Wavy hair. It’s the middle child of the hair texture family, right in between prim and polite straight and expressive and charismatic curly. Often mistaken as straight hair that’s misbehaving, or curly hair that’s not trying hard enough, wavy hair is in a class of its own, and it needs to be cared for accordingly. I should know, I’ve been living the wavy hair life for over 40 years now, and I’m always on the look out for ways to work with and embrace my natural hair texture.
What is wavy hair?
Wavy hair is a type of hair texture that sits in between straight and curly. It’s also known as type 2 hair, in the hair texture definition space. Type 2 hair can come in a range of looks, from loose loops to ‘S’ shaped waves, and can be split into three different subtypes, from loosest to tightest wave patterns. 2A is a loose, tousled texture, 2C is the step before curly hair, and 2B sits in between with more defined but also more loose S shaped waves.
Wavy hair will be dryer and often more porous than straight hair, but less so than curlier hair. In my case, my hair is within the type 2A category and highly porous, exacerbated by my love of a full bleach out (with a healthy dose of pink pigment on top). My hair needs are as individual as anyone’s so take my tips as a jumping off point to start your wavy hair care education, as I share some tips and tools I’ve discovered along my hair texture acceptance journey.
Use the right hair tools to enhance your natural texture
If I take care of my hair in the way it wants (more on that below), most days just air drying or blow dry diffusing after washing will give me a head of mostly wavy hair. But sometimes, no matter what I do, some parts of my hair will never wave on their own. So I will use heat styling to emulate and enhance my natural wave pattern for a wavier overall look. Lately I’ve been testing out the The Tymo Rovy Waver from TYMO Beauty, a hair-styling tools brand focused on helping people achieve salon-quality results at home. I use the compact size for my chin to shoulder length bob haircut, and I really like the loose, beach waves it provides, that blend beautifully with my natural wavy hair texture. This tool is super easy to use, and delivers great results. I really appreciate its adjustable temperature setting so I only use as much heat as I need, while keeping my bleached hair safe from heat damage, especially in conjunction with a heat protector. Tymo makes a great spray infused with multiple plant oils, formulated to provide hair with thermal protection up to 450°F.
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Use products to out the natural wave pattern
My wavy hair needs some encouragement to do its thing, and I’ve tried out tons of products to help me do just that. I’ve found the best thing for my hair is inspired by nature: salty sea water really helps enhance my waves. But since I am not lucky enough to live by the beach and have nature style my hair for me, I reach for a sea salt spray like Marc Anthony Beach Volume™ Texture & Wave Sea Salt Spray when I want more texture and volume,. It’s made for straight or wavy, fine and flat hair, and combines sea salt with styling polymers and a micro-light Fibre Filler Complex™ to add volume and enhance texture while keeping hair soft and flexible. A little mist onto damp hair, then scrunching my hair upward with my hands to encourage the waves, and either it air-drying or diffusing and this spray gives me the beachy look I crave. I’ve also found it useful on dry hair when my waves need reviving between washes. The trick, especially with finer hair like mine, is to start with a light application and build from there. Too much product can weigh waves down, while the right amount helps bring out that natural, slightly tousled texture I’m after.
Wavy hair wants moisture
Wavy hair tends to be the least dry among more textured hair types, so it’s important to find products that deliver miosture without weighing hair down. Without moisture and strength, wavy hair becomes frizzy hair and no one wants that. I use a strengthening shampoo, deep treatment masque and conditioner every time I wash my hair for nourishment, and to give my waves a fighting chance.
I have been enjoying the Brigeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Line for my wash days. The line is formulated with proteins and nourishing oils like rosehip and almond. It’s only lightly fragranced which I prefer, and is moisturizing without being heavy. My hair is smoother and stronger, which helps create a great base of healthier hair for happier hair waves.
Wavy hair needs strength
Using strengthening products helps give wavy hair the support it needs to do its wavy thing. When my hair is dry or damaged, my waves tend to look less defined and more frizzy, so I’ve found that incorporating strengthening treatments into my routine makes a noticeable difference.
Oribe Hair Alchemy Fortifying Treatment Serum has become one of the products I reach for when my hair needs some extra support. It combines chia seed, bio-fermented bamboo leaf and plant-based protein with phytoceramides and cotton seed extract to help strengthen fragile strands, improve elasticity and protect against breakage. I like that the serum is lightweight and absorbs quickly, so I can use a small amount through my mid-lengths and ends without sacrificing the movement in my waves. I’ve used it on both damp and dry hair, and it can also be worked in as an overnight treatment when my hair needs a little more TLC.
For hair that’s been exposed to more serious damage from colouring, bleaching or heat styling, I’ve also been using Hair Alchemy Bond Building Elixir from Oribe. It uses Oribe’s Holistic Rebonding Complex and 11 amino acids to help replenish broken hydrogen, ionic and disulfide bonds within the hair fibre. I find this one particularly useful when my hair is feeling weakened or overprocessed. I apply it to clean, damp hair, concentrating on the areas that need the most attention, and have found that keeping a bond-building product in my regular routine helps my hair feel more resilient without making my waves feel heavy.
Embrace your wavy hair with me, and share your own tips and tools with us on Threads @weraddictedmag!
*header image by RDNE Stock
Nadia Elkharadly
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