Your curly-hair routine is ruining your wavy hair: here are some adjustments to go from curly to wavy hair that you can try today
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Does this sound familiar?
The products you use are constantly weighing down your hair
Your curls fall out after a few hours
Product residue builds up quickly
It seems like you can never find the right routine or products
Your curls aren't looking right
Your hair care routine is probably the reason your wavy or curly hair isn't looking its best!
Here's why: we've constantly been told that we have to do and use certain things that stem from the Curly Girl method, but this method doesn’t work for everyone! Especially if you have a fine texture and/or your hair type is on the wavy side.
Curly Girl: The Handbook by Lorraine Massey
The good news is: you're not alone, and this is definitely fixable! Here are a few tips for going from curly to wavy hair that you can try TODAY, or the next time you style your hair.
1. USE A LIGHT LEAVE-IN CONDITIONER INSTEAD OF A HEAVY CURL CREAM
YES… Curl creams are often too heavy for fine, wavy, or curly hair! Opt for a lightweight leave-in conditioner, preferably one that contains hydrolyzed protein. (Why? I’ll go into more detail about the “moisture-protein balance” in my next article!) BUT if you still have a curl cream and want to keep using it, that’s fine too! Just make sure to use only a very small amount, because curl creams can weigh down fine hair very quickly.
2. DO NOT APPLY THE PRODUCT TO SOAK-WET HAIR, BUT TO WET OR DAMP HAIR
YUUPPPP…. People sometimes say it’s easier to style your hair when it’s soaking wet, but if you have fine hair, the water dilutes the products so much that they end up on the floor, haha, and you definitely don’t want that. So it’s better to style your hair while it’s still wet. And as your hair dries, you can always spritz a little extra water with a water spray, especially when you’re scrunching it with your hands. That way, you make sure the products actually stay in your hair.
What about damp hair? You can apply a little product to damp hair after plopping or halfway through blow-drying. This gives your hair a beautiful shine, helping the style last longer.
3. USE A STRONG-HOLD GEL INSTEAD OF A LIGHT-HOLD GEL
Gels with light hold are awesomerrr, but if you have fine or wavy hair, you actually want as much hold as possible to keep those waves and curls from completely falling flat! You can definitely still use a gel with light or medium hold, but make sure to combine it with another styling product, like mousse or foam (that’s what I usually do).
4. INSTEAD OF USING A COMBINATION OF CURL CREAM AND GEL, USE A COMBINATION OF LEAVE-IN + GEL + MOUSSE OR FOAM
Yes! Be sure to choose lightweight products and ones that provide good hold. By combining gel with mousse or foam, your curls will get extra hold, which will make them stand out even more and stay looking great longer.
5. Try using a silk scarf instead of an oil to get rid of frizz
LISTEN. I LOVE HAIR OIL. But I know it doesn’t always work for people with fine or wavy-curly hair. That’s why, if you’re dealing with the problems I mentioned above, it’s worth trying to work out the frizz without oil and seeing if that helps. Just because everyone does it and you’re told you have to do it doesn’t mean it’s the right method for you. Always experiment to see what does and doesn’t work for your hair!
Want to dive deeper? In my guide package, especially the "Your Hair Is Wavy and Curly! NOW WHAT?" starter bundle , I explain all of this and much more. It includes everything I wish I’d had when I was just starting out, all in one place— click here if you want to learn more!
And if you want to know exactly which products I personally recommend and suggest to my salon clients, I’ve got you covered. Check out my favorite products in my Wavy and Curly Hair Easy Start Guide!
Thanks for reading!! xx
