Looking after wavy hair, a ramble

[BadPoet]

I have a natural wave in my hair and I have never really made the most of it. It's generally blow dried or straightened. Left to dry naturally it forms quite nice waves but looks completely undone and unbrushed, too messy for anything other than casual/at home.

It's currently shoulder length, with some layers and I'm growing it.

ANY styling product in it makes it look/feel greasy. I've used curl cremes, salt sprays, mousse, gels, varying amounts - my hair is v easily weighed down and gets greasy quickly. I can use a light serum or Moroccan oil, that's it as far as products go.

I've googled a bit, looked at curly girl method, come across some frankly terrifying forums that are specifically for hair (I don't have the commitment) and this is what I think I should be doing to maximise the waves.

Washing/conditioning at night, combing with fingers or wide comb, blotting dry and putting up in bun (maybe two side buns as hair not that long yet?) and sleeping with it in. I usually shower every morning, how do I do this and not have greasy hair/feel yucky? Won't my hair just be mad and I'll have to dry or straighten it into submission?

Any tips welcome!

After you wash it, try separating it into 2 inch segments and twisting each segment all the way down and leaving it to dry like that. When it's dry comb it through with your fingers. You can try doing this without products first and see how that works out. Or just a tiny bit of gel or styling cream (literally a tiny bit rubbed into your palms), applied when wet, to smooth it a little.

Thanks Havingkittens, I'll try that! I suppose it's just trial and error really.

Sounds like you have the same hair type as me. Wavy but cursed with fluffy frizz if nothing 'sone' to it.

The method you mention in OP would work I think. You would get a smoothish crown and then the lower part (which was in bun) would be madly wavy, but as it was compressed, hopefully without frizz.

However, I would be careful with two buns to either side, as if you hair as a natural 'kink' it's likely to stay parted at the back when dry and just wave in opposite directions (mine would anyway )

The Babylis 'Big Hair' curler/dryer has changed my life works well for me, as it smoothes as it curls, so I get all the benefits of having a natural wave, but none of the fuzz.

PS ref your concerns about showering / having greasy hair - just leave hair in bun while you shower, it should be fine.