Who knew hair that was a happy accident each summer would become such a mainstay hairstyle?
Yeah anymore beach waves are one of the hottest summer styles year in and year out.
But it’s more than that. They have displayed surprising staying power in a world where styling trends come and go in with each new red carpet event.
Yet you’ll find them everywhere season after season from coast-to-coast even in cities with nary a beach in sight.
Then too part of their appeal is they’re supposed to be a lazy girl style that more or less just happens.
Yeah right.
Like anyone can wake up with put together waves like this. Still like most things that “just happen”, while there’s an element of truth to it there’s also a lot of work that goes into making them look effortless.
Which is why we’ve collected all you need to know about this go to summer style. What’s included in that collection of beachy goodness is laid out here. Followed by a tutorial with 13 not to be missed hacks if you want to rock this style easily.
Quick Section Navigation
- 17 Perfect Ways to Catch The Waves in Your Hair
- Tutorial: Quick Guide To Gorgeous Beach Waves In Just Three Simple Steps
So go ahead. Help yourself.
First to catch the sense of the wave why not browse this gallery of 17 flawless examples of this style that wowed us and will certainly wow you too.
Then check out the video tutorial that follows to see how to easily get this look yourself at home.
17 Perfect Ways to Catch The Waves in Your Hair
#1 Stylish Surfer Chic
OMG! On its own this bob stands out as smart-looking and stylish. Sure the color speaks volumes and amps the look up a notch too. But the mess of piecey waves help the cut morph into something pretty spectacular. This take alone on this style might explain why beachy hair is the go-to for so many.
#2 More Than a Hint of Perfect Imperfection
It’s tried and true that nothing says lazy days of summer like wavy hair. Some are happy with waves to show off now and then. While others want beachy goodness on display all the time because they’re attention getters. Especially when you’re sporting a rose gold shade like this. Then you want all eyes on you all the time.
#3 Loose Wavy Hair
Stick straight fine locks are not exactly candidates for beach waves. Of course you could always literally hit the beach unless the closest one is time zones away. In that case texturizing products like sea salt sprays can be the next best thing to deliver the look you seek. Throw in something like a complimentary warm toned balayage and next to effortlessly chic here we come.
#4 Piecey and Wavy and Blonde
Think the babylights makes the style or is it the nonchalant, free flowing waves that pushes it into the next dimension? Sometimes with an undone look it’s hard to decide. Talk about understated glamour. A messy, shoulder skimming style like this can help your mane discover its full potential. Not to mention salty waviness can instantly add fullness to the look of your locks even if they’re somewhat volume challenged.
#5 Inverted Bob Meets Beachy Waves
Another inverted bob with just a hint of tousled texture is great whether stuck in the office or out on the town. The coy highlights give this an ultra-feminine feel that brightens the underlying brunette for a totally polished look.
#6 Blunt With Just A Hint Of Waviness
Just love this color, don’t you? Barely there babylights give it a playful edge. Then too this messy slightly imperfect style is likely the result of a flat iron. Sometimes you have to resort to styling tools to get the Baywatch-worthy look you’re going for. That and the right products can bring out your best just-got-back-from-a-day-of-sand-and-waves look even if there isn’t a seagull anywhere to be found.
#7 Undone Yet With a Beachy Bend
What would your locks look like after a day of the ocean nipping at your toes? Probably like this. It’s also another example of how the color helps to set off the look. Even with a longer cut like this the soft cascading natural looking waves matched with ombre strands create visual interest to spare. A fun style this is both chic and relaxed but still definitely beachy.
#8 Devastatingly Cool Tousled Waves
Don’t think blonde is the only beach wave worthy color. This shade has a bit of a sombre feel to it, don’t you think? The multidimensional mix of warmer and cooler hues gives the natural brown a richer more vibrant feel. While the waves added to longer length like this leans towards fresh and flirtatious without taking it too far. Perfectly tousled, slightly disheveled waves can do that for you. Yeah they can.
#9 Simple, Sassy, Sultry Beachiness
This basic wavy bob is anything but basic. With shoulder grazing sophistication the free flowing waves of this one is likely not how your grandmother would have done it. The contrasting light and darker blonde shades totally deliver on the dimension and can’t help but leave you feeling sassy.
#10 Effortlessly Chic Done To Look Undone
A striking smoky gray ombre with shades of silver like this is beyond gorgeous. The contrast gives it an edgy yet feminine feel that when displayed on a beachy wave palette comes off as both soft and sexy. Especially on longer thicker, voluminous hair. Maybe ombre is not as Instagram trendy as it once was but it is still stunning.
#11 Longer Face Framing Waves
Bet this inverted bob sprang to life once the strands were no longer straight. Not to forget that waves added to locks that are on the thinner, limpish side anyway, can produce an adorably cute style that makes everyone forget about them being otherwise non-responsive. This one has just enough of a laid-back, trying-but-not-trying-too-hard vibe to make it interesting. Some would say breathtaking.
#12 Totally Beachy Ombre
Would that we all could so rock this pink ombre on longer locks which are anything but subtle. A sterling example of low maintenance surfer girl chic or what you might say is piecey glam nailed to perfection. Sure the ombre wave thing’s moment may be passing but it’s still OMG popular. Where do we sign up?
#13 Fun Sexy and Streaky
Same beach feel, dreamy ‘do as the previous one only the flatter waves are more blonde than pink. It achieves the somewhat “put together” look without seeming like she tried too hard. Yeah it’s not over done.
#14 Casual Yet Fiery Beachy Goodness
Doesn’t this look convey a my-hair-just-does-this-on-its-own kind of vibe? Who wouldn’t want to make undone bends and lived in curls like this the styling standard for sexy hair. Especially if it comes complete with a eye-catchingly fierce, fiery color like that.
#15 Bouncy Slightly Messy Waves
Go ahead. You pick the words to describe these soft, collarbone grazing midshaft-to-ends waves. Loose. Airy. Sensual. It also shows vibrant color is an ideal complement cool waves. Here the fusion of buttery and sultry summer blonde streaks over darker undertones creates a near perfect sun kissed effect.
#16 Soft Whisper of Waves Big Beachy Style
This lob is a legendary Guy Tang original that puts textured ends and waves on full display. In this case those wonderful waves double as a great way to increase the volume while giving the style a summer feel. Combined with the rich chocolate tones can make for one blissful brunette.
#17 Long, Loose and Free Flowing
These long, soft, loose waves are so adorable and show why this is just the best summer hairstyle. No style better shows off long hair than a gorgeous wavy mane full of loose S-waves like these. Learn to channel your inner beach babe to rock them and you’re officially ready for a carefree summer of looking lovely.
Okay now that you’ve oohed and aahed and fallen in love with one of the styles all over again it’s time for your beachy waves crash course.
Quick Guide To Gorgeous Beach Waves In Just Three Simple Steps
When the dust settled this video was the ONE because it is very detailed AND she explains why she does what she does. It’s always good to know the reason why behind a method or product choice, don’t you think?
That said there is nothing absolutely unique in how she does beach hair. She just breaks it down into three simple steps and makes it seem totally doable and wearable as your everyday style.
Step 1: It’s All About The Prep
Someone has to say it.
For sultry beach waves you want dirty hair.
You know, locks that are a little gritty?
Or in this case product laden hair.
So if you’re going for this look on a day you shampooed you’ll want to break out the product.
Hack #1: This video makes that fact abundantly clear. You absolutely need product laden hair with some texture to pull off Pinterest-ready beachy hair if it’s otherwise too clean.
Trust me. Some do more. Some do less. But ALL spray, spritz and mist.
I’d say this tutorial falls under the “super generous with products” category. Obviously you can use as much or as little as works for you. But you will need some.
Not that any brands stand out. Everyone has their favs. Use what works for you. Your short list of wave makers might include:
- Salt or Wave spray
- Dry shampoo or texturing spray
- Mousse
- Hair spray
After the product dousing, you’re now ready to brush your mane to work the product thoroughly through your strands.
Step 2: Curling Wand – One Inch Barrel Please
Hack #2: Most agree that the one inch barrel is the Goldilocks size – just right. Savvy beach hair divas claim it produces a curl that isn’t too tight yet not too loose.
Hack #3: Did you catch how she works with smaller pieces of hair that have been flattened with her fingers?
We’re talking maybe an inch or so in width. Two inches of hair max.
Hack #4: You also want to aim to section out similar sized pieces all around. That way both sides will look like they belong on the same head.
Hack #5: Total curling iron or wand time? Five minutes tops. If it’s taking longer you’re trying to be too exacting, too glamorous, too unreal.
Hack #6: You also probably don’t need to obsess about giving every strand wand time. You’re going for random messiness. That means some strands will be curled more than others. Some not at all.
Hack#7: If it looks like you over-curled a section, you can always tug on it while it’s cooling down to relax it a bit back to its more laid back self.
Hack #8: Also she is emphatic about how to wrap the hair around the tool – especially with the sections of hair towards the front of your fact.
Yeah it’s all about the direction you curl the locks.
Spoiler alert: You want to wrap each section away from your face.
So don’t mess this up. It’s the secret sauce to making beach waves that frame your face in a flattering way.
For sure this is a common theme by beachy wave evangelists and the proof is in the hair. Hers is amazing. And so is anyone else’s who practices this method.
Hack #9: Don’t forget to leave a bit of the ends off the styling tool. That’s also a really big deal with this style. This isn’t a curled to the very ends and beyond style.
Hack #10: How long to leave it on the wand depends on the texture of your hair. Think 5-7 seconds long. Longer for thicker coarser hair. Less if you have strands that tend towards the fine. The way to tell is you want the strands to fell warm.
Hack #11: While she didn’t draw attention to this notice how she just lets hair gently slide off the wand.
Step 3: Breaking Up Isn’t Hard To Do
Before jumping into the third step, breaking up the coils of hair, she adds a little more dry shampoo spritzed on the ends.
Also it’s important to give the hair time to cool down before you start going all crazy on it. Failure to do this may be why your waves fall out before their time.
Hack #12: If you do wait and still lose the wave try hair spraying as you curl. That way the curl won’t have time to fall out before it get the help it needs to hold.
Then to break up the curls into waves is easy. You can actually use a brush, comb or your fingers. (If you opt to use a brush hit it with a little more hairspray first and use a light touch.)
Still I’d say the preferred way it to rake with your fingers.
Hack#13: Should your strands need it later in the day, a spritz of your favorite wave spray should give your mane the pick me up it needs to maintain the slightly messy texture you love so much.
There you go. 13 hacks, maybe more, in three steps.
You now know the tool, products and technique. Plus you’ve got some inspiration.
Believe me. This is definitely a hairstyle that can do double duty. It works as a casual look yet is suitable when a more glamorous style is called for.
And now know you the three simple steps needed to get impossibly sultry beach waves! Indulge.
Could you use a steady diet of styling inspiration like this? Then why not follow our boards on Pinterest for even more inspiring ideas?
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