How to Get Perfect Waves and Curls Without Heat Tools

Reading Time: 5 minutes

While I love beauty and fashion, I am not one to spend a lot of time on my outfits, makeup, or hair. My style and beauty routine all revolves around my lifestyle so I am always trying to find that balance of personal flare and practicality. While it can be a challenge to find that balance with my makeup and outfits, it never is with my hair.

One thing I’ve been doing with my hair over the last few year is styling my hair while I sleep. Rather than spend 10 minutes (or even 2) on my hair in the morning, I’d rather style it while I snooze so that I can get up and pretty much go. So, wondering what I do to ensure I wave up with smooth wavy hair? Scroll on through!

How to Get Perfect Waves and Curls Without Heat Tools

You can get great wavy hair without using any heat tools, I swear. All it takes is a little care, time, and a few great products and you’ll find that you never need to use a straightener, curling iron, or blow drier ever again.

Before we get into how we actually get styled looking hair without heat, let’s first touch on the best products to achieve softer, smoother, and more manageable hair.

Products to Achieve Silky Smooth Waves

Cleansing Conditioner

For the last few years, I’ve used cleansing conditioners on my hair (this substitutes the shampoo + conditioning process) and they have really helped keep my hair feeling healthy. I typically use Macadamia Natural Oil’s Cleansing Conditioner, though right now I am using the IGK Smoke & Mirrors Conditioning Cleansing Oil and I really like both of these products.

Many people try Cleansing Conditioners and then toss them immediately because they feel that their hair is left feeling gritty, but the reason for this is because you really need to massage and work the product into your hair before rinsing it out. Otherwise, you’re just applying it to your hair like a conditioner and letting it sit there. So, if you’re about to give up on your cleansing conditioner – don’t – just try massaging it in more thoroughly in order to really clean your hair.

The reason I love cleansing conditioners so much is because they do not strip or damage your hair like shampoos do. They simply cleanse away oils and dirt in your hair, without taking away the healthy oils that keep your hair feel smooth and healthy.

Clarifying Shampoo

After a week or two of using a Cleansing Conditioner, oils in your hair do build up and you need to use something to clean those away. Every 1-2 weeks, I use my Neutrogena anti-residue shampoo to get my hair  super fresh and clean feeling. This is a very drying shampoo which is why I only use it every few weeks.

Deep Conditioning Treatments

I deep condition my hair once weekly. I used to deep condition it only 1-2 times monthly, but the longer it gets the more it needs some TLC. The conditioners I have been using lately are Macadamia Natural Oils Deep Repair Masque, and my DIY Mint Oil Treatment.

Leave-In Conditioner

After washing my hair, I always follow up with a Leave-in Conditioner. I just invested in the It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-in Product, and I like it quite a bit. I can’t yet say if it’s going to be my “go to” leave-in product, but so far I am liking it and have found it makes my hair feel softer, look smoother, and reduces tangles.

Leave-in conditioners are a essential part of my hair care routine. When I let my hair air dry without a leave-in conditioner, my hair always looks dry, damaged, and it tangles very easily. Since I have naturally wavy hair, it needs that extra bit of conditioning to keep it looking it’s best.

Serums

Just like Leave-In conditioners, hair serums are essential to my hair care routine. My hair is naturally quite dry and unruly; it damages easily, and once it’s damaged it breaks constantly. So, to prevent my hair from becoming dry and brittle, I use a serum. I have 3 serums that I alternate between, they are Macadamia Natural Oils Healing Serum, Moroccan Oil’s Light Serum, and Biosilk Silk Therapy Serum.

Most people use their serums after they style their hair. Well, I use it after I shower, once it’s air dried, before bed, and in the AM – oh, and if I style my hair then I apply it again. While this may be way too much for some people’s hair, it’s just enough for mine – and it’s helped me grow my hair to the length it is now.

Hair Care Techniques

Braids

The real key to waking up with ready-to-go locks are braids. I braid my hair every single night in order to get the waves I love so much. It’s super easy, and completely damage free which makes it a great option if you’re like me and have dry-prone hair, or if you’ve damaged your hair with chemicals.

While I often just do a traditional braid, sometimes I’ll do a rope braid to get larger fluffier waves. Rope braids are really easy, and since they only use two hair parts you end up with much thicker uniform waves. They will appear more styled and sleek. If you’re wanting a more beachy look than you’ll want to stick to the traditional braid or create two braids to create tighter and more wild looking waves.

If you’re not sure what a rope braid is, than be sure to watch my easy side rope braid hair tutorial on my Youtube channel! (and don’t forget to subscribe!)

Use Spiral Rollers

One thing I’ve used for years to style my hair has been Spiral Rollers. I spotted them at Shoppers Drug Mart a few years back, gave them a try, and never looked back.  You may remember my Easy Heatless Beach Waves tutorial, and this is a hair care method I use to this day to create soft looking curls. I have worn these overnight, but usually I find that putting these in on slightly damp hair and letting them air dry over an hour or so is enough time for these curlers to work. Unlike braids, these curlers create tight bouncy curls that appear very styled and as though you’ve used a curling iron.

Healthy Hair Products:

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