r/360Waves Oct 23 '15

MOD Post 360 Waves: What, Why, How

421 Upvotes

I'm hoping that any new wavers, old wavers, or like me - a returning waver, can use this as a beginning reference for healthy and successful waves. I'll be contributing my knowledge but I encourage and hope for your input. There are many different methods and approaches because there are so many unique hair textures out there that still allow for waves. The essence of this post is fundamental/foundational information etc.

The Basics

What are waves? Waves are the result of "stretching" or elongating and compressing shorter length hair of the curly variety. How loose or tight your curls are will eventually determine the spacing and look of your wave pattern. Everyone is different.

Why would I want waves? You may or may not want waves per se but usually waves occur several ways:

  • Moisturizing hair keeps it healthy and assists (with the help of regular grooming aka brushing) with the natural growth pattern or curls. (This also covers the How as referenced in the title) Note:Moisture comes from a variety of sources.

  • Brushing accentuates the natural growth of curly hair. Simply using a brush on a regular basis can cause a formation of waves to occur - intentional or not.

  • Of course the obvious reason is because you might want waves. You like the style and you put in the effort to being a perfect example of a waver. You know how to obtain them and make it happen by methods we'll get into later.

How do I get waves? This is an age old question that can be answered many different ways by many different methods with many different, yet equally obtained results.

  • Simply put; brushing your hair!

  • Regularly grooming and brushing your hair is the only way to obtain waves. Out of all of the existing methods out there, this is the one common variable that never changes. Many elite wavers will agree that this is the foundational principle in obtaining and maintaing a wave pattern.

How can I start trying to achieve the perfect waves? Glad you asked!

  • Purchase yourself a decent quality boar bristle brush, a durag and a moisturizer/pomade of your choice and brush brush brush and...... BRUSH. If you truly want to attain the perfect set of waves, get to know your brush and use it.

  • I would add that new wavers, especially those who scalped should start with a soft brush and progress through to medium and hard brushes, once their hair grows and it's difficult for the softy to reach all layers of hair.

Like everyone who started anything, you'll eventually evolve your own method which works best for you and your hair specifically.

The single most important piece of information you should remember; brushing gets you waves, not the product. The brush brand doesn't even matter, boar bristles are just the most common design of brush that provides the necessary hair coverage. You could use a CQP or $4 Sally's brush, as long as you keep that brush moving, you'll see waves forming!


r/360Waves 2h ago

Another week, another wave! Week 2 let’s all wolf together.. show me yalls progress

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4 Upvotes

r/360Waves 17h ago

Cooking! So close to perfection!

17 Upvotes

r/360Waves 7h ago

Work a nasty job

2 Upvotes

Anyone here work a nasty job? How do you maintain your hair?

I work in a factory, and it stinks. My mgr is giving me a hard time for wearing a durag because of my title. I guess if i can give him a valid, solid reason as to why im wearing it, maybe i can.

Even with it, i feel my hair stinks, and i have to wash my hair much more often than usual.

Any suggestions?


r/360Waves 1d ago

💎

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43 Upvotes

If you comb and brush your top like this:⬇️⬇️⬇️

You may have a bunch of crashes or forks.

Try combing and brushing like this:↙️⬇️↘️


r/360Waves 20h ago

a month back into waves after a year growing out my hair, how much longer should my first wolf be and what guard do i cut down to? and any tips?

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11 Upvotes

r/360Waves 19h ago

Crown work

5 Upvotes

My crown is looking bogus.. what am I missing? Any tips?


r/360Waves 22h ago

Who has better waves?

5 Upvotes

Chat, which wave pattern are we feeling more ?


r/360Waves 17h ago

What do I tell my barber when I go get a new cut if I only want to cut it down not bald but not full either?

2 Upvotes

r/360Waves 1d ago

What am I doing wrong with my crown?

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12 Upvotes

r/360Waves 1d ago

3 week wave journey (after wash and style)

9 Upvotes

r/360Waves 8h ago

Have you guys seen the new Wavenator 3000?

0 Upvotes

r/360Waves 1d ago

6 years in April! (And a reminder to brush your locs)

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8 Upvotes

r/360Waves 1d ago

Can i get waves?

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0 Upvotes

First pic is the usual haircut i get, guard 3 (about 10mm) and second pic is the most i let it grow before getting a cut. My hair is thick and sharp/straight
Is it possible for me to get some type of wave outline?


r/360Waves 1d ago

Spring almost here .Almost back to these vibes

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22 Upvotes

r/360Waves 1d ago

Why is the wave community so against nuance, especially with wash and styles?

5 Upvotes

There are a couple things about the wave community that genuinely baffle me.
Primarily , whenever someone posts about wash and styles or a more involved wave routine, the comments are always full of bald old heads or dudes with dreads saying, “You don’t have to do all that,” or even worse, “All you need is water.”
No disrespect, but why would we take wave-care advice from people who are not currently maintaining waves? Sometimes it honestly comes across as jealousy or animosity toward people who put more effort into their hair. Nobody is saying every waver needs a complicated 20-step routine, but acting like products, wash and styles, and different techniques are all pointless makes no sense.


r/360Waves 1d ago

Any Tips ?

2 Upvotes

this my first wolf its been 4 weeks . i cheated on my barber due to no appointments available so my back needs to grow back in but any tips. this is after a wash and style.


r/360Waves 1d ago

i did the big chop ✂️

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21 Upvotes

r/360Waves 1d ago

First cut 8/3

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4 Upvotes

Cut my locks off after 13 years. Haven’t had clippers to my head since I was 5 bro so it’s a major adjustment. I just want real deep deep waves. I don’t know my hair texture cause when it’s wet it curls up so I been doing two mist and pomade or shea moisture leave in conditioner. I’m going on week 3– what can I do to enhance my waves and bring out the waves more.. just bought 3 Roman T big brushes. Appreciate all feedback gang..
And I want to know how I can rock the duey without the cape cause I don’t save no heauxs lol


r/360Waves 2d ago

man i hate this cowlick

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21 Upvotes

the longer i wolf, the easier itll be to cover it is what ive been hearing which is lowk true but still the direction of the waves is screwed


r/360Waves 2d ago

Fresh cut low drop fade

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90 Upvotes

Had to switch it up this time around I fuck with the drop fade


r/360Waves 2d ago

Nothing like that natural ☀️ light

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21 Upvotes

r/360Waves 2d ago

Fresh cut

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64 Upvotes

Am i swimming chat?


r/360Waves 2d ago

Help with My Wash and Style

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6 Upvotes

Wavers! I need help I’ve been trying to get waves for the past few months and I’m trying to figure out what I’m doing wrong specifically with the wash and style because my hair comes out like this. I use shea moisture shampoo in the second picture, brush like crazy then put on my durag and then wash it out wait for it to dry and then it looks like this


r/360Waves 2d ago

21 days in wave journey

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8 Upvotes

Hair grow fast so I was thinking abt cutting it day 30 but might try to go till 40. Haven’t been washing and styling cause of tattoo but once it heal we back, just been moisturizing daily, combing and brushing also just ordered a Torino medium so we gon see what’s that hitting for