Get Wavy Hair Without Products

Get wavy hair without using styling products.

People with straight hair often wish for wavy hair, which is easy to do by wet-setting your hair. Wet setting is when you shape your hair as it dries, which means styling products are not necessary. There are various ways to wet set for wavy hair. Rag rolling produces soft, natural-looking waves. Braiding will give you kinkier waves. Pin curling creates retro curls in short hair, but when used on long hair it will create long waves. These processes are normally done overnight so your hair can dry into waves as you sleep.

Instructions

Rag Rolling

1. Cut the fabric into strips about 1 inch wide and 1.5 feet long. The number of strips you will need depends on how thick your hair is and how tight you want your waves--the more strips you use, the tighter your waves will be. Most people will need about 10 strips for soft waves.

2. Begin with damp hair. Comb your hair to remove any tangles and part your hair how you want it to be when your hair is wavy (usually your natural part).

3. Separate a lock of hair and comb through to ensure that there are no tangles. The size of the lock will determine the size of the waves. For soft waves, use a 2-inch lock (use a smaller lock for tighter waves or a larger one for softer waves). Press one fabric strip in the middle (lengthwise) against either side of the bottom of the lock of hair.

4. Roll the fabric with the hair (similar to how you roll a hot roller with your hair). Roll the hair tight enough that the hair can stay rolled on its own after a few inches, but not so tight that it pulls on your roots. The fabric will collapse as you roll. When you have rolled the fabric to the roots, tie the fabric in place with a knot.

5. Continue this process until you have rolled all of your hair.

6. Keep your hair in the rag rollers overnight, or until your hair is dry. When your hair is dry, untie the knots and unroll your hair.

Braiding

7. Begin with damp hair. Comb your hair to remove any tangles and part your hair how you want it to be when your hair is wavy (usually your natural part).

8. Separate a lock of hair and comb through to ensure that there are no tangles. The size of the lock will determine the size of the waves. For soft waves, use a 2-inch lock. You can use a smaller lock for tighter waves or a larger one for softer waves, but do not choose a lock so large that it will be difficult to braid.

9. Separate the lock into three sections. Begin at the root of the lock and braid it down until you cannot make a braid any more. If your hair is layered, you may have to stop an inch or two above the total bottom of the lock. Fasten the braid with an elastic.

10. Keep your hair in these braids overnight, or until your hair is dry. When your hair is dry, undo the braids.

Pin Curling

11. Begin with damp hair. Comb your hair to remove any tangles and part your hair how you want it to be when your hair is wavy (usually your natural part).

12. Separate a lock of hair and comb through to ensure that there are no tangles. The size of the lock will determine the size of the waves. For soft, medium-size curls, use a 1 inch lock (use a smaller lock for tighter waves or a larger one for softer waves).

13. Wind the bottom of the lock once or twice around your index finger to form a circle. Be sure not to twist the hair as you wind it. Use your thumb and index finger to pin the circle in place. Carefully slip your index finger out of the circle while still holding the circle in place with your thumb and index finger.

14. Wind the curl up the rest of the way to your roots. Place the curl flat against your head, and pin it in place with a pin curl clip. You may need a second clip to fully secure the curl. If you do, create an X with the two clips to keep the curl in place.

15. Keep your hair in these curls overnight, or until your hair is dry. When your hair is dry, undo the curls.

Tags: your hair, index finger, lock hair, Separate lock, Begin with