If you have a wavy hair type and decided you want to start styling your natural waves, welcome! Ahead is a fun journey learning about what your hair loves and hates, but in the end, you'll establish your perfect wavy hair routine.
My hair sits between wavy and curly; definite spirals that curve around and back on themselves, but a stretched, loose ringlet. But because it behaves like wavy hair in some ways—and I’m a beauty editor with a lot of hair intel—you can trust that I’m in a good position to advise you on building your wavy routine. Promise!
This is a good reminder of why the curly hair typing system is a useful tool, but not something you have to live and die by. Some curl experts have declared my hair a definite type 3, while others say it’s wavy-curly because there’s some type 2 in there. Either way, most people have more than one curl pattern, and this system doesn’t cover things like porosity and strand thickness (very important, FYI). Some coarse and thick strands will have a slight wave, while kinks and coils are often super fine and delicate—but people often assume those hair patterns are always the opposite. Basically, wavy, coily, and curly hair is super diverse.
But back to *your* wavy hair routine. It usually takes some trial and error to find the products that just work every time you use them, so you probably have a bit of testing ahead of you if styling natural waves for the first time. But here’s a tried-and-tested guide to nailing your own wavy hair routine, from shampooing and conditioning to styling product recommendations—and saving your hair from the time and heat exposure of your hair straighteners. Let’s go!
Step-by-step wavy hair routine
Step one: Wash
Obviously, when styling from scratch, we start with a deep clean. Ideally, you want a shampoo that cleanses but isn't too stripping. Go for a stronger clarifying shampoo if you need to break down product build-up or silicones from past styles. I also love double shampooing my hair to make sure I'm thoroughly washing my scalp.
CECRED Clarifying Shampoo & Scalp Scrub
Olaplex No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo
OUAI Detox Shampoo
Step two: Conditioner
Next up: conditioner—a must for waves. The formula you choose really depends on how thick or dry your strands are, and how much moisture they need (which you probably have a pretty good sense of by now). As a general rule, super thirsty, porous, and thick hair can handle richer, heavier formulas. If your hair is finer, doesn’t get very dry, or tends to go static-y, a lighter conditioner usually does the trick. My personal rule? If my hair still feels straw-like after rinsing, it wasn’t nourishing enough.
Crown Affair The Hydrating Conditioner
Briogeo Don't Despair Repair Moisture Conditioner
Amika Hydro Rush Conditioner
Step 3: Leave-in conditioner or serum
A lightweight leave-in conditioner is great for both moisture and definition. If your waves are on the coarser side, you can opt for something slightly richer. Just remember: it’s always easier to add more product than to take it away. Start with a small amount, rub it between your hands, and distribute it as evenly as possible through your hair.
I always apply my favorite conditioning serum while I’m still in the shower, right after squeezing out a bit of excess water. I distribute it through in sections with my fingers, then wrap my hair in a microfiber towel for a few minutes, or just long enough so it doesn’t dry in the towel. (You can also use an old T-shirt to wrap your hair or gently squeeze out water.)
COLOR WOW Money Mist Leave In Conditioner
Emi Jay Heavenly Hair Milk Leave-In Conditioner
Step 4: Gel
I like to work a little through all of my hair with my fingers, then gently scrunch section by section. My hair has low porosity, and I find this method helps the product absorb better. Others prefer to “cast” by smoothing a bit of gel over each section with both hands. Go with what feels right on your hair!
PATTERN Strong Hold Gel
Odele Flex Hair Gel
Nexxus Gel Cream
Step 5: Diffuse
If I’m styling it naturally, I’ll always dry my hair with a diffuser. If you two don’t know each other yet, this hair dryer attachment disperses the air from your dryer across a larger surface area to make it gentler, which doesn’t disrupt your curl pattern or generate excess frizz. I hover the dryer around my head, gently shifting sections to dry the roots from different angles. Shop some of our favorite diffusers here.
Optional step: Oil
If your hair is super fine or gets weighed down easily (mine definitely falls into that second category), applying more than the tiniest bit of product to dry hair might just leave it sitting on top. But if your hair is more porous or dry? A little extra oil can be the perfect smoothing touch. Happy styling!
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Oil
CECRED Nourishing Hair Oil
OUAI Hair Oil
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
