360 Waves Background
360 waves are probably the most common type of wave pattern that you will see. The 360 wave pattern involves brushing straight angles away from the crown on all four sides of the head. Top of the head to the front, sides to the front, and back of the head downwards.
360 Waves are a hairstyle for curly hair in which the curls are brushed and/or combed and flattened out, creating a ripple-like pattern. The hairstyle is achieved with a short haircut (at least a 1.5) and frequent brushing and/or combing of the curls (which trains the curls to lay down), and compressing the hair with a durag or wave cap. Wave pomades and moisturizers can help hold the hair in place while preventing the hair from getting too dry. A durag is worn to preserve moisture while compressing the hair, keeping the curls laid down and holding the pattern in place.
Basic tools you’ll need to get 360 waves
- Boar bristle wave brush
- Silky durag
- Hair moisturizer
- EveryWaver App
How to get 360 waves
Now that you know what you need to get waves, it’s time to put them to work! There are a number of daily routines for forming 360 waves, but there’s a few steps that are the same throughout.
Give yourself a fresh start
For starters, wash your hair and make sure it is clean and dry before you put any moisturizer in it. This doesn’t mean shampoo it everyday. In fact, don’t shampoo your hair for 1-2 weeks while the 360 wave pattern sets in. But for those who are COMPLETE beginners, you want to start out with a wash. This gives your hair a chance to stretch out better and just be more natural. Who wants to start a new hair style with dirty hair anyway? We recommend following up your shampoo routine with a good conditioner to lock in moisture. Your hair should not be dry if you’re trying to get waves!
Get it moist
After you have cleaned and conditioned your hair, get it dry. It’s time to put in a moisturizer! Don’t over do it here. A common misconception among beginner wavers is the whole “the more the better” approach. You don’t need much moisturizer at all, only use a quarter size amount of it and work it around your head evenly. Starting from the crown and applying it in the direction of your wave pattern. Once you start brushing, you’ll be spreading a lot more moisture to your hair than you think. One of our personal favorite moisturizers is ORS Olive Oil Incredibly Rich Moisturizing Hair Lotion. It’s cheap and effective, and great for coarse hair. One of the more popular moisturizers is Goat Drip Butter. This stuff is going crazy among Instagram wavers and we hear that it’s the truth!
Put in the brush work
The same way that we apply moisturizer goes for brushing. Start from the crown area of your head and brush all around your head in an even manner, brushing in the direction that your hair is growing in—NEVER brush against the grain. Depending on the length and texture of your hair, you have a few options for the type of brush you’re going to use. Most wave brushes come in three textures; hard, medium and soft. If possible, try to use a hard brush the majority of the time. A hard brush is good for really pulling your hair and laying down those curls that are beneath the surface. That’s where your waves are! Because remember, we are eventually going to cut our hair, so really the most important layer is the hair closer to the scalp.
If your hair isn’t quite long enough to comfortably use a hard brush, you can never go wrong with a medium. Soft brushes are primarily used to just lay down the hairs on top. The EveryWaver brush session is as follows: hard brush 15 minutes, medium brush 10 minutes, soft brush 5 minutes. Your desired brushing time may be different and might vary slightly from our method, but this is a general example brush session for someone who is just starting out their 360 waves. With each of the three brush textures doing their job, your brush session will be in the order of pull and detangle, shape, and polish.
Rag up and log it
After you’ve brushed, tie your hair up with a durag in order to protect your pattern. Repeat this process 2-3 times a day. When you finish a brush session, log it in your EveryWaver app so that you can keep track of your total brushing time. Aim for getting in a total of 30-60 minutes of brushing every day. Consistent brushing is the biggest factor in getting dope 360 waves.
Popular 360 wavers
As the 360 waves hairstyle has gained popularity, there has been a rise of “internet wavers” who have been dedicated to posting 360 waves tutorials through various online platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Among the most popular are 360Jeezy, Sir Cruse, and PbTheGoat. These wavers have been crowned as “Elite Wavers” by the wave community and have greatly contributed to the wave culture and lifestyle.
Use the EveryWaver App to start your wave journey
Knowing how to get 360 waves is only the beginning. Now that you know the basics, you should have a one stop shop for all of your waving needs. That’s where our app comes in. If you are new to the wave game and want more tips, tools and guidance to get you going, the EveryWaver app is a MUST HAVE. It’s just as important as having a good quality brush or durag. Our free to use mobile app is a complete package, featuring not only tools, tips and videos to help you get started, but an entire community of wavers who are there to support you along the way! DOWNLOAD NOW FROM THE APP STORE OR GOOGLE PLAY!
