Curl Centric: Curly Hair Products, Hairstyles, and Hair Growth Techniques

  • Hair Care
  • Hair Growth
  • Hairstyles
  • Products
    • Shampoos
    • Conditioners
  • About
    • About Us
    • About Kenneth Byrd
    • About Kira Byrd
    • FAQs
    • Contact
    • Editorial Guidelines
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Hair Care
  • Hair Growth
  • Hairstyles
  • Products
    • Shampoos
    • Conditioners
  • About
    • About Us
    • About Kenneth Byrd
    • About Kira Byrd
    • FAQs
    • Contact
    • Editorial Guidelines
search icon
Homepage link
  • Hair Care
  • Hair Growth
  • Hairstyles
  • Products
    • Shampoos
    • Conditioners
  • About
    • About Us
    • About Kenneth Byrd
    • About Kira Byrd
    • FAQs
    • Contact
    • Editorial Guidelines
×

How to Stop Wave Nouveau Breakage: DIY Step-by-Step Guide

Published: Oct 9, 2022 by Kenneth Byrd · This post may contain affiliate links

A young mixed-race female with curly natural hair used a wave nouveau kit to encourage hair growth.

Like all other chemical services, a Wave Nouveau perm can take a lot out of your strands. While the harsh chemicals leave your locks silky smooth, they can also leave your hair dry and brittle.

Although you don’t have to accept the worst with Wave Nouveau. If you’re wondering how you can keep your strands strong and healthy, we’ve got good news!

In this article, we’ll teach you step-by-step how to stop Wave Nouveau breakage and give you all the tools you need to prevent treatments from wrecking your hair strands.

Table of Contents

  • 1 Here’s How to Stop Wave Nouveau Breakage
    • 1.1 Shampoo Your Hair Less and Condition It More
    • 1.2 Get Your Hair Professionally Done
    • 1.3 Handle Your Hair Gently
    • 1.4 Get Regular Trims
    • 1.5 Use Protein-Rich Products
    • 1.6 Never Texturize Damaged Hair
  • 2 How Often Should You Get a Wave Nouveau Touch-Up?
    • 2.1 How Long Is the Wave Nouveau Process?
  • 3 Pros and Cons of Wave Nouveau
    • 3.1 Pros
    • 3.2 Cons
    • 3.3 Related Articles

Here’s How to Stop Wave Nouveau Breakage

The bad news is that Wave Nouveau can damage your strands. The good news is that you can prevent, reduce, and even reverse this damage! Want to know how?

Here are some of the most effective ways to avoid Wave Nouveau breakage. 

African American female with a healthy hair care routine that compliments her Wave Nouveau style silky hair strands.

Shampoo Your Hair Less and Condition It More

One of the best ways to prevent hair breakage is to keep your strands hydrated. Well-moisturized strands are smoother, shinier, and can resist damage far more effectively than dry hair.

Unfortunately, shampoos strip away your hair’s protective coating of natural oils and leave it exposed to the elements. While shampoo is incredibly drying, conditioners add moisture back into your strands.

You might also want to consider swapping out your shampoo for a gentle co-wash. Unlike shampoo, co-washes cleanse your strands gently. They won’t strip them of the necessary oils and can help keep your curls soft and supple. 

A black woman with a curly perm has thicker hair that's styled with hair products designed for relaxed hair.

Get Your Hair Professionally Done

Getting your Wave Nouveau perm done by a licensed professional is perhaps one of the most important things you can do to minimize damage.

Hair stylists have access to higher-quality products.

They also spend hours learning the ins and outs of chemical treatments. Most stylists have years of experience and can avoid unnecessary damage. 

If you decide to go about it on your own, do plenty of research so you’re familiar with the application process before you apply the time-sensitive solution to your strands.

Follow the instructions as closely as possible and, if possible, get a friend to help you apply and time your treatment using a DIY home Wave Nouveau kit.

A mixed-race lady that used a Wave Nouveau neutralizer and chemical perm system in her naturally curly hair.

Handle Your Hair Gently

Wave Nouveau can make your strands more fragile, but most of the breakage stems from how you treat your hair. So, avoid any tool, accessory, or hairstyle that puts too much tension on your strands.

This includes brushes, fine tooth combs, and hot tools.

You need to avoid tight, pulled-back hairstyles and opt for loose, natural hairstyles that are gentle on your hair. We encourage you to watch the video below of a lady that experienced hair loss and breakage following a Wave Nouveau treatment.

The Unpleasant TRUTH | Wave Nouveau Hair Loss

You also need to be extremely careful when detangling your hair. Although your hair is easier to detangle when wet, it's significantly more fragile.

That means even gentle detangling can break your hair. So whenever possible, use your fingers or a wide tooth comb to detangle and style your curls. 

Get Regular Trims

As your perm wears off, your curls will become less pronounced at the ends. In addition to making your hair look frizzy and undefined, the limp ends can weigh down and stretch out your curls.

Getting trims will also go a long way in keeping your hair healthy. 

Chemically treated hair often struggles with moisture retention, leading to split ends and breakage. Split ends can travel upwards, putting the rest of your hair at risk. So, remember to trim your hair every two to three months to keep your curls in perfect shape. 

A light-skinned African female with curly natural hair experienced hair breakage coming from color-treated hair.

Use Protein-Rich Products

Did you know that human hair is made up of over 80% protein? So, incorporating protein into your haircare routine can help repair and rebuild your strands.

When you use protein-rich products, the protein molecules cling to your hair.

They fill in tiny holes and gaps along your hair’s surface and leave it significantly stronger than before. Additionally, sealing the holes on your strand’s surface helps them hold onto water.

That will improve dryness, so your hair stretches rather than breaks.

In addition to using protein-rich products, you should include plenty of high-quality proteins in your diet. Eating protein-dense foods like eggs, meat, and beans will help you keep your hair healthy from the inside out. 

A light-skinned African lady that experienced hair breakage and brittle, dry hair after using a DIY Nouveau wave kit.

Never Texturize Damaged Hair

Among the most important measures you can take to keep your hair healthy are preventative. After all, it's easier to prevent damage than it is to reverse it.

So, if your hair is already showing signs of damage, you want to avoid harming it further with Wave Nouveau.

Instead, wait until your strands have had a chance to recover.

Take the time to nurse them back to health, so the Wave Nouveau doesn’t leave you with severe breakage, dryness, and split ends.

A lady wearing a red and white half-sweater used Curly Girl-approved hair products on her natural 3B curls.

How Often Should You Get a Wave Nouveau Touch-Up?

Wave Nouveau typically lasts for between five to six weeks. After that, you’ll have to schedule an appointment for a touch-up. As your Wave Nouveau wears off, you’ll lose a lot of your curl definition. 

How to : Curly Perm Retouch with Wave Nouveau.

Keep in mind that even though your new curls may disappear, your hair has been permanently altered.

So, while waiting for your next texturizing service, ensure you’re fortifying your hair. Give it plenty of moisture, and use strength-promoting products. 

How Long Is the Wave Nouveau Process?

When you schedule a Wave Nouveau appointment, you should expect to spend between one to five hours in the salon.

The exact length of time this takes depends on factors like the length and thickness of your hair and how experienced your stylist is with the process. Although Wave Nouveau is a lengthy process, most of the time will be spent preparing your hair. 

The processing time is significantly shorter and is typically completed in a matter of minutes. After your stylist applies Wave Nouveau to your hair, they’ll cover it with a cap and let it sit for 10 minutes.

After that, your stylist will remove the cotton and cap and check to see how your waves are developing. If they haven’t progressed enough, your stylist will put the cap back on and wait for another three minutes.

They’ll repeat this process until your strands have the trademark “S” wave. In some cases, it may take as long as an hour. Then, they’ll rinse your hair thoroughly with tepid water. 

A young black female with kinky, curly hair strands is crossing her fingers, hoping that the Wave Nouveau perm works.

Pros and Cons of Wave Nouveau

Not sure if Wave Nouveau is right for you? In this section, we’ll look at the treatment's pros and cons, so you can decide if it's worth the risk. 

Pros

  • Wave Nouveau can make your hair more manageable, so styling it is quick and easy. 
  • Because Wave Nouveau reforms your curl pattern, you may have less shrinkage. 
  • A Wave Nouveau can make your curl pattern more defined. 
  • You may have more styling options depending on how you prefer to wear your hair. 
  • Wave Nouveau is less expensive than some other perms. 

Cons

  • Like other texturizers, Wave Nouveau can damage your hair. 
  • Once you get a Wave Nouveau treatment, you’ll need regular touchups. 
  • Because your hair is more delicate, you’ll have to be careful with heat styling tools. 
  • Wave Nouveau can be expensive once you add up all the touchups. 
  • Wave Nouveau doesn’t last as long as other curly perms. 

Related Articles

  • Why Is My Perm Not Curly?
  • Can Perms Cause Hair Loss?
  • Are Perms Bad for Your Hair?

When done correctly, Wave Nouveau amps up your hair's body and shine, leaving your curls looking perfectly defined. However, there is always a risk of chemical damage.

While the treatment has the potential to weaken your strands, there are ways to keep the damage down to a minimum. We hope that you found this article to be helpful, and we wish you the best with your hair!

More Going Natural

  • A cute white girl with gummy bleached hair is experiencing hair breakage and split ends from over-processing.
    How to Fix Gummy Hair After Bleaching, Perm, or Washing
  • A cute black girl with natural curls on a type 3 hair texture styled with natural oils in a loose ponytail hairstyle that's perfect for her greasy hair.
    How to Take Care of Curly Hair: Hair Care Regimens for Curls
  • A pretty black female with natural curly hair styled with natural oils creates a soaking wet hair appearance on her dark brown thick hair.
    How to Wash Curly Hair: DIY Shampoo or Co-Wash Curly Hair
  • Why Use Microfiber Towels for Hair
    Best Microfiber Hair Towels and Turbans for Drying Curly Hair
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Reddit

About Kenneth Byrd

Kenneth Byrd, with a BS in Accounting and Management Information Systems and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has over 15 years of experience and is a recognized authority in hair care. Co-founder of Curl Centric® and Natural Hair Box, Kenneth has dedicated himself to promoting ethical and scientifically-backed hair care practices. Rigorous editorial guidelines, industry recognitions, and features in numerous media outlets evidence his expertise. Kenneth’s commitment to transparency, quality, and empowerment has positioned him as a trusted voice in the field, empowering readers to confidently embrace their natural beauty.

Kira Byrd wearing short pixie cut

Hey, I'm Kira!

Curl Centric is a curly hair blog created by husband-and-wife team Kenneth and Kira Byrd. With over 15 years of experience and a community of 10,000+ daily readers, we share trusted techniques to help you embrace and care for your natural curls with confidence.

More about us

Popular Posts

  • Black man with mature dreadlocks
    How To Get Dreadlocks: Origin, History, Hairstyles and More

  • black women wearing goddess braids locs and green shirt
    Goddess Braids: How to Create and Maintain DIY Goddess Box Braids Hairstyles

  • crochet box braids
    How to Create Cute Box Braids Hairstyles, Designs, and Ideas

  • Cute African American female with a light-brown skin tone and a TWA hair length that requires minimal styling.
    TWA Hairstyles: Short and Medium TWA Styles and Haircuts

Recent Posts

  • A beautiful African American female with gorgeous curls on her 4A natural hair styled with organic styling products.
    Can You Put Mousse on Synthetic Hair? Synthetic Wigs, Weaves & Braids?

  • A cute black female wearing a 4x4 lace closure wig with curly hair strands and a natural and beautiful hairline.
    What Is a 4x4 Lace Wig? What Does a 4x4 Lace Wig Look Like

  • A cute white lady wearing a red shirt with curly permed hair curled with perm rods.
    When Can I Wash My Hair After a Perm? Bust Permed Hair Myths

  • A beautiful young African American female with a 4C fine hair texture styled with jojoba oil and an edge brush.
    Best Edge Control, Tamers, and Styling Gel for Natural Hair

  • A white girl with towel-dried hair after using T15 pale beige blonde permanent liquid hair toner on her light brown curls.
    Wella T15 Before and After on Orange, Beige, and Yellow Hair

  • A black female with frizzy curls and wavy hair styled with flaxseed hair gel and coconut oil.
    How to Use Flaxseed Gel for Curly Hair: DIY Hair Gel for Curls

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Blog

Contact

  • Contact
  • FAQs
  • Sitemap

CurlCentric.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher. Curl Centric® services, articles, content, and products are provided for informational purposes only. Curl Centric does not provide professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Curl Centric follows a strict editorial policy that produces accurate, factual, and honest content to help you make the right hair care decisions. Curl Centric has an affiliate relationship for some of the products that we recommend. We may receive compensation if purchases are made using our links, at no extra cost to you. CurlCentric.com is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. To ensure that we maintain our editorial integrity, our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our sponsors and advertisers. The product recommendations and advertisers that appear on Curl Centric are from companies that compensate us through an exclusive, full-service ad management partner. This compensation does not influence the content we publish or the product reviews shown on our site.

COPYRIGHT © 2023 CURL CENTRIC® ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Curl Centric®, a trademark of Natural Hair Community, LLC

1401 Doug Baker Blvd Ste 107 604 Birmingham, AL 35242 | 1 (844) 424-CURL