How to Define Loose Waves Without Weighing Them Down

Use lightweight products applied to damp hair, scrunch gently, and air dry or diffuse on low heat to maintain bounce.

1. Start with clean, conditioned hair. Wash with a sulfate-free shampoo and follow with a lightweight conditioner applied mid-length to ends. Loose waves need moisture without heaviness, so avoid over-conditioning at the roots.
2. Apply product to damp hair. On towel-dried hair, work a quarter-sized amount of lightweight mousse or wave cream through your lengths using a wide-tooth comb. Focus on the mid-lengths and ends where waves naturally form.
3. Scrunch and shape. Gently scrunch sections of hair upward toward your scalp to encourage wave formation. Use your palms rather than fingertips to avoid creating frizz and disrupting the wave pattern.
4. Dry strategically. Air dry when possible, or use a diffuser on low heat and speed. Cup sections of hair in the diffuser bowl and hold for 10-15 seconds before moving to the next section.