The Lazy Girl's Guide To Perfect (And Frizz-Free) Summer Waves
Alisha Bhojwani is a Sydney-based digital strategist and content specialist. When she's not reminding her friends to wear SPF, you can find her drenching her face in Vitamin C and consuming copious amounts of peanut butter. You can find her on Instagram here @alishabhojwani_.
Hi, you may know me from my previous Adore Beauty articles… I’m the girl with the good hair.
For years, though, that “good hair” came from keratin treatments and plenty of heat styling. It’s only in the last 18 months that I’ve truly embraced my natural waves and learnt how to work with them instead of against them.
That shift changed everything, especially in summer.
Because when humidity rises, fighting your natural texture is a losing battle. The real secret to effortless definition and that just-back-from-the-beach finish isn’t more heat. It’s building a wavy hair routine that enhances what you already have.
Here’s exactly how I approach my waves in warm weather from wash day to refresh days and yes wavy hair products that genuinely make a difference.
Step 1: Build Your Routine Around Hydration
Summer sun, salt water and chlorine can leave wavy hair dry and unpredictable! Hydration however, is the foundation of any good wavy hair routine!! But…balance is key
If your hair is fine-to-medium you’ll want moisture without heaviness. My favourite product for this hair type is Goldwell Dualsenses Curls & Waves Conditioner 300ml paired with the matching shampoo is lightweight but smoothing, helping define waves without flattening them.
If your waves are colour-treated or slightly damaged, like mine.. then using a strengthening first makes a huge difference in definition, which is why my go to is the Redken Acidic Bonding Curls Bundle because it supports the hair structure while still encouraging bounce and movement.
The biggest lesson I’ve learnt? Don’t overdo rich masks in summer. Too much weight can collapse your pattern and leave waves looking limp by midday.
Step 2: Apply Styling Products on Soaking Wet Hair
Now this is the part that makes or breaks wavy hair, styling. After washing, I avoid rough towel-drying. Instead, I apply my styling products while my hair is still very wet because I have low porosity hair, which means.. my hair takes far too long to get wet, stay wet and absorb products. Water helps distribute product evenly and encourages natural clumping which equals better definition.
My go-to cream for soft, touchable waves is the Christophe Robin Luscious Curl Defining Cream with Chia Seed Oil 150ml because it enhances my texture without leaving it crunchy or sticky. I smooth it through using the “prayer hands” method, then scrunch upwards to encourage my wave pattern.
This is where embracing texture becomes practical. Instead of stretching or weight my waves down, I’m helping them through the scrunch method to find their own wave pattern. This is perfect for anyone who is coming off Keratin, or wants to encourage their natural pattern to come through.
Step 3: Lock In Definition
Now if you’re new to a wavy gal routine, you can stop here, and let it airdry.. or, you can take it one step further and add hold. Personally, I liked to add a light gel over the curl cream because it makes such noticeable difference in longevity. It forms a soft cast as the hair dries, which seals in definition and minimises frizz.
But as with any wavy hair pattern, the key is patience. Once product is in, leave it alone. Touching hair while it dries is the fastest way to disrupt your wave pattern.
If I’m air-drying, I avoid moving it until fully dry and if you’re impatient, it’s time to invest in a diffuser. Once set, I gently scrunch out the cast with a drop of lightweight oil on my palms for that effortless, beach-adjacent finish.
Step 4: Refresh Instead of Rewashing
Here’s the part I struggled with until recently that all wavy/curly girls know the dilemma… waves rarely look identical on day two, in-fact sometimes they don’t look like waves at all.
Now I used to start from scratch, but last year I discovered the Christophe Robin - Luscious Curl Reactivating Mist, 150ml and now I just refresh instead. It’s perfect for reviving definition without soaking the hair.
A few light spritzes, a gentle scrunch, and the waves bounce back into shape. This is one of those underrated wavy hair products that makes your routine sustainable in summer especially when you want to avoid daily heat styling. Plus, did I mention it has the most divine rose smell?
The Do’s and Don’ts of Summer Waves
After 18 months of working with my natural texture, here’s what I know:
Do:
- Apply styling products to soaking wet hair
- Use a microfibre towel or cotton T-shirt to scrunch
- Focus on hydration at the wash stage
- Sleep on silk to reduce overnight frizz
- Curl the front or any wonky pieces if they don’t take the product
- Be kind to yourself! Waves are a beast of their own, and take time to remember their pattern!
Don’t:
- Brush dry waves unless fully restyling
- Overload heavy oils before heading into humidity
- Constantly touch your hair as it dries
Learning how to style wavy hair properly wasn’t about adding more steps. It was about shifting my mindset from controlling my hair to enhancing it. Ironically enough the moment I stopped trying to perfect my texture was the minute my waves started looking their best. And now… my summer wavy hair routine feels lighter, easier and more aligned with how my hair naturally wants to behave.
And honestly, that’s what good hair really is.
For more hair styling tips and tricks check out the below Beauty IQ articles:
