Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie Review

When waving, one goes through many different stages. Your hair will grow to various lengths and proper product selection is very important throughout your process. As I grow my hair out between haircuts it starts to curl on its own so maintaining my waves isn't such a daunting task at all. Going the extra mile never hurt either so having a good supply of curl enhancing products in my arsenal is a must. Today I will be reviewing one such product. Coconut and Hibiscus Curl Enhancing Smoothie by the company Shea Moisture.
I purhased a generous supply of this stuff from a local walgreens for 10usd.  12oz to be exact. Definitely a great value product per penny. That's always a plus.
This is an all natural product that claims a lot but has the natural ingredients to substantiate that. Coconut oil, Silk Protein, and Neem Oil are the most heavily promoted of them. The label is full of all types of information on the history of the company, no this no that in regards to animal testing and what not. Even gives a LOT number. Pretty serious labeling if you ask me. Forget all that though, does this stuff work? Let's get to that.
The first thing I do anytime I buy a product for my hair is smell it. Force of habit. This has a strikingly familiar smell. I can't put my finger on it but I've definitely smelled something very similar. It smells pretty good. Like a Piña Colada come to think of it. It looks just like whipped shea butter if you've ever seen that. It has ath same consistency as well. Directions say to apply to damp or styled hair. That pretty much means throw it on anyway you see fit. In that case I just used used it how I would use any other curl enhancing product. I wet my hair and apply a decent amount thoroughly while shaking my hair around until its curls all the way . Then I use my hot rag method so that my hair is nice and soft and curly. VERY curly. This stuff does curl my hair up quite a bit. Once my hair is soft I medium and soft brush the waves in. I do notice a slight bit of frizz in my hair as I brush, quite common with all natural products. About a nickel sized amount of product smoothed over my brushed hair to lay it all back down nice resolved that issue though. Finally I throw my durag on for several hours.
When I take of the durag, usually after having worn it overnight, my hair isn't as shiny as it is with other products I have tried in the past. When I brush it with a medium/soft brush I notice that it is still very soft and u can really see the brush laying the curls down. That's a telltale sign of soft conditioned hair. I use the product several times during the week and it works well with the other products that I use for my methods. I wash my hair twice a week or every four days to keep product buildup at a useable level for wave development and sculpting. This products works fine for that.
This product should last me a long time because I only use it for the last few weeks out that I'm growing my hair. I could use it all the time, but I vary my products throughout my wave cycle to try new things so I can consistently provide information via my reviews. When I find a product that works well I continue to use and repurchase it. I would have no problem buying more of this. It serves its purpose, can be applied in different ways, is natural, and a great value.
Overall the product is labeled as a Curl Enhancing Smoothie and it does curl the hair well and leaves it soft and smooth. You won't get any real shine from using this so if that's what your going for then another product should be on your list. Waves do come from curls however, so if used in conjunction with other products this can be a great asset to those who have issues with wave development. I definitely recommend you give it a try.
For this review Shea Moistures' Curl Enhancing Smoothie receieves 3 out of a possible 5.
All products I review will be considered for product of the year in December
Follow @drmanhattan718 on twitter for daily tips and info on waves.

Nothin like a good soft brush stroke...

I'm glad this is a blog for wavers. I feel more at ease speaking about my obsessive brushing with those who may be able to relate easier.

I've been in the zone brushing all day today 5/1/12. Had a great day I must say. Work was good. I enjoy my job. I sit at a desk for the most part of the day during the week. I get to brush pretty much as often as I like. I've been brushing with a Crown 360 premium caeser brush. Its a very firm medium/soft brush. I can't even describe how easy this thing makes brushing feel. I'm hoping that my average reader knows the difference between brushes and the proper use of them. If not then you're in the right place either way because I will definitely go into all of that in due time.

Now back to this brush. Its soft enough that it wont disturb your waves yet firm enough to stimulate the oils in the hair and work the very top layer. That's a key role that soft brushing plays. This helps to develop well defined peaks in the wave. Brushing should be approached systematically. Each brush has a purpose and you should eventually begin to learn how different brushes feel on your hair. A hard brush always becomes a medium brush I always say. It means you break brushes in over time. They change. Some are keepers and some you get rid of quickly because they just don't serve any real purpose for you. I have some brushes that I've had for years. Been through them all from Annie, Diane, no name brand, and one of my personal favorites the R.S Stein 106.

I find myself enjoying brushing more when its a soft brush session. Once I get into a rythym the soft brush stroke feels somewhat therapeutic. After a long day I can find solace with a soft brush. As a rule of thumb I always end each brush session with a soft brush. I have the premium Crown caeser brush now but I will still go back to my R.S Stein 106 from time to time. A good brush is a good brush.

Soon I will elaborate on my medium brush session. That's enough for now. I seriously have built up an urge to go at it with, you guessed it.

Follow @drmanhattan718 on twitter for daily tips and info on waves.

Crown 360 Gold Brushes Sale

I know a game changer when I see one so I jumped at this opportunity. The brush game done got serious and HairCare4waves is right there with it.
Now on SALE Crown 360 wave brushes.
While supplies last
Caeser brushes (without handle) are $13 compared to $16 on the website
Crown brushes (with handle) are $16 compared to $19 on the website.
Brushes come in hard medium and soft. Red, black or blue.
Email haircare4waves@gmail.com for ordering info. Package prices available

Sea Sick Pomade Review

I follow the wave news pretty carefully. I know when a particular product or technology has the industry buzzing. I say industry because yes we have our wave nation, but the industry is product companies that market and distribute the products that we use for our methods. There are tons of products out there that claim to do a whole lot, but we know that talk is cheap. Unfortunately many of these product companies have big bank accounts and they spend to advertise and promote to get these products on the shelves. Its up to us to decipher through all of the mumbo jumbo and find products that work for us.
The product I am reviewing today is not from a major product company. On the contrary its the brainchild of a small businessman from California who has been an active voice in the wave community for many years. It is not marketed heavily so through my networking in the wave community forums I have discovered and will now review Sea Sick Pomade by how2getwaves.com
(I ordered this product online. When I'm dealing with small businesses I always look for customer service. Being a small businessman myself I know the importance of customer satisfaction. Big companies make sure that their products are on the shelves for us to buy. Smaller businesses may have to deal with you directly or through email in order to complete transactions. When I review products from small businesses, part of my review depends on the overall ordering experience.)
I was a bit leery at first because there was no telephone number listed for customer service. I'm just funny about stuff like that. The ordering process was fairly simple however. I paid with my paypal account. Shipping was handled by United Postal Service and took a little longer than I expected to arrive. It did however arrive after 11 days and I received exactly what I ordered. 2oz of Sea Seasick Pomade in a white no frills labeled container.
The first thing I do when I get a product for my is hair is smell it. Force of habit. This products smells amazing! Hands down best smelling product in the game. Yes even better than Hollywood Carrot Creme, by a landslide. Think grape Kool Aid mixed with bubble gum....Exactly! That's one thing I definitely like about Sea Sick. I also like the name. It just sounds like its a wave product. 
This product is classified as a pomade. For the most part I steer clear of pomades because I have better products that are easier on the hair and have never really found a need for them. I didn't really like the old school pomades like Murrays and Dax. Those were just too thick and messy for me. I don't like weighing my hair down with a ridiculous amount of product. Sea Sick is promoted to be an all natural light weight whipped pomade. When used you are supposed to have a smooth sheen and laid down hair. Its also promoted to be very low build up and easy to wash out with water. Quite a lot of claims to back up. I can co-sign all of that though. I have been using Sea Sick off and on for over a year. It has found its way into my second half wolfing stage, weeks 4 to 8.
The way I use it a 2oz container has lasted me forever. I use it after my hair is already conditioned and laid down. Its applys very smooth and evenly. The scent is an added effect to the supreme shine. Once I apply a small amount evenly around boths sides, front and back I brush it in good with a medium brush. Eventhough its lightweight it does have a firm hold of the hair and is very good for brushing. You can see it reinforcing your wave pattern. I usually apply it at night and durag overnight. The next morning my hair is on point. Shiny smooth and smelling wonderful. I brush it out with a soft brush and it maintains a generous luster for days.
I have no idea what the ingredients of this product are to determine if it is natural or not. I don't really like that too much, but I can understand how he may feel someone is gonna try to infringe the copyrights. Small businesses have to protect certain secrets. Not a huge deal, but I still don't like it because I like to know what I'm putting in my hair. My hair is my business and I have to keep it looking good.
Overall I am very pleased with the product. I will continue to use it and will reorder whenever I run low. I recommend this for anyone who wants a great smelling product that does the job of laying your waves down and keeping them smooth and shiny for days.
For this review Sea Sick Pomade receives 3.5 out of 5.
All products that I review will be considered for Product of the year in December.
Follow @drmanhattan718 on twitter for daily tips and info on waves.

Cuttin your own hair

Hope you didn't expect to learn any tips about cutting your own hair in this post. I don't cut my own hair YET. I've been kicking the idea around in my head for a while now. I know a few people who cut their own hair and they don't do bad at all in my opinion.
I'm just so accustomed to going to the barber shop. That's not a good thing either. Many times I can remember not being completely satisfied after a trip to the barber shop. Now its one thing to go for a routine line up and taper, but a full cut is a serious moment. Many weeks of wolfin and practing proper methods and brushing and hard work is on the line. I'm bein real when I say I don't think I'm the best person to put in charge of the clippers as easy as it may seem. Well not right now anyway.
I have seen a few video turorials out there, my boy even cut his own hair down right in front of me and lined himself up. I know its not rocket science or anything like that and its probably just stubborness on my part. I will eventually try my hand at it for sure. I'm researching some clippers now. If anyone knows of any good ones just sent me a mention on twitter. I was considering the new Andis MVP.
Follow @drmanhattan718 on twitter for daily tips and info on waves

Worlds Hot Rag Method

The following is an exerpt from the upcoming book Dippin: The Art of the Wave Game by World McCrea.

Keeping the hair moist and conditioned is very important to the waving process. There are several products on the market that can help maintain overall moisture in your hair. There are also steps that you can take to make sure that your hair and scalp take full advantage of the products you use. The following is a method that you can use for just that.

For this method you will need a soft/medium brush, leave in conditioner, medium sized towel, rat tail comb, and a durag. The leave in conditioner will remain in your hair to provide long lasting moisture. With the brush, you want something soft but firm as well so that the conditioner penetrates the individual strands of hair within the waves.

Begin by combing your hair out against the grain. You are combing against the grain so that you can lift all of your hair up to be conditioned thoroughly. Apply the leave in conditioner to slightly damp hair. Comb your hair with the grain so that it lays back down. Prepare your hotrag so that you can apply it to your hair. Leave the hot rag on for a few minutes to soften up the hair. Brush for 3 to 5 minutes. Put your durag on and prepare the hot rag again. Get the hot rag as hot as you can take and wrap it completely around your head, on top of the durag. This is going to provide heat and moisture which will activate the oils in the leave in conditioner to mimic the benefits of a hot oil treatment. Leave the rag on for about 10 minutes or more for best results.

This method, if used consistently will promote a healthy coat of hair that is shiny and soft to the touch.

Read more about it in the book.  Dippin: The Art of the Wave Game by World McCrea coming soon

Follow @drmanhattan718@gmail.com for daily tips and info on waves.

Barber Spotlight

Workin on my website and thought to myself, barbers don't get enough credit. Well I know exactly how much of a role a good barber plays in keepin some peoples wave game on point. Each month or so I plan to have a barber spotlight. We will interview him about a few things..check out his wave knowledge and search for valuable jewels and information that we can share with the site visitors.

Any interested barbers please submit your info to haircare4waves@gmail.com

Contest Info

Hey y'all...I'm over here makin some nice moves for the wave nation. I do have a life but a lot of my time goes to my passions. I like to educate people. Just feels good for me so it comes easily.

I have a lot in store for this venture I'm on. Very soon I will have a website up to help promote hair care education for wavers. It will be a nice site for you to go for information on products and news in the wave game. I will make it very interesting for all.

I need a few models for the home page. I don't just take random pics off the internet. Not my style. I provide and equal opportunity for you guys who put in the hard work and dedication to get your waves on point to get some exposure on my site. Whoever I choose to be on the home page banner will win a free Crown 360 brush, and exposure all day.

Submit your best waves pix and info to haircare4waves@gmail.com

Crown 360 medium Caeser Brush Review

I like reviewing heavily anticipated product. This has been a pretty good year for the wave nation so far in terms of product innovation. Today I will be reviewing a brush from a company called Crown Quality Products.
The brush I'm reviewing is the Medium Caeser brush from CQP. The bristles are a mix of synthetic and boar bristles. By brushing my thumb firmly across the bristles I can determine that the brush is fairly sturdy for a medium. I like that. The first thing that jumped at me was the shape of the brush. This military style brush is curved to fit the contours of your head. I must admit, a genius had to come up with that. Its a perfect design if you're trying to get waves.
The brush has 11 rows of bristles and is larger than most brushes I've used. This is very good because it covers your entire head in less brush strokes. That provides for a more uniform wave pattern with less brushing. What waver in his right mind wouldn't like that? As I started brushing I immediatley noticed the benefit of the brushes superior design.
Its one thing to see that its curved, but to actually brush with it and feel how it literally hugs your head as you brush is just something else altogether. I found myself asking, how didn't someone come up with this yeeeears ago? This is definitely an innovative product that actually works.
The company claims to guarantee waves in less than 30 days with their brushes. I would have to say that IF you follow practical methods AND use this brush then you will definitely be better off than if you used any other brush. Its that good in my opinion. I've tried tons of brushes over the years and this brush blows every last one of them out of the water as far as comfort and functionality. I have been brushing with this for a little over a week then went back to the brush I used to use (an R.S Stein 105 hard) which I swore was the best, and it felt like a joke. Just small and insignificant. The Crown Caeser fits like a crown on your head for real and the bristles are extra long so that it moves your hair a lot better as it grows. That's always a plus.
I'm in my 4th week of growing out my hair so the medium is perfect for me. I did notice that when my hair was wet the firmness was a little hard for the top of my head. As my hair dried a bit it was absolutely fine. Many of the brushes that I've used in the past bruise the top of my ear because the bristles constantly hit it. The extra long bristles on the Crown Caeser eliminate that issue altogether. Anyone who suffers from that will definitely appreciate this brush. The package even came with detailed instructions on how to brush for waves, and care for your hair and brush. Excellent customer service in my opinion. Hard to find nowadays.
I can't say much bad about the brush at all. The logo on the back of the brush doesn't last long if you care about that sort of thing. It rubs off after a few days. Especially if you use your brush as often as I do. Some may frown on the price tag as well. The caeser brush goes for $15.95 plus shipping on their website. To that I say what I always say. You get what you pay for. If you can afford it, buy it. I recommend it highly. Its comfortable. Best of all, it works very well. That's what I really look for in any product I use anyway.
I don't see any brush touching this right now. Its what I will continue to use daily. I won't throw my other brushes out however. The Crown Brush is not recommended for shower use, so I won't be using it in the shower, I guess I will need brushes for that.
For this review, the Crown 360 medium Caeser Brush receives a full 5 out of 5.
All product reviews I do will be taken into consideration for product of the year in December. Competition for that is heating up for sure. Very good for the wave community.
Please continue to follow this blog. I have plenty in store for you.
Follow @drmanhattan718 on twitter for daily tips and info on waves.

Hot Oil Treatments for Waves

If you're following this blog then you're tryna keep your waves together and I definitely appreciate that. We're all on the same path here, keepin it spinnin. Now everyones waves aren't silky and smooth. I know you have seen some official waves out there. That takes conditioning. Like anything else in life you have your elite level and entry level. Waves do not come overnight, but with proper techniques the process can be very simple.

The key to very soft, silky hair is conditioning and moisture. Plain and simple. The hair goes through quite a lot with some of the products people use to get waves. Not to mention the constant brushing. Some guys don't even use proper technique at all. They brush dry hair. They misuse products. They don't even put forth the necessary effort to get their hair looking and feeling healthy.

A decent session to work on your waves from a fresh cut is 6 to 8 weeks if you're still working on your pattern or depth. Your goal during this session is to properly care for your hair until your next cut and build your pattern with your methods. I will be posting several different methods for various results in the near future.

Before you cut your hair you want to be sure that it is fully conditioned and healthy. Your waves are under there. You want that hair to have been well taken care of during your process (wolfing). An excellent way to ensure maximum conditioning and promote healthier looking hair (silky and smooth) is proper use of hot oil treatments. If you're wavin and your not hot oil treating your hair then you're definitely not tryna reach that elite level with yours. That's fine by me. Some people would rather have raggedy, dry lookin waves and that's completely on them. I prefer to take em to the pool when I get my #2.

There is no real mystery or secret recipe when it comes to hot oil treatments. There are tons of places where you can buy them or you can mix your own. I mix my own because its not hard and I'm Dr. Manhattan so why not? A few table spoons of extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil and canola oils is great for a hot oil treatment. This combination provides a great sheen for me. It lasts for days too, even without the use of anything else. That's how powerful a hot oil treatment can be to your grooming regimen.

Application is fairly straight forward. My personal method that works for ME and MY texture hair is a table spoon and a half each of the olive, coconut, and canola oils heated for 20 seconds in a microwave. Eventhough its called a hot oil treatment you don't wanna be foolish and burn your scalp. Warm is fine. It will serve the purpose. You can experiment with different temperatures cause everyone isn't built the same way. I massage the heated oil into my hair and scalp thoroughly. I don't even care about the waves right now, they won't go anywhere. I get it all into my hair and scalp. A quick comb session ensures that all my hair is thoroughly coated with oil. Shower cap for 30 minutes. Sometimes I go the extra mile and hot wrap my head with a towel rather than the shower cap. I don't see that much of a difference to be honest so no need to do that all the time. Shower cap works fine and its simple.

15 to 30 minutes depending on how much spare time you have should be fine. Rinse it out afterwards and apply your moisturizer or brushing cream and soft brush then durag.

I suggest adding hot oil treatment for the last 3 weeks before your cut. Like weeks 6, 7, and 8 of an 8 week session. Once a week is perfect. That gives you 3 sessions of super conditioning right before you cut your waves in. That cut hair will be healthier and shinier than ever and ready for a fresh new process.

Get this method in your life asap for the summer. Thank me later when you're out there blindin em in the sun, naturally!

Follow @Drmanhattan718 on twitter for daily tips and advice

Cocoa n Shea Wave Butter Review

Let me start this off by saying I went alll over the place looking for this product. It was sold out everywhere I looked. I was getting frustrated. Shout out to Texas Beauty Supply online. They shipped the product out to me quickly for a little under 9 bucks.
This product comes from Spartan Brands Wavebuilder natural line. It is labeled as Cocoa & Shea Wave Butter Moisture Revitalizer.
For the price I received 4.8oz of product. The jar didn't seem as full as I expected for some reason. Anytime I purchase a product for my hair I always smell it. Force of habit. Now I wasn't really impressed at all with the smell. Then again how good did I really expect cocoa and shea butter to smell. The closest thing that I can honestly compare the smell to is Play Doh. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't smell horrible by any means, just not the best smelling product on the market.
Ok now how do I categorize this product? Its not exactly what I would call a traditional moisturizer, nor is it a conditioner. If you ask me i'd call it a brushing cream. It serves a great purpose as that. Directions say you can use this during and after brushing. That's just how I use it. It made my hair very easy to brush. I used it several times throughout the day for a week.
This product had a lot of hype built up for me. Mainly internet buzz. I'm a very active member of the 360 wave nation so I know what products are buzzing out there.  I must admit, I am very critical when it comes to hair products. I keep it all the way real on these reviews. There are too many product companies out there that have garbage product and trust and believe I will let you know if I review one.
Ok now can the wave butter live up to the hype? Let's see. It claims to be a moisture revitalizer. I can definitely vouch for that. I like that all you have to do is add a bit of water throughout the day to reactivate the buttery smooth texture which is an excellent consistency for soft brushing. I dabbed a little bit of it in my hair for brushing sessions and it did feel good. Compared to other products I have I would say it doesn't fare well against some of my product line of moisturizers. BUT it does not claim outright to be a moisturizer either so I can respect that. Wavebuilder is known for having quite an extensive product line for all purposes. This is a brushing cream in my opinion. If you go a bit thicker with the application it will lay the hair down nicely as long as it isn't too long. Great for the first few weeks of brushing sessions while wolfing.
I haven't seen how this wave butter will be for me at my 6th to 8th week out. I will mention that in future postings however. I do plan to continue using this product sparingly for a while. When my hair grows longer I really like to use a good moistuirizer so that it moves easier when I brush it. I'm brushing as I write this blog of course and I must admit my hair is very soft. I'm on my 3rd week out. I'm able to comfortably brush with all of my brushes.
Wave butter is very light. That's a plus for those who know how to effectively use product build up. I won't get too deep into to that right now. Check a future posting for sure, I got you. By the time I was ready to wash my hair I was able to have some seerious sessions with a good hard brush. That allows me to start working on depth early on. That works for me because it adds value to my products.
I have to say that I didn't really notice any superior shine as the product claims. I have products that will run circles around it in that department. It says that its non greasy, that's true. It doesn't leave my hair feeling greasy at all. Once in a while my hair did feel dry. Brushing for a while brought back the lustrous feeling. That's why I call this a brushing cream. It feels good when you brush it.
So overall where do we stand with this product? I respect products that live up to their claims. This one does for the most part. I do feel it was well worth what I payed for it, that's always good in my book. I never really saw myself being in the market for a brushing cream. Then again what other brushing creams do they even have on the market? That's pretty good in my opinion as far as innovation of the product area of our community. This can definitely serve a good purpose for me in several stages of my process so I'm satisfied overall.
Every product I review gets rated. 1 to 5 and I will select a product of the year in December.
The Cocoa & Shea Wave Butter Moisture Revitalizer gets 4 out of 5 for this review. Very strong candidate for product of the year so far.
Follow @drmanhattan718 on twitter for daily tips and info.

Tsu Rag Review

This is the first of MANY product reviews I will be doing for the 360 nation. Let me start by saying that I am very ethical and give UNBIASED reviews of all products I feel will have an impact on the community of wavers that I am here to educate and support.
This review is on a product that is attempting to revolutionize the wave community. It looks to replace the du rags, wave caps, stocking caps, scarves and bandanas that we have all been using for years to lay our hair down.
So without further ado...heeeeeres the review!
The Tsu Rag claims to be the Tsulution to all of our durag problems. Its stringless so no more lines on the forehead from tight durags or stocking caps. But is that enough to warrant the $10 price tag. Yes you head me correctly, the Tsu Rag is a whopping $10 plus shipping. So be prepared to spend that for one of these.
Is it better than a traditional durag? Or should I ask is it a suitable replacement, what its looking to become?
To answer that let's weigh out some pros and cons.
Straight out of the package I definitely like the material. Its stretchable in all directions and has a very smooth texture. That's great for waves. BUT the fasteners are made of velcro. I work as an upholsterer for cars so I am very familiar with the material. One thing I know is it doesn't really hold up well when it gets wet often so that's gonna be an issue there. Especially since a durag is $2 and lasts forever pretty much, and the Tsu Rag costs 5 times as much and may not last that long (remains to be seen still). That's not a major issue right now though because it secures fine with the velcro so far.
The Tsu Rag is extremely comfortable. I ordered a size Large and it fits me perfectly. I wear a 7.5 hat size. I have to admit that I don't like how it looks on me though. Just takes some gettin used to I guess, but it looks weird. And a big issue I have with it is, unlike my durags, I can't wear this with a fitted hat. I wear fitteds often so that's a no bueno for me. Not a deal breaker though.
Another issue I have with the Tsu Rag is, unlike my durag, it doesn't stay on too well over night. Mine always starts slipping off and that kinda defeats the purpose of having it on. I notice that if I try to take off my shirts or sweaters with it on it doesn't stay on well either. So that's an issue there. Durags are more reliable for sure in that department.
I wore the Tsu Rag for a week. Even to the gym. No problems with it during normal activities. I wrestled with my girl and it came off. Wrestle with her and the durag stays put.
So overall not much more to say here. I do like the Tsu Rag. Very nice, innovative and timely. I will even continue to wear the one I have. I don't feel however that it will ever replace my durag. I'm just too used to it and it works fine wit no line for me. Many people will love this thing and I encourage you to try it for sure. Great product? Yes indeed I feel it definitely deserves the attention its been receiving and you should check them out. Durag Killer? I wouldn't go as far as to say that. The Durag has been around for so many years and is as popular as it is because it works. Veteran users of the Durag have found ways to overcome the issues that new wavers experience. Its called paying your dues. If you really know how to rock a durag and have been doing it from way back then you already know. I like the durability of it. And I wear them under a fitted with no problem at all, which is a plus for me. I will still use my durags as well at times. All of my reviews end with a product rating on a scale of 1 to 5 and I will announce my product of the year in December. The Tsu Rag gets a 3.5 out of 5 from this review. A definite contestant for product of the year. Stay tuned for more reviews coming up. I use all of the products that I review for at least a week and try my best to review products that are demand in our community. Follow @drmanhattan718 on twitter for daily tips on waves and hair care.

3rd week into a wolfin session

I'm on my 1st day of week 3 into a wolfin session...just got a shape up last night, nothin off the top. I'm gonna go 6 to 8 weeks on a high maintenance phase. I'm goin high maintenance now because I went a few months on very low maintenance and I want to tighten a few issues up.

Products I'm usin this week: Curl Enhancing Smoothie, Curl Enhancing Shampoo, Wavebutter, Tsu Rag, Crown 360 medium brush, Namaste Lab hot oil treatments, R. S Stein soft and hard brush...Diane rat tail comb.

Focus this week is to keep my hair conditioned and soft so that it lays down easily. My hair grows quickly so I can start combing very soon. As sooon as your hair is of that length its a good thing too start walkin around with your comb as well as your brush. This will help to re-establish the connections in my wave pattern. After every combing session I end off with my soft brush. I comb everyday now.

A few times this week I'm using some curl enhancing products since my hair is getting longer. The longer my hair is, the more it curls. The key to curly hair is moisture as well so I have to keep my hair conditoned and moisturized. That's where the curl enhancing smoothie and wavebutter come in. I'm brushin a lot with the medium brush. My hair texture changes throughout the day so I switch up between medium and hard. Always end every session with the soft brush. I use wavebutter several times during the day when I'm brushin.

Nothin special. Just heavy brushin sessions...keep conditioned...and throw a hot oil treatment in there this week..

Keep it locked for more tips and methods...some reviews are on deck too

@drmanhattan718 on twitter

My 2 cents on brushes

If you follow this blog consistently you will find that I post a lot about brushes. They are such an important part of our process. The age old feud between your beloved Annies and Dianes will always be around in our community. The reason why? Plain and simple. Quality!
In any industry, the saying goes "you get what you pay for". Nothing could be further from the truth in the field of hair care. Hair care, you ask? Yes. What do you think maintaining waves is? Waves is one of the hairstyles that requires the most care and maintenance of all. That's why properly kept waves look so nice.
If you see anyone with spinnin waves, I guarantee you they have a brush on them. There are several different types of brushes. This particular post won't touch too heavily on branding, just overall build quality and purpose. Brush knowledge is very important to any waver. We have soft, medium medium/soft, hard, military, wave brushes...etc the list goes on and on. One can easily get confused with that many choices. When searching for a brush there are a few key elements to look for. Bristle type for soft and medium brushes should be boar bristle brushes. A good soft but firm boar bristle brush is like a buffing pad to a coat of wax. It is absolutely necessary for healthy waves. Comfort is something else to look for. You will be spending a lot of time using it so make sure its comfortable to use. Some people prefer the military stlye brush, or palm brush because of the comfort the provide. Soft brushes are necessary to provide a healthy shine to the hair and also to help with connection. Medium brushes are good to brush products into the hair evenly and develop the wave pattern while wolfing. Hard brushes are needed to penetrate the heavy growth of long wolfing cycles. They help with overall depth of your waves and are very important right before cutting your waves down. That was just my 2 cents on a few things brush related...I got a few more brush blogs comin. Brushin is a hobby of mine...I'm a bit more into it than you may think. My brush knowledge is defiinitely up to par. Follow @drmanhattan718 on twitter for daily tips and info on waves.

The Wash Before The Cut

Time to cut that hair down to get the wave poppin! Well you definitely need to wash it first. No barber likes for his clippers to get all messed up with your product buildup. Not cool.

Your hair should be fairly long now due to the 6 to 8 weeks of wolfing I'm sure you just went through. By now you should be using a good curl enhancing shampoo to wash your hair. This will promote more curling of the hair which translates to more waves for you.

Wash thoroughly with your hard brush. Brush your hair with the grain, against the grain, sideways, in circles. Doesn't matter, you won't lose your waves and your hair needs to be cleaned properly so that your products don't end up clogging your pores. Condition your hair as you normally would. Leave it in for a while, brush your pattern back in, then rinse well.

Now listen up. You wanna make sure your hair is ready to cut so you want to moisturize it LIGHTLY. Hit your hair up with the soft brush for a while. Don't even dry it. Let the soft brush dry out your hair a bit. This curls it up, brush em in. Apply your moisturizer, remember not heavy at all. This is just to keep your. Hair soft and easy to cut. Ksssh ksshhhh kshhh.

Throw your durag on for a while. At least an hour so your hair can stay put til you're ready to leave for the barber. On your way over there pull out your COMB and get to work. You wanna comb  because it lifts the hair that's about to be cut. And connects to top layer of hair so you can get a nice even cut throughout to start solidifying your pattern.

Remember each cut gets you closer to your goal.

Follow @drmanhattan718 on twitter for daily tips and blog reminders

Hair Cuts

If you follow my methods throughout this channel then you will know how to maintain your hair until the time comes for you to cut it.
If you're already satisfied with your wave pattern as far as depth and connection, then you can cut and trim as you see fit pretty much. If you're at that point then you obviously got there because you have the basics down packed.
Now for you out there that are still enduring the process of training your hair and sculpting your wave pattern, pay attention please.
You are going to be going through several stages of wave building on your road to head turning wave patterns. You know what I'm talking about because you wouldn't even be reading blogs such as this if you didn't care about your waves.
At first you have to let your hair grow out for as long as possible while religiously applying your methods. 6 to 8 weeks at a time if possible. The more you brush and COMB. Your hair during that time the better your hair will look after its cut. This process needs to be repeated as many times as it takes for you to be satisfied enough with your waves to enter a maintenance phase.
Depending on hair texture hair cuts should be as low as 1.5 with the grain (WTG). You can cut your hair against the grain. (Please read my advanced techniques blog to see when).
You have to find a barber who knows how to cut YOUR hair...I say that in all sincerity. Everyones hair is different, and you are training your hair. Its hard work and your barber is a player on your team. You have to tell him/her exactly what you want and what your goal is. For example, "I want a #2 with the grain...shape everything up. I'm workin hard on my right side because its givin me some issues so go easy with the blade there. Throw a hot rag on it when you're done please. That will let him know exactly what you're looking for and not have to assume.
Your haircuts should set you up with a solid start for your next phase of the building process. Follow my blogs for building and maintenace methods, hair care product reviews, and general information regarding the 360 wave nation.
Follow @drmanhattan718 on twitter for daily tips on them dips...

High Maintenance/ Treatment Phase

This is an excerpt from the upcoming book entitled "Dippin: The Art of The Wave Game" by World McCrea (@DrManhattan718 on twitter).

These methods can be used right after a low haircut. This phase should last 6 to 8 weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows.

Weeks 1 and 2
Products needed:
Brushes (soft, medium, and a hard brush for shampooing)
Mild shampoo
Conditioner
Durag
Washcloth or small towel
Wavebutter (www.wavebuilder.com) or something thicker, depending on hold preference.

Heavy brushing sessions throughout the day are key for the first 2 weeks. Be sure to keep the hair moist with water and conditioner/moisturizer. This is a crucial time to build or repair the foundation of your wave pattern. The hair is trained easier when its shorter. Focus on uniform brush strokes and technique

Apply small amounts of wavebutter in your hair throughout the day as you brush, or you can just keep wetting it with plain water. Don't worry about the amount of product you're using in the beginning. They will help to keep the hair moist and soft, which helps with the formation of waves. Not to mention, you will be washing your hair twice a week to keep down product buildup in the hair and brushes.
If you slack on brushing it will show, so its on you to keep up with that.

Choose 2 days a week to wash your hair with a mild shampoo and good conditioner. A hard brush should be used to wash the hair. It will soften with the hot water.

Use of a durag should be limited to sleep time or when laying around. No need to wear it a lot during the day because you should be brushing whenever possible. Prioritize brushing into your day as best as possible. Use of a soft and medium brush will be easy on the scalp.

When you can't brush for whatever reason you can use your natural brushes. Rub your hair down with your hand. Waves are just curls that are trained to lay down. Your goal in this phase is to make that happen... (continued in the book)

Hope you enjoyed this sample of the book. It has TONS more for you wavers. I'm putting a lot of work into it. I will be posting a few more samples soon to give you a better idea of the value the book can be for you.

Follow @DrManhattan718 on twitter for daily updates.
For the complete method of this phase email
dr.manhattan718@gmail.com

Introduction

Welcome 360 wave community...This is a blog dedicated to informing you guys of the latest products and techniques to keep your hair healthy and spinning. Be sure to follow @DrManhattan718 on twitter for daily tips and advice.