Beach Waves
A: You can definitely achieve beach waves without committing to a perm, even with pin-straight hair. The secret lies in creating waves of varying sizes throughout your hair to mimic that tousled look you get after a day at the beach. The goal is to make your waves appear organic and naturally imperfect rather than uniform and obviously styled.
The Quick Method
For a faster approach that's perfect for everyday styling, start by washing your hair and gently towel-drying it until it's damp but not soaking wet. Apply a lightweight styling mousse or setting lotion throughout your hair, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. The key here is choosing a product that provides hold without weighing your hair down or making it feel crunchy.
Next, blow-dry your hair using a large round brush, lifting sections at the roots to create volume. Once your hair is completely dry, it's time for the curling iron. Here's where the magic happens: instead of curling uniform sections, vary the amount of hair you wrap around the barrel. Take some thick pieces, some thin ones, and curl them in different directions. Some curls should go away from your face, others toward it. This randomness is what creates that natural, beachy texture.
After curling each section, don't brush it out immediately. Instead, let the curl cool completely in your palm or pin it up against your head while you work on the rest of your hair. Once all sections are curled and cooled, gently run your fingers through the waves to soften them. A small amount of texturizing paste or sea salt spray can add definition and the slightly tousled finish that makes beach waves so appealing.
If you want waves that will survive multiple days or you're dealing with stubborn straight hair, try the wet-set method. Start the same way by washing and towel-drying your hair, then apply your styling product. However, instead of blow-drying, you'll set your damp hair on rollers of various sizes. Mix large, medium, and even a few small rollers throughout your head, but avoid placing them in any obvious pattern.
You can either air-dry your hair (which takes several hours) or sit under a hooded dryer for about 45 minutes to an hour. The key is making sure your hair is completely dry before removing the rollers. Once you take them out, resist the urge to brush through the curls immediately. Instead, let them settle for a few minutes, then gently finger-comb them and add your finishing products.
To make your waves last even longer, especially if you live in a humid climate, finish with a light mist of flexible-hold hairspray. This helps prevent that dreaded curl collapse that can happen when moisture in the air weighs down your waves.
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See also:
Beach perm technique
Beach wave perm