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7 Ways to Get Perfect Beach Waves

Woman applying spray on curly brown hair close-up

Beach waves make a great universal hairstyle for different hair types. It has caught on pretty fast with celebrities like the Kardashians, Nicki Minaj and Demi Lovato, among others rocking this style. It blends the casual beach vibes with a touch of the seventies style. The beach wave is the only style that gives you the freedom to rock natural hair in the form of curls or waves and still look stylish. And the best part is you can pull it off in the comfort of your home. Here's how:

Using a Curling Iron

This method works for short, straight hair as it tends to be a little daunting to create the beach wave style. Start by applying a heat protective spray and brushing before using the curling iron. Separate the hair into different sections and begin clumping each part from the roots curling, leaving an inch towards the end to create the perfect wave. For the under layers, curl the hair towards the face. The upper layers are curled away from the face.

Using a Small Barrel Curler

The idea is to create as many curls for long hair as possible. The small barrel allows you to curl large chunks of hair fast for big waves in a short time. Brush your hair and section it into four sections. Take one part of the hair and wrap it around the barrel, away from the face. Hold it for 10-15 seconds and release it. Repeat the process for all the sections and apply hairspray. Also, open up the curls.

The method is great for people who have large volumes of long hair as it takes five to seven minutes to create the beach wave.

Using a Ponytail

A unique feature of the beach wave hairstyle is that the hair begins to curl halfway down. As such, you can easily pull up your hair into a ponytail and curl the tied sections only. This method allows you to keep track of the curled parts when all the hair strands are gathered. For this look use a 32 mm barrel or within this range to ensure the curls are loser and bigger compared to sections of hair that are not yet curled. Take out the ponytail and apply a texturising spray to define the curls more.

Air Drying

If your vibe is all about following a low-maintenance routine, this age-old trick is just perfect. Make a few strategically placed buns all-round your hair and air dry it. You can also pin, twist and wait a few minutes before unravelling to the perfect beach wave style. Apply a styling product to enhance the volume of the air-dried strands.

A Simple Twist and Using a Flat Iron

It's the easiest way to create a beach wave especially if you're already a fan of using a flat iron. Lightly mist your hair with a sea salt spray and separate it into two sections - on the right and the left. Create a twisted cord on the right section and flat iron the two long twists from the top. Repeat the process on the left part and allow the hair to cool before unravelling. Finish off with a spray to add volume.

Using a Straightening Iron

The method is great for people who have thick, long hair. A straightening iron is ideal for this style as it makes the waves last long. Apply a heat protective spray on the hair and brush it to ensure the product is spread evenly. Also, ensure that there are no tangles. Separate the hair into two equal sections, grab a large chunk of hair from the bottom and curl it away from the face. Using larger pieces of hair creates loser waves, and smaller sections will give you a tighter curlier look. Repeat the process for the other part.

No-Heat Beach Wave

Create a beach wave fast without a flat iron, clump or straightener. The method is great if you're just in from a pool and need to make a fast touch up for dinner. First, rinse off the hair and condition the ends. Do not touch the roots to preserve the natural beach volume. Dry the ends using a towel and brush the hair using a wide-toothed comb. Apply a sea salt spray lightly, tousle the hair and allow it to dry. Then, flip the hair using your fingers to allow the under layers to dry evenly.