Ladies with 2a hair rise up! You have been blessed with one thee most beautiful hair types. It’s almost like you have the best of both worlds when it comes to having either straight or curly hair.
It’s a versatile hair type that can be both fun, sexy, but challenging to manage. If you’re looking for tips on how to care for and style your 2a hair, you’ve come to the right place!
What is 2a Hair?
If you’re not familiar with the term, 2a hair is a type of wavy hair that is the loosest curl before being considered straight. 2a hair has very loose curls that are in a slight “S” shape that fingers can easily be run through.
The 2a hair type is commonly known as ‘beachy waves’. People with 2a hair can typically handle air drying their hair without having to worry about it poofing up too much or falling too flat.
How to Care for 2a Hair
Caring for 2a hair typically isn’t too difficult, although it does require a little knowledge and effort. You want to keep your hair clean and moisturized without weighing it down or disrupting its natural wave pattern. Over-drying your hair may result in a dry, frizzy head while too many products can make your hair flat or oily.
Tips to Care for 2a Hair:
Use a gentle shampoo and conditioner: Since 2a hair tends to be fine, it can easily become weighed down by heavy products. Choose a gentle sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner that won’t strip your hair of its natural oils or leave behind any residue. Sulfates can be harsh on wavy hair, stripping it of its natural oils and leaving it dry and frizzy.
Recommended product:
BELLISSO Biotin Shampoo and Conditioner
Don’t over-wash: While it’s important to keep your hair clean, you don’t want to over-wash it. Washing your hair too often can strip it of its natural oils, leaving it dry and prone to breakage. Aim to wash your hair every other day, or even every third day if you can.
Use a wide-tooth comb: When you’re detangling your hair, use a wide-tooth comb instead of a brush. Brushes can be too harsh on wavy hair, disrupting its natural wave pattern and causing frizz.
Embrace the air-dry: If you can, let your hair air-dry instead of blow-drying it. Blow-drying can be damaging to wavy hair, and it can disrupt its natural wave pattern. Instead, gently squeeze out any excess water with a microfiber towel or an old t-shirt, and let your hair air-dry.
Use a leave-in conditioner: A leave-in conditioner can help keep your hair moisturized, hold its shape, and prevent frizz. Apply the mousse to damp hair, scrunch it in, and let your hair air-dry.
Recommended product:
Marc Anthony Leave-In Conditioner Spray
Try a curl-enhancing product: If you want to enhance your natural waves, try using a curl-enhancing product like a mousse or a cream. Apply it to damp hair and then scrunch your hair with your hands to encourage your waves. These are great if your waves tend to go flat half way through the day.
Recommended product:
Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream
Try a salt spray: Salt sprays can help create beautiful, beachy waves. Spray the salt spray onto damp hair, scrunch it in, and let your hair air-dry.
Recommended product:
Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Sea Salt Spray
Use a diffuser: If you want to blow-dry your hair, use a diffuser attachment on your blow-dryer. This will help distribute the heat more evenly and create beautiful, defined waves.
Recommended product:
Hairizone Universal Hair Diffuser
Related: Neem Oil For Hair: Ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic Beauty Secret
How to Style 2a Hair
The good thing about 2a hair is you’re able to try many different styles. You can easily take a straightener to your hair for sleek, straight days. And with the right products and techniques, you can enhance your natural wave pattern and create beautiful, beachy waves.
Hairstyles for 2a Hair:
Scrunching
Scrunching your hair with your hands can help to enhance your waves and add volume. Start by applying a curl-enhancing product to your damp hair, then use your hands to scrunch your hair upwards in a gentle squeezing motion. You can also use a diffuser attachment on your hair dryer to help enhance your waves while drying.
Braiding
If you want to define your curls a bit but don’t want to use heat, experiment with different braiding patterns to see how your hair reacts. Simply braid your damp hair overnight and wake up with tight waves that will hold all day.
Half-Up, Half-Down
If you’re tired of leaving your hair down all the time but don’t want to tie it up, try pulling the top section of your hair back into a half-up, half-down style. You can secure the hair with a clip or a hair tie, leaving the rest of your hair loose and wavy.
Wet Hair Look
The wet hair look, which gives the impression of wet, shiny hair, has been all the rage with celebrities and the 2a hair type looks gorgeous in it. Simply add a generous amount of a hair styling product like gel, mousse, or wax into damp hair and hair spray until the hair holds its shape and shine.
Flower Child, Hippie Hair
The flower child, hippie look is a bohemian-inspired hairstyle that allows your hair to be wild and free. Instead of trying to control your curls, let them spring however they want. Blow dry damp roots to add a bit more volume and texture. Add a bit of curl-enhancing cream or texturizing spray and let the rest of your hair air-dry in your natural, wave pattern.
Side-Part Fringe
If you’re never sure how to frame your face, try a side-part with a romantic, front fringe. Take a curling iron or rollers to your front hair and add a curl to the crown of your hair and at the ends. The extra volume adds a bit more glam to your look and changes up your usual middle-part.
Embrace the Messy Buns and Ponytails
If you’re short on time or don’t feel like styling your hair, embrace the messy bun or messy ponytail. Pull your hair back into a loose, messy bun or ponytail, and let a few pieces frame your face.
Best Products for 2a Hair
Looking for the best products for your 2a hair? Here are some of our top picks and the best sellers:
Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Spray
Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Texturizing Spray is perfect for creating beachy waves without heat. It’s lightweight, non-sticky, and easy to use. The formula is infused with sea kelp extract and dead sea salt to enhance natural waves and add texture to straight hair. Simply spray it onto damp hair, scrunch it in, and let your hair air-dry.
OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Shampoo and Conditioner
This sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner duo is perfect for 2a hair. It’s hydrating, nourishing, and helps enhance your natural wave pattern. Blended with coconut oil, the curly hair shampoo detangles, defines, and hydrates waves and spirals, leaving hair looking smooth and bouncy.
Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream
This curl-defining cream is one of the most popular products for 2a hair. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, and helps define your natural wave pattern without weighing your hair down. Plus it will leave your hair smelling amazing!
Tangle Teezer Original Detangling Brush
This top-selling, detangling brush for 2a hair type makes short work of knots and tangles, leaving hair healthy, shiny, and frizz-free. Its wide-tooth bristles gently detangles and massages your scalp for ultimate shine and growth. It’s perfect for use in the shower or on damp, towel-dried hair.
John Frieda Anti-Frizz Dream Curls Styling Spray
The John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Daily Styling Spray is designed to enhance and define natural curls while taming frizz. Its special formula contains a blend of polymers and conditioning agents that work to keep curls defined, moisturized, and frizz-free for up to 24 hours.
Related: 5 Effective Ways To Straighten Curly Hair
How Often Should You Wash 2a Hair?
In general, 2a hair type is considered to be on the low to medium maintenance side, and can typically go longer between washes than other hair types. The answer depends on your hair and your lifestyle.
If you have a very active lifestyle or you sweat a lot, you may need to wash your hair more often. On the other hand, if you have a more sedentary lifestyle or your scalp tends to be dry, you may be able to get away with washing your hair less often.
Most people with 2a hair type find that washing their hair 2-3 times a week is sufficient to keep their hair clean and healthy, while avoiding excessive drying or damage. This will help keep your hair clean and moisturized without stripping it of its natural oils.
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