Blake Lively. Sienna Miller. Gillian Zinser. What do these three beautiful celebrities have in common, apart from their great fashion sense? Awesome hair. Tousled, beachy waves spring effortlessly from their heads, and for years I was totally jealous. But I think I’ve finally perfected the look—keep reading to find out how!
Your Hair
How you go about getting beach waves can really depend on your hair type. If your hair is naturally very curly, you may have to work on taming it; if it’s straight, you may have to use a lot of product. Do what you think will work for your hair…this is just what works for mine.
The Steps
I usually will wash my hair in the evening, and then when it is mostly dry, put it in a topknot. I know scrunchies are totally 90s, and I wouldn’t wear one out…but they have really saved my hair. They prevent breakage and damage when you put your hair up. My favorite brand is Goody.
After sleeping with the topknot, take it out in the morning. Your hair may be wavy enough to just wear the way it is…but if it isn’t, you can touch up with your favorite heat tool. I like to curl random sections with my flat iron.
This video from bubzbeauty will show you how to curl hair with a flat iron.
Finally, I scrunch and spray with my homemade sea-salt spray. (Learn how to make your own from Glamour) You can also use your favorite product whether it’s a gel, a spray, a clay, etc.
Backcomb at the roots as desired for extra volume and tousle with your fingers. Voila! Beach hair without the beach.
The Products
The best of the best for easy beach hair…
Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Mousse
A body wave perm is also an option for having easy beachy waves, every day. I know a perm may seem intimidating and outdated, but the process has greatly changed since the 80s, I promise.
by Heather (headbandit)
image via Marie Claire France, August 2010
Do you want beachy waves? Or do you prefer your hair to be stick-straight? Let us know in the comments or send a tweet to @everybodyisugly