Beach Waves, one of the products in Frederic Fekkai’s seasonal Summer Hair line, is a “tousled wave spray” with “Solarshield protection.” It was created as a styling product to give a windswept effect with the added benefit of sunscreen. I already have wavy hair, and I like the way this product maintains and emphasizes my usual texture while giving it light hold and an extra bit of volume. As long as I apply it somewhat sparingly, it dries without any stickiness or stiffness.
In general, the quality of Fekkai products is high, and Beach Waves is no exception. It also has a noticeable fragrance: a tropical blend of coconut, gardenia, ozone, and orange notes. This fragrance recreates the artificial scent of many suntan lotions and therefore conjures up memories of the beach; it’s also persistent enough to recur whenever your hair is dampened for any reason during the course of the day (by rain or sweat, for example). If you enjoy suntan lotion-inspired scents like Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess or Bobbi Brown Beach, you’ll love the smell of this product. However, if you simply want flowing, artfully messy hair without olfactory suggestions of Coppertone, the fragrance of Beach Waves might deter you.
I understand that products like this one intend to mimic the effects of salt water and wind on hair, but I’m tired of fighting the tropical smell that always seems to accompany them. I suspect that many of us possess private, Platonic ideals for our own hair. Mine involves a scene from the movie Howard’s End, in which Helena Bonham Carter stands and argues with Emma Thompson on a breezy hill overlooking the Dorset coast. The curls of her long, dark hair blow and twist in the wind, yet they could not possibly smell like a piña colada. The effect of Beach Waves brings my hair just a bit closer to that ideal, but its fragrance makes it something less than the perfect product for me.
Frederic Fekkai Summer Hair Beach Waves sells for 5 oz. for $22; it can be found at sephora, nordstrom or drugstore.com.
Glad to see I'm not the only one who likes what this product does, but not the way it smells! I don't mind it when I'm, say, on a beach vacation, but it clashes with almost all of my everyday perfumes and I just can't use it. Fekkai does have a Tousled Wave Spray through the Coiff line though, and while it is kind of fragrant, the scent doesn't linger nearly as long.
Lavishly scented hair products drive me nuts. I had a gel I really liked but never wore because it made me smell like beer. I like a beach scent, but when things clash with your perfume (or last longer than your perfume) I have to draw the line.
Well said!
What does ozone smell like?
Yes the Frederic Fekkai products are really good but me too I was put off by the strong smell of the beach hair line. I bought the 'hairbandana' and that quick 'shampoo' but the smell was so overwhelming that I got a headache. I have given both products away to someone who liked the perfume in them and I bought myself the FF Wave spray which I also really like and the scent is fine, much lighter and somehow disappears at some time.
There should be more fine products for curly hair I think.
Does anybody know of products for the curls by other brands? Especailly stying products..
My daughter loved Lush Curly Wurly shampoo but I haven't tried that one yet.
Thanks! These bottles are large enough that they'd be hard to use up in one summer, anyway… and then you're stuck with the beachy smell in the autumn and winter, when it feels *really* incongruous! I'll check out the Coiff line. 🙂
I agree! I like the product to smell pleasant while I'm applying it, but too much fragrance is usually a deal-breaker for me. Beer… no, I don't think that's a scent I'd like to drag around with me all day. 😉
Hi Kelly. Here's the description from the glossary that Robin has fabulously compiled:
“Ozonic: used to describe aroma chemicals that are meant to mimic the smell of fresh air. Frequently described as the smell of air right after a thunderstorm.”
(I can't really improve on that!) 🙂
Ah, I see I'm not the only one! I understand this is *supposed* to be a summer-themed line, but I use it for its effects, definitely *not* for the scent.
For my own curly hair, I make sure to use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, and I'm partial to styling products like Aveda Be Curly, John Masters Sweet Orange Styling Gel, Phytoplage Protective Styling Gel, and Jane Carter Solutions Leave-In Conditioner, all of which happen to have light, temporary fragrances!
Maybe Lush BIG shampoo 'with a beachy feel' would work? Combined with a very light conditioner like Veganese of American Cream, our curls will remain curls.
Frederic Fekkai has a special styling product named Luscious Curls Cream, but that is more for people with straight hair I believe or maybe when applied very lightly it would hold our curls nicely?
Hi Marianne, I like LUSH Big *and* Curly Wurly (even though I'm not a coconut-scent fan; at least it's real coconut!). I can't use them every day, or else they're too drying, but once or twice a week is fine.
American Cream smells heavenly! I need to try that one again. I've also been using King of the Mods gel, which smells like lime sherbet, but I'm still deciding whether or not it works for my hair. I think I need to use it very sparingly.
I have this chat with my stylist all the time. She doesn't understand that I'd rather smell whatever I have on — these days it's Les Nez Unicorn Spell and Diptyque Hesperides — than hair products. I think either the mainstream or niche perfumists should synchronize with the major lines of hair products. They'd have us in a heartbeat — why stop at soap and body lotion? Shampoo, conditioner, detangler, shiner, spray — if they all smelled like any Annick Goutal fragrance, as a for instance, everyone would benefit.
Hi Carmennovia, Annick Goutal does have some body products (shower gel, lotion), if I recall correctly, but they are quite expensive! Alas.
My salon uses TiGi products that smell like oatmeal cookie dough. My stylist loves the scent. I don't, and I always look forward to washing it away!
Then again, I've noticed some posts on Makeup Alley raving about the scent of the Fekkai Beach products, and people are always looking for perfumes that smell like a certain shampoo or “just showered skin,” etc. To each her own, I suppose!
Les Nez Unicorn Spell is so pretty. 🙂
Hi Jessica. Nice to see another post from you (You like woody florals as I do).
I love Fekkai! I haven't tried the beach products because I have long fine natural curly hair. I'm afraid it will dry my hair or make it crunchy. So do you think this will work for me? I could use more body and I like my hair to smell good-usually spritz it with a little light floral scent anyway.
Also I want to find a “sexy” scent that isn't loaded with cardamon or anything like Opium, Coco, Youthdew. I was thinking of Fifi Chachnil?… but I might be more in love with the cute bottle. I like peony in two from Stella; I like the amber contrast. I like N.R. *the edt* not the perfume and the new E.L. Sensuous, except there's a bit to much pine smell. I don't care much for scads of white flower together(like Fracas 😮 except in small doses). I was thinking along the lines of Grand Amour by AG. Tobacco, cedar, and leather scents aren't my thing either. I am poor, but I would like a nice niche scent. I like amber, musk, cashmere woods,sandlewood and incense. I don't like a lot of fruit, but I do like grapefruit, pear and sometimes plum. I was also thinking of Chamade-not niche but once described once as “heartbreakingly beautiful.”
Sorry to ask here, but I don't know where it fits. I do know your a floral girl like me, and others might have suggestions to try. I basically want a floral opening, with a unique middle floral and sensual dry down..who doesn't? I also don't care for too much patchouli or vanilla. I can afford samples from Lucky scent. I just am having a very hard time finding something I love.
Ideas would be great!
Joy to all,
-Becca
Hi Becca, I think you might like the Beach Waves, if you don't mind tropical florals! As long as I don't overapply, I don't get any stickiness; and it does add some volume.
Hm, “sexy” is so subjective! I do trust all the raves for Fifi Chachnil and Chamade, however. And my own favorite Guerlain is Nahema, a dark peachy-rose that I personally find very sensuous. I recently tried and loved Caron's French Can Can eau de parfum, so something along those lines might work too.
If you like woods and incense in combination with florals, you might want to order a few samples from Sonoma Scent Studio. The scents are high quality (and affordable), and I can personally recommend Vintage Rose!
From the Luckyscent menu, Anne Pliska is another possibility. And you know what, I still find Chanel No. 5 amazing. Have you tried the Sensual Elixir formulation?
(Suggestions from others are also welcome!)
Sexy* is* so subjective, it runs the gammet from Youth Dew to Fracas.
I am writing down your suggestions right away.
No, I haven't smelled Chanel No. 5 in a long time, but it is a classic. The Sensual Elixir sounds sexy alright! Must try it.
I wish I could find a scent like, oh say “Petite Fleur Dans Mata Hari Disguise” or something that says what I want-I smell flowery and harmless but I'm more than I seem. How about, “Rock Your World Cowboy” or “Fleur De Serpent”…I like that one. Ya just don't know whatcha gonna get.
Sorry to go off post. Sometimes Robin does a find this person a perfume post and I want to say, “Pick me, pick me!”
Thank you for all you suggestions Jessica and any other kind souls out there.
Much joy,
Becca
Interesting, I was just thinking about hair product scents the other day and how big a part it can play in a person's decision to buy. I work in a salon, so I'm always sniffing the new stuff. 3 lines I think perfume lovers might like (in other words, they don't smell like bubblegum or coconuts) are: Leonore Greyl (think it's from the UK), Kerastase, and a newer one called Renu by Joico (beautiful packaging on that one). These aren't overly powerful once your hair is dry and I think they are all very high quality lines.
Kerastase, I know that brand and even bought a hairproduct once, after a good haircut. Kerastase has very good products indeed with such luxurious scents! But 250 ml shampoo costed me 16 Euro, which is 25 USD and that was once but not again :]
The scent was not overpowering like that beachline of FF and did not interfere with a fine perfume.
Lydeelol,
Bubblegum or coconuts, perfect! I've been Leonore Greyl in stores, so I'll have to check it out sometime. I remember liking a Kerastase product I owned once. Thanks! Quality is always important, too. 🙂
Becca, I wish I could find that imaginary “Petite Fleur…” somewhere! Sounds great. 😉
I don't know how Robin organizes the Monday Mailbox scent-picking posts, but you should contact her if you're interested! You never know. Take care!
Hee! I love the Fekkai smoothing cream for my hair, but I don't like the smell (luckily I don't notice it after I've used it). It's kind of ozone-y, too, but not really beachy.
Anyway, I'm mostly posting to let you know in case you didn't (but I bet you do) that John Masters also makes a beachy-hair-type product–and it's lavender-scented! (Or so I've read.) Way more Howards End-esque. 😉
Well, you know I'm a John Masters fan. 😉
And I did take a look at this product, but the ingredients were basically water, sea salt, and lavender essential oil, so… maybe I should just try blending my own! You're right, lavender would be much more HE. 🙂