After posting about how I’d discovered I had naturally wavy hair and had been figuring out how to properly care for it, several people asked to know what my wavy hair routine looks like, so I’m posting it here in case there’s anyone else who wants this information.

To start with, here’s where I found most my information:

I got the basics from Bianca Renee’s Curly Hair 101 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxci46F9mzI

I then looked up what type of hair I have: https://www.allure.com/gallery/curl-hair-type-guide

Then I looked up hair routines specific to my hair (2 b and 2c combo), and ended up using a mishmash of techniques and products recommended by three different people:

Wash Day:

Tabitha Gingerich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYmxNtju9R8&list=PLBFJT7xffCWDUELRLBRhYMkgFCwXcLREV&index=2&t=522s

Taylor Laios: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AskTqM3E65M

The CortReport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOjepF1Oo-M&t=405s

Refresh Days:

Tabitha Gingerich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqBx9IOSaGw&list=PLBFJT7xffCWDUELRLBRhYMkgFCwXcLREV&index=1

Taylor Laios: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vbl2vSABjQU

The CortReport: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDmStoN3P-k

And, here’s the routine I’ve settled on for now, though everyone’s hair is different and I’m sure everything that works for me may not work for everyone else:

Wash Day (only once or twice a week):

• Shampoo: Apply to scalp only. Let the shampoo run down rest of hair when rinsing out.
  (I use this shampoo right now and it seems to work well: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QHFW37D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
• Conditioner:
  • Since I have color-treated hair, I use a color protecting conditioner first, as my hair stylist says this is one of the most important parts of maintaining your hair’s color. I apply it to the ends of my hair (as in, not my scalp), comb it through my hair with a wide-toothed, detangling comb, then rinse.
    (I use this conditioner: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007SGVA4Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
  • Then I use a curly hair-specific conditioner. I apply it to the ends of my hair, comb through, scrunch it with my fingers, then clip it off my shoulders and leave it while I do all my other shower stuff like shaving and body wash. Once that is all done, I rinse out the conditioner.
    (This comes in a pack with the shampoo I listed above and it works well: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QHFW37D/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
• Leave-in Conditioner: Apply to ends of hair, comb through, scrunch.
  (I’ve been using what I already had, but once I run out, I’ll probably switch to something specifically for curls. But this is what I’ve been using and it seems to help the overall health of my hair: https://www.lorealparisusa.com/products/hair-care/products/hair-treatments/elvive-total-repair-5-protein-recharge-treatment.aspx?shade=total-repair-5-protein-recharge-treatment)
• Spray with detangler/heat protection/frizz fighter.
  (Again, I’m just using what I had before I realized I had wavy hair, so you may want something actually for waves: https://www.ulta.com/bbhairdressers-invisible-oil-heatuv-protective-primer?productId=xlsImpprod16451004)
• Scrunch, then “plop” it in a t-shirt. (the videos explain what plopping is. They also use a fancy towel, but I’ve been fine using a t-shirt.)
• At this point I do pretty much everything else I need to do to get ready for the day except applying makeup. Like, I wash my face, moisturize, get dressed. All with my hair still plopped.
• When all that’s done, I take the t-shirt “towel” off my hair and make sure my hair’s all falling where I want it without any weird parts or anything. Then I scrunch it again.
• Gel/Mousse/Cream: If you have very fine hair or your waves are pretty loose, you’ll probably want to wait to do this part until your hair isn’t sopping wet. My hair dries pretty quick, so I can do it as soon as I’ve taken off the t-shirt “towel”. Apply product generously using the “prayer hands” method (see videos) and then scrunch hair.
  (I use this gel, and I love it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DZJIKG8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
• Optional: Using a hair dryer, diffuse roots. Then lightly diffuse the waves themselves. (Similar to one of the Taylor Laios videos)
• Do not touch again until mostly dry, when a “cast” has formed, (one of the youtubers describes it as that crunchy hair people wore in the 90s).
• When it’s dry, scrunch out the cast. Afterward, your hair should be soft but with defined curls/waves.
• Hair oil: I apply it like I do with the gel, rubbing over hair with “prayer hands,” and then scrunching it in.
  (I use this because it’s what I already had for another purpose. It is technically a body oil, but says it can be used on hair. It makes my hair really shiny, but it can also make it look oily if I’m not careful. This company is supposed to have a lot of great products specifically for curly/wavy hair, though, so maybe check out their other products: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Superfruit-Complex-Firm-and-Contour-Dry-Oil-Mist-by-Shea-Moisture-for-Unisex-4-oz-Oil-Mist-Pack-of-2/386843736)

Refresh Days:

• Get hair wet: If I’m in a hurry, I will just spray my hair with a spray bottle, but I prefer to wet my hair down at the end of my shower because it allows me to blow dry my bangs and make sure they look presentable. If I use a spray bottle, I still saturate my hair pretty thoroughly.
• Plop it in a t-shirt “towel”
• Get the rest of myself ready while hair is plopped
• Un-plop. Apply a small amount of gel. (Someday I may try a curl refresh spray, but I haven’t attempted that yet.) Scrunch.
• Optional, if you got your hair wet in shower: diffuse roots and waves again.
• Don’t touch it while it dries
• Scrunch out cast.
• Dry shampoo: Apply to roots wherever needed and then let sit for a minute. Then rub it into scalp. (I’m still testing out different dry shampoos)
• Hair oil

Nights:

            I use a satin scrunchie to put my hair into a “pineapple” (explained in videos). Now that my hair’s shorter, I just pull the top half of my hair up into the scrunchie. Then I sleep on a satin pillowcase. The pineapple gives me so much body in the morning so that I really could just spray my hair with water and go if I needed to, and have it still look passable, so I highly recommend that. The satin pillowcase feels nice, but I haven’t noticed a huge difference in my hair since using it. Other people’s hair may need it more than mine.

Other tips:

• Once a week I treat my hair with Olaplex Hair Perfector No3, and I have noticed my waves are softer and more defined with each treatment. Make sure to test on a strand of your hair before applying over your whole head. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SNM5US4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1
• If your hair is color-treated, make sure the products you choose are safe for dyed hair.
• Because my hair is color-treated, I never use hot water on it. Always lukewarm. (But when my hair’s not under the water, I turn the water hot so as not to be miserable). This slows down the color fading process.
• Get layers cut into you hair if you’re struggling with limp waves. I think this seriously made the biggest difference for me. It gave my waves more volume and definition right away.
• If my hair starts to look flat during the day, or it goes limp after being bombarded by wind or something, I just spray it with water again and scrunch and the waves come back
• If, after getting ready in the morning, I have a few locks of hair that just didn’t want to curl with the others, I hold those strands away from the rest of my hair and spray them with water and then scrunch them again. Most the time this increases their curl enough to blend into the rest of my hair.

Anyway, hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.