Making 360 waves with Sportin Waves pomade requires a five-step routine — hot towel, product application, brushing in the wave-pattern direction, and overnight durag compression — repeated consistently until the pattern sets.

The pomade alone doesn't produce waves; it holds down hair that brushing has already trained into position. For a fresh cut, the Sportin Waves Gel Pomade with Wavitrol III is the right formula — hair is short enough to lay easily, and the Wavitrol III conditioning offsets what daily brush sessions strip out. When you're four or more weeks into a wolf, switch to Sportin Waves Maximum Hold, which has the hold weight needed to keep longer hair compressed between sessions.

  • Correct dosage: a silver dollar–sized amount of Sportin Waves pomade per application — more causes build-up.
  • Sportin Waves Gel Pomade with Wavitrol III is formulated for fresh cuts and maintenance phases (0–3 weeks of growth).
  • Sportin Waves Maximum Hold is the correct formula for wolfing phases of 4+ weeks of growth.
  • Sportin Waves gel-pomade base rinses out in one shampoo; petroleum alternatives like Murray's typically require three to four washes.
  • Minimum compression time: 30 minutes with a durag after brushing; overnight compression produces best pattern results.

Step-by-Step

  1. Soften the cuticle with a hot towel: Soak a clean towel in hot water, wring it out, and press it against your hair for 60–90 seconds to open the cuticle and make hair pliable before product touches it.
  2. Select the right Sportin Waves formula for your phase: Reach for Sportin Waves Gel Pomade with Wavitrol III if you're on a fresh cut or within three weeks of growth; switch to Sportin Waves Maximum Hold at four-plus weeks into a wolf.
  3. Apply a silver dollar–sized amount in the direction of your wave pattern: Warm the pomade between your palms, then work it into the hair following your crown's swirl outward — sides go back, top goes forward, nape goes down.
  4. Brush each section in wave-pattern direction until the hair lays flat: Use a medium or hard brush and brush each section — crown, sides, back — at least 50 strokes per session, keeping consistent pressure to train the curl into the wave shape.
  5. Compress immediately with a durag: Tie a durag snugly over your brushed hair while the pomade is still fresh — this locks the laid-down pattern in place and prevents frizz from undoing your brush work.
  6. Sleep in the durag overnight: Leave the durag on for the full night; this is when the pattern sets deepest, especially during a wolfing phase when longer hair needs extended compression to stay connected.
  7. Repeat the brush-and-compress cycle every session: Remove the durag in the morning, brush again before going out, and reapply a small amount of Sportin Waves pomade only if hair feels dry — consistency across sessions builds the pattern, not any single application.