I am Ari and I am here to show you how I achieve my finger waves. The natural hair movement has been a topic I have been learning about ever since I was a teenager. The movement is a way for African American people to learn about our hair and the many ways we can style it without using damaging component. Growing up, I used to always straighten my hair because I was insecure about my curls. I recently shaved my head and have been teaching myself what styles I can do with my growing hair. Today I will share my finger waves style.
I will preface this with telling you what finger waves mean to the African American community. Finger waves have been a way for African American people to express themselves for a very long time. The story can begin all the way back in 1920. The hairstyle has come back in style with such celebrities such as Lil Kim, Beyonce, Solange, and more. If you are not African American and want finger waves I would recommend reading more about what this style means to the community.
Shall we begin…
The first step is to admire how beautiful we are. I start by looking in the mirror and looking at the canvas I am about to work with. I have just recently cut my hair and looking for new hairstyles. Quarantine has been a great time for self exploration, but I have found that it is important that the first step is to love ourselves.
The second step is to gather of your styling equipment. I use this misting spray I got from Amazon and ECO Styling Gel from Walmart. I like to use the water because it allows my hair to start shifting in the ways that I want it to. I also like using ECO Styling Gel to help hold the hair down. I have used many gels and mousses to have my hair stay down when doing finger waves, but ECO Styling Gel has been the biggest help.
The third step is to wet the hair with the spray bottle. The water allows my hair to get some moisture before I put product on it. Use the water to dampen the hair not to soak the hair. The entire head should have water on it.
For the fourth step, use the ECO Styling Gel on the part that has been created. This will allow you to have some guidance to create the waves on the different sides of the head. I use a comb to separate the hair and to lay down the hair initially.
For the fifth step, gather more equipment for the rest of the steps. The brush will help with laying down the product evenly in the hair. The toothbrush will be used to lay down baby hairs that will help frame your face.
The sixth step is to take the brush and lay down the hair in the direction that is dictated by the part that you created. Put the gel throughout the hair and lay down the hair with the brush. Don’t forget to get your sideburns!
The seventh step is to get the comb that did the part, a fine tooth comb, and brace for impact. You are now ready to make the waves in your hair.
The eighth step is to make some waves! You will take the brush and put it on the part. Drag the comb back and forth in a wave fashion. For the sides of the head, do the same step. The best results will come from trial and error. It is important to get a mirror for the back of the head so that you can get waves for the back of the head as well.
For the ninth step, take the toothbrush and dip it into gel. Use the toothbrush to take out your baby hairs. Swoosh the baby hairs to frame your face that go with the wave aesthetic. This part is up to you with how you would like to frame your face.
The tenth step is to put a durag on in order to help the hair stay down. As the hair is drying, it is important that the waves stayed controlled. If you would like your waves to lay down flat against your head, it is advised that you put a durag on to help the hair stay down.
The eleventh step is to put away all products that were used. For me, I used ECO Styling Gel, a spray bottle, a fine tooth comb, brush, toothbrush, and mirror. The process took me roughly 10 minutes to finish. I am still new at the process and getting used to this hairstyle. It is not a trait that is learned over night.
For the twelfth step, take the durag off and see that masterpiece. You have waves that are drop-dead gorgeous. Don’t drown in those waves! This hairstyle is beautiful for a night out or just a fun exercise to see what your hair can do.
In conclusion, as an African American woman I have had difficulty loving my hair. The people I was around made fun of my curls and the styles I would put my hair in. I have learned to love my hair and what it means to me. I use finger waves as a way to express myself and the fondness I have with my background. I would recommend to do this hairstyle every once in a while. The products are heavy on the scalp and should not be used everyday. There are also a million different ways of achieving this look. It took me a while to get to where I am now, but I am always learning new skills when it comes to my hair.
