Product Review: Wave Nouveau

Have you ever wondered how to achieve a Jheri Curl; well without the dripping oil, that is? 

Look no further.

The Wave Nouveau Coiffure Collection

A permanent wave (remember the word "perm", this is where it all started) is a chemical treatment that produces a curl or loose wave pattern when applied to hair. This usually involves breaking the bonds that form the hair and reforming them. 

It is way different from a relaxer treatment; which is also permanent chemical treatment as well. A relaxer treatment is used on people with very curly to tightly curly hair to achieve straight hair with the aim of making the hair more manageable.

Cold wave treatment	Relaxer
Contains Ammonium Thioglycolate	Contains Sodium or Calcium Hydroxide
Leaves hair curly or wavy	Leaves hair straight
Cumbersome to complete	Easy to complete
Breaks hair disulfide bonds and reforms some.	Breaks hair disulfide bond. No reformation process.
Both can be used on naturally tightly curled hair or for touch up
Cannot use both at the same time
Both change hair texture completely and permanently
Both severely weaken hair. Proper moisturizing & conditioning is a must

We all know what relaxers are, so I will not go any further.

A permanent wave hairstyle is also known as "cold wave". This is what where the cold wave rods got their name from. It's called cold because no heat is usually applied to achieve results.

Wave Nouveau Coiffure is a SoftSheen Carson brand that is known for making the cold wave treatment, simply put. So, if you want to achieve a Jheri curl look at the end of the day, the entire Wave Nouveau collection is what you should be reaching for.

Enough said, let's get to the process.

The first step is to shampoo your hair. You definitely want to use a clarifying shampoo to help get rid of oils, dirt, debris and build up. This step is key because when the hair is properly cleansed, it allows the chemical treatment to set well.

Phase 1: Shape Release

As it name implies, this is used to break the hair's chemical bond. At the end of this phase which usually lasts about 5-10 minutes, the hair should be very straight. 

Skin irritant Alert: This product contains Ammonium Thioglycolate, the salt of a weak acid and weak base that is usually found in hair removal creams. So do not attempt to do any of this treatment at home or by yourself.

It is to be used on very curly and/or kinky hair, preferably African hair textures. 

It comes in 3 strengths: 

for Normal/Medium hair,

for Resistant/Coarse hair and

for Fine/Colored-treated hair.

Choose your desired strength and:

1. Apply the treatment to entire hair 1/4 inches away from the scalp. 

2. Leave on for 5-10 minutes

3. After application, check for desired straightness every 2-3 minutes. In all, do not exceed 15 minutes including application time.

4. Once desired straightness is achieved, rinse thoroughly from hair with warm water.

DON'T use on already relaxed hair.

DON'T reapply on already permed hair. 

DON'T use a hair dryer.

DO apply to only new growth, that is if you have done this treatment before.

If your hair is natural, apply to entire hair.

Phase 2: Shape Transformer

Phase 2

Back of Phase 2

After straightening hair with the Phase 1, Phase 2 is used in transforming and reshaping hair into desired curls. So, at this stage you will need:

- A hand glove

- Cold wave rods [a.k.a perm rods] They come in various sizes. Larger rods will produce more loose waves. Smaller rods will create tighter waves.

- cotton wool 

Different sizes of cold wave rods

1. Section hair for wrapping/curling and apply Phase 2 to sectioned hair. 

2. Wrap the hair around a cold wave rod and secure it in place. 

3. Reapply Phase 2 to hair as needed to prevent it from drying.

4. Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3 until the entire hair is fully wrapped.

5. Once wrapping is completed, blot out excess product, place a cotton strip around the hair line and cover the head with a processing cap. Leave for 10 minutes.

6. After 10 minutes processing time, remove cap and check for "S" pattern. 
* If desired wave is seen, rinse the hair with the rods on thoroughly for 5-10 minutes using warm water.

* If desired wave is not yet achieved, do not rinse. Replace cap and check again after 3 minutes.

7. After thorough rinsing, still with rods on, blot individual rods to eliminate excess water.

8. Go to Phase 3.

Skin irritant Alert: This product contains Ammonium Thioglycolate and Ammonia. 

Phase 3: Shape Lock

Back of Phase 3

Add caption

Also, as the name implies, this is used to reconfigure and lock hair into its new shape. The hair automatically takes the shape of whatever it was wrapped around.
This product contains hydrogen peroxide that acts as a neutralizer to ammonium thioglycolate. 

Remember the hair bonds that were broken in Phase 1? Phase 3 helps the broken bonds to reform, thereby locking the hair into a permanent new shape. 

But note: Not all the broken hair bonds will reform. This ends up leaving hair weaker.

To use:
1. Protect hairline by placing cotton strips along it. This also prevents the solution from dripping to the face.
2. Apply Phase 3 generously to each rods. Make sure you saturate the entire head of hair with it.
3. Leave on for 10 minutes. Do not use a hair dryer.
4. With rods still on, rinse thoroughly with warm water and towel blot.
5. Remove rods gently and rinse for 2 minutes with low water pressure until Phase 3 is completely removed. Do not agitate the hair while rinsing.
6. Towel blot and moisturize with Moisturizing Finishing Lotion or Mist. (At this point, I prefer the Lotion.)

For daily use:
Moisturize with the Wave Nouveau Daily Humectant and Finish off with the Finishing Mist. Moisturizing daily is essential for permed hair to prevent hair breakage and dryness.
Do NOT shampoo hair for 48 hours after a cold wave. This is to enable the style last longer.

Always do this treatment at a professional's ONLY.

In the end, Jheri Curls gives hair a textured look and feel that is manageable.

Everybody loves texture. It's so versatile.

Really who wouldn't?

Get the complete Wave Nouveau Coiffure Collection from any CasaBella store near you.

The Wave Nouveau Coiffure Collection

Much love from me,

IfyCynthetic.