How To Take Care Of Wavy Hair

It's no surprise waking up in the morning with your hair looking like you just had a catfight last night—not to mention the dryness and hard tangling. Well, it's an everyday struggle of a woman. 

If you're a man, your goal in the morning is probably just to get up, get ready, and head out as fast as possible. Women, on the other hand, are built differently. Aside from all the routines we need to follow, our hair also demands some of our precious time.

While maintaining straight hair is hard, taking care of wavy hair is a whole different ball game. Even though it seems easy to maintain, plenty of effort still goes into keeping this glorious mane of waves. 

Like all hair types, wavy hair also needs some tender loving care. If you're looking into how to take care of your wavy hair, you need to understand the basics and what makes your hair special first.

Let’s learn more about your hair type and some guides to keep it shiny and healthy!

What is wavy hair?

Falling between straight and curly, wavy hair is often considered distinct from curly hair due to its subtle curl pattern, sometimes called rebellious straight hair.

If your hair forms light “S” curves with fine hair and straight roots, you may have type A wavy hair. If it's fine and has straight roots with more defined curves, it can indicate a type B wave. When your hair is on the thicker side, and the waves are almost forming tight curls, it’s usually type C.

How do I know if I have wavy hair?

You may not have realised that you have wavy hair until you're 30. That sounds ridiculous!

To know if you have wavy hair, there are some clear signs you need to consider. First, check for kinks when your hair is still wet. When your hair is wet, it usually reveals your natural pattern. So if you spot kinks, you probably have wavy hair. 

Additionally, wavy hair tends to react more and frizz up easily when it's humid. So, if your hair is a bit sensitive to humidity, that's a clear sign!

Furthermore, waves are relatively stubborn. Hair that naturally looks puffy or flicks out at the end is a common sign of waves. Lastly, if your hair is sometimes annoyingly unmanageable, it could be a sign of damage, or you just have wavy hair. 

How do I brush my wavy hair?

Many suggestions are available online on properly brushing your wavy hair. But, they also miss the most important point: you should never brush your wavy hair. Pulling a hairbrush through your wavy hair will damage the curls and lead to a frizzy mess. 

So what should you do then? 

There are two ways that wavies can safely brush and detangle their hair without causing breakage and frizziness: combing with a wide tooth comb or using your fingers. Experts highly recommend a wide tooth comb. It can be an alternative to brushing through your wet hair. If you're gentle, you can also use it to detangle your dry hair. 

But, using your fingers is still the easiest way to detangle your hair without causing frizz. Just run through them gently, and you’re good to go! Remember, attacking a mass of tangled hair with a comb or fingers is bad. So you have to do it in sections while keeping your hair hydrated. 

How to successfully wash your hair and how often?

Clump, Scrunch and Squish to condish!

After you wash your hair using shampoo, apply conditioner by flipping your hair upside down and squishing your hair inside a fist towards your scalp. Be careful not to draw out much water. After that, you'll notice clumps of hair forming. When you get out of the shower, add your favourite product while your hair is still wet.

Now, flip your hair upside down, tilt it slightly to the side, and start scrunching with the product. Gently lift your palm and fingers to the scalp as you scrunch the product in. When your hair dries, do it again.

Do it two to three times a week and reveal those soft, defined waves!

What are some tips and techniques for combating frizz and dryness in wavy hair?

One of the biggest challenges of wavy hair is frizz. With its natural texture, wavy hair tends to frizz up fast. So when you go to the beach, an area where humidity is high, or you sweat a lot, you know this too well. 

Feeling frustrated? You can follow these tips:

1. Get a good haircut. Get rid of dry, dead ends.
2. Turn down your shower temperature. While it feels good, it doesn't do much good to your hair. 
3. Use shampoos with hydrating properties like glycerin. Wavy hairs need that moisture locked in. Avoid products with high alcohol content.
4. Never forget to condition. Even anti-frizz shampoos can strip off your hair's natural moisture, so make sure to use shampoo and conditioner alternately.
5. Do a hair mask once a week. It will do wonders.
6. Avoid aggressive towel rubbing to avoid friction frizz.
7. Minimise using heat tools on your hair. 

How often should I cut my wavy hair?

There's no specific number for how often you should cut your hair. However, for those with thick hair with a wavy texture, trimming every 8 to 10 weeks will keep the split ends at bay. This changes if you're trying to grow your hair out.

Just remember to keep your ends hydrated to ensure your natural hair looks its best.

Conclusion

Be patient. You may have to do some trial and error to find the perfect products and routine that works best for your hair. Let your confidence shine through. If all else fails, just put it on a ponytail or a messy bun with NALZO oversized hair scrunchie.

Don't forget to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!