Based on the nonlinear Schrdinger equation with variable coefficients, which can describe the transmission of optical wave in inhomogeneous graded-index waveguide, the generation and management of bright and dark self-similar waves in different waveguides are discussed. According to the exact optical self-similar solutions of the equation, the evolutions of the self-similar waves in the Kerr nonlinear plane waveguide, the homogeneous graded-index waveguide, and the inhomogeneous graded-index waveguides with periodic distribution and with hyperbolic distribution are studied in detail respectively. The results show that the generation of the self-similar wave relates to the distributions of the linear and nonlinear refractive indexes. The self-similar waves can be compressed and amplified in both homogeneous system and hyperbolic system. However, in the hyperbolic system, the transmission distance of self-similar waves can be more limited. In a periodic oscillation system, self-similar waves with a periodic oscillation can be generated and propagate stably.