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How to Get Beach Wave Hair Without the Beach
If you’re looking for a hairstyle that’s easy to do and showcases your hair’s natural beauty, you can’t go wrong with a beachy wave. “It’s a carefree wash-and-wear look that’s always pretty and always looks real,” says Kevin Mancuso, Global Creative Director for Nexxus. It’s also a prime example of the done-yet-undone trend that’s been gaining popularity with women of all different hair types.
The beachy wave is meant to look organic and imprecise, which makes it a forgiving style — flyaways and unevenness only add to the appeal. That said, there’s a fine line between a sexy tousle and a tangled mess. The key to pulling this wave off without looking like your hair got caught in an underwater vortex is to balance out the texture with a hint of polish and some light definition. To do this, you’ll need the help of a few key products and some sneaky styling hacks. Lucky for you, we’ve got plenty of both. Ready to make waves? Follow Kevin’s step-by-step guide below to score this beach babe style.
Perfect Waves Start at the Sink
All great hairstyles start at the sink, says Kevin, so give your hair a helping hand by creating a healthy foundation with the right shampoo and conditioner. If you have fine, straight hair you’ll want to give it a volume boost by using Diametress Volume Shampoo and Volume Conditioner.
Prestyle Prep: Straight Hair
Once you’ve cleansed the hair, it’s time to prep it for styling. “For straight hair,” notes Kevin, “you want to build it up so that it’s bigger, the shape holds longer, and you’re creating a little bit more of the fluff and flyaway texture.” He recommends applying Nexxus Mousse Plus Volumizing Foam all over wet hair, then flip your head over and aim your blow dryer at your roots to provide lift.
Prestyle Prep: Curly Hair
For curly hair, the goal is to soften the curls and tone down any frizz you may have, says Kevin. To do that, he suggests running Nexxus City Shield DD Hair Crème through your wet curls, squeezing it into the hair to activate your natural wave pattern. Then use a diffuser to gently dry it.
Let’s Turn Up the Heat
Grab your flat iron or curling iron (whichever you prefer) and begin to wrap sections of hair around it, one at a time. You actually want to be inconsistent with your technique here in order to create a more organic wave effect. You can do this by curling strands in different directions, add bends to some sections, and change up the tightness of the curl. With curly hair, Kevin advises being more selective with your hot tool, only adding in a few small curls here and there for that varied texture effect.
The Finishing Touches
Once your hair is curled, run your hands through them and use your fingers to elongate the curl and break up any defined shapes. It’s key to do this move while your hair is still warm from the iron — it’s more moldable and easier to shape into the wave pattern of your choice. You can apply a little more of the City Shield DD Hair Crème if you want to add a touch more polish to your style.