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The truth about waves

Waves

Today I will like to discuss real quick about waves! There is a fad going around on YouTube where kids call themselves Wavers!

It reminds me of the movie the outsiders where one gang was called the socials, and the others were called the greasers.

Now this community of kids put out videos on how to get waves, and they gain massive amounts of followers due to the knowledge they have on “getting waves”.

I am here to let you guys know that there is no such thing as a science to getting waves. You pretty much just follow three rules. Brush, moisturizer, and keep clean.

What is a wave?

Truth is a wave is just a curl pattern if you have any type of curl you can possess waves. If you don’t have any curls it is going to be extremely hard to get your hair to wave.

What starts as a coil is laid down and made a wave through brushing the hair and training it to lay down. THATS IT! There is no secret to it, no special product or technique.

Some can get waves easier than others because the state of hair is already wavy. One thing that remains constant is brushing your hair and using your choice of product to hold the style in place or to add shine.

 

Maintenance

There are a few products I recommend because I believe in using the best ingredients around to keep the hair and scalp healthy above all.

Its important to own at least two brushes that are made of boar bristle which is great for distributing oils through the strand of hair. One reinforced bristle brush and another medium/soft bristle brush depending on hairs texture. Fine, coarse, or medium. The finer the hair the softer your bristles should be and vice versa!

I recommend using the reinforced brush in the shower while shampooing and conditioning with a paraben and sulfate free product!

Parabens and sulfates can dry the hair out leaving waves hard to manage.

From there brushing is required to achieve a wavy appearance.

Product is important when we are talking about hold and shine. Although they assist in styling waves they do not give you waves. Again waves are just laid down curls.

A pomade free of petrolatum is highly recommended as petro tends to collect dust and coat the cuticle causing dirt and debris to collect and cause irritation.

A head covering is needed but not vital for the production of waves. As long as it is made of nylon fabric any Durag will do as it is just to keep your style in place. Some trust caps while other enjoy durags. It is a matter of preference so try both and see which fits your liking best!

I do want to warn you that wave caps have a shorter life span than durags! Tsurags seem to be top of the line to purchase when it comes to quality but any Durag will do!

Closing

To obtain waves it takes patience, discipline, and consistency! Brush, clean, and repeat. There are many products you can use it’s just finding your preference. However the constant is to always brush the hair to train the curl to present a wavy appearance. Mechanical memory is what we call it in the stylist arena!

That concludes today’s topic I hope you’ve enjoyed and I hope you come back next time as I’ll be discussing what hair type do you have?

thanks for stopping by,

Shannon kamal

The arsenal of tools
Tools of the trade for the beginning barber!

The right tool makes a world of difference!

Hello guest, followers, and friends!

To cut hair efficiently it is imperative to learn the tools of the trade. Here I will discuss tool selection and how they are used to create different styles and looks. Every barber has a go to clipper that will always give them the best results. You will have to experiment with different brands to find your go to clipper. I’m going to give you the trusted brands used in the male grooming industry.

Tool selection

To better serve your needs I’m going to break the selections down into 2 classes.

Class A: clipper trimmer set, comb, brush

The clipper

This is for the individual at home who needs to stay tight in between barber visits, or to have around the dorm for those quick last minute clean ups. To suit this person a regular rotary clipper would suffice.

I suggest the Oster fast feed clipper with an adjustable blade. This clipper is to be used on dry hair only and comes with attachment combs to achieve desired lengths. Easy to clean and maintain this clipper has the lasting power to endure the test of time. This clipper can be used for blending hair and cutting the hair to any desired length with the simple use of an attachment. It’s a lightweight piece of equipment with the ability to adjust the cutting length with the use of a lever on its side. A toothbrush can be used to clean the hair from the teeth of the blades while clipper oil is used to keep the blades in good working condition. After each use a drop of oil is recommended.

The trimmer

For finishing, dry shaving, and detail the andis Styliner II is my recommend. This trimmer tends to have a long lasting motor with a durable housing. With the proper maintenance this clipper can last a lifetime. With proper tuning and correct adjustment on the blade set sharp lineups and clean hair removal can be achieved with ease. Its powerful motor and durable casing this piece of equipment is easily my favorite trimmer to have at all times. In fact the first pair of trimmers I owned was a pair of styliners given to me by my brother in 2002! So as you can see I am speaking from first hand knowledge.Andis Styliner trimmersThey do sell clipper/trimmer combo sets and I recommend you to try one of those just to become familiar with the equipment before making an investment. You will find out quickly how the quality of your equipment is important for long term use or you’ll be buying clippers every other year. The price will eventually be cheaper than the cost.

Class B: Universal Clipper, Blending Clipper, Trimmers, Razors, Scissors, combs, brushThe classic Oster 76

This class is for the future barber and current professionals giving a well rounded arsenal of grooming equipment.

The clipper

The universal clipper is one that can be used on wet or dry hair. Using a detachable blade system this clipper is for heavy duty JOBS. You can find this style of clipper in Andis or Oster. While there are other companies coming out with this style of clipper the andis & oster brand is well trusted among industry leaders.

The Oster 76  is my choice to recommend as it has been my go to universal for the past 12 years. Its a high maintenance clipper that needs carbon brushes swapped out when worn and grease to lube the gears. It is a long lasting piece of equipment that can be used when cutting in high volume. Used for taking down the roughest mane or blending the finest locks the 76 is classic and worth every penny. Andis produced a universal clipper that comes cordless which is convenient for cutting on the go or just less hassle with wires.

The blending clipper is  used for the fading and taper aspect of your grooming needs. This is where preference comes into play. I prefer the andis master magnetiThe andis Master clipperc motor clipper. Wahl has a number of clippers that will work just as fine or better. Just to name a few of those Wahl clippers they are as follows. Wahl taper 2000, legends, sterling, senior, and Magic clippers.

With the adjustable blade and attachment combs fading and blending can be made easy. The master has been improved over the years to with its power button to blade set. The master holds a very powerful motor that can make the clipper run hot after continuous use without a break. To cool it down the andis cool lube will do the trick.

The trimmers

Along with the andis styliner IIs that I have mentioned above I want to add the andis T-outliner.The modified Andis t outliner This trimmer has the BEST ability to be adjusted and when tuned properly they cut like a hot knife through butter in the summer. This particular model I modified to gain easy access to the tension screw giving the blade less or more power.

To complete these clipper kits I would add a Hard bristle brush for extra coarse hair and a soft bristle brush for fine hair. A taper comb is designed for clipper cutting as it has a small side to use clipper over comb on short cuts.

 Shaving/cleanup

Shaving can be achieved wet or dry. Dry shaves are achieved with a set of trimmers and a face or head prepped by a good wash. A wet shave is achieved with oil,gel,cream and a straight razor. Straight razors of today use disposable razors. Disposable blades are manufactured by many outlets. It’s a matter of preference in which you choose, but I like to deal with personna red Israeli steel blades, or the derby 100 pack half blades. Those are the brands that never failed me as I look for a sharp edge with an easy glide.

 If you don’t feel comfortable with a straight edge an electric razor is the best electric razor by wahl way to achieve a clean look giving a close shave. Each brand has come out with a variation of the electric razors, however, you can take a look at my choice by reading my review, and why I choose the wahl 5 star shaver/shaper to tackle close dry shaving jobs.

These are the tools of the trade that I like to use to complete my men’s grooming services. There are more tools that I like to use these are just the few that I wanted to share. I hope you guys enjoyed the insight on tools of the trade, and visit Amazon to purchase one or two to add to your toolbox. From professional to beginners these tools are easy to use with paying close attention to the instructions.

Shannon kamal