Bumble and bumble
Hairdresser's Invisible Oil Heat/UV Protective Primer
7.8Good
A six-oil leave-in primer spray that detangles, softens and adds heat protection to 450°F plus UV filters, at a salon-brand price.
Leave-in5$34.00
Wave Spray
A salt-free texture spray for soft, undone beach waves without crunch; easy to use, but pricey for a light-hold mist.
7.2
Good
Beauty score
#5 of 5 styling
Community
—/10
- Format
- Texture spray
- Size
- 6 fl oz
- Price per oz
- $5.01 / oz
- Price tier
- Mid-range
Made for: Straight hair · Wavy hair · Curly hair
Last reviewed November 2, 2026 by our editors · How we score
The verdict
A salt-free texture spray for soft, undone beach waves without crunch; easy to use, but pricey for a light-hold mist.
OUAI's Wave Spray is a texturizing mist for beachy waves that the brand now describes as salt-free, promising body and volume while keeping hair soft and hydrated. The current formula relies on PVP-type film formers with panthenol, glycerin and hydrolyzed rice protein, scented with OUAI's North Bondi fragrance. Creators use it for heatless and heat-styled waves on straight to wavy hair. Several older reviews predate the salt-free reformulation, and the price is high for a light-hold texture spray.
Best for
- Straight to wavy hair wanting soft beach waves
- Adding texture to heat-styled waves
- Fans of OUAI's North Bondi scent
What we love
- Salt-free formula that the brand says keeps hair soft and hydrated
- Adds beachy texture without crunch, according to creator reviews
- Works for heatless waves or after curling irons and wavers
- Cruelty-free and paraben- and phthalate-free per the brand
Worth knowing
- Light-hold texturizer rather than a strong-hold styler
- Contains fragrance allergens plus Yellow 5 and Red 33 dyes
- Pricey for a texture spray, and older reviews cover the previous formula
How it scored
The breakdown.
Five factors, weighted for formulas. Here’s our working.
7.2Good
Beauty score out of 10. Brands can’t pay for placement — ever.
- Results30%7.3
Creators get soft, tousled texture and waves with braids, twists or heat, but it is a light-hold texturizer rather than a defining product.
- Formula & ingredients20%7.3
The salt-free update adds panthenol, glycerin and rice protein to a PVP hold base, though it also contains fragrance allergens and added dyes.
- Texture & experience15%7.8
Creators describe beachy texture without crunch, and the North Bondi scent is a draw for fans of OUAI fragrances.
- Value20%6.6
At $30 for 6 fl oz it costs more than many drugstore sea-salt and texture sprays with a similar light hold.
- Community love15%7.3
A well-known texture spray with years of tutorials, but many of the most-watched reviews predate the salt-free reformulation.
Beauty profile
Inside the bottle.
Texture
Light, salt-free texturizing mist
Format
Texture spray
Fragrance
Contains fragrance — North Bondi: bergamot, apple blossom, raspberry and Italian lemon; rose de mai, jasmine and violet; patchouli, sandalwood and white musk
Size
6 fl oz / 177 ml
Key ingredients
Ingredient encyclopedia →- PaPanthenolHydrators — ingredient guide
- GlGlycerinHydrators — ingredient guide
- RiRice extract & fermentBotanicals & ferments — ingredient guide
What’s in it: Salt-free formula per the brand; hold comes from PVP and maltodextrin/VP copolymer, with panthenol, glycerin, gac (Momordica cochinchinensis) seed extract, lactobacillus ferment and hydrolyzed rice protein.
How to use
Shake, then spray from 6–8 inches away onto clean wet hair from roots to ends and scrunch or twist; air-dry or diffuse, or spray onto dry hair after curling or waving with heat.
Free from (brand-stated)
- salt
- parabens
- phthalates
- SLS
- SLES
- gluten
Claims & certifications
- Cruelty-free (brand-stated)
- Paraben-free
Full ingredient list (INCI)31 ingredients · key actives highlighted · as listed by the brand
- Water / Aqua / Eau,
- Propanediol,
- Pvp,
- Polysorbate 20,
- Maltodextrin/Vp Copolymer,
- Glycerin,
- Panthenol,
- Momordica Cochinchinensis Seed Extract,
- Lactobacillus Ferment,
- Hydrolyzed Rice Protein,
- Polyglyceryl-6 Caprylate,
- Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate,
- Sodium Phytate,
- Hydroxyacetophenone,
- Caprylyl Glycol,
- Citric Acid,
- Sodium Hydroxide,
- Ethylhexylglycerin,
- Benzyl Alcohol,
- Potassium Sorbate,
- Sodium Benzoate,
- Phenoxyethanol,
- Parfum / Fragrance,
- Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone,
- Linalool,
- Limonene,
- Geraniol,
- Hydroxycitronellal,
- Citronellol,
- Yellow 5 (Ci 19140),
- Red 33 (Ci 17200).
Formulas change. Always check the packaging, and patch-test if your skin is reactive.
Creator video reviews
Watch it in action.
Real reviews, try-ons and wear tests from independent creators — verified with TikTok and YouTube and labelled when sponsored.
We don’t pay creators for reviews, and they don’t pay us. Nothing from TikTok or YouTube loads until you press play.
What people say
Straight from the source.
Verbatim from Reddit, forums, blogs and the beauty press — linked, so you can read the whole thread.
2 verbatim quotes · 1 positive · 1 mixed
r/UltaPositive
Big fan of Ouai Wave Spray and Kenra dry texture spray
r/UltaMixed
I also love the Ouai wave spray but would keep that to the lengths not roots
Price & value
Is it worth it?
Typical price
$30.00
for 6 fl oz / 177 ml
Per ounce
$5.01
DrugstoreMid-rangePrestigeLuxury
About 13% more per ounce than the typical styling we review. Our value score: 6.6/10 for a mid-range pick.
Price checked November 2026 at a non-Amazon retailer. Prices change — retailers show the current one.
Where to buy
We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. It never affects our scores or what we recommend. How we make money
Community
What members noticed.
Ratings, skin types and the benefits people actually saw — logged on the Benefit Wheel.
No member ratings yet.
Tried it? Your score — and your skin or hair type — helps the next person decide.
Highlighted: what it’s built to do.
Discussion
No discussions yet.
Tried OUAI Wave Spray? Ask a question or share how it’s working for your skin or hair — you’ll be the first.
FAQ
Good questions.
Does OUAI Wave Spray contain salt?
No. OUAI's current product page describes Wave Spray as salt-free, saying it delivers beachy texture and volume while keeping hair soft and hydrated.
Can I use Wave Spray on dry hair?
Yes. OUAI's directions include spraying it onto dry hair after waving with a curling iron, waver or flat iron, then scrunching to enhance texture; it can also go on wet hair before air-drying or diffusing.
What does Wave Spray smell like?
It uses OUAI's North Bondi scent: top notes of bergamot, apple blossom, raspberry and Italian lemon, middle notes of rose de mai, jasmine and violet, and base notes of patchouli, sandalwood and white musk.
Is there a travel size?
Yes. OUAI sells a 3 fl oz travel size alongside the 6 fl oz full size.
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