For most of my life, I have always thought I had hair that wasn’t quite curly, but wasn’t quite straight either. As a result, I ended up using products that made my hair look like a giant rat’s nest, unless I straightened it.
Thanks to social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit, I learned that people with my kind of hair have wavy hair, which is a hair type that needs its own kind of routine and products. However, I will admit that a lot of the advice for wavy hair on social media was quite overwhelming at first, with many videos making me feel like I needed to drop hundreds of dollars to just have my hair look good in its natural state.
But, over time, I learned that taking care of wavy hair does not need to be as complicated as some of these pages make them seem. Therefore, in order to help out my fellow wavy hair girls who may be in the starting stages of designing a new routine to take care of their hair and are probably overwhelmed (like I once was), here are some of the essentials that I believe that every wavy hair girl needs, along with some of my personal favorite products in each category of products.
1. Sulfate and Silicone Free Shampoo
Of course, a haircare routine requires some kind of cleansing agent, like a shampoo. However, most of the “typical” shampoos that you see at the store contain two products that aren’t the best for wavy hair girls: sulfates and silicones. In scientific terms, Sulfates are basically molecules that attract oil and water, and then separate them. While Sulfates are very good cleansing agents (a little too good), they can strip the hair of natural proteins and oils that make one’s hair look shiny and healthy, and they can cause the scalp to dry out. Additionally, they can dry out one’s natural waves and curls. Silicones on the other hand, are chemicals that can lock in moisture and protect your hair from heat damage. But, these products are not water soluble, meaning that they can build up on your hair overtime, which can weigh down your waves too. This is why I highly recommend that when you are buying a shampoo that you plan to use super often, it may be in your best interest to choose one that does not contain these two things.
Some of my personal favorites are the shampoos from the Not Your Mothers Naturals Line: they have different shampoos for different hair types and needs! My frequently used one is the Matcha Green Tea and Apple Blossom One.
2. “Clarifying” Shampoo
You may be wondering why I have another category of shampoos on this list, but I promise that it is important to distinguish between the two. While Sulfate and Silicone Free Shampoos are great for daily and even weekly cleanings, it is also important to once and a while, do a kind of a reset wash to prevent buildup from the multitude of hair products you may use to bring out your waves. Therefore, these shampoos are used quite infrequently, depending on your hair type it can be anywhere from once every two weeks to once a month. These shampoos can also either be sulfate free or can contain sulfates; once again, it really depends on what your hair needs and on how often you use it.
Some of my favorites include the Herbal Essences Clarifying Shampoo if you want a sulfate one for a extra squeaky clean and for a Sulfate Free Option, I like the Odele Clarifying Shampoo or the Carol’s Daughter Wash Day Delight Shampoo.
4. Curl Creme
Curl Creme is a product that helps bring back moisture to the hair after it has been washed/conditioned, and is needed to make one’s waves really pop out. My personal favorite one is the Not Your Mothers Curl Cream from their Curl Talk line; I find that it provides the right amount of moisture and strengthening agents (proteins) for the hair and it smells really good too.
5. Gel
Now, I know the thought of using hair gel might make some readers worry, but I promise that once you start using gel on your wavy hair, you will realize just how much of a holy grail product it really is. Gel is mainly used to keep your waves in place, so that after you wash your hair, your style will last for days! My favorite gel is the Not Your Mothers Gel from the curl talk line, it provides enough hold so that my wavy hair styles will last for a week and my hair never feels crusty after using it.
7. Diffuser
Diffusers are basically tools that distribute the airflow of a hairdryer so that it is less harsh than the dryer without it. They are great for drying curly hair without damaging the hard work that you put into styling your hair! To be honest, you can use any diffuser that you may find, I am currently using this one!
8. Bonnet/Silk Pillowcase
Finally, to protect your hairstyle while you sleep as well, I recommend either getting a hold of a silk or satin bonnet or silk pillowcase. This is because silk/satin creates less friction when your hair falls upon it. It also helps to maintain your hair’s natural oils, which leaves your hair naturally nourished and your waves looking healthier than if you sleep on cotton. Honestly, any bonnet or silk pillowcase will do, I am currently using the bonnet from Pattern Beauty!
And those are just some of the few tools that I recommend beginners to get a hold of when designing their wavy hair routines. Let me know if there are any items that I missed out on!