Wavy Hair Routine: How to Adjust Each Step for Waves
A wavy hair routine uses the same six steps as a curly hair routine, from cleansing to refreshing on day two, in the same order. What changes for waves is a lighter hand: less product, put on from the mid-lengths down, roots left alone, and nothing pressing the waves flat while they dry or while you sleep.
Why waves need a lighter hand
Wavy hair is type 2 in the usual chart, and its three patterns, 2A, 2B and 2C, are described in our guide to curly hair types. Waves are looser than curls, and in looser waves the S-shape often starts at the mid-lengths and lies close to the head. Curl-care guides warn that waves are easily weighed down, whether by water, conditioner left in the hair or a large amount of styling product. They also warn that an amount of product suited to tighter curls can leave waves flat and limp. If your ends feel dry and rough, our guide on how to fix dry hair covers the causes and what to do about it.
Wavy hair routine, step by step: what to adjust
The table follows the six steps of the curly hair routine in their usual order. The middle column is what changes for waves; anything it does not mention stays as the routine describes it. For sectioning, tools and tight knots, see our guide to how to detangle curly hair.
| Step | What to adjust for waves | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cleanse | Wash as often as your scalp needs, and keep conditioner and oils away from the roots | Residue at the roots weighs the wave down where it starts |
| 2. Condition and detangle | Put conditioner on the lengths and ends only, detangle while it is in, and rinse it out thoroughly | Conditioner left in the hair adds weight |
| 3. Style while wet | Use a light styling product, such as a mousse or a light gel, in a small amount, starting at the mid-lengths; add more next time only if the waves do not hold | Heavy products and large amounts pull a loose wave straight |
| 4. Dry without disturbing | Squeeze the water out without pressing the roots flat, then leave the waves untouched; with a diffuser, cup the lengths from below and keep the roots free | Pressure and weight at the root flatten the wave where it begins |
| 5. Protect at night | Gather the hair into a loose pineapple or a loose braid | Waves pressed flat under you for hours come out flatter in the morning |
| 6. Refresh on day two | Mist only the mid-lengths and ends, scrunch them upwards and leave the roots dry | Water at the roots adds weight where waves are already flattest |
2A, 2B and 2C: how much changes
The looser the wave, the lighter and lower the product. 2A usually wants the least, applied furthest down the length. 2B takes a little more and can start slightly higher. 2C often takes amounts nearer to those of a curly routine. These are starting points: two heads with the same type can still want different amounts.
Weighed down or not enough hold?
Many wavy hair problems come down to one of two things: too much weight, or too little hold. The table shows which step to change for what you see.
| What you see | Likely cause | What to change |
|---|---|---|
| Flat roots, waves only at the ends, flatter again by day two | Too much product, or conditioner too close to the roots | Steps 2 and 3: use less, and keep it to the mid-lengths and ends |
| Waves look greasy or stringy before the day is over | Too much product, or one that is too heavy | Step 3: use less, or switch to a lighter product |
| Waves form while wet but drop out once dry | Too little hold, or the hair was moved while it dried | Steps 3 and 4: a little more hold, and hands off until the hair is completely dry |
| Waves stay stiff and crunchy | A gel coating, often called a cast, that has not been softened | Step 4: soften the cast only once the hair is completely dry |
| One side flatter than the other in the morning | The waves were pressed against the pillow overnight | Step 5: a loose pineapple or a loose braid |
| Fuzz over the waves, single strands out of line | Frizz rather than a shape problem | Less rubbing and handling while wet, and hands off while the hair dries |
When the problem is fuzz rather than shape, the causes of frizz are covered in our guide to frizzy hair.
A simple wavy hair routine for beginners
If you are starting out, begin with three things and add the rest once you see what your waves want.
- Put conditioner on the lengths and ends only, and rinse it out thoroughly.
- While the hair is still wet, work a small amount of one light styling product into the mid-lengths and ends.
- Leave the waves untouched until they are completely dry.
Everything else in the first table can wait until you know whether your waves go flat or drop out.
Waves at night
A night pressed against the pillow can flatten waves. What to do with short waves, wet waves and a flattened morning is covered in our guide on how to sleep with wavy hair. If you want to set waves on purpose overnight, our guide to sock curls covers wrapping damp hair around a sock. A loose pineapple or a loose braid keeps the lengths from lying flat under you; a braid can also set its own wave overnight, so leave it out if you want your natural pattern back. Curl-care guides often recommend a smooth pillowcase to reduce friction on waves overnight.
What a routine cannot change
As in the curly hair routine, no step turns waves into curls, because the pattern is set by the shape of each hair. What a routine changes is how clearly the wave you have shows. On humid days waves can drop or pick up frizz, because nothing switches humidity off.
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Frequently asked questions
What is a good wavy hair routine?
A good wavy hair routine follows the same six steps as a curly hair routine with a lighter hand: conditioner on the lengths and ends only, a small amount of light styling product put on while the hair is wet, roots left alone, and hands off until the waves are dry.
Is a wavy hair routine different from a curly hair routine?
A wavy hair routine is not a different routine: the steps and their order are the same as for curly hair. What changes is how much product you use, where you put it and how you keep the roots from being pressed flat.
What is a good 2A hair routine?
A good routine for 2A hair is the lightest version of the wavy routine: very little conditioner, on the lengths and ends, a small amount of mousse or light gel from the mid-lengths down, and no product at the roots.
What is a simple wavy hair routine for beginners?
A simple wavy hair routine for beginners has three parts: conditioner on the lengths and ends only, one light styling product worked into wet hair, and no touching until the waves are completely dry.
Why do my waves go flat?
Your waves go flat when something weighs them down or presses them: too much or too heavy product, conditioner near the roots, or a night lying flat against the pillow. On humid days, waves can also drop even with a good routine.
How do I care for wavy frizzy hair?
To care for wavy frizzy hair, keep rubbing and handling low while it is wet, leave it untouched while it dries, and keep friction low during the day and at night. Some frizz on humid days is normal.
RENESSY · Updated September 2026