair: WaveBuilder Cocoa & Shea Pomade
- Best Oil-Based Formula: Murray’s Wave Pomade
These fantastic top wave creams will help you feel and look your best, no matter what the elements throw at you.
They work in all the different climates and are suitable for virtually any hairstyle or texture. So if you haven’t added a wave cream to your style arsenal, now’s the time to do so.
The 7 Best Wave Creams in 2023
Our top seven picks can help you with many hair woes and give you the perfect look and texture that you want.
1. Best Overall: Suavecito Pomade Firme Hold
- All-day hold
- Very versatile
- Won’t clog your pores
- Can be challenging to wash out
- Stronger smell
Suavecito Pomade Firme Hold is our top pick for the best wave cream. Several things really make this wave cream stand out for all of the right reasons.
Although it’s a pomade, it’s still light enough to give your hair shine and volume. You won’t have to worry about your hair falling flat or frizzing throughout the day. Additionally, you can do a lot with this wave cream.
So whether you’re looking for deep, beautiful waves, or a dramatic part, Suavecito Pomade Firme Hold has you covered. You can even get a lovely pompadour with this wave cream. It’s also water-based, so your locks will get plenty of essential moisture in addition to hold and shine.
It’s great for people with oily scalps, too, because it doesn’t clog up your pores, plus it’s easy to use. If you’re a wave cream novice and want to try out a great product, get your hands on this one.
2. Best for Light Hold: Sun Bum Curls & Waves Styling Cream
- Protects your hair from the sun
- Great for light waves
- Use every day with no problem
- Not great for more detailed waves
- Doesn’t provide as much hold
If you’re looking for light hold with plenty of volume, Sun Bum Curls & Waves Styling Cream has got you covered. This nice-smelling cream has all the good stuff in abundance, like Kukui Nut Oil and Monoi Coconut Oil, which are both perfect for your parched locks.
Your hair won’t look frizzy, dull, or overprocessed after you use this fantastic cream.bThe other great thing about Sun Bum Curls & Waves Styling Cream is that you really don’t need a lot of it to look fabulous.
Just put a small amount in your palm, and you’re ready to get the luscious locks that you crave. It can also help your scalp avoid sun damage, making it great for people who live on the coast or spend a lot of time at the beach.
It’s also gentle enough to use every day, and it doesn’t leave any serious build-up in your hair. So if you want soft, light waves, this is the product for you.
3. Best for 360 Waves: Luster’s S-Curl 360 Style Wave Control Pomade
- Helps create amazing 360 waves
- Long-lasting formula
- You can achieve many different styles
- The oil-based formula may clog pores
- Not suitable for softer waves
Luster’s S-Curl 360 Style Wave Control Pomade is an excellent option for people who want the perfect 360 waves. It’s oil-based, so the formula is a little bit thicker than others, but it will give you amazing 360 waves that last all day long.
Even though it’s a heavy pomade, Luster’s S-Curl 360 Style Wave Control Pomade isn’t too greasy. In fact, it virtually melts right into your hair, leaving it slick and shiny without looking overly greasy.
This outstanding balance is one of the primary reasons why we love this product so much. As with many of the best products on our list, a little bit goes a long way, and you can play around with all sorts of different types of styles.
4. Best for Budgets: Cantu Shea Butter Hair Dressing Pomade
- Great for sensitive or damaged hair
- Economical
- Additive-free
- Can cause scalp flakes if you apply too much
- May look greasy on some hair types
If you’re looking for a great, budget-friendly wave cream that you can have for the long run, Cantu Shea Butter Hair Dressing Pomade is an excellent choice.
It’s exceptionally user-friendly, a little goes a long way, and you don’t have to worry about additives that may irritate your scalp. Since it’s relatively economical, you can play around with this cream to come up with great styles that work for your hair.
It’s also a long-lasting formula that stands up to pretty much any different type of weather. As a result, your hair will feel softer, easier to work with, and still keep its shape and volume.
If you have sensitive or damaged hair, Cantu Shea Butter Hair Dressing Pomade is a good choice too. It moisturizes your hair with different vitamins and oils, leaving it luxe and lovely for the long run.
Read Next: Is Cantu Good for Hair?
5. Best for Shine: Soft Sheen Sportin’ Waves Pomade
- Excellent for maximum shine
- Gives you a serious hold
- Moisturizes your hair
- Not great for all types of hair
- Can clog your pores if you leave it in too long
If you are looking for a wave cream with maximum shine, try Soft Sheen Sportin’ Waves Pomade on for size. It’s an excellent product that gives you prominent, high-shine waves without any greasiness.
Instead, your hair will look classy, perfectly styled, and deeply moisturized. If you feel like your hair looks a little lackluster, this product can help you to look your best.
Soft Sheen Sportin’ Waves Pomade is best for very curly, kinky, or coarse hair and might not look as good on thinner or softer hair. Assess your hair type and style before picking up a bottle to ensure that it’s the right one for you.
Even though it gives you some serious hold, you should have no trouble washing it out of your locks.
If you find that there’s too much build-up, just rinse your hair with a clarifying shampoo to get rid of any residue, and you’re good to go. Leaving the product in your hair for too long or not washing it out properly can clog your pores.
6. Best for Nourishing Hair: WaveBuilder Cocoa & Shea Pomade
- Extremely nourishing
- Your waves will last all-day
- Use on wet or dry hair
- May clog pores or irritate sensitive skin
- Can be challenging to wash out
If you want gorgeous, perfectly nourished locks, try WaveBuilder Cocoa & Shea Pomade. This pomade will infuse your locks with different ingredients, like cocoa butter and amino acids. You’ll get fantastic shine, beautiful volume, and strong, lovely waves that last all day long.
Although it’s deeply nourishing, WaveBuilder Cocoa & Shea Pomade will not weigh your hair down. Your locks will just look luxurious, never greasy, and always full of significant volume.
Also, when you use this pomade, you can expect your look to last all day long. Get soft waves or amazing 360 waves. It’s totally your choice. Also, you can use it with either wet or dry hair, making it one of the most versatile ones on our list.
7. Best Oil-Based Formula: Murray’s Wave Pomade
- All-day hold
- Suitable for long and short hair
- Fool-proof application
- You have to wash it out thoroughly
- May clog pores
Murray’s Wave Pomade is an exceptional product if you’re looking for an oil-based pomade that will work with your hairstyle seamlessly. It’s one of the most popular wave creams on the planet, thanks to its fool-proof application, all-day hold, and versatility.
Whether you want to do regular waves of deep 360 ones, Murray’s Wave Pomade has you covered. It’s also got a really lovely smell and won’t leave your locks looking too greasy.
One of the only downsides is that you have to really work to get it out of your hair. Use a clarifying shampoo and conditioner to ensure all the product is out. Since it’s relatively robust, you can use it on both long and short hair for excellent results.
Finding the Right Wave Cream for Your Hair
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Before purchasing your wave cream, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. Among others, think about the type of hair you have, the look you want to achieve, and how long you want your waves to last.
What Kind of Waves Do You Want?
Perhaps the most significant consideration that you need to consider is figuring out what kind of waves you actually want in the first place. If you want deep 360 waves, you’ll need to get a more potent formula that can mold and shape your hair.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for looser waves or more volume, you can go with a slightly lighter product. If you like playing around with different styles and textures, you should consider investing in one of each.
What’s Your Hair’s Texture
The best wave cream for you hinges primarily on your hair’s texture. Some thicker pomades and creams are suitable for very coarse or curly hair but can overwhelm thinner hairstyles.
Understanding what kind of texture you have and what your needs are in advance can help you select the proper cream.
What About Pomades?
Pomades are thicker than creams and almost have a waxy texture. Despite their heft, many pomades won’t weigh your hair down. When it comes to pomades, the trick is to use them sparingly and add in more of the product as you need to. Too much pomade can leave your hair looking unkempt and greasy.
Check the Ingredients
Some wave creams and pomades are free of additives and extra ingredients, but others have parabens or sulfides in them.
If your skin is very sensitive, or if you’re allergic to some ingredients, always check your cream before buying it. Stop using a product if you find that your skin feels itchy, burning, or looking like you have an allergic reaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Having effortlessly amazing hair means knowing the answers to these frequently asked questions.
What else should I do to have healthy hair?
There are plenty of ways to nourish your hair from the outside, but you can also help your locks look lovely by taking care of yourself from the inside.
Eat a variety of different foods, take a multivitamin, and consider biotin supplements for stronger hair and nails. Also, make sure that you’re fully hydrated.
How can I protect my waves at night?
Protect your waves by sleeping in a silk scarf and upgrading your pillowcase. Both of these will help you maintain the structure and look of your waves for the long run.
Should I moisturize?
Many wave creams have moisturizing elements in them, so you’ll want to check your product to see if it’s an all-in-one. You can moisturize and use wave cream or pomade, but make sure not to pile too much product on; otherwise, your hair can look greasy.
What other products should I use?
You can use shampoos specifically designed for creating and maintaining waves, as well as hair gel and sprays to keep your waves in place.
The additional products that you should use are really up to you and your hair texture. If you can, play around with a few different options to see what works best for you in the long run.
How can I prepare my scalp?
Our scalps dictate how our hair looks. If you have dandruff, acne, or any type of rash on your scalp, you will want to take care of it before attempting this type of hairstyle. Fortunately, there are plenty of great products on the market that can stop dandruff in its tracks.
Also, if you start to feel any itching or burning after using a wave cream or pomade, stop using it. Allergic reactions are serious and can lead to hair loss or long-term problems.
So, What’s the Best Wave Cream?
If you’re looking for amazing 360 waves reach for a pomade or heavier wave cream. If you want lighter ones, look for a less-condensed formula.
What constitutes the right wave cream for you is largely up to personal interpretation, and you might find that you use different ones for various occasions or when your hair is long or short. Fortunately, there are plenty of great options on the market.