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Wearing a wave cap often results in unwanted lines across your forehead. After years of personal experimentation, I’ve discovered the nuances to prevent this.
In this article, I’ll share my insights on avoiding those bothersome indentations, aiming for a seamless wave cap wear. Let’s delve into the details.
Contents
How to Not Get Lines From a Wave Cap
Wave caps serve multiple purposes, such as creating the classic 360 waves, protecting your hair while you sleep, and making a bold fashion statement. Regardless of how you use it, it can leave an indentation on your forehead or your hair, especially when you wear it for an extended period.
Here are some of the ways to not get a pronounced line from a wave cap:
Layer With a Scarf
Adding a layer of fabric between the forehead and the seam can create a protective barrier between your skin and the cap. I recommended opting for a plain square scarf for this purpose using the following steps:
- Fold the scarf horizontally into a 1-inch wide band
- Tie it around your forehead over the area where the edge of the wave cap sits
- Place your durag or cap over it, making sure to layer the seam in the middle of the scarf
- Tie it snugly at the back
Even though this hack is simple, you have to make sure the band from the scarf is not too thick. A thicker band will impede the wave cap’s ability to press your hair down to create waves in the front. Thus, you may not get the same wave depth as the rest of the head.
Moreover, opt for a silk scarf instead of a cotton one. Silk is known for absorbing less moisture from your hair than cotton, so the scarf will not dry your hair when it comes in contact with them at the back of your head.
Add a Headband
You can also use a headband to prevent the line from forming on your forehead. A slim headband can function as the barrier in place of the scarf in the hack above. You can also use it differently if you feel the band is too thick to replace the scarf. Here is how:
- Put on your cap as you normally would over your head
- Bring the end of the cap past your forehead down to your nose
- Wear the headband around your forehead
- Fold the edge of the cap upwards over the headband
This method allows your wave cap to be in direct contact with your hair, pressing them down appropriately, and ensures that you do not get any pesky lines on your skin. However, ensure that your cap is not too tight otherwise, it can cause your head to hurt.
Wear the Durag Inside Out
It is recommended to wear a durag to sleep instead of a wave cap. The durag can be adjusted to be snugger than the cap, which tends to move when you toss and turn in bed. Unfortunately, some durags have prominent seams running through the center.
This seam can create a line on your hair, ruining the radial wave design, especially since you need to tie the durag tightly to keep it from slipping off while you slumber. A simple way to utilize the durag to its maximum potential without the compression mark is to wear it inside out.
The durag’s design allows it to be worn either way without compromising its ability to protect your hair. However, when you wear it inside out, the seam does not come in contact with your hair. Moreover, since you wear it at night, you do not have to worry about it looking odd!
Put on the Durag Correctly
Sometimes, simply putting on your durag correctly can reduce the appearance of lines on your forehead. Wearing a durag is easy. However, when you are careless with it, it can result in a forehead streaked with lines.
Thus, when you put on the durag, take your time to make sure everything is perfectly aligned. Flatten all the panels, especially those coming in contact with your face. Make sure that all the seams are separate. Instead, they should be spread out on your forehead.
Buy the Correct Size
If your wave cap is giving you a headache in addition to a line, it might be too small for you. While the cap needs to be snug to fulfill its purpose, it should not give you a compression headache.
Compression headache occurs from the external pressure of wearing something that is too tight around your head. It induces moderate pain, which can still be uncomfortable since it keeps on persisting while you are wearing the fitted headgear.
Thus, to save yourself from the pain and the line, buy a wave cap that fits you better. The pain tends to subside within the hour, yet the line remains long.
Keep Your Skin Moisturized
In addition to adopting practices that prevent trendy headgear from creating a line on your forehead, you should also work to improve the condition of your skin. Dry skin is more prone to getting lines that are deeper and longer lasting. Moreover, with time the line starts to get darker if you do not take certain measures.
Therefore, moisturize your skin regularly, especially before you put on your durag. Allow the skin to soak in the moisturizer completely before you put on your cap.
Tips on How to Avoid Getting Lines From a Wave Cap
| Tips | What to do |
|---|---|
| Tip 1 | Layer it with a scarf |
| Tip 2 | Add a headband |
| Tip 3 | Wear it inside out |
| Tip 4 | Wear it correctly |
| Tip 5 | Go for the correct size |
| Tip 6 | Moisturize your skin |
How to Get Rid of Lines From Wave Cap
If you have already ended up with unwanted lines from your wave cap after wearing it for too long or tying it too tight, there are some remedies to minimize their appearance. While these tips will not eliminate the indentation completely, they will make them less noticeable when you are in a bind.
Massage Your Skin
Massaging your skin has numerous benefits, most of which contribute to diminishing the indentation on your forehead. Therefore, massage your forehead along the line in circular motions to increase blood circulation.
When the blood rushes to your facial muscles, it plumps up your skin, thereby reducing the lines. However, massaging alone will not get you prominent results, so combine it with the next tip!
Use Lukewarm Water and a Towel
Once you have massaged your skin for a few minutes, apply warm towel compressions. Soak a small towel in hot water, squeeze out the excess water, and rub it on your forehead downward. Warm the towel again and massage your skin as needed.
Apply Alcohol Wipes
We discussed getting lines that become darker with time. To get rid of these lines, you need to use alcohol wipes every day until the line fades. First, wash your face with soap and water to eliminate dirt.
Dry your face completely, then gently scrub your forehead with an alcohol wipe or a cotton pad soaked in alcohol. Follow this by moisturizing your face generously, as alcohol tends to have drying effects on your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Wave Cap Make Permanent Lines on Your Forehead?
Yes, a wave cap can make permanent lines on your forehead, especially when you wear it on a daily basis for long hours.
Normally, if you don’t massage the lines or apply alcohol wipes after the lines form, the lines tend to accumulate in the area around the forehead, making it harder to remove them in the future.
Can Permanent Wave Damage Your Hair?
Normally, the moisturizer used to make the waves are chemicals such as ammonium thioglycolate and glyceryl mono thioglycolate, which can cause skin problems and also damage the hair.
However, if you adhere to the proper guidelines on how to get a permanent wave, there might be no hair damage.
Can Seamless Wave Caps Prevent You From Getting Lines?
Yes, seamless wave caps can prevent the formation of lines, especially in the area around your forehead. Generally, if you wear regular wave caps that are seamed at the edges, you might get lines, especially when you tighten them around the head.
However, seamless wave caps might not offer enough compression to your head compared to seamed wave caps.
Conclusion
Getting lines on your forehead is the primary downside of wearing a wave cap for many hours. Fortunately, simple hacks that are easy to implement can keep your skin from forming wrinkles. Moreover, if you do end up with the lines, you can take measures to reduce their appearance until they fade away naturally.