The basics. Wavy hair falls somewhere in between straight and curly, varying amongst individuals. It can be thick or thin, but the definitive characteristic is that wavy hair naturally falls into an "S" shaped pattern, differing from curly hair in that the "S" shapes fall close to the scalp rather than bouncing away from the scalp.

Shampoo. To keep your hair from drying out and becoming a frizzy mess, wavy-haired gals will want to wash their hair less often than their straight-haired counterparts, but more often than curly-haired girls. Try washing 2-3 times a week to coax your hair's natural waves. If you've been used to washing your hair on a daily basis, it might take a while for your scalp to adjust. But in time, you'll find that shampooing less often increases the manageability and softness of your hair, while decreasing frizz. Much of the time wavy hair tends toward dryness, so invest in a moisturizing shampoo to keep it hydrated. Just because you aren't shampooing your hair daily, though, doesn’t mean that you can’t style it daily. On the days that you don't shampoo, simply wet your hair and give your scalp a gentle massage to loosen oils and debris that can build up, physically cleansing the scalp. Then, if desired, you can use conditioner just on the ends.

Conditioner. Wavy hair is naturally on the dry side, which causes most of the problems for this hair type. Although the scalp may become oily pretty quickly, the ends typically aren’t. Keep shampoo far away from the ends of your hair to prevent them from becoming dry. Use a conditioner daily or every other day, regardless of how often you shampoo. Choose a hydrating or balancing formula like Philip B White Truffle Nourishing Hair Conditioning Crème. You might want to also use a leave-in conditioner, especially on the days that you shampoo. Try a lightweight formula like Korres Almond Proteins Leave-On Conditioner. Keep in mind that although moisture is essential, wavy hair differs in how much hydration it needs; if you over-condition your hair, it can cause it to be heavy, so experiment and find the right amount of moisture for your individual needs.

Detangling. 100 brush strokes a night is out, and in general, brushing is out for wavy hair, as it disrupts the natural pattern of the wave and can cause breakage. Instead, detangle when wet with a wide-toothed comb, or better yet, your fingers. Don’t mess with your hair when it’s dry, as this can cause frizz; implement a "hands off" policy.

Dry time. To keep the wave in your hair, don’t twist it in a towel, as this will ruin the curl pattern. Instead, scrunch your hair gently until most of the excess water is removed, then use paper towels or a microfiber towel to gently scrunch dry. If you’re in a hurry, you can use a blow-dryer set on low heat with a diffuser.

Styling. Apply styling products to wet, but not sopping wet, hair. The type of product you use will depend on how coarse your hair is. If the individual strands of hair are thin, skip heavy products like creams or lotion in favor of gels and mousses, which will give your waves some hold without weighing hair down. For coarse hair that tends to expand as it dries, a cream-based product will help keep your hair under control. No matter what your hair type, less is more. Start with just a dime or quarter-sized amount of product and gently scrunch throughout your strands.

Canopy curls. Many wavy-haired gals will notice that the while the bottom layer of their hair falls naturally into a pretty curl pattern, the top layer of their hair is relatively straight, forming a "canopy" that can be frizzy and difficult to curl. Adding more styling product to the canopy is a futile attempt, as this will merely weigh the hair down and discourage the curl even more. Instead, add just a dollop of your mousse or gel, and then twist individual sections around your finger. Cross the twisted sections over the top of your crown and secure with small clips, then allow to air-dry. If these top waves still look frizzy when you take out the clips, run a smoothing product like Oscar Blandi Olio di Jasmine Hair Serum over troublesome spots.

Second-day hair. The good news about both wavy and curly hair is that washing less frequently will yield better results, keeping your strands from looking dried out and frizzy. On days you don't wash your hair, you can either wet your strands in the shower and add a drop of gel to re-create your waves, or simply use a spray bottle to gently mist your strands and refresh your style.

Avoiding build-up. Daily use of gels and creams can build up on your hair, weighing it down and destroying those bouncy waves. For a deep-cleaning treatment, mix a spoonful of baking soda with a cup of warm water, pour on the roots and give your scalp a nice massage to remove build-up. Go easy on the baking soda, as it can be drying. You can also mix baking soda in with your shampoo.

Problem prone? Wavy hair can be difficult because it can easily become frizzy and pouffy, especially when the weather is humid. A great way to get smooth strands is to use an acidic rinse after conditioning your hair in the shower. You can use either a cup of tea or a mixture of one cup warm water to one tablespoon vinegar (apple cider or white). Pour over your strands, concentrating on the ends, as this mixture can leave the roots slightly greasy. The acidic nature of this rinse seals the cuticle and helps prevent frizz.

Bonus points. For wavy hair that is on the dry side, use oils to help smooth and nourish your strands. You can use a special hair oil like Sundari Neem and Coconut Hair Treatment Oil, or just olive oil out of your kitchen. Just smooth a small drop on dry or damp hair. For a weekly deep-conditioning treatment, use a little more oil and let it sit in your hair for a half hour, then rinse. Make sure not to use too much oil, and keep the oil away from your scalp as it can cause greasiness that is hard to rinse out.

Embrace the wave. As tempting as it may be to pull out the straightening iron and keep those waves in check, know that the more you heat style your hair, the more damage will occur. When healthy, your hair can be soft and shiny, falling easily into pretty waves. But under the continued stress of blow-dryers and straightening irons, you may notice that instead of being wavy, your hair tends to be pouffy and frizzy. Instead of cursing your fate, give your hair a little TLC, put away the flat iron and nurture your waves back to health.