How Does a Wave Cap Work?
Wave caps lock in the natural wave patterns in short hair. As short hair styles may limit the ways hair can be worn, wave caps are useful for those who want to make a change in their style. However, several steps should be closely followed for best results. Does this Spark an idea?
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Overview
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A wave cap is generally used by black men who have naturally curly hair but who want to tone it down and give it extra style by producing waves. They are generally made of a breathable material such as nylon or lycra. For best results, a wave cap user’s hair is ideally cut to measure 1 inch or less. It may take weeks or months of use of the wave cap before the desired effect is achieved.
Hair Brushing
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Hair brushing is the most important step before applying the wave cap. According to WaveBuilder, a manufacturer of wave caps, hair should be combed in the direction of the natural waves found in the hair. In general, the hair on the top of the head is combed forward, the back is combed downward and the sides are combed both toward the front and the back of the head to blend all the angles together. At least 50 hair brush strokes are recommended for each section of the hair per brushing section. Schedule a minimum of five brushing session per day, with the most important one being at night.
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Hair Products
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To lock in the waves produced through brushing, the right hair product will make the wave cap extra effective. As opposed to gel or hair spray, pomade is good product choice because it holds and enhances the waves without drying out the hair. Using pomade also helps protect the hair from breaking during the intensive brushing regiment recommended for wave cap use.
Apply Wave Cap
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After brushing and applying the pomade before going to bed, put the wave cap on. When placing the wave cap on top of the head, be sure not to alter the wave patterns you’ve established through brushing. Leave the cap on all night. As it is light weight and flexible, the wave cap is very comfortable to sleep in. Wearing the wave cap at night sets the waves even further into place. In the morning, take off the cap and brush the hair in its wave pattern. Apply more pomade if necessary.
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References
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