Easy wavy hair routine: Your guide to effortless, natural waves

Our guide to an easy wavy hair routine will help keep your locks looking (and feeling) naturally defined and nourished using gentle, plant-powered products that are good for your hair (and the planet).

Curly vs. wavy hair: What’s the difference?

Understanding your hair type is crucial to a successful haircare routine. When it comes to wavy vs. curly, there are subtle differences which can mean switching up your routine (and the products in it) to give your hair the best chance of being naturally shiny and more healthy looking.

Wavy hair (types 2A–2C) typically forms a looser “S” shape and sits closer to the scalp. Type 2A is fine and gently wavy, 2B has more defined waves with moderate texture, and 2C has stronger, almost curly bends with thicker strands.

Curly hair (types 3A–3C) features springier spirals that often begin right at the root. These curls range from loose, bouncy rings (3A) to tighter, more compact coils with greater volume and shrinkage (3C).

When it comes to care, curly hair is more prone to dryness, so it typically needs more moisture and slightly richer products. Wavy hair, on the other hand, is more easily weighed down and therefore benefits from lighter formulas to prevent it from looking limp or greasy.

1. Lock in moisture (Start with a nourishing wash)

Moisture is always the foundation of defined, healthy waves. Try to use a gentle, smoothing shampoo like our Jojoba Shampoo to cleanse without stripping your hair of its natural oils, especially when it’s feeling a little dry. Follow with our Jojoba Conditioner, making sure to detangle with fingers or a wide-toothed comb to reduce damage and breakages. If your hair is slightly thicker (Type 2C), Shea & Argan should be your go-to. There’s more on this in our essential Curly Girl Method.

Top tip:

If you’re going to bed with damp hair (if you really have to) or letting your waves air-dry, try adding a small amount of leave-in conditioner to help keep strands moisturised and reduce breakages during the night. 

2. Add a mask

A weekly deep-conditioning session keeps waves bouncy and soft. Apply a rich, 99.5% natural origin formula like the Shea & Argan Nourishing Hair Mask once a week to replenish moisture and strengthen strands, especially helpful if your waves are dry, sun-exposed, or frequently brushed out. Like all our haircare products, it’s free of parabens and silicones. Plus, the mask’s sweet, natural origin aroma leaves hair smelling great. Let it sit for at least 3-5 minutes for extra hydration and an aroma boost before rinsing.

3. Dry your hair with care

Long hair tends to be more fragile when it’s wet, which means how you dry it really matters. Instead of towel-drying, which can be rough and damage your strands, try gently scrunching your hair with a soft, microfibre towel or even a cotton t-shirt to preserve your waves.

Unlike what your mother used to tell you, going to bed with wet hair probably won’t give you a cold, but it can lead to more breakage and flatten all those delicate waves.  It’s best to let your hair fully dry, either with a diffuser on a low heat setting or the natural way (by air drying), before sleep for perfectly formed waves. 

4. Use wave-friendly tools

If you want your hair to keep its natural bounce, it’s time to ditch the straighteners and flat irons. The extra heat from these tools is your wavy hair’s worst enemy – it’ll dry strands, cause breakages and disrupt the natural curl of your hair.

Try sticking to simple remedies for styling, like a wide-toothed comb for detangling, a microfiber towel for gentle drying after every wash and a diffuser attachment for your hairdryer to diffuse the heat evenly and reduce damage – especially useful if you have type 2C hair.

But the aftercare doesn’t stop there… Often overlooked, a satin pillowcase could mean the difference between a good and bad hair day. It’ll prevent any overnight friction and keep your hair naturally wavy with minimal effort. 

5. Support the texture

Naturally wavy hair benefits from a little extra care to keep each wave smooth and defined – especially finer type 2A hair. Whether you’re washing or drying, small tweaks can help your natural pattern stay intact and reduce crinkles, allowing your waves to shine.

One easy change is to protect your hair overnight. Using a soft hair wrap or net helps maintain the direction of each strand while you sleep, reducing friction and breakage. This keeps your waves more uniform by morning, meaning less disruption and more natural definition and shine.

A small amount of conditioner can also make a big difference between washes. It helps smooth the hair cuticle, lightly hydrates, and enhances the appearance of your waves without weighing them down. Our Rosemary Conditioner is a great choice: rosemary is known to support shine and invigorate the scalp, while the formula blends 3 organic active naturals and 99.5% natural origin ingredients. It’s kind to your waves and kinder to the planet, too.

6. Lock in the weight with lightweight, natural stylers

Light, natural haircare remedies are the way to go, whatever your wave type. Wavy styles often need lightweight products that add definition without weighing them down. During washing, try scrunching in a small amount of our Rosemary or Jojoba Conditioner to shape and hold your waves. For those with type 2B-C hair, an extra moisture boost might be needed. Layer a small amount of our Shea & Argan Nourishing Hair Mask as an in-shower addition once a week. It’ll keep your hair soft and supple for longer (trust us, once a week is plenty). 

7. Freshen up between washes

To help support your strands between washes, try sprucing up the bounce with a little drop of conditioner and water – it makes the perfect leave-in remedy to keep your hair feeling (and looking) perfect.

Going for a natural origin aroma helps keep your hair fresher for longer. Choose from the likes of Jojoba and Rosemary (especially for finer hair). They’ll help revive definition in your curls and leave your hair smelling naturally amazing. 

8. Our wave-friendly lineup 

Here’s a selection of products that will help keep your hair and scalp happy. Plus, like everything we make, all of our shampoos and conditioners are vegan, cruelty-free and contain no parabens or silicones:

Jojoba Shampoo & Conditioner Set – Made with organic golden jojoba seed oil, known to help restore hair.

Shea & Argan Nourishing Hair Mask – Blends organic argan oil, known to increase shine and reduce kinks, plus organic shea butter, known to be moisturising.

Rosemary Shampoo & Conditioner Set – Known to stimulate the scalp and boost shine.

Enjoyed this? You might like:
Curly Girl Method
How to care for wavy hair
Winter haircare tips