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The 360 waves hairstyle is a unique look associated with the rapper Nelly. It involves creating curly hair which can be brushed, combed, and flattened out to a ripple-like pattern.
The process sounds straightforward, but it can take up to several weeks, depending on your hair texture.
Men with coarse hair textures take even longer. Understanding the procedure and a little patience goes a long way in getting the perfect 360 waves.
Step-by-step guide on how to get waves
Step 1. Prepare your hair
Short hair and a healthy scalp are prerequisites to getting the best waves. If you have a dry scalp or dandruff, buy products to address the problem.
Many over-the-counter shampoos help eliminate such problems. Also, if your hair is dry and damaged, repair it to get the perfect canvas for your waves.
As for the haircut, ask the barber to give you a close cut. It should be short enough to see the scalp. Three types of cuts should get the style started:
The traditional ‘Caesar cut
The razor style cut
The hair cut with a ⅓-inch guard
Step 2. Stock up supplies
Once you get the waves, you need to tend your hair daily hence the need to stock up with the right grooming supplies. Here are the most essential:
Wave shampoo and conditioner: The products enhance softness, making it easy to train your hair
A hand brush: This kind doesn’t have a handle and is designed to brush long hair
Pomade: It keeps your waves in place
Hair lotion: It adds moisture to hair
Step 3. Brush the hair
It’s an essential part of the entire process because it trains the hair to create the wave pattern. The trick to the perfect wave is to start brushing when the hair is still wet.
Start from the crown of the head, brushing the hair downwards and outwards.
As for the hair at the top of the head, brush it towards the forehead
Then brush the hair on the sides forward and downward
Be sure to work the hair in sections to avoid missing out on any part of the head. If done correctly, the entire process shouldn’t take up more than 15 minutes.
Step 4. Moisturize
This is one step many guys get wrong. Old schoolers swear by pomades citing they are the best for moisturizing waves. The truth is pomades contain heavy petroleum known to block pores and cause a stagnation in growth.
As such, you want to find a natural moisturizer that feeds and nourishes your scalp. Products that contain essential oils and shea butter like the Shea Moisture Three Butters Styling Pomade make an excellent moisturizer.
The premise for moisturizing is to reduce the damage to your hair follicles caused by brushing. You don’t want to overdo it either; apply the product once, twice, or thrice a week to keep the hair hydrated.
Step 5. Wear a durag
It’s the most critical step of the process as it seals in the moisture and protects the waves from external elements.
The thumb rule states you should wear the durag for at least 30 minutes after brushing and when sleeping.
As for the fabric, a satin durag is better because it causes less breakage if wearing it for more than six hours a day.
Step 6. Maintaining the waves
Waves require lots of upkeep, and if you don’t want your efforts to go to waste, these tips should come in handy:
Keep Brushing: Follow your brushing routine (3-5 times a day) religiously to keep the waves in top shape. If you haven’t achieved the ideal look the first time, it doesn’t mean you should stop brushing
Rinse the hair with warm water: Since the waves have already taken shape, you don’t need to wash the hair. Instead, rinse it with warm water to keep the hair more pliable. If you have to wash your hair, do it once a week using a wave shampoo and conditioner
Visit your barber: Haircuts are still an essential part of developing waves. Visit your barber every 2-4 weeks, depending on the length of hair you want
Hydrate: Apart from moisturizing, taking enough water keeps your hair hydrated. It’s difficult for dry hair to form waves
And that’s how to get the famous 360 waves. This classic black hairstyle requires lots of time and commitment but worth it once you achieve the desired results.
