Waves 101: How to Get 360 Waves — Complete Guide

7 min readMar 24, 2021

What Are Waves

In simple terms, 360 waves (or 180 waves, or 720 waves) are laid down curls. This pattern of hair is most commonly seen among Black men and dates back as far as the beginning of the civilization amongst Egyptians.

Waves can be achieved by constant brushing of short hair. Over time, this constant treatment of short hair, forms curls and ripples on the head, creating the illusion of waves; just as you would see in the ocean.

They come in various forms based on how the wave patterns are formed on the head. For examples, waves that form only on top of the head are classified as 180 waves. Waves that form all around the head are classified as 360 waves. And finally waves that form vertically around the hair are classified as 720 waves.

No matter, your pattern waves have always been known as a classic look for black men. Not only does it make your hair look neat, but it also makes your hair the topic of discussion in any setting.

If you are interested in getting starting your wave journey or taking your waves to a whole new level, look no further. This article will breakdown everything you need to know about getting wave patterns and more!

What You Need to Get Waves

Before you can start your wave journey, there are a few things you need to pick up from your local health and beauty store.

Every wave journey will take time and consistency. The items I mention below will help speed up the 360 wave process.

Here are the most essential things you need to start your wave journey:

Brush (you need both a soft and medium bristle brush)
Pomade (get one that is thick like the sportin’ wave one)
Durag (any durag is fine)
Shampoo (any shampoo will do)
Conditioner (any conditioner will do)
A Haircut (you need to get a level 1 haircut)

How To Get Waves for Beginners

Getting waves is not as hard as most people think. With patience and consistency, most people who follow a strict guide, start to see waves in as little as 1 month. We breakdown how to get waves in general. We will also teach how to get waves in different forms, including 180, 360 and 720 waves.

Step 1: Get A Wave length Haircut

Before starting any wave journey, you need a haircut. Your haircut will depend on where you are on your wave journey. If you are just starting out your wave journey, your need to start fresh with a low haircut. If you have been waving for a while, your initial haircut for these waves does not need to be too low.

There are a few haircuts you can get for waves. Here are some haircut ideas for waves:

Level 1.5 or 2 top hair with an all around bald fade (go with level 2 if you have been waving for a while)
All around level 1.5 or 2 haircut
All around level 1.5 or 2 haircut with side and back taper
Level 1.5 or 2 haircut with moulette at the back

Step 2: Shampoo and Condition Your Hair

Your hair will become dry and you will need to shampoo and condition the hair to keep in the moisture. Use natural shampoos and conditioners when you shampoo and condition the hair. This will keep the hair looking healthy and moisturized.

Apply the shampoo in the shower as instructed on the shampoo bottle. However, for waves, make sure to brush the hair in the shower after the shampoo is applied to the hair.

During shampooing, make sure to start brushing your hair in the shower. You should make it a habit to brush your hair every time you are in the shower or when the hair is wet.

How often should you shampoo your hair for waves?

You should not shampoo the hair everyday. In fact some people choose to opt out of shampoo because over shampooing, dries the hair and removes essential oils from it. Instead of shampooing the hair everyday, some shampooing everyday, opt to shampoo a maximum of twice per week. Always accompany your shampoo with a conditioner to restore the oils lost in the shower.

Some wavers skip the shampooing session and only use conditioners as a way to keep their hair moisturized. With this method, you can wash the hair everyday.

Step 3: Apply Your Favorite Pomade

Now that your hair is shampooed, it is now time to apply your pomade of choice. The job of the pomade is the keep the hair moisturized and sleek enough to brush. It also helps in laying the hair down which is ideal for creating the wave pattern.

Apply a dime sized amount of pomade to the hair and massage it throughout the hair. After this, use the palms of your hand to go over the hair in the same direction as you would brush it.

Step 4: Start Brushing

After (and during your shampoo session), you want to immediately start brushing your hair.

What brush should you use for waves? When you first get your haircut, you should use a soft brush. As the hair grows, you want to start using the medium bristle brush.

How do you brush your hair to get waves? Since you want the waves to form only on the top of your hair, you want to brush only the top of your hair. Take your time to brush your hair only in the direction it grow. Start from the crown at the back of your hair and brush the hair forward towards your forehead, sides and back. Repeat for approximately 5–15 minutes.

This will require a lot of commitment because it is the single most important thing you need to get waves. Brush in the shower, when you are at home, when watching t.v., when using the bathroom, and everywhere else. Take your brush with you to school or even work. Brush, brush and brush some more.

You need to brush as often as possible to form the wave pattern on your head.

Things to avoid when brushing waves:

Never brush dry hair
Never brush against the grain of the hair
Always use premium brushes

Step 5: Wear a Durag

After you have finished your brush session, you need to wear a durag. A durag is a silk material that helps to keep your hair pressed and down. You want the durag tight enough on the head to press it down but not too tight to give you a headache.

Here is how to tie a durag:

Place the durag on your head and line the center seam of the durag with the centre of your head. Make sure the front edge of the durage sites between your eyebrows and hairline.
Wrap the ties of the durage behind the head. Take each tie in one hand and cross them over each other at the back of the head. Make sure to keep the ties flat and not rolled. The ties should lay in the crevis between your ear and head
From the back, bring the crossed ties to the front of the head, making sure to keep the ties as flat as possible. Cross them over each other on the front edge of the durag. After crossing them, bring the ties toward the back of the head
At the back of the head, tie a knot with the ties. Be sure not to make it to too tight or you will get a head.
Pull the flap at the back of the durag down to ensure that the durag is pressed firmly on the head

How often should you wear a durag? You should wear the durag everyday, right after your brushing session and when you sleep. After your brushing sessions, you should be wearing the durag for at least an hour.

Is it safe to wear a durag all day? Yes, as long as it is not to tight on your head or gives you a headache. If you experience any headaches from wearing a durag, you should immediately stop wearing it and let your head rest.

After wearing a durag, you can wash the hair with water, brush while washing, apply a conditioner or pomade, brush again, then reapply the durag. Repeat this everyday.