Hair styling product to be used on non-wash day?

[ChoccyJules]

Am looking for a product to ease styling my hair (and the DDs) on a day it hasn't been washed, ie it won't be applied to damp hair, which is what I seem to read on the back of every bottle. I have some dry shampoo but am thinking of something with a bit more control, though not quite the gel we all used in the 80s...

I've looked up serum but that is apparently for washed hair. Mousse also goes into damp hair. I am reluctant to use hairspray to tame the DDs hair as it's flammable and they'd be at school, ie not in my care.

We tend to wash hair every other day here, so it's that 2nd day I need help with.

My hair is naturally wavy and I would say medium thickness. DD1 has thin wavy hair I can do nothing with (grips slide out) and DD2 has thick wavy hair. So I am looking for the holy grail of one thing to suit us all but would accept defeat if three products were better.

Also, just when did we all give in and start calling them products?!

I use pure coconut oil

Suppose it depends on your hair. I wash mine every day or second day but rarely use any "product" other than straightening cream if I'm using my irons

I suppose I should have said that styling here means attempting to secure the DDs' hair in a smooth, may not fall out til playtime if I'm lucky way. For me, using a rounded brush to tease the ends of my hair under instead of letting it kink and mess about. I'm afraid my routine doesn't usually involve straighteners even though my hairdresser assumes it should.