Merwave Guide

This guide answers the most common questions we receive and shows you how to get the best results from your Merwave Wavy Hair Kit.


Everyone’s hair is different. What works perfectly for one person may need adjusting for another.


Stay open-minded as you begin. Experiment with product amounts and try different techniques.


Then one day it clicks. Your hair shifts from frizzy and unpredictable to soft, defined, effortless waves.

Key links

Watch Tutorial Videos

Step-by-step tutorials and demos to help you master your wavy hair routine.


WATCH HERE


Join the Merwave Members Group

Share tips, ask questions and get advice from our community of fellow wavies.


JOIN HERE

Wash day questions

A1 - What's the process?

1. Cleanse

Wash your hair using Cleanse Shampoo. Massage into fully wet hair and rinse.


2. Condition

Apply Repair Conditioner from root to ends. Detangle your hair while the conditioner is in, then rinse.


3. Apply Wave Cream

Work a small amount through soaking wet hair to hydrate and activate your natural texture. Lightly scrunch upwards.


4. Scrunch in Cast Foam

Glaze through mid-lengths and ends, then scrunch sections upwards to form waves.


5. Apply Protect Gel

Scrunch a small amount through the hair to lock in definition and control frizz. Air dry or diffuse.


Total time: 10-15 minutes from shower to styling.


Important: Apply your styling products to soaking wet hair. This ensures even product distribution and leads to better results.

A2 - What quantities should I use? 

Everyone’s hair is different. Some people have thick hair that needs more product, while finer hair often works better with less.


There’s no exact “right” amount.


Start with a small amount and add more if needed. Over time you’ll find the quantity that works best for your hair.

A3 - How do I dry my hair?

There are a few options depending on how much time you have. The one thing to avoid is blow drying with a regular nozzle, as this can disrupt your waves and create frizz.


Option 1: Diffuse


Watch the full tutorial video on THIS PAGE.


This is the quickest method if you’re short on time. Use low heat and low speed to protect your waves.


Option 2: Air Dry


The healthiest option, but also the slowest.


Simply leave your hair to dry naturally without touching it.


Option 3: Microfibre Towel + Air Dry / Diffuse


The best of both worlds.


Use a microfibre hair wrap to absorb excess moisture first. Then either air dry or diffuse to finish.

A4 - Break the cast

If your hair feels crunchy after drying, don’t worry. This is completely normal.


The styling products create something called a cast around your hair while it dries. This cast helps hold your waves in place, reduces frizz, and locks in definition.


Once your hair is fully dry, you simply need to break the cast to reveal soft, natural waves underneath.


How to Break the Cast


When your hair is completely dry, gently:

- Clap sections of your hair between your hands, or

- Lightly scrunch your hair upwards


As the cast breaks, the crunch will disappear and your waves will become soft, defined, and bouncy.


Important: Never break the cast while your hair is still wet or damp, as this can cause frizz.

B - Post wash questions

B1 - When should I start seeing results? 

Some people see waves after the first wash. For others, it can take a little longer.


It depends on how your hair has been treated in the past.


If you’ve regularly used heat tools or products containing sulphates, silicones or other heavy ingredients, your hair may need time to recover. During this period your hair may go through what’s known as the transition stage. Read this article about it.


As your hair becomes healthier, your natural wave pattern will gradually become more defined and consistent.


Remember, healthy hair creates better waves.

B2 - What do I do on non-wash days? (How to refresh your waves)

Over time your waves can lose definition. Sleeping, humidity, product build-up and general day-to-day life can all cause waves to drop or become messy.


The good news is you don’t need to wash your hair again. A quick refresh routine will bring your waves back to life.


Refresh Routine #1 – Conditioner + Gel


1. Create a refresh spray

Fill a mist spray bottle with water and mix in a small amount of #2 Repair Conditioner.


2. Lightly dampen your hair

Mist your hair until it feels lightly damp. This rehydrates the hair and helps reactivate your waves.


3. Scrunch in Protect Gel

With damp hands, scrunch a small amount of #5 Protect Gel into your hair to redefine and hold your waves.


4. Finish with oil (optional)

Once your hair is dry, smooth a small amount of Wavy Hair Oil through the ends. This helps seal in moisture and reduce frizz.


Refresh Routine #2 – Refresh Spray


The quickest option is to use our Merwave Refresh Spray.


Simply spray onto dry or slightly damp hair and scrunch upwards to reshape your waves and smooth frizz.


The lightweight formula hydrates and reactivates your wave pattern without leaving hair sticky, greasy or weighed down.

B3 - How to protect your waves when sleeping

There’s nothing worse than having a great wash day, going to sleep, and waking up with frizz, tangles and flattened waves.


Protecting your hair overnight helps your waves stay defined for longer and reduces the need for heavy refreshing the next day.


1. Use a silk pillowcase

Swap your cotton pillowcase for silk. Silk creates less friction against your hair, which helps reduce frizz and tangling while you sleep.


2. Wear a silk bonnet

A silk hair bonnet keeps your hair protected and prevents your waves from being rubbed around during the night.


3. Try the “pineapple” method

Loosely tie your hair on top of your head using a soft scrunchie. This keeps your waves lifted and prevents them from being crushed while you sleep.

B4 - How often should I wash my hair?

Most people with wavy hair do best washing their hair 2–3 times per week.


Waves tend to hold their shape better with a little natural oil, so washing every day can actually make hair drier and frizzier.


On the days between washes, simply refresh your waves instead of washing again.


When You Might Need To Wash More Often


Some people may need to wash more frequently if:

- Your hair is very fine and gets oily quickly

- You exercise regularly

- You use a lot of styling products


In these cases, you can rinse with water or wash slightly more often if needed.


A Simple Rule


Most wavies settle into a routine of washing their hair every 2–4 days, then refreshing their waves in between.


Find the rhythm that works best for your hair.

B5 - Can I brush my hair?

Yes, but only when your hair is soaking wet and coated in conditioner. Use a Tangle Teezer or a wide-tooth comb to gently detangle.


Brushing dry wavy hair creates tension in the strands, which can lead to breakage and frizz.

C - Help! My hair is...

C1 - My hair feels ''producty''

There are a few common reasons why your hair might feel like it has too much product in it.


1. You’ve used too much styling product

If you’ve applied too much Wave Cream, Cast Foam or Protect Gel, your hair can feel heavy. Next time, start with a smaller amount and add more if needed.


2. You haven’t broken the cast

If your hair feels crunchy or stiff, you may need to scrunch out the cast once your hair is fully dry.


3. You’re not used to having product in your hair

If you’ve previously used very little styling product, it can feel unusual at first. Over time you’ll find the right balance and your hair will feel softer and more natural.

C2 - My hair is dry, brittle and feels like straw

This usually means your hair needs more moisture.


Wavy hair tends to be naturally drier than straight hair, especially if it has previously been exposed to heat tools, colouring or harsh products.


Here are a few simple ways to improve moisture levels:


1. Leave your conditioner in for longer

Instead of rinsing straight away, leave Repair Conditioner in your hair for a few minutes before rinsing. This gives your hair more time to absorb moisture.


2. Use more conditioner

If your hair still feels dry, try applying a little more conditioner and make sure it’s evenly distributed through the mid-lengths and ends.


3. Apply styling products to soaking wet hair

This helps lock moisture into the hair while it dries, which leads to softer, more defined waves.


4. Reduce heat styling

Frequent heat styling can dry the hair out. Air drying or diffusing on low heat is much gentler on your waves.


As your hair becomes healthier and more hydrated, it will start to feel softer, smoother and more manageable.


C3 - My hair looked great yesterday, but now it's a mess

This is very common, especially when you’re still learning how your hair behaves.


1. Your hair wasn’t protected overnight

If your hair rubs against cotton pillowcases while you sleep, it can cause frizz and flatten your waves. Make sure you protect your hair at night (see Question B3).


2. You may be in the transition stage

If you’ve recently started using the Merwave routine, your hair may still be adjusting. During this stage your waves can behave unpredictably. Stick with the process. As your hair becomes healthier, your results will become more consistent.


3. Your waves just need refreshing

It’s normal for waves to lose definition between wash days. A quick refresh routine will bring them back to life (see Question B2).

D5 - Lots of hair is coming out when I brush

It’s completely normal to lose 50–100 strands of hair per day.


When following a wavy hair routine, you usually brush your hair less often. Most people only detangle in the shower while conditioning.


Because of this, the hair that would normally fall out gradually during daily brushing collects and comes out all at once when you detangle.


So it may look like you’re losing more hair, but in most cases it’s simply a backlog of naturally shed strands.


If you notice large clumps of hair coming out, or sudden excessive hair loss, it’s best to speak to your doctor.

Still have un-answered questions?

Send an email to hello@merwave.co.uk and we will respond with advice!