Waves for Curly African Hair

Young woman with African hair — Photo: Mimagephotography/Shutterstock

Q: I have soft, curly African hair. How can I get waves in my hair?

A: One of the best ways to get wave in the hair comes from using one of the oldest known styling techniques. The technique is called finger-waving.

The hair is styled while damp, and is plied using a strong hold styling gel. Using the fingers and a styling comb, the hair is carefully arranged into a series of ridges and curves along the scalp. Once the hair as been styled into the waves as desired, the hair is dried.

The dried waves can then be broken up and softened into a style consisting of gentle waves. If you want more specific instruction on styling the hair with finger-waving, check out our article on styling without appliances.

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See also:

Are waves softer than a perm?

A Guide to permanent waves

The special needs of African-American hair