Black Men: How to Grow Waves in Your Hair

Growing waves out in your hair is a rite-of-passage between adolescence and adulthood for Black men. There is indeed, a method to the madness, behind the cans of pomade, scratched up brushes, and funny-looking doo rags. The goal is to train the hair-transitioning your mug from the unkempt entanglement of naps, and into the familiar wave patterns of legends, such as rapper Ma$e and current Hawks guard Joe Johnson.

Let's be real. You will achieve a higher level of respect with the proper grooming. Onlookers will see you as a man that is in demand, and in control. Success breeds success, and your confidence to approach the ladies and close business deals should improve with the extra attention that your waves command.

Of course, looking good is hard work.

Yes, anything is possible. Some of us must toil harder than others for the waves to come in-but you must always believe, brother. Believe that you can grow your waves out just as well as the next man-through hard work and dedication. Remember, you must train your hair to lay down flat, as if you were training your stomach muscles to showcase six-pack abs.

Wave preparation begins and ends with a fresh haircut and the right supplies.

You Will Need:

Haircut

Shampoo

Conditioner

Hot, Damp Towel

Hair Pomade (Sportin' Waves, Pink Oil Lotion, or 360 Waves)

Boar Hand Hair Brush

Doo Rag, Skull, or Stocking Cap

Black Men, Growing Waves in Your Hair: Tell Your Barber

Take a trip to the shop and inform your trusted barber of your plan to grow waves. The barber should cut your hair down to the point where it is brushable, yet long enough for your wave pattern to develop. Tell your barber to keep your hair "dark" and even all over-paying special attention to edging up your hairline sharply. Consider fading your hairline at the back of your neck to add even more style to your look. A good barber will critique your wave pattern as you make the transition into a Made Man. Honor his advice and tip him well.

Black Men, Growing Waves in Your Hair: Preparation

360-degree wave patterns require that your hair is clean and moisturized. Rookies should shampoo and condition weekly, as part of their grooming routine. Suave makes cheap, yet effective, shampoos and conditioners for value conscious brothers. Conditioning is critical to your wave pattern, and you should allow the conditioner to sit in your hair for a few minutes, for best results. Afterwards, take care to pat dry your hair with a towel. Pat dry your hair, so that you do not ruin any emerging wave patterns-by thrashing some lint-ball towel throughout your scalp. Hair follicles should now be clean, moisturized, and well above room temperature. These are perfect conditions to apply the preferred hair pomade. (In between shampooing sessions, you will take a hot and damp cloth to your scalp to achieve a similar effect).

Sportin' Waves by Soft Sheen Carson, is sold in a sleek Black and Old Gold canister, goes on smooth, and smells pleasantly masculine. Rub one silver dollar-sized amount of the pomade onto your hands, before working the product into your scalp. Apply the pomade in a familiar pattern that will emerge as your trademark brushing technique. You will smooth the pomade down by moving your hands forward over the top of your head, and directly down behind the back of your head. For the sides, massage the hair pomade into your hair follicles at a near 45 degree angle from the crown of your head, forward and down, towards both temples.

Black Men, Growing Waves in Your Hair: Brushing and Maintenance

Brushing your hair is the most critical element of your wave creating regimen. You will brush your hair in the morning. You will brush your hair at night. You will brush your hair in traffic. You will brush your hair while firing up Madden. You will brush your hair at the beach. You will brush your hair while pretending to listen to your girlfriend's non-stop chatter. In summary, you must brush your hair whenever spare time is available. Brushing actually trains hair to curl and wave up at regular patterns around your scalp. Be advised that you may need at least two months of non-stop brushing, alongside the proper hair care regimen, for your waves to emerge.

Wave Builder recommends the use of hand brushes that are composed of 50% boar bristles. Hand brushes allow for better pressure and directional control over your motion. Again, you will brush the top of your hair forward, and the back of your hair down towards the base of your neck. Brush the sides of your head down and forward at a 45-degree angle. Rookies are best served using two mirrors to monitor their brush strokes from all angles.

At night, and at various points during the day, you will wear headgear to lock in your hair's moisture. Stockings and skull caps are especially important at night--so that pillow tossing and turning does not destroy your wave pattern. Be sure to rock your doo rag every night.

Unleash your inner wolf, prior to your next trip to the barbershop. Wolfing calls for you to grow your hair out, while still following through with your regular wave regimen. Beginners should wolf for two to four weeks in between full hair cuts to develop fierce waves. Prettyboys may compromise by simply getting lined, or shaped-up, each week while wolfing. Now, I can see your waves coming in, already...

Black Men, Growing Waves in Your Hair: Tips

Remember to maximize the aura of your new look. Workout regularly, and hook your wardrobe up to complement those waves. Stay on point, brother.

Black Men, Growing Waves in Your Hair, Sources:

Soft Sheen Carson, Sportin' Waves, http://www.softsheen-carson.com/_us/_en/products/mensgrooming/sportinwaves.aspx

Wave Builder, Training Guide, http://www.wavebuilder.com/guide.html

Hairfinder, How to get 360 Waves, http://www.hairfinder.com/info/360waves.htm

360 Waves Forum, http://www.360waves.net/forums/