How to Make Waves: The Ultimate Guide to Getting 360 Waves
Waves are one of the most popular hairstyles for men. They are characterized by the unique 360 wave patterns created around the head. But although it is a very coveted look, it is not always easy to achieve it. Depending on your hair texture, getting waves can take up to several weeks.
Fortunately, understanding the right methods, commitment and a bit of patience can get you the 360 waves you're looking for. We'll go over everything you need to know about how to get waves, including prep, shaping your hair, and how to maintain your look in this comprehensive guide.
Prepare your hair
The first step is to prep your hair. Preparing your hair is crucial if you want to get the best results, so be sure to take care of the following steps before you begin.
Solve all your scalp problems
A healthy scalp is a prerequisite for achieving 360° waves, which is why you need to ensure that your hair and scalp are in optimal condition. You must therefore ensure that your hair and scalp are in perfect health. Many over-the-counter scalp shampoos can help eliminate these problems.
You also need to make sure your hair is healthy. Take the time to repair dry, damaged hair so you have the perfect canvas to create your waves.
Get your hair cut
Another part of creating the perfect canvas is getting the right haircut. Go to your hairdresser, tell him you're trying to get waves and ask for a short cut. As a general rule, the cut should be close, but not so short that your scalp can be seen.
We also recommend getting a raised (gradient) edge, as this highlights the style of the waves as they appear.
Be ready to commit
Getting the results you want requires training your hair, and this process requires daily effort. The most important part of learning how to get 360 waves is knowing that it involves commitment. Make sure you are prepared to invest a lot of time in your hair; otherwise, you will not be able to get the desired results.
Train your waves
Once your hair and scalp are healthy, your hair is trimmed, and you're ready to commit to getting waves, it's time to get down to business: it's time to train your hair.
Use shampoo for wavy hair
There are several shampoos specially designed for men who want to have waves. These shampoos are pleasant to use, but they are not essential. It's still possible to get waves using regular shampoo; just look for a plant-based shampoo, or a conditioning or protein shampoo.
As for how often you should wash your hair, you should do it during this process, but less often than now. Shampoos strip essential oils from your hair, so it's best to only wash it once a week at most. Be sure to always use hair conditioner after washing.
Some men opt for a co-washing method, which means they skip the shampoo and just use conditioner. This method keeps the essential oils in your hair, and you can still rinse your hair every day.
Brush your hair
Brushing is the most important part of the whole process because it's what trains your hair to create the waves pattern. This is also the most complex part of creating waves.
Many wave experts agree that the only time you should brush your hair is when it's wet. Keeping this fact in mind, blot your freshly shampooed hair with a towel and start brushing it. The technique is to start from the crown of your head, brushing downward and outward.
For the hair from the top of the head, you should brush it towards the forehead. For the hair on the sides of your head, you need to brush it forward and downward, as if going towards your chin. Work section by section, making sure not to miss any part of your head. The whole process, if done correctly, can take up to fifteen minutes.
If you brush your hair after shampooing and treating, skip to the moisturizing step below. On the other hand, if you have not started with this step, you must put a hot towel on your head. Soak a towel in hot water, rinse out excess liquid, and lay the towel over your hair for a few minutes, pressing down. Repeat this process on all parts of your head.
Even if you've already shampooed and conditioned your hair, you can still put the hot towel on your head after brushing. This allows your hair to absorb the moisture from the cloth and become softer.
Hydrate
As you can see, it takes a lot of brushing to get waves. In the long run, this practice can be quite damaging to your hair follicles, which is why it's vital to keep your scalp hydrated throughout the training process.
Moisturizing traditionally comes through the use of many pomades, but pomades contain heavy oil that leaves hair feeling dense and sticky. Frequent use of ointments can clog your pores and cause acne, so we recommend using them sparingly. Prefer light moisturizers based on shea butter and essential oils.
While hydration is an essential part of your scalp's health, you shouldn't overdo it either. Limit your hydration to once or twice a week maximum if your hair is healthy, and up to three if your hair is dehydrated.
Put on a Durag
Once you've brushed your hair, comes the most important part of the wave-making process: the durag. Anyone trying to get waves should use a durag, no questions asked. It does two things: it protects your waves from the elements and locks in moisture.
When should you wear it? The hardcore ones will say that you should always wear your durag, but at a minimum, you should put it on tight for thirty minutes after brushing. Sleeping is another time you should wear your durag, as it will hold your waves in place.
The type of durag you choose is up to you. Satin is one of the most popular fabrics because it helps lock in moisture while preventing breakage. Polyester is another common type of durag, and velor - although it can be hard to find - is trending right now. find your velvet models on our site.
Whichever type you choose, you should faithfully repeat the conditioning, brushing, and durag process until waves appear.
Maintain your waves
Unfortunately, the hard work is not over once your waves appear. Waves require specific maintenance, so don't let your efforts go to waste and follow the next steps.
Keep brushing them
The first way to maintain your waves is to keep brushing them. Even if you got the look you want, that doesn't mean your brushing days are over. You should continue brushing your hair and using a durag at night, which will keep your style intact.
If you notice that you have trouble achieving or maintaining the wavy style, most of the time this problem is due to a lack of brushing. You should brush your hair three times a day to keep your waves intact.
Stay up to date with your haircuts
Haircuts are still an essential part of the wave making process, although you should probably do them less often than when you don't have waves. Aim for two to four weeks, depending on how long you want your hair to be. Your hair will probably be longer than usual, but that just means your waves will be deeper.
When you go for a haircut, make sure your hairstylist knows what your goals are. He must avoid cutting against the current or in the opposite direction of your waves.
Avoid over-washing your hair
We've said it before, but less is more when it comes to washing. You can rinse your hair as much as you want, but shampoo should be reserved for once a week. Always follow your shampoo with a good conditioner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions men ask to get the perfect 360° waves.
What equipment do I need to get waves?
Before you start, it's essential to make sure you have everything you need. The list isn't long, but there are a few things you need to have on hand to get waves:
What type of brush should I use?
The type of brush you choose will largely depend on your hair texture and how deep you want your waves to be. In general, we recommend using a softer brush when your hair is short and a harder brush when it gets longer. One of the most recommended brushes for waves is the Diane 100% Boar Bristle Brush.
How long does it take for the waves to appear?
There is no clear cut answer to the question of how long it takes for waves to appear. It depends on your hair texture and how much time and effort you put into it. It also depends on the health of your hair. The process can take anywhere from a few weeks to six weeks, which is probably the average time it takes for waves to appear.
How often should I cut my hair?
When you start the wave process, you should wait at least three weeks before cutting your hair again. If you wait that long, your hair will probably be longer than usual, but your waves will be deeper.
What is the wolfing technique?
Wolfing is a technique of not cutting your hair for an extended period of time, usually four to six weeks, sometimes up to twelve. It causes your hair to lay down at the roots, and allows for deeper waves since your hair is longer.
The problem is that wolfing can be difficult to pull off since you're dying to cut your hair. However, the rewards are usually worth the sacrifice, as this technique will help you achieve the perfect 360 waves once you finally cut your hair.
Tips for maintaining your waves
Once you've got the perfect 360 waves, you want to make sure your hard work doesn't go to waste. In addition to following the tips we've laid out above, here are some tips to help you maintain your waves.
vitamins
Using products like conditioner is great for healthy hair, but healthy hair starts with what you put into your body. To boost your health, you can consider supplementing your diet with multivitamins. We also recommend taking biotin, a supplement known to promote healthy hair and thicker hair.
You can buy multivitamins and biotin at your local pharmacy.
Hydration
Along the same lines, make sure you're drinking enough water. Dry hair has a harder time forming the waves you're looking for, so moisturizing is essential. While conditioner and pomade contribute to hydration, keeping hair hydrated starts with consuming enough water daily.
Only brush when your hair is damp
Speaking of hydration, brushing dry hair should be avoided. You should always brush damp hair and then moisturize it adequately.
Less is more
Our final tip is don't splurge on conditioner or pomade – a small amount is plenty.
Final Thoughts
These are the basic principles for obtaining waves. Taking the time to get to know this classic hairstyle will allow you to achieve the look you want. Getting waves takes a lot of time and effort, but it's worth it once you finally get the results you want.