Why I’m Calling My Hair Type 2B — And the Products That Actually Make My Waves Work 🌊✨
If you’ve ever looked at your hair and thought, “Is it straight? Is it curly? WHAT is happening here?” 😂 — welcome to the world of wavy hair.
After looking closely at my natural texture, especially the way my hair forms defined S-shaped waves through the mid-lengths and ends, I’d classify my hair as Type 2B.
And honestly? It explains A LOT.
The Carrie Bradshaw Hair Comparison 👩🏼🦱✨
One of my biggest hair inspirations has always been Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City. Her hair was never perfectly straight or perfectly curly—it had that gorgeous, undone, fluffy, dimensional texture.
That is exactly the kind of texture I see in my own hair.
My hair can look relatively straight when I brush it out or let it dry without styling, but when I leave it alone and encourage the natural pattern, those S-shaped waves become much more obvious.
Type 2B hair is generally characterized by more noticeable S-shaped waves than 2A hair. It's also commonly prone to frizz, particularly around the crown. (Wella)
So… Why Is My Hair 2B? 🌊
Looking at my hair, there are a few things that stand out.
1. I have an obvious S-shaped pattern
My hair doesn't form tight ringlets from the root.
Instead, the strands bend into loose-to-defined S shapes, especially through the middle and lower portions of my hair.
That's one of the biggest clues that my texture falls into the Type 2 wavy family.
2. My roots are relatively straighter
This is another classic wavy-hair characteristic.
The top portion of my hair tends to be flatter and less defined, while the waves become more noticeable as you move down the hair shaft.
That's different from many Type 3 curls, where the curl pattern can begin much closer to the root.
3. My hair gets BIG when it gets frizzy 😂
Anyone with wavy hair knows this struggle.
Humidity + brushing + the wrong products =
HELLO FRIZZ. 👋
Type 2B hair can have plenty of volume, but the challenge is getting that volume to look intentional rather than fluffy.
4. Heavy products can completely destroy my waves
This is probably the biggest lesson I've learned.
My hair needs moisture, but too much heavy cream, oil or leave-in can make my waves look flat.
That's why lightweight products like mousse and flexible-hold gel can be especially useful for wavy hair. Mousse tends to enhance texture and volume, while gel provides more hold and helps control frizz. (Hair.com)
The Biggest Mistake I Was Making
I used to think:
“If my hair is frizzy, I need MORE moisture.”
Not necessarily.
With 2B hair, there's a balancing act between:
💧 Hydration🌊 Definition✨ Volume🫧 Lightweight hold🚫 Not weighing the waves down
If I use too many rich products, my waves can lose their shape.
If I don't use enough hold, I get the dreaded triangle of frizz.
So I'm much more intentional about what I put on my hair now.
My Type 2B Hair Product Wishlist 🛍️
I've put together products that make sense for a 2B routine, particularly if your hair is easily weighed down.
You can shop all of my Amazon hair favorites here:🛍️ Shop My Amazon Storefront
🫧 1. Lightweight Mousse
Mousse is one of my favorite places to start with wavy hair because it can provide definition and volume without the heaviness that some creams can create.
Not Your Mother's Curl Talk Mousse is a popular option for creating defined, touchable waves with lightweight hold. (Strand)
Another affordable option is Cantu Wave Whip Curling Mousse, which is specifically marketed for waves and curls and is designed to provide definition without a crunchy finish. (Slickdeals)
$13.49
🌊 2. A Lightweight Gel
If mousse gives you the volume you want but your waves disappear after a few hours, add a small amount of gel.
Gel gives the wave pattern something to hold onto and can help fight humidity and frizz.
The trick for my hair is not going overboard.
I want my hair to feel soft and touchable—not like I've shellacked it into place. 😂
🧖🏼♀️ 3. A Gentle Hair Towel
This one makes a surprisingly big difference.
Regular terry-cloth towels can create a lot of friction, which can encourage frizz and rough up wet hair.
A microfiber towel is a much better option for wavy hair.
The Kitsch Satin-Wrapped Microfiber Hair Towel is designed to reduce friction while helping hair dry faster and is available through Amazon. (Spoken)
$25.99
💤 4. Satin for Sleeping
If you've spent an hour defining your waves only to wake up looking like you fought a ceiling fan in your sleep… 😂
You need a satin pillowcase or bonnet.
The goal is to reduce friction while you sleep so your waves don't get completely destroyed overnight.
How I Would Style My 2B Waves
Here's the routine I'd recommend trying if your hair behaves similarly to mine:
Step 1 — Wash
Use a gentle shampoo and don't pile your hair on top of your head while washing.
Focus your shampoo primarily on the scalp.
Step 2 — Condition
Apply conditioner primarily through the mid-lengths and ends.
Don't be afraid of moisture—but remember that 2B doesn't automatically mean you need heavy products.
Step 3 — Detangle While Wet
Use a wide-tooth comb or your fingers while your conditioner is in.
Once your hair starts drying, avoid aggressively brushing it.
Step 4 — Apply Styling Product
While your hair is still very wet:
Mousse → Scrunch → Optional lightweight gel → Scrunch again
The scrunching motion encourages those natural S-shaped waves.
Step 5 — DON'T TOUCH IT
This is the hardest part.
😂😂😂
Once you've applied your products, leave your hair alone while it dries.
Constantly touching your hair while it's drying can disrupt the wave pattern and create more frizz.
Step 6 — Diffuse or Air Dry
If I want more volume, I'd diffuse on a low-to-medium setting.
If I want a softer, more relaxed look, air drying works too.
Step 7 — Scrunch Out the Crunch
If your mousse or gel creates a slight cast while drying, don't panic!
Once completely dry, gently scrunch your hair with your hands.
The result should be soft, defined, bouncy waves.
Why I Don't Want to Force My Hair to Be Curly
This is something I've really started appreciating.
I don't need to make my hair look like Type 3 curls.
My natural texture has its own personality.
Some days my hair is:
🌊 2B
Some sections might look closer to 2A.
And depending on humidity, products, damage, styling and how wet my hair is when I apply products, certain pieces can even look curlier.
That's completely normal.
Hair doesn't always fit perfectly into one category.
In fact, curl pattern is only one piece of the puzzle. Hair density, strand thickness and porosity can also influence how your hair behaves and what products work best.
My Goal: Defined, Soft, “Carrie” Waves ✨
Ultimately, I'm not trying to make my hair perfect.
I want that effortless, slightly undone, voluminous wave.
Think:
Carrie Bradshaw walking through NYC
rather than
I spent three hours fighting with my curling iron. 😂
The best part about having naturally wavy hair is that once you figure out what your hair actually needs, you don't necessarily need a million products.
For me, the formula is:
💧 Moisture + 🌊 Wave definition + 🫧 Lightweight hold + ✨ Minimal manipulation
And suddenly those waves that I used to fight with start working for me.
🛍️ Shop My Wavy Hair Favorites
I've put together my Amazon recommendations so you can find the products and tools I'm trying without having to hunt them down individually.
I’ll be adding my favorite 2B-friendly mousses, gels, microfiber towels, satin accessories, brushes and other wavy-hair finds there.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that fit the wavy-hair routine I'm talking about here.
Carrie Bradshaw/Sarah Jessica Parker image: use with appropriate image licensing/attribution; a Creative Commons Sarah Jessica Parker image is available through Wikimedia Commons, while the Sex and the City stills shown in search results are copyrighted promotional/editorial images. (commons.wikimedia.org)
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