Summertime is here and it’s time to hit the beach and catch some waves - and we aren’t just talking about water waves but hair waves! Bae watch is on high alert this season, so we at COBIA wanted to gift the ladies with a little DIY on a summer hairstyle that is effortless and will surely make waves!
What Is This Hairstyle?
Well, the name says it all! BEACH WAVES! You’ll be channeling your inner mermaid or surfer girl with this hot summer hairstyle. This hair tutorial features 3 different ways to create quick, easy, and effortless waves that anyone can rock – short or long. All you need is a couple of products and a styling tool (or not if you're going heatless!) so follow along and see which technique you like best.
What You’ll Need:
- Hair Straightener or Curling iron
- Leave-In conditioner, Serum, or Oil
- Heat protectant
- Styling spray
If you don’t already have these products on hand, COBIA carries a wide range of products from a variety of brands that can help you achieve this look. Check out our product recommendations and COBIA favourites as you follow along!
If you don’t get along with your hot styling tools, don’t fret, we have you covered - we will also go through a step-by-step on how to achieve this look without using heat. There are so many ways to achieve this hairstyle so there is no excuse not to try it out!
The How-To
THE OVERNIGHT BEACH WAVES (heatless)
Great for longer hair types and those with damaged hair that want to avoid thermal styling.
Step 1 | Apply a leave-in conditioner or leave-in treatment onto clean, damp hair. Tip: Make sure to choose a product that deeply nourishes and has some sort of heat protection, especially for this time of the year.
Product recommendations: AG Hair Fast Food Leave-On Conditioner, milk_shake Leave In Conditioner
Step 2 | Air dry your hair until it's 90% dry. Tip: Ensure your hair isn’t too damp as it won’t properly dry overnight and the waves won’t hold the next day.
Step 3 | Gather your hair at the top of your head as if you are to put it into a ponytail. Separate into 3 individual sections and create a 3-strand braid - leave about an inch and half at the ends of your hair and tie with an elastic. Tip: Ensure not to pull the braid too tight at the roots. If you keep it loose, you will have more volume, whereas if you pull it tight your hair will end up flat.
Step 4 | Sleep with your braid overnight. Gently unravel your braid the next morning and give your hair a gentle shake. Tip: Do not comb your hair out as this will make it frizzy.
Step 5 | Apply a serum or oil to add shine and tame any frizz. Finish with a spray to add texture and lock in your waves. Tip: Use a salt spray or texturizing spray with a flexible, light hold.
Product recommendations: Sexy Hair Surfer Girl Dry Texturizing Spray, KMS Tamefrizz De-frizz Oil
THE CURLING IRON BEACH WAVES
Great for any hair length and hair type.
Step 1 | Apply a heat protectant then brush out and section your hair - separating your top and bottom sections.
Product recommendations: Redken Iron Shape 11 Heat Protectant Spray
Step 2 | Pull individual 2-inch sections and wrap your hair around the barrel -slowly run your barrel down the hair in an outwards position (away from the face) - avoid curling the ends of your hair. Repeat this process on the next section but curl inwards (towards the face). Continue through all remaining sections, alternating direction between each section. Tip: Do not hold your curling iron in place or your curls will end up tight. Slowly running your barrel through like a straightener will give you a loose wave.
Product recommendations: Sutra Styling Wand, CHI Lava Curling Iron
Step 3 | Continue with this technique throughout the hair. When reaching the top section of your head, curl your sections about 2-3 inches away from your roots – this gives a loose natural effect.
Step 4 | Brush out hair using your fingers. Finish with a serum/oil and texturizing spray to lock your hair into place and tame any frizz.
Product recommendations: Morroccanoil Oil Treatment, Bed Head Salty Not Sorry Spray
THE STRAIGHTENING IRON BEACH WAVES
Great for all hair types and lengths, especially short hair.
Step 1 | Apply a leave-in treatment/heat protectant and comb through ensuring there are no knots. Tip: Use a detangling spray and Wet Brush Pro Detangler to smooth out any knots or frizziness.
Product recommendations: LOMA Leave-In Conditioner, Morocconoil All-In-One Leave-In Conditioner
Step 2 | Part the top and bottom of your hair, then grab individual 2-inch sections.
Step 3 | Take your straightening iron and start about an inch from your roots. Turn your iron inwards and then outwards as you make your way down the hair -this will give a crimped affect. Tip: avoid crimping the ends, leaving about half an inch - this will keep your ends looking aligned.
Product recommendations: GHD Platinum + Professional Performance 1” Styler, Avanti 1” Titanium Flat Iron
Step 4 | Continue this technique until all sections have been crimped.
Step 5 | Brush out your hair using your fingers and finish with a texturizing/finishing spray to add hold and tame frizz.
Product recommendations: LOMA Texture & Finishing Spray, Joico Body Shake Texturizing Finisher
If you enjoy the crimped effect for your beach waves and want an easier method, check out our selection of wave wands to achieve the look with a tool specifically designed to achieve this type of look. This tool cuts down on time and tackles more hair so you can create a similar look quicker
If you have any questions, contact us and we would be delighted to help you achieve this summer look!
