How to Get Flawless Beach Waves: A Guide

Summer may be coming to a close this month (unfortunately), but our manes can still rock a set of beach waves year-round. The salty air, just-went-for-a-swim vibe that screams warm weather and fun in the sun, doesn’t have to be left for just a few months out of the year. Achieving some flawless beach waves can be done in a few simple steps, as long as you use the right tools and products of course! Read on for our guide on giving your strands a beachy touch-up any time of the year.

Braid It

Photo via Kassinka's blog

We’re sure you’ve noticed how good your hair looks once you undo a set of braids. The hassle-free style preps and primes our strands for a wavy texture that can last all day, giving you the beach waves you’re craving without the heat. Our go-to trick is styling two loose braids before bed and sleeping on them overnight. This way they’re set to last and you can go ahead and add your favorite styling products and touch up your waves as you please. If your hair tends to be very straight naturally, we highly recommend testing this out as your first step to beach waves.

Choose the Right Styling Tool

Photo via advicefromatwentysomething.com/

It’s a misconception that only one styling tool can be used to achieve your dream waves. Depending on your preferred wave size and style, whip out your curling iron, wand, or even your flat iron to help keep your tresses intact. For a more disheveled/less uniform set of waves, use a styling wand. This will allow you to wrap each section of hair and prevents you from styling waves that are on the tighter end. For more precise and tight beach waves, use a curling iron. This will ensure that each of your waves is the same size and you’ll have a more together look at the end. On the other hand, for anyone with curlier hair, you’ll want to reach for your straightening iron. A flat iron will help loosen up your natural curls to a more wavy state. However, you want to be sure not to straighten your hair entirely if you choose this method!

Spritz Some Sea Salt Spray

Photo via @premier_beauty

You can bring the beach to you 24/7 with a sea salt styling spray. Many people tend to avoid sea salt products because of the assumption that they will dry out your hair, but that’s not the case with today’s options. If you opt for a sea salt spray with an oil-infused formula, you’ll revive your hair to form natural, beachy waves on its own. This tip works best on damp hair when air-drying your mane.

Brush Them Out

Photo via Byrdie

If you’re not satisfied with your waves after some light heat styling, be sure to brush them out. Using a brush with soft bristles will not only add a more voluminous touch to your waves, but it’ll help spread them out for that summer-inspired texture. After brushing, add a hint of sea salt spray and run your fingers through each wave to give them a more undone look.

Top It Off

To complete your look, add some texturizing spray or volumizing serum evenly throughout. This one last step will help bring your beach waves to life and also help them last all day. Scrunch and shake up your hair once you’ve added either product to it to top it all off and avoid limp strands.

Header image via Blackbournea / Getty Images