10 Expert Tips for Wavy Hair
Advice from the Stylists at Arena Creative Hair
If you’ve ticked “wavy hair” on your consultation form, we’re excited — wavy hair offers the best of both worlds. It can be smoothed down or scrunched up, left beachy or polished. But wavy hair also comes with its own unique needs.
At Arena, we’re passionate about helping you understand your hair type so you can embrace it fully — with the right products, styling techniques, and care routine.
Here are our top 10 tips for making the most of your gorgeous waves:
1. Define, Don’t Fight Your Waves
Wavy hair is all about movement and texture. Rather than straightening it flat, work with your natural wave pattern by using products that define and enhance.
💡 Try: Kevin Murphy’s Killer.Waves spray — lightweight, curl-enhancing and frizz-reducing without heaviness.
2. Hydration Is Key
Wavy hair is naturally drier than straight hair, especially at the ends. Use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner that hydrate without weighing down your waves.
💡 Try: Hydrate.Me.Wash and Hydrate.Me.Rinse from Kevin Murphy to restore bounce and softness.
3. Air-Dry With Care
Wavy hair often looks its best when left to dry naturally. After washing, gently scrunch in your styling product and let it air dry. Avoid touching it too much while it’s drying to prevent frizz.
4. The Right Cut Makes All the Difference
Wavy hair can lose its shape quickly without a proper cut. At Arena, we use advanced dry-cutting and layering techniques tailored to your wave pattern to encourage natural movement without creating triangle shapes or bulk.
💡 Book regular trims every 10–12 weeks to keep your waves defined and healthy.
5. Ditch the Brush
Brushing wavy hair when it’s dry can cause frizz and disrupt the wave pattern. Instead, use a wide-tooth comb in the shower when your hair is coated with conditioner to gently detangle.
6. Use a Microfibre Towel or T-Shirt
Rubbing hair dry with a regular towel can rough up the cuticle and create frizz. Blot gently with a microfibre towel or soft cotton T-shirt instead — your waves will thank you.
7. Try a Keratin Smoothing Treatment
If your waves are more unruly than defined, or you battle with frizz and humidity, a Keratin Smoothing Treatment could help. At Arena, we offer keratin services designed to smooth the hair surface, reduce frizz, and enhance the natural wave — not flatten it.
💡 This treatment lasts up to 3–4 months and cuts down on styling time significantly while maintaining movement and body.
Find out more on our Keratin Blog
8. Refresh With Water and Product
Wavy hair doesn’t always need to be rewashed to revive. Mist it lightly with water, then reapply a small amount of your styling product to refresh your waves and bring back definition on non-wash days.
💡 A spray bottle with water and a drop of leave-in conditioner is a great DIY refresher.
9. Protect While You Sleep
Your waves can easily get flattened or frizzy overnight. Sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce friction or loosely tie your hair in a pineapple (high loose ponytail) with a silk scrunchie.
10. Book a Personal Consultation
Everyone’s waves are different — from soft bends to more defined S-shapes. A personalised consultation at Arena helps you understand your texture, choose the right styling routine, and discover what haircut or colour enhances your natural shape and suits your skin tone.
💬 Final Thoughts from the Arena Team
Wavy hair is versatile, expressive, and completely unique — and with the right techniques, it’s easy to care for. Whether you want to wear it tousled and undone or more polished and sleek, we’re here to help you fall in love with your natural hair.
Ready to embrace your waves with confidence?
Book an appointment today