Tips and tricks for your best 2b waves yet.

If your hair is straight at the roots and slightly wavy, chances are you have 2b hair. This curly wavy hair type can be challenging to identify since it falls into the middle of the wavy hair category. And the truth is, your loosely-shaped waves have specific needs that other curly wavy hair types don’t.

The good news is, we’ve got everything you need to know about 2b hair including what 2b hair is, how to know if you have it, how to build a wavy hair routine around the 2b hair type and a few tips on styling your wavy hair. Keep reading to learn more.

What Is 2b Hair and How Do You Know If You Have It?

People with 2b hair fall into the wavy hair category. In most cases, 2b hair is straight at the root and loosely wavy from the mid-shaft to the ends. Since 2b hair is wavy and not curly, you won’t see any corkscrew or spiral textures within your hair. Instead, you’ll have a loose or elongated S-shape wave from the middle part of your strands to the ends, with the ends having a more defined texture.
Type 2b hair, like all wavy and curly hair types, is prone to frizz. For this hair type, frizz is most likely to develop at the crown of the hair. This is especially true when humidity is present. Type 2b hair might appear frizzy, poofy or even unruly when it’s exposed to humid conditions.

What’s the Difference Between Curls and Waves?

Understanding whether your hair is curly or wavy can be challenging, especially because most people have more than one hair type within their mane. While this may not be a universal rule, there are a few factors that can help you determine what hair type you fall into.

The most basic difference is that waves tend to be S-shaped and curls tend to have more of a spring or spiral shape that makes a complete circle around. There are some curly hair types that are S-shaped, like hair types 3a and 3b, but the S-shape is tighter and springier than a type-2 wave.

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How to Build a Hair Routine for 2b Hair

Thankfully, type 2b hair is fairly easy to manage even though it can get tangled, frizzy and dry. Here are a few tips to take care of the 2b hair type.

Use a gentle shampoo

Since the roots of 2b hair tend to lay flat, they are more prone to greasiness than the rest of the hair shaft. Routinely washing and cleansing type 2b hair is important, but choosing the right formula will help to avoid dry, stiff strands. The Black Vanilla Moisture and Shine Sulfate-Free Shampoo helps to soften dry, brittle hair and it boosts moisture levels in the hair without stripping the hair of its necessary natural oils.

Don’t skip conditioner

All wavy curly hair types need conditioner. Don’t worry about this step adding greasiness to your naturally straight roots. Consider it a treatment for your hair to help to soften, hydrate and protect hair from daily environmental stressors and styling manipulation. When rinsing out your conditioner, focus on massaging the roots to avoid any product buildup on the scalp.

Scrunch and flip for more definition and volume

Most type 2b hair can use a boost in volume and definition to keep your soft waves from falling flat. To liven up limp strands, flip your hair over when applying product and scrunch the roots for major definition. Our favorite scrunching product for 2b wavy hair is the Coco Creme Curl Shaping Cream Gel. This soft-hold gel keeps waves in place all day without getting stiff or crunchy. And it’s perfect for keeping humidity-induced frizz at bay.

Apply product from the mid-shaft to ends

No one wants greasy roots, so if your 2b roots are prone to looking oily, focus your styling product from the mid-shaft to ends and use the remaining product left on your roots to avoid frizz at the crown. Applying product to the part of the hair that is wavy will help your waves stay plump and hydrated after styling.

Avoid brushing when possible

While there’s nothing wrong with brushing 2b hair, you might find that skipping this step gives you a more defined wavy texture. Since 2b hair can get tangled, you’ll want to aim to detangle your wavy hair when it is wet and with the use of a slippery conditioner to avoid damaging the hair. If you prefer using a tool over finger detangling, opt for a wide-tooth comb. But if you can, try gently detangling with your fingers. This will cause the least amount of manipulation to your wavy curly hair and allow your waves to be more defined and bouncy.

How to Style 2b Hair?

The possibilities are endless when it comes to styling 2b hair. Here are a few of our favorite styles for this wavy hair type.

Wash and Go

You can’t go wrong with a wash and go style. If you’re letting your waves flow naturally, don’t forget to scrunch, scrunch, scrunch. The few extra minutes it takes to scrunch your strands is well worth it when your waves are plump and defined all-day long.

Experiment with Braids

Type 2b hair lends itself to a variety of braided hairstyles. From Dutch braids to cornrows to bubble braids, the options are endless.

Add layers for volume

If your 2b hair type tends to fall limp and flat, visit a professional and get some layers. Layered hair adds definition and texture to hair while giving it a desirable shape. If you choose layers, be sure to moisturize your ends. The Black Vanilla Moisture and Shine Pure Hair Oil is light enough for fine, wavy hair and adds a natural sheen to the hair.

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