Best Products for 360 Waves: The Complete Guide for Beginners and Advanced Wavers

Written By: Nick Wavy
Last Updated: June 2026

If you're trying to get deeper, healthier, and more defined 360 waves, using the right products can make the process significantly easier. While brushing consistency remains the most important factor in wave development, the products you choose can help improve connections, hair health, and overall progress of deeper 360 waves.

Whether you're just starting your wave journey or currently wolfing, this guide covers the best products for 360 waves and how to use them effectively.

If you're completely new to the wave process, start by reading our How to Get 360 Waves guide before building your routine.

What Products Do You Actually Need for 360 Waves?

One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is buying too many products.

When I first started waving in 2012, I bought every brush, hair product, and durag I came across, even though I only used 3 products mostly; a brush, a cream, and my favourite colour durag.

In reality, most successful wavers only rely on three products:

• A quality wave brush that can be used at any hair length
  
• A silky durag that allows your waves to breath while retaining moistureA moisturizing product that works best for your hair texture
• The goal isn't to own every product available. The goal is to use the right products consistently.

Best Wave Brush for 360 Waves

Your wave brush is the most important product in your routine because brushing trains your hair to form your wave pattern. Waves are laid down curls, meaning you must have curly hair, and lay it down to achieve 360 waves.

Elite Wave Kit
Different brushes serve different purposes depending on your hair length and stage of progress.
🔗Shop Here

Best Brush for Beginners

If you're a beginner, you should start with a medium brush.

Medium brushes will be your all-around brush because it can be used when your hair is both long or short, without causing irritation on your scalp.

Alaska Ice Medium Wave Brush
The perfect choice for beginners because it offers the perfect balance between comfort and pull.
🔗Shop Here

If you're unsure which brush type is right for you, check out our Hard vs Soft Wave Brush Guide.

Best Brush for Wolfing

As you continue wolfing, your hair will get thicker, and you’ll need a harder brush to penetrate your hair to pull your waves from the root.

Hard brushes allow you to wolf longer because of their bristle strength. A soft brush lacks bristle firmness to reach your scalp, but a hard brush with the correct bristles can help extend your wolf sessions, and manage your thicker waves.

The Yellow Thunder Hard Wave Brush was designed specifically for wolfing and features reinforced boar bristles that can handle longer hair. The 7 rows of bristles also allow for stretching of your waves, which can provide a wider wave look.

➡For a complete wolfing strategy, read our What Is Wolfing guide.

Best Brush for Fresh Cuts

After a haircut, a softer brush becomes more effective.

Soft brushes help lay the hair down, improve shine, and distribute natural oils throughout your hair by having bristles soft enough to brush the waves instead of penetrating the scalp.

A true soft brush usually consists of boar bristles. The natural boar bristles absorb oils & moisture, and redistribute it throughout your waves with brushing. This is why a soft brush is best used to spread products throughout your waves.

Inferno Soft Wave Brush
Polish your 360 waves after every haircut.
🔗Shop Here

Best Durag for 360 Waves

A durag is the second most important tool in your wave routine.

I compare durags to a video game memory card: You play the game by brushing your waves, and you save your progress by wearing a durag.

A durag compresses your waves, and should be worn whenever you’re not brushing. This ensure your waves stay compressed and laid down throughout the day.

Sleeping without a durag is detrimental to your wave pattern, and may develop forks in your pattern. Rubbing your waves against your pillow, and potentially sleeping in awkward positions can disrupt your wave pattern, and youll have to work twice as hard to recover from the damage.

Benefits of wearing a durag include:

• Better compression
• Improved moisture retention
• Reduced frizz
• Better wave connections
• Protection while sleeping

Best Everyday Durag

For most wavers, a silky durag provides the perfect combination of comfort and compression.

Silky durags are lightweight, breathable, and effective for daily wear. 

Not only are silky durags a fashion statement, they’re also critical in your wave development. 

You want to retain moisture, shine, and keep your waves compressed, and a silky durag provides that in comparison to other material durags such as polyester or velvet.

If you're looking for a reliable everyday option, explore our Silky Durag Collection.

Best Premium Durag

Wavers looking for a luxury option often prefer a thicker material durag.

The TrueSilk durag helps minimize friction and can help maintain moisture levels more effectively than traditional materials.

Durags often get pulled and tugged, and this can lead to rips and wear and tear. The TrueSilk durag was manufactured with a thicker material, which resulted in a durag that lasts longer without ripping.

TrueSilk Durags
Designed for serious wavers who prioritize hair health and premium comfort.
🔗Shop Here

If you're unsure which style is best for you, read our Best Durag for 360 Waves guide and our How to Tie a Durag tutorial.

Best Hair Products for 360 Waves

Healthy waves start with healthy hair.

Many wavers struggle with dryness, especially during longer wolfing periods. Dry hair often becomes difficult to manage and can lead to breakage and reduced definition.

A quality hair product helps:

• Improve moisture retention
• Reduce dryness
• Add shine
  
• Support healthy hair growth
• Improve manageability
  

Best Hair Oil for Wavers

Our Wave Growth Hair Oil is crafted with natural ingredients, including essential oils that promote healthy hair growth, shine, and manageability.  Unlike wave cream, it has a lower viscosity, allowing for more application without causing damage or buildup.

Wave Growth Hair Oil
Nourish your hair for healthy 360 wave growth
🔗Shop Here

Our Wave Growth Oil combines several ingredients commonly used in healthy hair routines, including:

• Jojoba Oil
• Castor Oil
• Argan Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Grapeseed Oil
• Rosemary Oil
• Tea Tree Oil
• Vitamin E

These ingredients help nourish the hair while supporting a healthier wave routine.

To learn more about hair hydration, read our How to Wash 360 Waves guide.

Best Wave Cream for 360 Waves

Wave cream can help improve manageability and make brushing sessions more productive. When your hair gets thicker, a wave cream helps lay down your hair, and becomes necessary to help continue your wolfing session for a longer period of time without you looking like an actual wolf.

All Natural 360 Wave Cream
Add shine, hold, and moisture to your 360 waves
🔗Shop Here

Our Wave Cream was made using:

• Shea Butter for moisture
• Beeswax for hold
• Castor oil for hair growth
• Sweet almond oil for shine
• Vitamin-E for antioxidants 

Benefits include:

• Reduced frizz for cleaner looking waves
• Better laydown 
• Improved definition to make waves more visible
• Easier brushing sessions by softening the hair

Many wavers apply wave cream before brushing to improve control and help train the hair more effectively.

Our Wave Cream works particularly well when paired with a quality brush and durag.

Best Wave Kit for Beginners

With all the hair products available, many beginners don't know where to start.

A complete wave kit removes the guesswork by combining the required tools needed for each stage of your wave routine.

Beginner Wave Kit

The Beginner Wave Kit includes the products most new wavers need to begin their journey with confidence.

You only need a few products to start your wave journey:

• Medium brush to start developing your pattern
• Soft brush to lay down your hair after your brush session
• Hair oil to add moisture, shine and manageability
• Durag to save your progress

It's ideal for:

• New wavers
• A waver looking to take their waves serious
• Anyone building their first routine

If you're still learning the fundamentals, make sure to read our How to Get Waves on the Sides and How to Get Waves in Your Crown guides.

Best Products for Wolfing

Wolfing requires a slightly different setup than maintaining a fresh cut.

Longer hair requires stronger tools and additional moisture support.

Recommended Wolfing Setup:

• Hard wave brush to penetrate your hair 
• Hair oil to moisturize and prevent dryness
• Durag to save your progress
• Brush cleaner to remove dirt and debris from your brushes

Our Wolfing Kit combines these essentials into a package specifically designed for wavers growing their hair out between cuts.

Best Products For Fresh Cuts

Your waves after a fresh cut are most vulnerable—the hair isn’t as curly, and you removed a lot of bulk. Your haircut will expose forks, and areas of your waves that need to further develop.

After getting a fresh cut, you cant use the same products you were when wolfing. A hard brush will irritate the scalp, and wont be as effective.

Softer brushes work best for fresh cuts because the bristles glide over the waves without scalp penetration, meaning the waves are getting brushed—not the scalp.

Curved brushes also work great for fresh cuts because the contour of the brush perfectly covers all areas of your head, maximizing brush coverage.

The Fresh Cut Kit includes all the products needed to maximize your fresh cut:

• A curved medium-soft brush to cover a larger surface area
• Soft brush to brush your waves—not your scalp
• Hair oil to add shine and moisture
• A durag to lay everything down

Our Fresh Cut Kit includes everything needed to maintain your fresh cut, while developing your 360 waves further.

Recommended 360 Wave Routine

The best products won't work without consistency.

This is the daily routine I’ve followed for over 15 years:

Morning Routine

• Comb my hair to wake up my wave pattern
• Focus brush my crown area for 5-10 minutes
• Brush the rest of my pattern for 5-10 minutes

I dont wear a durag because I brush throughout the day.

Afternoon Routine

• Quick comb session to reactivate my wave pattern
• Brush in the mirror for 5-10 minutes
• Focus on my crown for 5-10 minutes
• Lay everything down with a soft brush

Pro-Tip:

I only brush the edges of my waves if I'm unable to brush in the mirror. This prevents confusion in my pattern, as consistent brush strokes reduce forks. If I cant see exactly what I'm brushing, mistakes may occur. Focusing on brushing specifically my edges helps develop my waves right down to my lineup, and I don't have to worry about making mistakes with my pattern which can create forks.

Evening Routine

• Brush my hair in the shower
• Brush my hair in the mirror following my wave pattern until my hair is dry
• Apply oil after my hair dries
• Brush the product throughout my waves with a soft brush
• Wear my durag to save my progress

Pro-Tip:

Shower brushing my 360 waves has been my secret for the past 15 years. When my hair is wet, its much easier for me to manage and manipulate. I use the same brush I use din the shower to dry my hair. The bristles have usually softened, and as my waves start to dry, the softened bristle strength + the thickness of my hair really works well for me. I shower brush everyday mostly becuase of hygienic reasons. I live an active lifestyle, and shower brushing helps me remove the dirt and sweat I accumulated throughout the day.

I made this video tutorial in 2014 that can guide you on the full breakdown of shower brushing your 360 waves.

Following this routine consistently will produce better results than buying additional products.

Final Thoughts

The best products for 360 waves are the products that support consistency.

For most wavers, that means:

• A quality wave brush for each stage of your wave pattern
• A durable durag that allows your hair to breath while compressing your hair
• A moisturizing product that promotes healthy hair growth
• A simple daily routine you can follow consistently

Remember that products don't create waves. Brushing, compression, and consistency create waves. The right products simply help you get better results faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

What products do I need to get 360 waves?

At minimum, you'll need a wave brush, a durag, and a moisturizing product. These three items form the foundation of a successful wave routine.

What is the most important product for 360 waves?

A wave brush is the most important product because brushing trains your hair to form the wave pattern. Waves are laid down curls, and a bristle brush is used to lay down your curls. Consistent brushing leads to better connections.

Do I need hair oil for 360 waves?

Hair oil is not mandatory, but it can help reduce dryness, improve hair health, and make your waves easier to manage. The longer you wolf, the harder it becomes to manage your hair. A quality hair oil can help alleviate those issues.

What brush should beginners use for 360 waves?

Most beginners should start with a medium wave brush because it provides enough pull without causing excessive scalp irritation. A soft brush also develops your wave pattern, but works best when your hair is short.

Read this article on the difference between Soft & Hard Brushes

Should I wear a durag every day?

Yes. Consistent durag use helps maintain compression, reduce frizz, and preserve your wave pattern between brushing sessions. If you’re not brushing, you should be wearing your durag.

This article will answer all of your durag questions
Durag FAQ

What products are best for wolfing?

A hard brush, moisturizing product, and durag are the most important products for successful wolfing. As your hair gets longer, you need a brush with harder bristles to penetrate your scalp, and pull your waves from the root.

Wolfing is important if you want deeper waves. This article will help you understand.
What is Wolfing?

Can products give you waves without brushing?

No. Products support the process, but brushing and consistency are what actually create 360 waves. Oils, creams, and durags can help lay your hair down, but a consistent brushing routine is what will create your wave pattern. The extra products will assist you along your journey.