Ride The New Wave #dripready

The moon is full and the high tides have brought a new wave down South. The art of producing wavy hair is on an upwards trend and it’s a trend that's here to stay. Here is my guide to getting #dripready.

The wave hairstyle originates from the USA and is a popular hairstyle choice among African American males. The hairstyle was given the name because of the ripple-like appearance of the person's hair. The ripples are mistakenly assumed to be produced by the trademark 'durag' (a silk bald cap applied to the gent's head) however, the only purpose that the ,durag, has is to keep the hair flat. The real work starts with brushing...

So you want to get waves?

Here are a few steps to get you started on your journey

1. First thing's first, you HAVE to cut your hair as short as possible. This is so you can get to the brushing phase without any difficulty [DDB recommends a low cut fade for the best overall look].

2. Invest in some good brushes. Any brush type will do as long as one has hard bristles and the other soft.

3. Wash your hair! To get waves your hair needs to be as clean and soft as possible, that means regularly washing and conditioning. I recommend using Organics Aloe Vera 2 in 1 & Organics Shea Butter Conditioner. Each has excellent cleaning, moisture and soothing abilities; for those on a student budget it's the best decision you can make for your budget because the brand is extremely easy on the pocket compared to its competitors.

4. It's essential that your hair maintains its moisture. Moisture is important for your hair because it’s the only time that you'll be able to brush it. The solution? Hair food. I rely on Caivil Formula E. Again it's easy on the pocket and its source of vitamin E keeps your hair moisturized throughout the entire day. Styling gel is also an option, try both out and see what works best for your hair.

5. The LeBron James of the team is the final piece to the puzzle, the durag. Black people naturally have curly hair, so it's always all over the place and without any assistance with the previous steps, you won't be able to move to the durag phase. The durag will flatten out your hair and help you to develop your waves quicker. You don't even have to buy one, any silk cloth will do!

Wash and brush routine

Everyone's hair is different therefore this routine is only a guideline. I have really dry hair therefore, it always needs to retain any moisture it can get. I wash my hair five times a week and the process is simple…

• I apply my Organics 2 in 1 shampoo to my scalp.

• I then take my soft bristled brush and brush my hair in the direction I want my wave pattern to form. This allows the waves to form quicker and allows for a deeper clean of the scalp.

• I wash out the shampoo and repeat the process(repeating is optional).

• Next, I apply my Organics Shea Butter conditioner to my scalp and leave it in for about 2 minutes (Save water gents! Turn off the water while you wait for those 2 minutes if you're in the shower).

• Finally I wash out the conditioner and dry my hair with an old t-shirt so that it doesn't lose all the moisture that it would lose with a standard drying towel.

Brushing…

• To get waves you have to put in the time and effort therefore, brushing sessions are key. A session can range from 10 to 20 minutes and there's no way you can avoid it, so fit it into your daily schedule.

• I tend to alternate between hard and soft bristles depending on what it produces, so take some time getting to understand which type of brush suits you.

• When brushing you have to brush in the direction you want your waves to form so the back the sides and the front.

And there you have it! The wave journey is one that requires one thing, PATIENCE. Ever since I began mine I've enjoyed every moment of it and I'm sure you will too.

DDB