Simple & Effective Techniques to Define Wavy Hair

Having wavy hair comes with its own list of pros and cons. For the former – everyone envies your loose beachy waves and wants them! Wavy hair is also much more versatile than curly hair when it comes to styling. Whether simply let down, pinned as a half-updo, gathered into a high or low ponytail, or even as a voluminous bun – wavy hair has the right volume and texture to shine and look great in any form. Along with these benefits are easy-maintenance and lesser products too. 

But, Wavies are usually left confused and a bit stranded between curly and straight hair, especially while adopting the CG method and embracing natural waves and curls. Wavies are often left wondering if they need to use the same products and techniques as Curlies and if they can expect the same results and definition as curly-haired people. 

But, as always, Crl Up is here for you! Read on to discover how to determine if you have wavy hair and some simple and effective techniques for achieving definition and keeping your waves looking their best.

Do you have wavy hair? Let’s find out:

On your next wash day, post shampooing and conditioning, skip the stylers and let your hair air-dry on its own. If it dries and forms waves or an ‘S’ shape at the ends or along the lengths with a slight loose curl pattern, your hair is considered to be wavy or of ‘Type 2’. Within Type 2, your wavy hair can either be:

• 2A – 2A waves are looser and more tousled looking. Dry combing or brushing can make it straight yet frizzy and this type loses its wave pattern quickly.
• 2B – 2B can be defined as moderately wavy medium textured. 2B hair  holds its wave pattern pretty well and its wave patterns are more defined and appear as loose yet prominent patterns along the length and ends of your hair. 
• 2C - 2C on the other hand is closer to the curly end of the spectrum and is more than just a wave but less than a curl. This type is highly textured and most products intended for curly hair work well on these types of waves due to its coarse nature and texture. 
  Another tell-tale sign of wavy hair is how prone it is to frizz, especially in humid conditions and warm weather. Waves pick up frizz like the flu in humidity and can go from gorgeous waves to a mangled frizzy mess in a very short span of time. 

Now that you’ve figured out your hair type, let’s embrace those waves and go over a few effective ways to keep them shiny, bouncy and defined, for days!

1. Pre-Poo: Start with a dose of nourishing pre-poo. Simply oil your waves with a light oil like Argan or Almond. You can detangle your hair during this process but ensure that you don’t end up with a heavy head of oil. 
2. Cleanse: Continue your routine by cleansing your scalp with a mild sulphate-free, CG-friendly cleanser to get rid of the grime on your scalp while retaining natural oils. Wavies also need to clarify for the complete removal of dirt and product build up on your scalp and hair using a clarifying shampoo that contains sulphates but NO SILICONES! Wavies need to clarify more often than curlies usually as sebum or oil travels down waves more easily than in curls. DO this step once or twice every 3-4 weeks in place of cleansing to keep your scalp clean and ready for the goodness of the rest of your routine.
3. Condition: It’s not just curls that need to be quenched with moisture, waves do too! Apply a light weight conditioner using the praying hands method, starting an inch away from the scalp to the ends of your waves (not the scalp). Detangle during this step using a wide-toothed comb or your natural tools - fingers!  Follow up with the Squish to Condish technique to evenly distribute the product. Squishing also encourages better clump formation as well as definition of the natural wave pattern.
4. Styling products: This is a crucial step for wavies. Try picking a one and done styler that will give you both moisture and hold. Avoid layering too many products as this will weigh your waves down.  If you have 2A wavy hair, go for lightweight styling products that can boost definition without weighing your waves down. Gels and mousse will work well for this hair type and offer lasting definition. For 2B wavy hair, heavier products such as curl creams can be used to achieve definition.
5. Styling method: Be cautious of the amount of product used. It’s best to take a minimal quantity of the product, emulsify it well and apply  on soaking wet hair to nourish and define your waves without weighing them down.
   A good way to ensure gorgeous waves is to flip your hair while applying your products and scrunching it in upward movements to preserve clumps and encourage better definition. You will also hear a satisfying ‘squelch’ sound while doing this.
   Another method one can try during styling, is to simply twist your waves and scrunch them up for more definition. One can also try finger coiling. These techniques will not only enhance your natural wave pattern but also ease out uneven waves for more uniform and defined hair. 
6. Drying your waves: Waves generally dry faster than curls, but still require taking the right steps to avoid frizz and maintain definition. Try the plopping method with a microfiber towel and then either air-dry or diffuse. Diffusing your waves, in the pixie method especially, is a great way to add volume to your waves and enhance your natural wave pattern. Avoid terry towels and directly blow drying your hair as this will result in frizzy, undefined waves.
7. Refreshing: As mentioned earlier,wavy hair loses moisture faster and you need to refresh more often than your curly counterparts. For Day 2 and 3 waves, simply spray the length of your hair with a mousse or even a mixture of water and your leave-in conditioner/gel. Shake and scrunch to style and voilà!
8. Deep-Condition: Though Wavies don’t depend so much on deep condition as Curlies do, it is still a vital step for definition. You could start by applying a thick, deep conditioner to your hair, post-shampoo, and let it seep in for 20-30 mins before washing. (Pro tip: Amp up your regular conditioner into a deep one by adding a few drops of olive oil and a tsp of honey.) You can increase or decrease your deep-conditioning frequency based on how your waves react. 
9. Take the Silk Route: Happy with your wave definition for the day only to wake up to a messy mane of frizz? Your pillowcase could be the culprit. Sleep on a silk or satin pillowcase or protect your waves with a bonnet of similar material to encase your waves and preserve definition. 

There you go, Wavies! Waves for days are now easier with the above tips and tricks. Let us know if you have a few of your own to share and be a part of our amazing Curl and Wave Community at customercare@letscurlup.com, +91 9945373597 or @letscurlupdotcom on Instagram! Here’s to a great day and greater definition!