Are you someone with the perfect beachy waves after the shower but the moment you brush it, it won’t take two seconds for an outsider to question whether you comb your hair or not? Do you relate to Mia, the princess of Genovia before her glow-up scene from The Princess Diaries movie? If “YES”, then this article is for you as it will teach you how to style wavy hair.
Wavy hair is neither curly nor straight. It’s like one of those lip tints you can wear in so many ways. You can build it up for a bold look or use it lightly for a clean look. Similarly, wavy hair presents multiple styling possibilities. It can be straightened, curled, slightly waved, heavily waved, or kept naturally wavy.
When you tie them up, they give the best voluminous ponytail. It is easy to use hair tools on wavy hair as they hold styles for longer, compared to people with straight or curly hair. But wavy hair has one enemy and that is frizz. Frizz affects wavy hair in the most frustrating way. While some strands turn curlier due to frizz, others become straight and coarse, leading to an uneven appearance. It is both a blessing and a curse.
It is important to know how to style wavy hair as our hair plays a significant role in our physical attributes and overall appearance. There are so many ways to style wavy hair, however, before styling, taking care and preparing the hair is vital.
1. How to Take Care of Wavy Hair?
Before you know how to style wavy hair, prioritizing haircare and preparing it for styling is necessary as it will help maintain the health and vitality of hair in the long term.
Because of the texture, wavy hair requires more moisture retention compared to straight hair. Hence, it is essential that you use shampoo that doesn’t strip your hair strands of the necessary moisture and hydration. When buying shampoo, check the ingredient list for Sodium Laureth Sulphate or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and silicones as these, on regular use, rob them of essential hydration and subsequently weigh them down. Avoid shampoos and conditioners with such ingredients and pick those with gentle formulations.
Adding a hair mask to your hair care regime once a week will be a big plus! You can either go for a moisturizing hair mask or a protein-rich hair mask depending on the needs of your hair. If you have damaged hair due to heat styling or dyeing and have high porosity hair, then a protein hair mask will help reverse the damage.
Lastly, it is crucial to be patient and gentle with your hair as the key to achieving well-defined waves is by making a measured approach with proper time investment.
2. How to Style Wavy Hair?
You need two or three things before you go for styling:
- Detangling brush or comb
- Curl cream
- Mousse or gel (optional)
Because brushing dry hair makes the strands poofy and frizzy, you need to detangle your hair when it’s dripping wet, right after showering. Use a detangling brush or comb.
You need to section your hair and apply a pea-sized amount of curl cream in each section depending on the thickness and length of your hair. Make sure to distribute it evenly through the strands.
3. How to Style Wavy Hair Pattern and Maintain It
Step 1:
Now, to create a proper wave pattern, gently hold a handful of hair in your palm and slowly squeeze it upwards towards the roots.
Step 2:
Keep scrunching your hair section by section. Slowly, work your way around your head until all the hair is scrunched.
Use a microfiber towel or a cotton t-shirt to remove excess moisture during this process.
Step 3:
If you do not prefer air drying, use a blow-dryer equipped with a diffuser and diffuse your hair upside down to create volume.
However, it is advisable to start blow drying when your hair is 70% dry to minimize potential heat damage.
Step 4:
To combat frizz and get defined waves, mousse or gel are great additions to the shower routine.
Before going for the diffuser, add a dollop of mousse or gel and rake them through your hair.
Step 5:
After the curls have fully dried, use a lightweight hair oil to break the cast and voila! You can now flaunt your bouncy waves without any fear of frizz.
However, since mousses or gels can dry up the hair if used too regularly, use them for special occasions only.
If you have wavy hair, make sure to wash your hair with a detoxifying shampoo once a week to cleanse your hair of accumulated buildup from styling products.
Now that we have mastered how to prep our wavy hair, it’s time to learn how to style wavy hair by doing beautiful and quirky hairstyles!
4. Best Haircuts and Hairstyles for Wavy Hair
Best Haircut for Wavy Hair
When it comes to haircuts, layer cuts and wolf cuts are the best haircuts for wavy hair. They accentuate the natural waves and make them more defined.
The plus point is that they are very versatile as you can get shorter, medium and longer versions of them.
Best Hairstyles for Wavy Hair
Beachy waves and half-up and half-down hairstyles are two very fitting hairstyles for wavy hair.
How to do beachy waves: Apply a salt spray or texturizing product to enhance the natural texture of hair.
Allow your hair to air dry or use a diffuser attachment on low heat to preserve those effortless beachy waves.
How to do a half-up and half-down hairstyle: Hold the top section of your wavy hair, secure it with a hair tie or clip, leaving the rest of your hair down.
This style is both practical and stylish. It also amplifies the volume of the hair. Add a ribbon or accessorize with cute claw clips at the top to infuse an extra touch of charm.
For more fancy events, a braided crown will be a splendid choice.
How to do braided crown: To make a braided crown, make two braids on each side of your head, beginning behind your ears.
Then, cross them over the top of your head and pin them in place with bobby pins. Because of textured hair, this hairstyle looks more beautiful on wavy hair as it defines the wave pattern exquisitely.
By using these techniques and attractive styling options, you will be able to bring out the best in your wavy hair.
5. Conclusion
One common misconception regarding wavy hair is that “brushing it regularly will help straighten it.” While there is nothing wrong with embracing frizzy hair, having smooth non-frizzy hair helps elevate your overall appearance, particularly in professional environments. Many women resort to permanent hair straightening and chemical treatments to get rid of the frizz and texture of wavy hair. It is not a permanent solution and inflicts lasting damage on your precious locks.
Wavy hair has its own personality and deserves to be treated by tailoring to its distinctive attributes. Above, we have explored effective ways how to style wavy hair, so that you never feel the need to go for damaging chemical treatment. Showcase the unique beauty of your natural hair and flaunt and celebrate it with confidence.
Also Read: How to Style Curtain Bangs- The Ultimate Styling Secrets!
