How to keep wavy in hair?

Lots of us are choosing to move away from excess heat and the hair damage that often comes with it.

Instead, we’re looking for more natural and hair-friendly ways to get those waves flowing!

Here are 9 ways how to get wavy hair without heat.

In this article, we’ll explore:

Whenever we go to the hairdressers, you may have noticed that they never use heat on our hair without using a heat protector first.

But why is that? Essentially, using too much heat can damage your hair – and here’s why.

Hairstylist Stacy Ciceron highlights that heat is bad for our hair because it can damage the texture of our hair.

In particular though, heat can have a negative impact on curly or wavy hair types as it might make you permanently lose your curl pattern.

If you have straight hair, too much heat can make your hair look dry and brittle – as well as highlighting any split ends you may have.1

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Not every hair care product is suitable for wavy hair. Therefore, knowing what to use for your beachy waves is essential. Today, we will guide you through the process of taking care of your wavy locks.

1. Wavy hair is neither fully curly nor completely straight. The hair on the scalp lies flat like straight hair but the rest of the hair length has waves.

2. Unlike curly hair, wavy hair does not follow any particular pattern. The waves in your hair are inconsistent.

3. Wavy hair patterns change very frequently. It is an extremely versatile hair type that changes throughout your life. Sometimes the waves are heavy, while at other times they are loose. Also, your hairstyle influences the pattern of your waves to a large extent.

4. Wavy hair may often feel heavy or overweight. But it solely depends on your curl type. Naturally wavy hair tends to weigh down even without any product.

5. Another characteristic of wavy hair is frizz. Your wavy locks are frizzier than other hair types. The frizz may make your hair look undone.

Your hair comes out from the skin pores of your scalp. These skin pores are known as hair follicles, and their shape determines whether your hair would be curly, wavy or completely straight. The shape of your hair follicles in turn, is determined by various factors, of which the most impactful is your genetics.

So, if your DNA forms perfectly round-shaped hair follicles, your hair type will be straight. The DNA may cause oval-shaped hair follicles which lead to curly hair. But sometimes DNA creates hair follicles that are neither round nor oval-shaped. The shapes of these hair follicles are somewhere in between, therefore leading to a wavy hair type.

Wavy hair can be classified into three different types as given under.

Wavy type 2A is pretty similar to straight hair. But if you take a closer look, you will notice light S-shaped waves. But the waves are a little subtle and light in volume.

The waves of type 2B are more profound than type 2A. But the roots of the hair are flat.

Type 2C has thicker strands and tight waves. It has the best volume among all the types of wavy hair.

Wavy hair tends to be frizzy. That’s why keeping your hair hydrated and frizz-free must be your goal. To keep your hair hydrated, experts recommend using a cleansing and hydrating shampoo. Try to avoid shampoos that contain sulfates, as it strips off the sebum oil from your scalp and makes your hair dry.

Wavy hair is a lighter form of curls. Reports suggest that curls are prone to breakage due to frizziness. Hence, wavy hair needs extra care. Adding deep conditioning to your hair care routine is a must for treating frizziness. Besides, deep conditioning will repair hair damages like split-ends and roughness. It will also add some shine to your beachy waves.

A hair dryer is a heating tool and it can damage the cuticles of your hair. Therefore, avoiding a hair dryer and opting for air drying your hair is the best option. Air drying will add bounce to your natural waves. It will reduce the frizziness and give you a smoother texture.

Since wavy hair mostly suffers from dehydration and lack of moisture, leave-in hair serums can help control the wavy locks. Look for a serum that has keratin support. It will make your hair strands stronger and frizz-free.

1. It is not possible to wash your hair every day. That’s why rituals in-between hair washes are important. To begin with, you can damp your hair using a water spray, so that previously used products will be activated again.

2. Often in between hair washes, your waves may look flatter than usual. Apply mousse to add some volume to your hair locks. Volumizing will give your hair a fresh look.

3. Before styling your hair or using any heating tool, apply protective serum to your hair.

4. You can practice the pre-bed hair moisturization procedure. For dry hair, you can use a hair mask and leave it overnight to get freshly hydrated hair strands in the morning.

5. Massaging hair oil a night before you wash your hair is a great idea. Take a carrier oil such as olive oil, coconut oil or almond oil and mix it with essential oils like tea tree oil, rosemary oil or lavender oil.

6. Use satin bonnets and pillow covers to prevent your hair from drying out.

1. If you have fine wavy hair, try to add volume to your roots to give a fuller look. Clipping your hair can help.

2. Over styling your wavy hair is a bad idea. If you want your hair locks to have a wavy look all day long, it is better to keep it natural.

3. Run fingers through your hair to define your curls even better.

4. In case you are using heating tools to style your hair, keep the heat level to a minimum.

5. Tie your hair using clips, to give your wavy locks a nice shape.

There isn’t much difference between curly hair and wavy fair. In fact, both are similar in the sense that both equally suffer from frizziness. Both are breakage-prone and also difficult to manage. However, a few key differences can be noted below,

Wrapping Up

Wavy hair looks alluring but maintaining perfectly balanced wavy locks can be tough. The most common issue with wavy hair is frizziness and that happens due to dehydration. Maintaining a hair care regimen that hydrates your hair strands to the core can help. Be mindful while using styling products and heating tools as those can damage your hair cuticles.

Also, avoid using products that will potentially strip off the natural oil from your scalp and make your hair dry. Take care of your tresses with oil massage, leave-in serum and hair mask.

Begin By Knowing Your Skin

If any of the above sound familiar, you may be blessed with wavy, yet not quite curly hair. And while some days it might feel like you have the best of both worlds, most days it just feels like a hassle.

The good news? With the right routine and know-how, you can manage your would-be curls to get just the look you’re after — whether you’re coaxing your hair into gorgeous curls, embracing your natural texture for an easy tousled look, or smoothing it out with a flat iron.

But first...

To understand your wavy hair, you’ll first need a primer on the different curl types. Your genes and the shape of your hair follicles (along with a few other factors) play a part in how your hair looks, which is typically categorized into 4 main types and various subtypes. This categorization takes into account density, volume, length, and consistency, as explained in our curly hair guide here.

While you might immediately identify with one of the 4 main types, it’s also normal for us wavy-haired gals to still be confused. For example, you might feel like you fall in between Type 1 and Type 2, depending on the day, tiny routine changes, humidity in the air, and tons of other factors.

Another one of the biggest challenges for wavy hair is frizz. With its natural texture, wavy hair tends to get frizzy with even a little bit of moisture in the air! If you live anywhere near the ocean, in an area with high humidity, or if you sweat along your hairline, you know this all too well.

Feeling frustrated yet? Yep, we know the feeling.

Short of getting Brazilian blowouts or perms every few months — which can get pricey, for sure —  our best tip is to experiment with products and routines until you figure out what works for you. You may need to decide in advance what look you’re going for, as starting your style from the moment you step into the shower can make a huge difference.

Beyond that, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you get to know your wavy hair…