Can White People Get Waves? (Honest Answer)

Last updated: February 2026 by Marcus Chen-Williams, Founder & Editor-in-Chief

I get this question in my inbox more than almost anything else on this site. Can white people get waves? The short answer is yes, but only if your hair has the right texture. This is not about race. It is about curl pattern. And the distinction matters more than most people realize.

I have spent the last decade testing grooming methods across every hair type that walks through a barbershop door. Growing up half Chinese, half Black, I learned early that hair does not follow racial categories the way most people think it does. Waves are a trained curl pattern. If you have natural curl or wave in your hair, you can train it. If your hair is bone-straight, you cannot. No product, no brush, and no durag will change that.

This guide covers everything: the hair texture requirements, the adapted method for looser textures, realistic timelines by hair type, product recommendations, and an honest conversation about the cultural roots of wave culture. If you only read one section, start with the hair texture requirements to find out if this will work for you.

The Honest Answer: Yes, With Conditions

Let me be direct. Yes, white people can get 360 waves. People of every background can develop waves if their hair has natural curl or wave when grown out. This is a physics question, not a race question. Your hair’s curl pattern determines whether brushing and compression can train it into a wave formation.

Here is what actually matters. Your natural hair texture must fall somewhere between 2A and 3B on the Andre Walker hair typing system. That means your hair, when grown to about an inch with no product, shows visible waves, S-curves, or curls. If it lies completely flat and straight, waves are not in the cards. That is not a judgment. It is biology.

The reason this question comes up so often is that wave culture grew out of the Black barbershop community, where tightly coiled 4A through 4C hair textures respond beautifully to brushing and compression. Those textures were made for waves. Looser textures can get there too, but the process takes longer, the waves look different, and the expectations need to be calibrated accordingly.

I have seen plenty of guys with 2B and 2C hair develop clean, visible waves after two to three months of consistent brushing. I have also seen guys with straight 1B hair spend six months brushing with nothing to show for it. The difference was always texture, never effort.

Hair Texture Requirements: Will This Work for Your Hair?

Before you invest in a brush and a durag, you need to know where your hair sits on the texture spectrum. Here is a breakdown of each type and its wave potential.

The Andre Walker Hair Type Scale

If you fall in the 2A through 3B range, keep reading. If you are 1A or 1B, this guide will explain why waves are not realistic for your texture, and what alternatives might work.

How to Test Your Hair Texture

If you are not sure where you fall, try this. Grow your hair out to about one inch without any styling product. Wash it, let it air dry completely, and look at it in the mirror.

• If it lies flat with zero movement: You are type 1. Waves are not going to happen.
• If you see gentle bends or S-shapes: You are type 2. Waves are possible with the right approach.
• If it curls into loops or ringlets: You are type 3. You are an excellent candidate for waves.

This is the single most important step. I have talked to barbers across four cities about this, and the consensus is always the same: no amount of brushing will create curl that does not exist naturally. The brush trains existing curl. It does not manufacture new curl.

Why Texture Matters More Than Race

Here is the thing that most wave guides never say plainly. Hair texture does not follow racial lines as neatly as people assume. I have seen white men with 3A curls that rival anyone’s wave potential. I have met Asian men with surprisingly wavy hair when they grow it out. And not every Black man has 4C hair; some have 3B or 3C textures that behave very differently under a brush.

The Andre Walker system categorizes hair by its physical shape, not by who it belongs to. A 2C wave is a 2C wave whether it sits on a white man’s head, a Latino man’s head, or a biracial man’s head. The physics of brushing and compression work the same way on the same curl patterns.

That said, there are real differences in how textures respond.

Tighter Coils (4A-4C): Why They Are Ideal

Tightly coiled hair has the most spring memory. When you brush it in one direction and compress it, the coils retain that trained position more readily. Waves appear faster and hold deeper definition. This is why 360 waves originated in the Black community. The hair type is a natural fit for the technique. For a complete walkthrough of the traditional method, see our how to get 360 waves guide.

Looser Waves (2A-2C): The Challenges

Looser textures have weaker curl memory. That means:

• Brushing sessions need to be longer and more frequent
• Compression needs to happen more consistently (durag on whenever you are at home)
• Waves will appear more subtle and less defined than on coarser textures
• Products need to be lighter to avoid weighing down finer strands
• The wolfing period is longer because your hair needs more time to train

None of these challenges are deal-breakers. They are just realities you should know upfront so your expectations match the process.

Curls (3A-3B): The Sweet Spot for Non-Black Hair

If you are a white, Latino, or mixed-race man with 3A or 3B curls, you are sitting in the sweet spot. Your curl pattern is strong enough to train quickly, and the wave definition you will achieve can look genuinely impressive. These textures often overlap with what our best curly hair products for men guide covers, so you have plenty of product options.

The Wave Method Adapted for Looser Textures

The core wave method is the same regardless of your hair type: brush, compress, repeat. But for looser textures (2A through 3B), certain adjustments will dramatically improve your results.

Step 1: Get the Right Haircut

Visit a barber and ask for a 1.5 or 2 guard with the grain (WTG). This is the same starting point as the traditional 360 wave method. Tell your barber you are training waves so they cut with the grain instead of against it.

If you are working with 2A or 2B hair, consider starting slightly longer at a 2 or 3 guard. The extra length gives your weaker curl more material to work with during training. Cutting too short on a loose texture can leave you without enough natural wave for the brush to train.

Step 2: Choose Your Products

Product selection is where the adaptation matters most. Heavy petroleum-based wave greases that work beautifully on 4C hair will weigh down finer textures and create visible buildup.

Key adaptation: If you have finer strands (common in 2A-2B hair), use a pea-sized amount of pomade instead of a dime-sized amount. Less product means less weight on your waves. For a deeper dive into wave grease versus pomade, see our best wave grease roundup.

Step 3: Brush Correctly and Consistently

The brushing method is identical to the traditional 360 wave method. Every stroke starts at the crown and pushes outward toward the hairline.

Daily routine for looser textures:

1. Apply a small amount of pomade evenly across your head, working from the crown outward
2. Brush from the crown forward toward your forehead (front waves)
3. Brush from the crown down each side toward your ears (side waves)
4. Brush from the crown straight back toward the nape (back waves)
5. Repeat each direction for 5 to 10 minutes
6. Put on your durag immediately after brushing

The difference for looser textures: You need more brush sessions per day. Where 4C hair might need two sessions to see progress, 2B hair benefits from three to four sessions. Each session should be at least 10 minutes. The weaker the natural curl, the more repetition your hair needs to hold the trained pattern.

For your brush selection, start with a medium bristle. Our best wave brush guide has the full breakdown. Do not upgrade to a hard bristle until you have been brushing for at least four weeks and your hair has grown long enough to handle the firmer bristles without scalp irritation.

Step 4: Compression Is Non-Negotiable

Wear your durag after every single brush session for at least 30 minutes. Wear it overnight. Wear it at home. If you are serious about waves, the durag is your most important tool.

For looser textures, silk and satin durags outperform velvet. Velvet provides heavy compression that works perfectly on coarser hair, but on finer hair, the texture can create friction that disrupts the pattern. Silk provides smooth, even compression that lets your waves lay without snagging. For material options and picks, check out our best durag for waves guide.

Quick note on the durag’s cultural significance: the durag has a deep history in the Black community that goes well beyond wave training. It has been a symbol of identity, creativity, and resilience. Our full durag history and guide covers this in detail. If you are wearing one as part of your wave journey, knowing that history matters.

Step 5: Wolf Longer Than You Think

Wolfing means growing your hair out without cutting it while continuing to brush and compress daily. For tightly coiled textures, four to six weeks of wolfing is standard. For looser textures, plan on six to ten weeks.

This is where most guys with wavy hair give up. Your hair will look messy during the wolfing phase. It will not look like you have waves. It will look like you forgot to get a haircut. Push through. The wolfing period is when your curl pattern is learning to hold the trained direction, and cutting it short resets that progress.

For a complete wolfing breakdown, see our what is wolfing guide. The principles are the same for every hair type; only the duration changes.

Realistic Expectations by Hair Type

Let’s set honest expectations. Your results will look different depending on your texture, and that is completely fine.

Type 2A (Loose Wave) Expectations

Reality check: 2A waves will never look like the deep, tight 360 waves you see on 4C hair. They will be wider, gentler ripples. If that is disappointing, this may not be the style for you, and that is okay.

Type 2B-2C (Defined Wave to Deep Wave) Expectations

2B and 2C textures are the most realistic path for white men who want visible, respectable waves. Your results will be noticeable, and with proper maintenance they hold well.

Type 3A-3B (Curls) Expectations

If you have 3A or 3B curls, your wave journey will look very similar to the traditional timeline. Your waves will have excellent definition because your natural curl is doing most of the work.

What Will Not Work (and Why)

I want to be straightforward about this because I do not want anyone wasting months of effort on something that will not produce results.

Type 1 (Straight) Hair

If your hair is completely straight, the brush has nothing to work with. Waves are a redirected curl pattern. With no natural curl, there is no pattern to redirect. You can brush a stick-straight strand for a year, and it will continue to lie flat in whatever direction gravity pulls it.

This is not a failing. It is just physics. Straight hair is great for other styles. Waves are not one of them.

Texturizing Perms

Some people consider getting a texturizing perm to add curl, then training waves on the chemically altered texture. I do not recommend this. Chemical texturizers damage the hair shaft, require regular maintenance, and create an artificial curl pattern that does not train the same way natural texture does. The waves you get on chemically treated hair will look different, hold differently, and disappear when the perm grows out.

If your natural texture does not support waves, a perm is not a sustainable solution. It is a temporary modification that introduces more problems than it solves.

Heavy Products on Fine Hair

Traditional heavy wave greases (petroleum-based) are designed for coarser, denser hair that can absorb and hold those formulas. On finer 2A or 2B hair, heavy grease creates visible residue, weighs the hair down, and actually works against wave formation by preventing natural movement. Stick to water-based pomades and lightweight leave-in conditioners.

Product Recommendations by Hair Type

Here is a targeted product guide based on where your hair falls on the texture spectrum.

For 2A-2B (Fine to Medium Wavy)

• Pomade: Suavecito Original Hold ($12-15). Lightweight, water-soluble, washes out clean. Gives enough hold without weighing down fine strands.
• Brush: Torino Pro Medium Bristle ($12-18). Gentle enough for sensitive scalps, firm enough to train direction.
• Durag: Silk or satin material. Smooth compression without friction.
• Shampoo: WaveBuilder Wave Shampoo ($6-9). Sulfate-free, preserves natural moisture.
• Conditioner: Cantu Shea Butter Leave-In ($5-7). Use sparingly on finer hair, a quarter-sized amount max.

For 2C-3A (Deep Wave to Loose Curl)

• Pomade: WaveBuilder Cocoa & Shea ($5-8). More hold than Suavecito, works well on thicker strands that need extra control.
• Brush: Torino Pro Medium Bristle for the first four weeks, then transition to a hard bristle for deeper penetration.
• Durag: Silk or velvet both work at this texture. Personal preference.
• Moisture: SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie ($10-13). Adds moisture and light definition. Apply a dime-sized amount before pomade.

For 3B (Medium Curls)

• Pomade: Sportin’ Waves Pomade ($3-5). The classic formula works well on 3B curls. Strong enough hold, affordable, no heavy buildup.
• Brush: Start medium, switch to hard after three weeks. Your curls can handle the firmer bristles sooner than looser textures.
• Durag: Velvet for training sessions, silk for overnight. The standard wave protocol works nearly identically at this texture.
• Shampoo: Any sulfate-free option. Our best shampoo for Black men guide includes sulfate-free picks that work across coarser textures.

Starter Budget Breakdown

You do not need to spend $70 to start. The budget tier covers the essentials. Upgrade pieces individually as you learn what your hair responds to.

Common Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

I have seen these mistakes from every hair type, but they hit looser textures especially hard because there is less margin for error.

1. Starting With a Hard Brush

Hard bristle brushes are for established wave patterns with longer hair. On short hair at the beginning of training, hard bristles scratch the scalp and cause irritation. Fine or medium hair is especially vulnerable. Start with a medium bristle brush for the first four to six weeks, then evaluate whether you need more firmness.

2. Using Too Much Product

Heavy product on fine or medium hair creates a greasy look and actually prevents waves from forming by weighing the hair flat instead of allowing it to curve. A pea-sized to dime-sized amount of pomade is all you need. If your hair looks wet or shiny after application, you used too much. The pomade should be invisible after brushing.

3. Skipping Compression

This is the number one mistake across all hair types, but it is especially costly on looser textures. Tightly coiled hair has strong enough curl memory to hold some training even without compression. Looser textures lose their progress much faster. If you are not wearing your durag after every session and overnight, you are resetting your work.

4. Cutting Too Soon

The urge to get a fresh cut during the wolfing phase is real. Your hair looks unkempt, the waves are not visible yet, and you want a clean look. Resist. Cutting during wolfing is like pulling a cake out of the oven halfway through baking. Give your hair the full wolfing period (6-10 weeks for looser textures) before your first maintenance cut.

5. Comparing to 4C Results

If your reference point is the deep, defined 360 waves on 4B or 4C hair, your 2B waves will always look underwhelming by comparison. That comparison is unfair to your own hair. Different textures produce different wave expressions. Appreciate your results for what they are. A well-maintained 2C wave pattern looks clean and intentional. It does not need to look like a 4C wave to be good.

6. Washing Too Often

Washing strips product and disrupts the wave pattern you are building. During active wave training, limit washing to once or twice per week. Always use sulfate-free shampoo, and brush immediately after washing while the hair is still damp. This is also a good time to apply fresh pomade. Damp hair takes the brushing direction more readily.

Wave Culture: Appreciation, Respect, and the History You Should Know

This is the section I take the most seriously. I built CulturedGrooming because I believe every man deserves access to grooming knowledge that respects cultural origins. And 360 waves have deep, specific cultural roots that deserve acknowledgment.

Where Waves Come From

360 waves emerged from the Black American barbershop tradition. The style has been present in the Black community since at least the 1920s and 1930s, when men used pomade and wave caps to train their naturally coiled hair into defined ripple patterns. It became a widely recognized style through the 1990s and 2000s, when artists, athletes, and cultural figures popularized the look.

The durag, which is essential to wave formation, carries its own cultural weight. It has been a practical grooming tool, a fashion statement, and a symbol of Black identity. For decades, durags were stigmatized and banned in some public spaces and workplaces, turning a grooming tool into a lightning rod for racial bias. Our durag history guide covers this in full detail.

Wave culture is not just a hairstyle. It is a practice rooted in discipline, patience, and community. Barbershops across the country have wave competitions. Entire online communities share brushing techniques and progress photos. For many Black men, waves are a source of pride and self-expression that connects to a broader cultural identity.

Appreciation vs. Appropriation

Here is my honest take as someone who grew up between two cultures.

Getting waves as a white person is not inherently wrong. Hair techniques travel across cultures, and they always have. What matters is how you approach it.

Appreciation looks like:

• Knowing where the style comes from and being willing to say so when people ask
• Crediting the Black community and barbershop tradition as the originators
• Not claiming waves as “your thing” or acting like you discovered a new style
• Supporting Black-owned grooming brands and barbers
• Listening when someone from the culture shares their perspective, even if it is uncomfortable

Appropriation looks like:

• Wearing waves as a costume or trend with no understanding of the culture
• Getting annoyed when someone asks about the cultural context
• Taking credit for the “look” while distancing yourself from the culture it belongs to
• Using wave culture terminology or imagery without any connection to the community
• Treating the durag as an accessory or joke rather than a functional grooming tool with cultural significance

There is a gray area here, and I am not going to pretend there is a clean line. Different people in the Black community have different feelings about non-Black men wearing waves. Some welcome it as cultural exchange. Others see it as another example of Black culture being adopted without the people who created it being respected. Both perspectives are valid.

What I will say is this: if you are going to participate in wave culture, participate fully. Learn the history. Respect the tradition. Buy from the brands that built the wave game. Tell people where you learned it. That is the bare minimum.

How to Talk About Your Waves

When someone asks about your waves, and they will, here are some approaches that demonstrate respect.

• “I learned the wave method from [barbershop/community/site]. It comes from Black barbershop culture.” Simple, honest, credits the source.
• “I’ve always had wavy hair, and I found out the wave brushing method works on my texture too.” Factual without overclaiming.
• Avoid: “Yeah, I just taught myself this cool hairstyle.” This erases the cultural origin and sounds dismissive even if you do not intend it that way.

The Complete Daily Routine (All Textures)

Here is your daily wave training routine, adapted for looser textures with notes on where the standard method applies to everyone.

Morning Session (15 minutes)

1. Dampen slightly. Spray a light mist of water across your hair. Not soaking wet, just damp. This makes your hair more pliable for brushing.
2. Apply pomade. Pea-sized for 2A-2B; dime-sized for 2C-3B. Rub between palms, distribute evenly from crown outward.
3. Brush front. Crown to forehead, 50 to 75 strokes.
4. Brush sides. Crown to each ear, 50 to 75 strokes per side.
5. Brush back. Crown to nape, 50 to 75 strokes.
6. Durag on. Wear for at least 30 minutes. If you work from home, leave it on until you need to leave.

Afternoon Session (10 minutes, for looser textures)

If you have 2A-2C hair, this extra session makes a significant difference. It reinforces the morning brushwork before the pattern fades.

1. No need to reapply pomade unless your hair feels completely dry.
2. Brush all four directions, 30 to 50 strokes each.
3. Durag back on for 20 minutes minimum.

Evening Session (15 minutes)

1. Optional light dampen. A small mist helps if the hair feels dry or stiff.
2. Full brush session. Same pattern as morning, 50 to 75 strokes per direction.
3. Durag on for the night. This is the most important compression session. Your hair spends six to eight hours training against the fabric. Never skip this. Every night without compression sets you back.

Weekly Wash Day

1. Remove durag.
2. Wet hair thoroughly in the shower.
3. Apply sulfate-free shampoo. Massage in the direction of your wave pattern (crown outward) instead of scrubbing randomly.
4. Rinse.
5. Optional: Apply a small amount of conditioner, let it sit for two minutes, rinse.
6. Brush while damp. This is your best brushing opportunity of the week. Wet hair takes direction more readily than dry hair.
7. Apply pomade while still slightly damp.
8. Durag on immediately.

Maintenance and Barber Communication

After your first wolfing period (6-10 weeks for looser textures, 4-6 for coarser), you will need a maintenance cut to sharpen your wave pattern.

What to Tell Your Barber

Walk in and say: “I am training waves. I need a WTG cut at a [guard number] to clean up the length without cutting against my wave pattern.”

If your barber does not know what WTG (with the grain) means in the context of waves, explain that you need them to cut in the direction your hair lays, not against it. A barber who cuts against the grain will slice through your wave impressions and undo weeks of training.

Guard numbers for maintenance by texture:

• 2A-2B: 2 or 3 guard. Keep slightly more length; your looser curl needs it for wave visibility.
• 2C-3A: 1.5 or 2 guard. Standard wave cut length.
• 3B: 1.5 guard. Same as the traditional 360 wave protocol.

Maintenance Schedule

Get a cleanup cut every 4 to 6 weeks once your initial wolfing period is complete. Between cuts, continue daily brushing and nightly compression. If your waves start looking flat or undefined between cuts, you may be overwashing or undercompressing.

Alternatives If Your Hair Is Too Straight

If you tested your texture and it falls in the type 1 range, waves are not going to work. Here are styles that complement straight hair instead of fighting against it.

• Textured crop: Short on the sides, textured on top with a matte product for natural movement.
• Slickback: Uses pomade to create a smooth, directional flow. Achieves a similar “trained” look without needing natural curl.
• Brush-up: Forward volume with product. Plays to straight hair’s natural direction instead of fighting it.
• Taper fade with texture: A clean taper with textured length on top. Works on all straight hair types.

There is no shame in choosing a style that works with your natural texture instead of against it. The best hairstyle is the one that looks like it belongs on your head.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can white people get 360 waves?

Yes, if your hair has natural wave or curl (types 2A through 3B). The wave method works on any texture with enough natural bend to train. Straight type 1 hair does not have enough curl for waves to form regardless of effort.

What hair texture do white people need for waves?

At minimum, 2A on the Andre Walker scale. Types 2B, 2C, 3A, and 3B are progressively better candidates. The test is simple: grow your hair to one inch with no product. If it waves or curls naturally, you can train waves. If it lies flat, you cannot.

How long does it take for white people to get waves?

Eight to 16 weeks depending on texture. Type 3A and 3B curls can see results in six to eight weeks. Type 2A might take 12 to 16 weeks. This is longer than the four to eight week timeline for 4B and 4C hair because looser textures train more slowly.

Do you need a durag for waves?

Yes. Compression is essential for all textures. Without a durag, your brushwork loses its hold and the pattern resets. Silk or satin durags work best on looser textures because they compress smoothly without friction.

What products work best for waves on wavy hair?

Water-based pomades like WaveBuilder Cocoa and Shea or Suavecito Original Hold. Avoid heavy petroleum-based greases because they weigh down finer hair. Pair with a medium bristle wave brush, sulfate-free shampoo, and a light leave-in conditioner if your hair dries out.

Is it cultural appropriation to get waves?

Not inherently, but it requires cultural awareness. 360 waves come from Black barbershop tradition. Know the history, credit the culture, and respect the significance. Appreciation means participating with knowledge and respect. Appropriation means taking without acknowledging where it came from.

Why can’t straight hair get waves?

Waves are a redirected curl pattern. Straight hair has no natural curl to redirect. Brushing and compression work by training existing curl into a uniform direction. Without that natural curve, there is nothing for the technique to act on.

Final Thoughts: Waves Are for Anyone With the Right Texture

Here is the bottom line.

• Can white people get waves? Yes, if your hair texture is 2A or curlier.
• Will they look identical to waves on 4C hair? No. Different textures produce different expressions of the same technique.
• Is it worth trying? If you have the texture for it, absolutely. Waves are a clean, disciplined style that looks good on any man who puts in the work.
• Does cultural context matter? Yes. Know where waves come from. Respect the tradition. Credit the culture.
• What if your hair is too straight? Choose a style that works with your natural texture. There is no shortage of great options.

If you are ready to start your wave journey, check out our full how to get 360 waves guide for the complete system. For deeper wave techniques, explore our how to get deep waves guide. And if 180 waves are more your speed, we have you covered with our 180 waves guide.

Waves are not about who you are. They are about what your hair can do and how much work you are willing to put in. Start with the texture test, grab the right products, and commit to the process. The waves will come.