On this page
Waves are the easiest pattern to lose. Brush them dry, load them with heavy product or skip the styler, and they turn straight or into frizz. Most people with type 2 hair spent years thinking they had straight, frizzy hair.
Short version: 2A is a loose bend from mid-length, 2B a clear S from about ear level, 2C deep waves from the root with a few ringlets. All three want light products, a styler on soaking wet hair, and no brushing once dry.
| 2A | 2B | 2C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where the wave starts | Mid-length down | Around ear level | Near the roots |
| Shape | Loose, stretched S | Defined S | Deep S, some ringlets |
| Strands | Fine | Fine to medium | Medium to coarse |
| Usual complaint | Goes straight under weight | Gone by day two, frizz on top | Frizz and volume |
| Styler | Foam or light mousse | Gel, light leave-in | Cream under strong gel |
The quickest way to check: wash, condition, put nothing else in, and let your hair air-dry without touching it. If an S-shape shows up anywhere, you have waves.
2A hair
Loose, stretched S-waves, usually from mid-length down. Fine strands, flat at the roots. A brush or a heavy conditioner removes the wave completely.
How to tell it is 2A
Your hair dries mostly straight at the top and bends loosely below the chin. Scrunch it wet with a little foam and the bend gets clearer; brush it and it goes straight. If you have always thought of your hair as straight but frizzy at the ends, check for 2A before anything else.
Why it goes flat
Weight. Fine 2A strands can't hold a wave under a rich conditioner, a cream leave-in or oil near the roots. The products that help curly hair pull a loose wave straight.
A 2A routine
Shampoo as often as your scalp needs. Put a light conditioner on the lengths only and rinse it out well. While the hair is still dripping, scrunch in a small amount of foam, then press out the water with a cotton t-shirt. Air-dry or diffuse on low and leave it alone until it is fully dry. Many 2A heads need no leave-in at all, and if the waves still drop by afternoon, the answer is less product, not more.
- The Doux Mousse Def Texture FoamFlexible hold without crunch or flakes, for curls, coils and textured styles.
- Bounce Curl Light Hold Creme GelLight hold for waves and loose curls that a hard gel weighs down.
- SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing SmoothieCurl cream with coconut oil and silk protein, sold to soften dry curls and cut frizz.
A volume conditioner on the ends keeps the roots light.
- Pantene Pro-V Sheer Volume ConditionerPantene's volume line. Keep it on the mid-lengths and ends.
2B hair
Defined S-waves that start around ear level, flatter at the crown, with frizz on top. The most common complaint is waves that look good on day one and are gone by day two.
Spotting 2B
The S is obvious from about ear level down and keeps its shape on its own. The crown stays flatter, with a halo of frizz on top. 2B rarely makes a full loop; if you find a few ringlets underneath, look at 2C.
Why it is gone by day two
The wave is there, but nothing holds it. Sleeping on cotton, touching it while it is damp, or skipping the styler lets the clumps split into frizz. Humidity makes it worse, because the hair swells and loses its shape.
A 2B routine
After conditioning, leave the hair soaking wet. Smooth a lightweight leave-in through the lengths, then a gel over it, and scrunch upward toward the scalp. If the crown dries flat, clip it up at the root while it dries. Let the gel set into a firm cast, by air or with a diffuser, then scrunch it out with a few drops of light oil on your hands. On day two, mist with water and scrunch again instead of starting over.
The oil step is small but it matters: it breaks the cast without pulling the waves apart.
- Carol's Daughter Hair Milk Original Leave-InLotion-weight leave-in for curls, coils and waves.
- Design Essentials Almond & Avocado Leave-InLightweight leave-in listed for all curl types.
- Pattern Hydrating Mist & Leave-In Conditioner setA mist to rewet plus a leave-in. Light coconut scent, no flaking according to the brand.
- Leven Rose Jojoba OilPure cold-pressed, unrefined jojoba. A few drops on the ends.
- Seven Minerals Aloe Vera GelPlain organic aloe gel, made from fresh leaves rather than powder.
2C hair
Deep waves starting near the roots, with some loose ringlets mixed in. Thicker strands, more frizz, more volume. 2C often behaves like 3A and takes the same care.
How to tell it is 2C
The wave starts close to the scalp, the strands are thicker, and some sections form real ringlets you could slide a finger through. Volume is high and so is frizz. Plenty of people with 2C hair call it curly, and it often behaves that way.
Where the frizz comes from
Thicker, more textured strands lose water faster at the ends, and a dry wave frizzes. A light routine built for 2A leaves 2C under-moisturized and puffy.
Caring for 2C day to day
Wash less often than straighter types and condition generously, detangling with the conditioner in. On wet hair, a cream leave-in goes on first, then a strong-hold gel over it. Diffuse on low heat or air-dry, then scrunch out the cast. Waves that feel dry by midweek usually want an occasional deep conditioner more than extra styler.
If the ringlets outnumber the waves, read the 3A section; its routine may fit better.
- Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Gel and Cream setA gel and a defining cream together. Flexible-firm hold, no flakes.
- Taliah Waajid Curly Curl CreamDefining cream for curls, waves and coils, sold as leaving no sticky buildup.
A routine for all three
- Shampoo the scalp when it feels oily. Wavy hair usually needs it more often than curly hair, because oil still travels down a loose wave fairly easily.
- Condition and detangle with your fingers or a wide-tooth comb while the conditioner is in. Don't brush dry waves; the AAD notes that brushing dry curly hair breaks it and makes it frizz.
- Style on wet hair. Mousse for 2A, gel for 2B and 2C. Apply it before towel-drying, then scrunch out excess water with a t-shirt or microfiber towel.
- Hands off while it dries. Touching damp waves breaks up the clumps and starts frizz.
- Scrunch out the cast once it is completely dry.
When waves go flat
Flat, limp waves usually mean too much product or buildup, especially from silicones or oils that a gentle shampoo doesn't remove. Wash once with a clarifying shampoo and use less of everything the following week. If your hair absorbs water slowly and products sit on top, you may have low porosity hair, which builds up faster.
Wavy vs curly hair
The line sits between 2C and 3A. Wavy hair bends in an S that stays fairly flat against the head. Curly hair forms full loops you could slide a finger through. A 2C head often has a few of those loops, which is why 2C usually does well on curly hair routines, while 2A gets weighed down by them.
What to buy for wavy hair
Stylers for each wave type are listed above. These cover the other jobs: keeping waves light and fixing the flat days. Each pick is described from its own Amazon listing.
A clarifying wash
For the week waves go limp. Once, then back to a gentle shampoo.
- Design Essentials Oat Protein & Henna Deep Cleansing ShampooRemoves product buildup. The label covers relaxed, natural and color-treated hair.
- dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair RinseA rinse rather than a shampoo, used between washes to clear residue without stripping.
A light leave-in
Spray or airy cream on wet hair, under the styler. 2A can often skip it.
- Briogeo Farewell Frizz Rosarco Milk Leave-In SprayA lightweight milky spray that detangles and softens without weighing hair down.
- It's a 10 Miracle Leave-InDetangling spray that doubles as a thermal protector.
- Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry CreamThe listing says it is best for fine to medium textures.
Something to sleep on
Satin causes less friction than cotton, so day-two waves keep more of their shape.
- Kitsch Satin Pillowcase with ZipperSatin causes less friction than cotton. The zipper keeps it from sliding off.
Questions people ask about wavy hair
Is 2B hair considered curly?
No, 2B is wavy. It forms a clear S but rarely a full ringlet. It is often mistaken for curly because it frizzes and has volume. 2C is the wave type that sits closest to curly.
What is the difference between 2A and 2B hair?
Where the wave starts and how much it holds. 2A bends loosely from mid-length and goes straight under any weight. 2B makes a defined S from around ear level and keeps it with a gel, but tends to be flat at the crown.
How often should you wash wavy hair?
When your scalp feels oily. Waves let scalp oil travel down more easily than curls do, so wavy hair usually needs washing more often than curly hair. Between washes, wetting and scrunching in a little styler refreshes the shape.
Do the same wave types apply to men?
Yes. Men's wavy hair is the same 2A, 2B and 2C, but short cuts often hide it. Leaving more length on top, skipping the brush and scrunching a little cream or foam into wet hair is usually enough to bring the wave out.
Can wavy hair become curly?
Your pattern comes from the shape of the follicle, so care won't turn 2A into 3B. What good care does is stop hiding the pattern you have. Many people who drop brushing and heavy products find their waves are tighter than they thought.
Not sure whether you are 2B or 2C, or whether your porosity matters more than your pattern? The quiz sorts that out in twelve questions.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, Tips for healthy hair and 6 curly hair care tips from dermatologists. Pattern descriptions: hair type chart.