360 Waves are a popular style for Black men and for years, Black men have used Sportin' Waves Gel Pomade with Wavitrol III to help them achieve their desired wave pattern from people with fine hair to people with coarse hair.
The Sportin' Waves Gel Pomade with Wavitrol III also referred to as "Wave Grease" is a great product with a nice pleasant smell to help you achieve this look and this blog will detail how to use the famous maximum hold gel pomade with Wavitrol III known as Sportin' Waves!
Is Sportin' Waves a Good Pomade for Black Men?
Before I jump things off, I have not used Sportin' Waves since I was in middle school. I used to try to get waves back when I was a little kid. And as a kid with spiral curled hair, the only thing I knew about was going to Walmart, looking to see what they had when it came to getting waves. And at that time, the thing that caught my eye that was on the market was Sportin' Waves because of the title and simple instructions.
Now, back in the day, I used the black can. The black can has this "gelatrol" ingredient in it and once I realized that I stopped using it because I really did not want to use gel on my hair because I was told that gel is not good for people of African descent.
As an adult who makes videos about men's grooming now, I have learned that both the gold can and black can are both Sportin Waves Gel Pomade with Wavitrol III. The gold can is used for maximum hold and the black can is used for normal hold so you can use either one and it is one of the best pomades for all men that you can find for a good value even in other countries.
Click Here to Buy: Sportin' Waves
Click Here to Watch: Hair Tutorial
1 Thing to Know Before Using Sportin Waves Pomade
Now, the only thing I do not like about Sportin' Waves with Wavitrol III is on the front of the can it says "maximum wavemaking formula, goes on easy."
I have to give a disclaimer for everybody that's reading right now. There is no product that will give you waves unless it's a brush. So this product does not give you waves.
Since this is a pomade, it will not give you waves, but it most definitely will help lay your hair down and provide a natural sheen.
Natural vs Unnatural Products for Waves
I know a lot of people may be wondering why am I writing this blog about Sportin' Waves Pomade because you all know my position that natural products are better for healthier hair and that is why I created Texas Tea Hair Care Products.
The one thing I want to say is I encourage the use of natural products, but at the end of the day, I understand there are some people, especially a lot of kids that watch my channel that can't afford, or they don't have credit cards or things like that, to buy some of these natural products online.
People tend to give a bad rep to products like this because a primary ingredient used is petroleum; however, petroleum is a very great sealant. Softsheen Carson states that their gel pomade with Wavitrol III restores moisture with products specifically formulated for short and brushable hair, as well as wavy hair. They have also been in business for over 100 years without any lawsuits or known damages.
Therefore, if the only thing some people can do is go to the store like I once did as a kid and buy some Sportin' Waves by Soft Sheen Carson, that is their choice. I am not one of those elite wavers that say only use natural products. Your scalp is not going to get messed up from one application of using this type of stuff every now and then. Now, I don't want to deviate too much on that whole natural versus unnatural thing.
How Do You Use Sportin Waves Gel Pomade?
As you read the back of the can, it states the following:
"Dampen clean hair with a hot towel to soften. Rub silver-dollar sized amount of Sportin' Waves pomade in hands until even layer forms. Work into the hair in the direction of desired wave pattern. Brush into desired style. For best results, cover head with Sportin' Waves cap for a minimum of 30 minutes or overnight. Remove cap and finish styling."
1) Dampen Clean Hair
With the directions-- when it says, "Dampen clean hair," a lot of people tend to overlook this step and what it means. Before I ever use Sportin Waves Pomade, I always wash my hair because it needs to be CLEAN! Here is a video on how I usually shampoo and clean my hair:
2) Hot Towel Method to Soften
Now, when it comes to using the hot towel to soften, as a kid, what I used to do, and I thought I had to do, was take the rag run it underneath some hot water, and then throw it into the microwave.
But, one thing that can happen when you do that is it can get to the point where it will get too hot, and if you put rub your hair with hot towel it may burn your hands or forehead and feel like this👇🏽
In short, do NOT microwave the wet towel to make it hotter!
What you can do is take the water and turn it all the way to the hottest that you can stand. Let the rag run underneath there for about 5 to 10 minutes. You really do not have to do it for a very long time.
You then take it and cover your hair with hot towel and just pat it down or rub your head in direction of desired wave style and you want to do this at least one or two times.
The reason why you want to do it at least two times is that a small hand towel will not cover head.
3) Rub "Silver Dollar" Size Amount
Before putting pomade in your hair, you may want to put a small amount of hair moisturizer in first.
Now, when it comes to this step I do not always rub a silver dollar size amount in my hands. Many people reading this blog may not even know what a silver dollar is for size measurements because coins are no longer accepted at stores due to Covid-19 and some coins are no longer made, such as the silver dollar. Refer to the picture below to see how big is a silver dollar:
The silver dollar is the first coin from the left. Stop and think about this. THAT'S A LOT OF POMADE!!! This is why I state in my video, "depending on the length of your hair, you want to use a certain amount."
If you start off with 2-4 weeks of hair growth, you may want to start with a dime-size amount, and then, depending on the length of your hair, and how much you feel you need, you can move up if you need to rub silver dollar size amount in your head.
4) Even Layer Forms
Once you have chosen the right size amount of Sportin Waves pomade for your waves, rub it until an even layer forms.
5) Work into the Hair in the Direction of Desired Wave Pattern
All right, now with pomade you want to just lightly tap it in the flow of your wave pattern. I encourage every waver to start from the wave crown and rub outward to your hairline, but do not go to your edges all the way.
Now, the reason why I say this is because most people have 360 waves. You do not want to get these products all the way to the edge of your hairline because it can tend to lead to getting bumps on your forehead.
People tend to think that unnatural pomades give you a line of bumps on your forehead, but natural products can do the same thing. If you struggle with bumps on your forehead, this video will help you get rid of them:
6) Brush Into Desired Style
Always wash your hands before you grab your brush. If you are a beginner, the best brush to start off with is a Wave Enforcer 544. The reason why is because if you are using Sportin' Waves it is best to use a brush that you can also find in Walmart.
If your hair is freshly washed and still damp, it may take a little bit longer for me to lay my waves down. It can typically take about 15 to 30 minutes for your waves to dry while brushing them. This is also the right amount of time that you need every single day to be able to get waves with brushable hair.
7) Cover Head with Sportin' Waves Cap
You do not have to use a Sportin' Waves cap if you do not have one. You can use any durag or stocking cap in your personal care inventory.
When you finish styling your waves and before you put a durag or cap on, if you do not see the definition in your waves it may be due to your waves not being fully dry or you may not have brushed enough in that area.
Once your hair is dry I highly encourage you to take a Ziploc plastic bag and rub your waves in the flow of your pattern to be able to help lay your waves down a lot better, especially if you are in a long wolf.
If you are looking for a durag, I encourage buying the following seamless durag because it is very cheap and inexpensive:
When putting the durag on, you do not want to drag it from the crown to the front. If you do, then you are pulling the products from your hair all the way to the edge of your hairline and this will lead you to get bumps on your forehead. Simply just lay the durag on top of your head.
8) Remove Cap
After you have left the durag on your head for at least 15 to 30 minutes, when you take it off your hair looked fresh out of the rag and everything like that you waves should look something like this:
What Does Sportin Waves with Wavitrol III Do to the Hair?
Since this is a pomade, it does not guarantee to make your hair shiny and it does not adds moisture through the process of preparing your hair before applying it. The Wavitrol ingredient requires you to avoid an open flame.
Is Wave Grease Bad for Your Hair?
No! Many people have been using wave grease for years, even though there are still some questions about whether or not it works. You do not need to use it a lot and I do not recommend it as an everyday hair product because if you adopt this product in your daily grooming routine for personal care, it can prevent your scalp from receiving moisture.
But at the end of the day, it does what it says that it will do and that gives you the maximum hold for your waves.
Thanks for reading!
About SoftSheen Carson
For over 110 years, Softsheen-Carson has strived to offer people of African descent products to help them achieve a natural look of beauty. Their vision was to offer a wide portfolio of brands that captured heritage and innovation to make them unique in the marketplace.
They believe that everyone should be able to flaunt his or her own attractiveness with confidence and style. This implies that people of color should be able to communicate who they want to be and how they want to look, rather than being judged by their race.
How to get your Desired Wave Pattern and Desired Style
Ingredients of Softsheen Carson Sportin' Waves Gel Pomade with Wavitrol III (3.5 oz)
Originally posted from Soft Sheen Carson's site:
42253SS4 – Petrolatum, Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil, Polysorbate 20, Paraffin, Parfum/Fragrance, Dimethicone, Propylparaben, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol Geraniol, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral Benzyl Alcohol. F.I.L. D5804/2.
Petrolatum, Aqua/Water, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, Paraffinum Liquidum/Mineral Oil, Polysorbate 20, Oleth-5, Propyleneglycol Paraffin, Hydrolated Lanolin, Oleth-10, Cera MICRO- CRISTALLINA /MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX Parfum/Fragrance PHENOXYETHANOL, METHYLPARABEN, Propylparaben, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Limonene, Citronellol Geraniol, Amyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral Benzyl Alcohol. F.I.L. D6693/1
Warnings: Keep hair away from open flame, lit tobacco products, fire, or sparks.
