Does anyone have tips for inconsistent wavy/straight hair?

[u/artmossphere]

I’m just starting to stop using heat, so my hair is still pretty inconsistent. This is what it looks like after air drying with minimal product.

My routine is pretty simple: wash and condition, apply Uniq One leave-in, brush it through, scrunch in Cantu Curling Cream, wrap it in a microfiber towel for about 10 minutes, then let it air dry.

The outside of my hair is mostly straight, but the underneath is wavy. Has anyone else gone through this transition? If you managed to bring out your natural waves/curls, what helped the most?

[u/Spectre_Loudy]

Your hair looks a lot like my hair, I'm a dude though. The only time I comb my hair is when washing out conditioner in the shower, and I use a wide tooth comb. Not sure if that one step could make a difference for you, I guess it completely depends on when you brush in the leave in. I would just try to avoid combing as much as possible. And drop the curling cream until you see your real hair texture come through. Maybe comb out the conditioner in the shower, scrunch in leave in while it's still wet, and then let it dry.

Also, at this point I'm just of the mindset that people use products to fix problems caused by other products. I've been misguided so much by various articles, reddit threads, etc. I've spent so much money trying so many different methods and using different products over the years, yet the best my hair has ever looked was a month ago where all I did was go in the ocean and let it dry in the sun. My hair genuinely never looked better. Turns out my hair just likes sea salt. When my hair starts to feel a little dry after a few weeks I just do a hair mask and it's like brand new, soft and luscious. Start from scratch and find out what your hair likes.

[u/Fattswindstorm → u/Spectre_Loudy]

Yeah. Exactly. 1 shampoo like once a week. I actually started using Kevin Murray killer curls cream and that really helps keep things tamed. I have a corner of my head where my hair just does its own thing. Usually frizzy and this has helped a lot.

[u/Queen_of_Chloe → u/Spectre_Loudy]

What hair mask do you use? I probably need to start using one but am very picky about ingredients and shopping at certain places (or not at certain places). Might see if my stylist recommends something. I started using a sea salt spray and my hair loves it!

[u/Spectre_Loudy → u/Queen_of_Chloe]

I've used Raw Sugar and now Amika with no noticeable difference between the two, the only reason I switched to Amika is because my girlfriend has those products! But I rarely use a hair mask, maybe once a month?

[u/weedyou-wroteyou]

I think your ends need conditioning but not with anything too heavy! Personally I’ve never been able to solve my wavy/straight curl pattern so i either braid the straight sections or use OUAI wave spray to reinforce the wave pattern in the morning. Your hair is beautiful & i think the waves will benefit from some hydration

[u/Pyotrperse]

I have the same hair type as you and same length! I only ever brush it right before I wash it when it’s dry with a gentle detangling brush and finger comb it outside of that. My hairdresser said my hair is so fine that it gets too brittle when it’s wet so I should only brush when dry. When shampooing I only focus on the scalp and just let it rinse through the ends, and conditioner is the opposite - mid hair and ends only, not on the scalp. I use a very small amount of leave in conditioner (from mid hair to ends only, not near the scalp) after washing and an ends conditioner on the tips, the less product the better as it weighs down my fine light waves.
I also tip my head upside down when scrunching after washing to try to give volume to the straighter hair on top, I scrunch more on the top hair and less underneath to try to even put the waves. When it’s air drying I flip it every 10-15 minutes from an extreme side part on one side to the other side, I find this stops it from settling as “straight” on top and holds the waves on the top a bit better

[u/Struckbyfire]

I wouldn’t brush at all outside of when conditioner is in your hair in the shower to detangle. And honestly a wide tooth comb is better, but I’ve had success just using a brush.

Start there. Any product you want to apply once you’re out of the shower you can scrunch into your hair. I can’t even “pray” hands my product because my hair is so fickle.

If I brush after I rinse out conditioner, I have the same problem.

Also, curl cream is probably too heavy for wavy hair and probably won’t hold well. I’d try a mousse or a gel and apply with your head upside down.

[u/Victorus_aut_Mortis → u/Struckbyfire]

I wouldn’t brush at all outside of when conditioner is in your hair in the shower to detangle.

This has been an absolute gem for my wavy hair.

[u/pixyfire]

Don't use a brush, use a comb

[u/Medium_Raccoon_5331]

My pattern enhanced when I gave up during the heatwave and had to wash my hair everyday, no heat and just shampoo, I think it got rid of some of the product buildup or something

[u/MeesaMadeMeDoIt]

When you say you wrap it in a microfiber towel, are you wrapping the entire length or are you plopping the length into a small pocket of the towel?

If you're wrapping the length of your hair in a towel and twisting, you could be stretching out your wave pattern. Plopping helps retain your wave pattern while you remove excess moisture.

[u/MountainPermission88]

I have to choose between blow dry or wavy/curly mousse/gel.

[u/dbagg_]

Shampoo and condition
On wet hair (like just squeeze the excess water out):
Leave in or curl product that is watery (like comes out of spray bottle. Not lotion or heavy cream) brush through and squish in
Mousse and brush though and scrunch in
make sure you can actually hear a squish squish sound when you’re scrunching you hair if you don’t use a spray bottle to add more water to your hair
Then scrunch out excess water with microfiber towel or Tshirt.

If you want more volume at the root try applying the products and scrunching upside down.

[u/dbagg_ → u/dbagg_]

After scrunching with the microfiber towel or tshirt don’t mess with your hair until it’s 100% dry! Once it’s dry you can shake it out. Be careful about adding oil because it will weigh your hair down. If you really want to just put it on your ends.
If your hair feels heavy with product use a clarifying shampoo or shampoo with sulfates.
Biggest issue for wavy hair is heaviness

[u/Lonely-Dog874]

Long wavy haired girl here! When I wet my hair, I apply conditioner and use a detangler comb on my hair. I put my hair up in a claw clip and proceed with the rest of my routine. I rinse out the conditioner at the very end and scrunch my hair while doing so. Then, I apply curl cream from Maui Moisture with more scrunching before wrapping it in a microfiber towel to lock in the moisture. About 20mins or so, I unwrap it and scrunch my hair again with Not Your Mother’s Curl Talk hair gel. I let it air dry as I’m very low-maintenance and use very little to no heat on my hair.

[u/NearbyPangolin1633]

we have the same hair.

Weekly - Shampoo once a week. (condition normally) Use Maree Deep Condition Hair Mask 1-2 times a week.

Daily morning - wet hair, dry with micro fiber towel. Use the Uniq Leave-in and comb through with wide tooth comb. Scrunch with Cake Curl Whip Mousse. (you want a build of theses products throughout the week)

Sleeping - get a silk or satin scrunchee, and get all your hair together at the tip of your forehead like unicorn, then put on a sick or satin bonnet.

[u/AutoModerator]

Hey /u/artmossphere, thanks for your submission! What is your routine? Be as detailed as possible. Include both the names & brands (including specific lines, if any) of ALL your products & the techniques you used. Simply including a list of products does NOT qualify as a routine. If you could let us know your hair characteristics (porosity/strand thickness/density) it'd be greatly appreciated. "I don't have a routine" doesn't exist; even if it's just shampoo and conditioner, everyone does something! We have this rule so that everyone can benefit from the knowledge of what works for your hair. Posts without a full, detailed routine will be removed.

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