WAVY CURLY HAIR JOURNEY FOR BEGINNER: Your First Routine for 2A, 2B, 2C & 3A Hair Types

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Starting your wavy curly hair journey can feel incredibly overwhelming, and I say that as someone who has been exactly where you are. Especially in this age of information, where you can find the answer to literally anything at the tip of your fingertips, only to end up feeling more confused than when you started.

I get it. I've been there.

The good news? Starting your wavy curly hair journey is not as complicated as it seems. In this article, I'm sharing some actionable steps so you know exactly what to do afterwards.

1. KNOW YOUR HAIR PROFILE

Before anything else, get to know your hair. Your hair profile helps you understand what state your hair is currently in, and it guides you toward the right products and routines for your hair.

Start by asking yourself:

• How does my hair behave without any products in it?

• What signals does my hair give me? Frizz, dryness, flat roots, lack of definition?

• What's my hair history? Have I used heat regularly, done keratin treatments, bleached it?

• What does my hair feel like after washing? Soft, rough, dry, weighed down?

Your hair porosity also plays a big role here. Porosity tells you how easily your hair absorbs and holds onto moisture, and it determines which products will actually work for you.

2. KNOW YOUR STARTING POINT

Once you've reflected on those questions, you'll have a clearer picture of where your hair is right now. Is it virgin hair, meaning it's never been touched by bleach, keratin, or heavy chemical treatments? Is it slightly damaged? Or has it been through a lot over the years?

This matters more than most people realize. Someone starting with virgin hair will need a very different approach than someone dealing with damage. Knowing your starting point means you're not throwing random products at your hair and wondering why nothing works.

3. START WITH WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE AT HOME

I know how tempting it is to go on a product splurge and hope for the best. I've done it. It's not worth it. You end up wasting both time and money without getting the results you're actually looking for.

Before buying anything new, I always encourage beginners to work with what they already have at home. You'll be surprised how much you can change just by adjusting how you use what you've got.

HERE'S HOW TO DO YOUR FIRST WASHDAY:

• Detangle gently on dry hair. Stop brushing your hair every day. Only detangle right before wash day. I recommend most of my clients, especially those with fine hair, to detangle while the hair is still dry. If the knots are stubborn, apply a small amount of hair oil first to add slip. Always work through it slowly using your fingers, a wide-tooth comb, or a detangling brush.

• Put your sulfate shampoo on the back burner. If you're currently washing with a sulfate shampoo every wash day, it's time to scale that back. Sulfates strip the hair of its natural oils, which waves and curls need to thrive. I typically recommend my clients with 2A, 2B, 2C and 3A hair to use a sulfate shampoo only once or twice a month, or when the hair genuinely needs a deep reset after heavy product buildup.

• Rethink your conditioner. Most standard conditioners contain silicones, which can work well for some but tend to block moisture absorption over time. If you're just starting out, I'd suggest temporarily swapping it out. Depending on the condition of your hair, a deep conditioner or bond treatment may serve you much better at this stage.

• Swap your towel. Ditch the regular bath towel. The rough texture creates friction, and friction causes frizz. Switch to a soft cotton towel or a plain cotton t-shirt. And instead of rubbing your hair dry, gently squeeze the water out in an upward motion. That one change alone can make a noticeable difference.

• Stop touching your hair while it dries. This one is underrated. Once you've applied your products and your hair is drying, leave it alone. Every time you touch it, you're breaking up the wave or curl pattern before it has a chance to set. Let it fully dry first, then you can scrunch out the cast, diffuse, or style from there.

• Cut back on heat (for now).If you've been blow-drying or flat-ironing regularly, try stepping away from heat tools for the first few weeks of your journey. This gives your hair a real chance to show you its natural texture without heat damage interfering with what you're seeing. If you do use heat, always apply a protectant first.

4.BUY THE BASICS, THEN OBSERVE AND ADJUST

Once you've worked through the above, you can start looking for a small set of products suited for someone starting their wavy curly hair journey. And I do mean small. You do not need a ten-product shelf when you're just beginning.

Start simple, see how your hair reacts, and build from there.

MY RECOMMENDED WASHDAY BASICS:

Giovanni Tea Tree Triple Treat Shampoo (Sulfate Free)

Giovanni Smooth As Sillk Deeper Moisture Conditioner (Silicone Free)

Garnier Fructis Banana Hair Food 3in1 (You can use this a regular conditioner, leave in and hairmask)

K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask (Good if you have damaged hair)

Not Your Mothers Curl Talk Mousse

Not Your Mothers Curl Talk Sculpting Gel

Wavytalk High Speed Diffuser

Blissy 100% Mulberry Silk Silk Pillow Case

The Perfect Haircare Ultra Fine Microfiber Hair Towel

• A sulfate-free shampoo and a silicone-free conditioner

• A moisturizing hair mask, protein treatment, and/or bond treatment depending on your starting point

• For styling: a lightweight leave-in, a gel, and a mousse or foam

• A lightweight oil to seal in moisture at the end of your wash day. That said, not everyone's hair loves oil, so try it and observe how yours responds before committing

• A diffuser attachment for your hairdryer. You don't need anything fancy, a basic hairdryer with a diffuser attachment is more than enough. I always recommend diffusing over air drying for wavy and curly hair because it encourages definition, adds volume, and helps your waves and curls last significantly longer. If you prefer to air dry, I have tips for that too in this article.

• For protecting your hair at night: A silk pillowcase is ideal. You can also find satin options, but I personally don't recommend satin as it's a synthetic material that can get quite warm, especially in summer. My go-to recommendation is a silk scarf because it's more versatile. It works as a pillowcase and you can use it in hairstyles too.

READY TO GO DEEPER?

That's the foundation. Embracing your wavy curly hair journey is really about learning to observe your hair, doing the trial and error with your techniques, and adjusting as you go.

If you want everything in one place, I've broken down the full beginner journey in my "So your hair is wavy curly! NOW WHAT?!” Starter Bundle.

Not sure which products to start with? My Easy Start Guide walks you through exactly what to buy first.

Drop any questions in the comments below, I'd love to help.

Thank you for reading! xx