My hair looks fab when damp but shit when dry. Help!

[RexManningDay]

I have a slight wave to my hair. After the shower I use either Tigi Foxy Curls cream or mousse and scrunch it (mostly leave it to air dry but sometimes use hairdryer). Hair looks great. All piece-y and wavy and textured.

However as soon as it's fully dry it just loses the wave and looks not wavy/not straight but resoundingly meh.

Is there anything I can do to make my hair stay as it looks when damp?

Tried and failed at curly girl before anyone suggests that. Don't think I'm quite wavy enough for it iyswim.

I rub hair conditioner into my hands and then run my hands through my hair. As long as you don't overdo it, conditioner doesn't need to be rinsed off. It can add shape and shine and body.

Sea salt spray?

Yes sea salt spray!

I would wrap a towel around your hair and leave it a few minutes before applying 'product' and scrunching.

I had the same problem as you with cg. I have hair that falls between straight and wavy. I ended up buying a hot air brush and blow-drying straight on a low heat after each wash. I just use Maui moisture shampoo and conditioner (the pink set) and pantene gold hydrating styling cream for a little extra moisture.

It's frustrating , but it's the only routine that I've found that keeps the crappy frizz away.

Have you tried creating a gel cast for your waves? I've not , but I've seen lots on YouTube about it being a good move.

Wet look gel?

Watch the gel cast video. I used to do it decades ago but left my curls crunchy then.

When I was younger I would just run baby oil through my wet hair and it would just naturally dry really curly/wavy. The baby oil seemed to set it better than actual hair products.

I miss that hair!

Curly girl method

This is me. If I leave my hair to dry naturally it goes slightly wavy in random clumps. If I blow dry it there’s no wave and it goes fluffy.

I’ve just started using a babylis big hair and so far (touch wood) my hair does look better - I’ve been trying Loreal series expert professional stuff. The Liss masque made my hair super greasy after 24 hours so I’ve switched to the nutria stuff plus Liss serum before and after drying.

Am wondering how people get relatively even waves after styling - do they use a deep barrel waver?