Chances are you've heard of the Curly Girl Method (CG Method), where you avoid sulfates, use specialized curly hair products, and style your hair in a very regimented way.
If you tried the Curly Girl Method on your waves and didn't get the results you wanted, we're not surprised. Wavy hair requires different care than curls do. That's why the CG Method doesn't work for everyone.
The Wavy Girl Method (i.e., CG Method Wavy Hair) is for wavy-haired girls with 2A, 2B, and 2C hair.
If you have wavy hair, this article is going to do you a ton of good. We will explore every aspect of the Wavy Girl Method so that you can achieve your best waves ever.
What Is the Wavy Girl Method?
The Wavy Girl Method is a set of loose guidelines for wavy girls. The creator of the Wavy Girl Method is Kristine Contreras, who owns a very influential Facebook group called Wavy Girl Method - The Wavy Method International.
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The Wavy Girl Method focuses on enhancing and embracing your waves and promoting hair health in your own way. What's interesting about the Wavy Girl Method is that it's loosely based on the CG Method from the Curly Girl Handbook but isn't a list of strict rules.
Instead, it promotes doing your own thing to make your hair look and feel its best. On the Facebook group, wavy girls everywhere share their triumphs, fails, and tips that work for them. These exchanges are what make up the Wavy Girl Method.
At the heart of the Wavy Girl Method is experimentation and doing what works for your hair.
Key Takeaways
- Wavy Girl Method Basics. Tailored for 2A, 2B, and 2C hair types, the Wavy Girl Method emphasizes natural hair texture and health. Unlike the Curly Girl Method, it's flexible. The Wavy Girl Method allows for experimentation and adaptation to individual hair needs.
- Product Selection. Essential products for the Wavy Girl Method include sulfate-free shampoos and lightweight conditioners. The goal is to focus on gentle cleansers and avoid weighting your hair down. The method also recommends styling mousses for defining waves without stiffness or crunchiness.
- Technique Differences. Avoid harsh chemicals and heat-styling tools. The method focuses on enhancing natural curl patterns and minimizing frizz. For example, use a microfiber towel to remove excess water. You can also air dry your curls to maintain your hair's health and texture.
- Routine Personalization. The method encourages a personalized hair care routine. Different products and techniques yield different results for various hair types. Regular experimentation with products is advised for better results.
- Community Support and Resources. A vibrant social media community supports the Wavy Girl Method. The community also offers shared experiences, step-by-step guides, and recommendations for specific products.
Who Is the Wavy Girl Method For?
The Wavy Girl Method is for any girl who's got wavy hair. There are three types of wavy hair: 2A, 2B, and 2C. In this section, we will give you some information on each of the hair types so that you can identify yours.
Note: You're not required to know your specific wavy hair type, but knowing your hair type can help you better care for your hair.
- 2A Hair - Type 2A hair is the loosest of all wavy hair. It forms a very loose S shape and lies flat to the head, especially at the crown. The best way to describe 2A hair is beachy waves. The hair might be completely straight at the roots.
- 2B Hair - 2B waves are tighter than 2A waves, taking on a more defined "S" pattern. This hair type is considerably more voluminous and frizzier than type 2A waves.
- 2C Hair - The waves that make up 2C are often more frizzy, voluminous, and defined than those in 2A and 2B.
Find your type
Which Wavy Hair Type Do I Have?
Five questions about how your hair behaves when it’s freshly washed without any added product. Answer each question after a wash day without adding product to your hair, because that’s the only time your real curl pattern shows.
Your closest match
Your wave type tells you how heavy a product your hair can take, and nothing more than that. Plenty of women sit between two types, and if that sounds like you, start with the lighter routine and only add something richer if your hair still feels dry.
If you have hair that fits any of the above profiles, the Wavy Girl Method is for you.
Wavy Girl Method Vs. Curly Girl Method
Since the Wavy Girl Method draws upon some of the CG Method principles, comparing both methods can help you better understand the Wavy Girl Method.
In this section, we will look at the Wavy Girl Method vs. the CG Method. However, before addressing those differences, let's take a quick look at some of the principles unique to the Curly Girl Method:
- Use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair and minimize breakage.
- Don't use hair products containing artificial fragrances.
- Try to stay away from silicones that aren't easily washed away with water.
- Avoid heat styling as much as possible if you enjoy wearing your hair wavy since heat can lead to damaged hair.
- Don't use sulfate shampoos or any other styling products containing sulfates.
- Cowash your hair to maximize hydration during the cleansing process.
- Only detangle your hair when it's wet and coated in a detangler.
In many ways, the Wavy Girl Method is different from the Curly Girl Method. You'll soon see why.
- The Wavy Girl Method is less arbitrary. The first difference between the CG Method and the Wavy Girl Method is that the CG Method has arbitrary rules that apply to all curly hair types. The Wavy Girl Method is not nearly as strict, leaving ample room for adaptation. One of the main ideas behind the Wavy Girl Method is that you should take the information available to you (from the CG method, for example) and change it up as necessary.
- The Wavy Girl Method is tailored to wavy hair. The CG Method is geared toward anyone with curly hair, including wavy hair. Since the method covers such a broad range of textures, it's no surprise that some of the recommendations and techniques may not gel with your waves. On the other hand, the Wavy Girl Method is specifically for wavy-haired girls, and the tips, tricks, and techniques are all tailored to wavy hair. If your hair is wavy, you may be better off trying out the Wavy Girl Method versus the Curly Girl Method.
- The Wavy Girl Method is less structured. Because the Wavy Girl Method doesn't have a solid set of instructions, some girls will find it challenging to get started on the Wavy Girl Method. On the contrary, the CG Method has a Curly Girl handbook where you can find everything you need to know to get started.
Side by side
Wavy Girl Method vs. Curly Girl Method
Same starting point, eight different decisions. The Wavy Girl Method isn’t a lighter version of the Curly Girl Method; it’s a set of considerations and decisions for hair that weighs down more easily.
| Decision | Curly Girl Method | Wavy Girl Method |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | Sulfates are out, and a lot of women drop shampoo altogether and wash with conditioner instead. | A gentle shampoo stays in your routine, and for most wavy hair you really do need it. |
| Co-washing | Washing with conditioner instead of shampoo, and it’s the usual way to wash. | Worth a try, but it’s often the thing that flattened your waves in the first place. |
| Conditioner | Use plenty of it, all the way from your roots through to your ends. | Start at your ears and work down, because conditioner at your roots is what weighs waves down. |
| Product weight | Rich creams, thick butters and heavy leave-in conditioners. | Mousses and light gels, and creams only if your hair still feels dry afterwards. |
| Silicones | Avoided completely, because they can build up on your hair over time. | Skip the heavy ones, but the water-soluble kind washes out and is fine to use. |
| Styling motion | Lightly comb the product through your curls with your fingers, then scrunch it up. | Smooth it on with flat palms, then scrunch. Combing it through with your fingers pulls your waves straight. |
| Protein | Used sparingly, and mostly to repair damaged hair strands. | Used more often, because fine strands hold a wave better when there’s a little protein in them. |
| What goes wrong | Your hair ends up dry, and your curls never really clump together. | Your hair ends up greasy and flat, lying against your head instead of springing up. |
If you’ve ever tried the Curly Girl Method and your hair went limp instead of dry, you didn’t do it wrong. You were following a routine built for hair that can hold more product than yours can, and your waves just couldn’t take all of it.
Wavy Girl Method Recommendations
Now that you can differentiate between the Wavy Girl Method and the CG Method, it's time to dive deeper into the Wavy Girl Method.
Here are some of the recommendations made by people in the Wavy Girl Method community:
Co-washing Your Hair Is Not A Must
In the CG Method, it is recommended to cowash your hair regularly. The idea is that cowashing in place of shampooing will enable your hair to retain more moisture.
However, cowashing can easily leave product buildup on wavy hair over time, requiring you to incorporate a clarifying shampoo into your regimen.
For people who want to try the Wavy Girl Method, it's okay to pass on cowashing if it's not working for you. Instead, you can opt for a regular sulfate-free shampoo or switch between co-washes and sulfate-free shampoos as appropriate.
Sulfates Are Not Off Limits
In the Curly Girl Method, sulfates are avoided at all costs. This is because of their drying nature.
However, according to proponents of the Wavy Girl Method, sulfates may be needed every so often to remove stubborn debris or buildup from the hair. Still, it's understood that sulfate products should not be used very often.
Consider the Weather
Wavy hair is especially reactive to weather changes, whereas hair types 3 and 4 react to a lesser degree.
In the wintertime, wavy hair may look more frizzy than usual and can get super dry. To offset this change, switch to cowashing to keep the hair defined and moisturized.
In the warmer months, waves can easily get weighed down and lose volume. In this case, cowashing may not be the best idea. Switching back to sulfate-free shampoos is likely best.
For the best results, pay attention to your hair at different times during the year and keep note of what works for your hair and what doesn't.
Use Lightweight Products
Wavy hair tends to get easily weighed down by products. So, to keep your wavy hair both defined and full of body, it's always best to use lightweight products.
This means that you shouldn't use heavy butters or creams - both of them could leave your hair limp and even greasy looking.
Mousses Over Gels
Hair gel is the product of choice for curly girls to get their curls defined, but that usually doesn't work for wavy girls.
For this reason, the Wavy Girl Method recommends styling mousse over gel. Styling mousse is much more lightweight, is less likely to leave buildup on the hair, and provides just enough definition for wavy hair.
Praying Hands Method
The way you apply your products to your wavy hair is critical. In the CG Method, raking products through your hair is the preferred technique for hair product distribution.
However, for wavy hair, raking can cause the waves to separate and lose definition.
Instead of using the raking method, wavy girls are urged to use the praying hand's method, where you sandwich your hair between your two hands to smooth the product through. This helps to keep the waves intact.
The techniques
Four Motions That Do the Work
Wavy hair routines are mostly named after hand movements, and that’s what makes them sound harder than they really are. These four cover almost everything you’ll be told to do on a wash day, and none of them take more than a minute to learn.
Praying hands
Put flat palms on either side of a section of your curls, and gently slide your palms down from your roots to your ends. Lightly combing the product through with your fingers pulls the wave out as you go, so pressing it on flat is what keeps the S shape.
Squish to condish
Cup a handful of water and gently squeeze it up into your hair while the conditioner’s still in, and keep going for about a minute. The same section comes back shorter and springier, because the water helps your strands clump together instead of drying as separate pieces.
Plopping
Lay a cotton T-shirt flat, flip your hair into the middle of it, and wrap it up onto your head. Ten to twenty minutes is plenty, because if you leave it much longer you’ll dry your roots flat against your head.
Root clipping
Slide small clips into your roots along your part while your hair dries, so your hair sits up off your scalp instead of lying flat against it. It’s the cheapest volume you can get, and you take them out once your hair’s dry.
Hair Routine Recommendations
As far as crafting a hair routine goes, the Wavy Girl Method is open. Many wavy girls use the CG Method as a starting point and then change it as needed.
The routine
The Wavy Wash Day, Step by Step
Ten steps from the shower through to bone dry. Every one tells you what to do and why it matters, so if you decide to skip a step you’ll know exactly what you’re giving up.
- 1
Wash your scalp, not your hair
Work a gentle shampoo into your scalp with your fingertips, and let the suds rinse down the rest of your hair on their own rather than scrubbing it.
Why Wavy hair is usually finer than curly hair, so product buildup flattens it faster, and washing with conditioner alone leaves a residue that costs you volume within a few days.
- 2
Condition the bottom half only
Start at your ears and work down toward your ends, keeping conditioner off your roots completely.
Why Conditioner at the root is the fastest way to limp waves, and it’s the most common reason the Curly Girl Method disappoints wavy hair.
- 3
Squish to condish
With the conditioner still in, cup handfuls of water and squeeze them up toward your scalp, and keep going for about a minute until you hear a squelch.
Why Water and slip together are what let your waves clump into an S shape, and if you skip this step the same hair dries as separate pieces instead of clumping together.
- 4
Detangle while it’s slippery
Use your fingers or a wide-tooth comb while you’re still in the shower with the conditioner in, starting at your ends and working your way up.
Why Your hair is at its most fragile when it’s wet, and the conditioner gives the comb something to slide on, so you lose far fewer strands this way.
- 5
Rinse until it’s soft, not squeaky
Rinse with cool water, and stop as soon as your hair feels smooth rather than stripped.
Why If your hair squeaks, you’ve taken everything off, including the slip your waves need to hold themselves together.
- 6
Dry gently, scrunching upward
Use a microfiber towel or an old cotton T-shirt, cupping sections and squeezing them up toward your scalp rather than rubbing.
Why Rubbing lifts the cuticle, the shingled outer layer of each strand, and a lifted cuticle is what frizz actually is.
- 7
Style it soaking wet
Smooth mousse or a light gel on with flat palms, then scrunch upward, and don’t wait for your hair to dry off first.
Why Your hair sets its wave while it’s still wet, so if you wait until it’s damp, the product just sits on top of your curls instead of shaping them.
- 8
Plop for 10 to 20 minutes, no longer
Lay a T-shirt on a flat surface, flip your hair into the middle of it, wrap it up onto your head, and set a timer so you don’t lose track of it.
Why Plopping holds your clumps together while the worst of the water leaves. Go much past 20 minutes and your roots dry flat against your head.
- 9
Dry without touching it
Air dry, or diffuse on low heat and low speed, and keep your hands off until your hair is completely dry underneath as well as on top.
Why Every touch while it’s drying separates a clump that hasn’t set yet. This is the step most people break, and it’s usually the whole reason a wash day fails.
- 10
Scrunch out the crunch
Once your hair is bone dry, rub a drop of light oil between your palms and scrunch upward until that stiffness breaks up.
Why That crunchy shell is the gel cast, and it means the gel did its job of holding the wave while it dried. Breaking it leaves the shape behind and takes the stiffness away.
How often: most wavy hair does well on two or three wash days a week. Wash more than that and you strip the oils your waves need; wash less and root buildup drags the pattern flat.
On the days in between: mist your hair with water, scrunch a little leave-in through the ends, and let it dry undisturbed. If your roots have gone flat, clip them at the part while they dry.
1 pageFree printable
The Wavy Wash Day
Your whole wash day on one page you can tape inside a cabinet door, so on the mornings you’re rushing you can see what comes next without scrolling back through the article.
Best Hair Products for the Wavy Girl Method
If you want to try the Wavy Girl Method, it always helps to have the right products. While the Wavy Girl method is not as strict as the Curly Girl Method, there are still some products that you can't do without.
In this section, we'll introduce you to some of the best products for the Wavy Girl Method.
Shampoos
Sulfate-free shampoos are an excellent option for anyone following the Wavy Girl Method. The shampoo will get your hair clean without stripping it of much-needed moisture.
- Aveeno Fresh Greens Blend Shampoo - This is a fantastic sulfate-free shampoo that's perfect for anyone with waves. It is formulated with cucumber, peppermint, oats, and rosemary. While the shampoo is marketed toward people with thin hair, people with thick waves enjoy the fact that it adequately cleanses the hair without drying it out. The shampoo has no dyes and no parabens.
- SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Shampoo - This shampoo is a good fit for any wavy girl who's dealing with dryness, whether it's due to excessive heat styling or chemical processing. The shampoo is gentle enough to remove debris without leaving your hair dry and brittle. It has no parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, propylene glycol, and petrolatum.
- Alfaparf Milano Semi Di Lino Sulfate-free Shampoo - This is a sulfate-free shampoo for both waves and loose curls. It has a climate-proof formula that gives your hair a protective barrier against weather changes. It also leaves your hair with a natural shine.
If you'd like to experiment with cowashing your wavy hair, a few great co-washes to consider include Luxe Organix CoWash Cleansing Conditioner, Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Cleansing Conditioner, and Alfaparf Milano Semi Di Lino CoWash.
Conditioners
Following your shampoo session, you should always follow up with a moisturizing conditioner. Here are a few conditioners to consider adding to your product stash:
- Nexxus Moisturizing Conditioner for Dry Hair - This is a silicone-free conditioner that's formulated to moisturize your hair thoroughly without leaving any buildup behind. The conditioner is infused with elastin protein and green caviar to restore and repair your waves so that they can look their best. It'll leave your hair shiny and ready for styling.
- Love Beauty and Planet Conditioner - This conditioner is paraben-free, silicone-free, and formulated with lightweight argan oil and lavender. It has a slippery consistency that helps with detangling, and it's safe for colored hair. It's a great choice for you if you have wavy hair in need of penetrating moisture.
- SheaMoisture Silicone Free Conditioner - This silicone and sulfate-free conditioner was created to provide your hair with several benefits, including lightweight moisture, color protection, easy detangling, and anti-humidity capabilities. We bet that you're going to love this conditioner.
If your hair still feels dry or in need of extra moisture after your shampoo and conditioner, a deep conditioner can give you the deeper moisture that your hair craves.
A couple of great deep conditioners you can try include CurlSmith Double Cream Deep Quencher, SheaMoisture Fruit Fusion Weightless Hair Masque, and Mielle Organics Babassu & Mint Deep Conditioner.
Leave Ins
A lightweight moisturizing leave-in can make styling your wavy hair a breeze. Here are some of the top leave-ins for wavy hair:
- Carol's Daughter Almond Milk Leave-in Conditioner - This conditioner is very lightweight, so you can expect it to leave your hair hydrated without weighing it down. The formula contains almond milk, aloe vera, and proteins to give your hair deep nourishment that lasts all day.
- OUAI Leave-in Conditioner - This leave-in Conditioner does everything for your waves. It not only helps with tangling, but it also reduces frizz, adds shine, and provides heat protection. You'll find it beneficial if you regularly use heat styling tools (e.g., curling iron) on your hair or just want to ensure that your waves are getting everything they need for the day. It's free of sulfates, phthalates, and parabens.
- Living Proof Restore Repair Leave-in - This is a restorative leave-in conditioner that smooths your hair shaft and injects it with nourishing ingredients like glycerin, fatty alcohols, and lightweight butters. This particular leave-in is known for its ability to stop split ends from forming.
Mousses
Mousse is a go-to product for any wavy-haired girl. It helps to define your natural waves without leaving them sticky, weighed down, or crunchy.
Here are some of the best styling mousses you can get:
- Design Essentials Curl Enhancing Mousse - Though the name of this product includes "curls," it may be a blessing for your waves. It is a lightweight mousse infused with both almond and avocado for intense moisture. It transforms your hair from frizzy and unruly to bouncy, shiny, and ready for the day. You can use it to define your hair for a wash and go, or you can use it to set your hair using rollers or braiding techniques. It has a medium hold.
- Maui Moisture Flexible Hold - This mousse is an excellent option for any wavy-haired gal. It has aloe vera as its first ingredient, which gives your hair a ton of moisture. But at the same time, the mousse is lightweight and leaves your hair volumized, frizz-free, and defined. You can't go wrong with this styling mousse.
While styling mousse is preferred over gel, there are a few lightweight gels that you can try if styling mousse is not getting you the results that you want.
A couple of lightweight gels you can try include DevaCurl Light Defining Gel and MopTop Curly Hair Custard.
All of the above recommendations enable you to start the Wavy Girl Method off right. If you don't like these products, feel free to experiment with other products.
You'll never know how a product will work for your hair until you give it a try.
What to expect
Your First Three Months, Week by Week
If you’ve ever given up on a new routine around week three, you’re not the only one, because that’s usually when your hair looks its worst. Below is what actually happens, month by month, so you can tell the difference between a normal rough patch and a routine that really isn’t working for your hair.
-
Wash day one
More definition than you expected
Styling your hair soaking wet and then leaving it alone while it dries usually shows you a wave you didn’t know you had. That first wash day makes the whole thing look easy, which is why so many women expect every wash day after it to keep getting better.
-
Weeks 2 to 3 — the dip
Limp, greasy, and worse than when you started
Old silicone and product buildup is still on your hair, and your scalp is adjusting to a different wash rhythm. This is the stage most people quit at, and it’s the one stage that’s genuinely temporary. A single clarifying wash usually resets it.
-
Weeks 4 to 6
The pattern gets repeatable
You stop guessing at how much mousse to use, and your waves start bending closer to the root instead of only at the ends. Good days and bad days both still happen; the difference is you can now tell which step caused which.
-
Weeks 8 to 12
New growth comes in undamaged
An inch or so of hair has now grown without heat, brushing, or being pulled straight. That section holds a tighter, more consistent wave than the hair below it, which is why your roots often look curlier than your ends around now.
-
Six months and beyond
You find out what your hair actually does
Roughly three inches of untouched growth is enough to judge by, and whatever pattern you’re seeing at this point is close to your real one. It’s a fair moment to work out which parts of the routine your hair actually needs, and which ones you can quietly let go of.
Change one thing at a time. If you swap your shampoo, your gel, and your drying method in the same week and your hair looks worse, you’ve learned nothing about which one did it. Give any single change two or three wash days before you judge it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Do I Start With Wavy Hair?
To start with wavy hair, we recommend first identifying your hair type (2A, 2B, or 2C). Begin by choosing the correct wavy girl products. Examples are sulfate-free shampoos and lightweight conditioners that don't weigh down your waves. Also, use a wide-tooth comb on damp hair to detangle without damaging the natural curl pattern. Minimize using hot tools to prevent heat damage and retain natural oils in your hair.
How Long Does It Take for the Wavy Girl Method to Work?
It takes approximately 4-8 weeks before you'll see noticeable changes. However, everyone's hair is different. The time it takes for the Wavy Girl Method to work can vary. It depends on your hair type and the specific condition of your hair. People with fine wavy hair may notice improvements more quickly than people with thick or coarse hair.
Is the Wavy Girl Method a Version of the Curly Girl Method?
Yes. The Wavy Girl Method is a hair care approach for people with naturally wavy hair. It's a variation of the Curly Girl Method, adapted for the unique needs of wavy hair. This method uses wavy girl approved products without harsh chemicals. You'll also use hair plopping techniques and avoid heat styling to protect your natural wave pattern.
What Is the Curly Girl Method System?
The Curly Girl Method system, developed by Lorraine Massey, is a hair care regimen for naturally curly hair. It emphasizes the elimination of sulfates, silicones, and heat styling tools from your hair care routine. The method includes steps such as using a sulfate-free cleanser. You'll also hydrate your hair with conditioners. Then, you will style your hair with curl-friendly products like curl cream. This system is designed to enhance the natural curl pattern and reduce frizz.
Does the Curly Girl Method Make Your Hair Curlier?
The Curly Girl Method can make your hair appear curlier by enhancing its natural curl pattern. The method involves nurturing and hydrating the hair, which can help reduce frizz and define curls. However, it does not change your hair's natural texture. Instead, it brings out the best in your existing curl pattern.
Does the Curly Girl Method Work?
Yes, the Curly Girl Method does work for many people with naturally curly or wavy hair. Its success lies in the consistent application of the curly girl method steps. For example, you should avoid harsh chemicals and heat, and use approved products. Success varies among individuals, depending on their unique hair type and texture.
Can the Curly Girl Method Work on Wavy Hair?
The Curly Girl Method can work on wavy hair but requires some adjustments. Wavy hair differs from curly hair. The Curly Girl Method should be tailored to suit wavy hair's unique characteristics. For example, those with wavy hair should opt for lighter products to prevent limp waves.
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Some people look at wavy and curly hair and think that you can treat them the same way, but that's not always true. The Wavy Girl Method takes that into consideration with modified recommendations that give wavy girls the tools to achieve healthier hair.
While the Wavy Girl Method doesn't have a comprehensive list of instructions, it does give you a starting point to formulate your own hair care routine based on your unique hair.
It's important to understand that your hair regimen should be personalized regardless of whether you have wavy or curly hair.
The Wavy Girl Method remains one of the most popular methods to achieve your best waves, and we hope this article has answered all your questions about it.
