5 Surprising Wavy Hair Myths

It isn't. It's completely different. Yet most people treat their wavy hair as if it's curly. So how are they different?

Curly hair tends to be thick and coarse. It follows a tight ‘S’ shape. Wavy hair on the other hand has a loose ‘S’ shape and can be smoother and finer. Wavy hair tends to be easier to style into straight hairstyles. 

The biggest mistake wavy hair women make is that they use curly hair products to try and awaken their waves. Problem is, curly hair products (such as butters, oils, cremes and balms) are heavier, which aren't suitable for waves as it will cause them to become weighed down and clunky.

Us wavies need to use lightweight products such as foams, light gels and oils that will add hydration without weighing it down.

These lightweight products will still create a strong hold, yet unlike curly hair (which is thicker and more coarse) you can get away with using less product. 

Many high street, cheaper shampoos contain harsh chemicals called sulphates which damage your wavy hair. The most common sulphates to look out for are sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES).

These sulphates strip your hair of its natural oils. This will dry out your hair, causing frizz, breakages and inflammation of the scalp, particularly as wavy hair tends to be dryer than straight hair.

Use sulphate-free shampoo and your wavy hair will thank you! They will cleanse your hair more gently and keep it hydrated. You must accept that wavy hair is different from straight hair, so should be maintained differently too for healthy, care-free waves.

People sometimes think that you can simply wet your hair and it will remain wavy, which isn’t true. You need to style your waves correctly using foams and gels to enhance and retain the wave definition. If you do not style your wavy hair, it will quickly go flat and frizzy.

Getting wavy hair to thrive requires using products that will define your loose curls and add hydration without making your hair too heavy or greasy. It is good practice to apply a hair oil to seal in moisture. If you want more hold on your waves, use a light mousse or gel to finish the style.

Brushing your wavy hair will damage your wave structure, leading to breakages and a frizzy mess! The best way to detangle hair when dry is by running your fingers through it. But if you can avoid doing that then do so. 

To avoid damage, only ever brush your wavy hair when it is wet and full of conditioner. You want your hair to feel like seaweed - super slippery. Then when it's like this use Denman brush or a Tangle Teezer. These will get rid of the tangles whilst gliding through your conditioned hair more gently.

The end result will be detangled, well moisturised, healthy hair. Breakages and split ends will be a thing of the past!

Washing about twice a week is generally the best balance between your hair feeling lifeless and your hair feeling dirty. If you wash your hair too often, you will strip away its natural oils and dry out your waves quicker.

I personally only wash my hair once per week. Yet if I've had a sweaty gym session or it's feeling greasy I'll throw another wash in there. 

Check out this blog article to read further about wash frequencies, depending on your specific wave style.