How to Create Beach Waves

Co-authored by Steven Waldman

Last Updated: November 21, 2022

Beach waves can be a fun and casual every day look. To get beach waves, pay attention to your hair type. Fine hair should not be treated with heat and frizzy or curly hair needs only minimal alteration to get beach waves. You can use braiding and twisting to get beach waves. You can also use a curling iron to create your waves.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Selecting the Best Methods for Your Hair Type

1
Avoid heat with fine hair. If you have very fine or thin hair, avoid using heat treatments to create beach waves. Thin or fine hair may be sensitive to high heat. Stick to things like braiding and twisting your hair without a flat iron or other source of heat.^{[1]
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2
Stick to elongating curly or frizzy hair. Curly or frizzy hair does not require extensive treatment to create beach waves. You can simply use products to stretch out your existing curls. This should create waves without taking up a lot of extra time or exposing your hair to unnecessary heat treatments.^{[2]
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3
Use heat for thick hair. Healthy thick hair responds well to moderate heat. It also may not curl as easily as finer hair types. If you have thick hair, it is safe to use a curling iron or flat iron to create beach waves in your hair.^{[3]
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- Regardless of how thick your hair is, you should still use heat protectant when curling your hair. Lightly mist your hair with the protectant by holding it 6 inches (15 cm) away from your head.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Heat to Create Beach Waves

1
Section off the top of your hair. To start, pull the top section of your hair up into a bun or ponytail. Leave the hair near the nape of your neck untied. You will work on curling this section first.^{[4]
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2
Apply a heat protectant. Take a spray on heat protectant. Mist a layer on the bottom section of your hair. Then, use your hands to work the protectant in so your hair is covered in a thin layer of heat protectant.^{[5]
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3
Curl your hair, alternating directions. Take a flat iron or curling iron. Starting with the tips of your hair, curl your hair lock by lock around the curling iron. Hold for a moment before releasing. Your hair should form waves.^{[6]
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- Alternate between curling each lock towards your head and then away from your head. This will create variation that makes for a casual beach wave style.
4
Repeat with the top section of your hair. Remove the hair tie from the top section of your head. Repeat the same process with this side of your head. Apply the heat protectant and then curl your hair in alternating directions.^{[7]
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5
Spritz your hair with sea salt spray. After curling both sides of your hair, spritz some sea salt spray onto your hair. Bunch your hair in your hands for a moment and then release it. This should give your hair a slightly messy feel that gives off the beach vibe.^{[8]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Creating Waves with Curlers

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Apply product to damp hair. To start, wash your hair and towel dry it until it's just damp. Then, take a styling product that helps hold your hair in place. This can be mousse, gel, or hair spray. Choose whichever product tends to work best for your hair.^{[9]
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- Because the hair is damp, this method often lasts longer than other methods do. As the hair dries, it will settle into waves.
2
Curl your hair around your fingers. Take a vertical section of your hair just in front of your ear. Curl the hair around your finger into a tight coil. Start at the tip of your locks and wind your hair up until it's secured on the base of your scalp.^{[10]
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Pin down your hair. Use bobby pins or single prong hair clips to pin your hair in place. Thicker hair may require more bobby pins. You can also use hair ties or hair curlers to hold your coil in place.^{[11]
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Repeat this pattern until all your hair is curled. Move behind the first section of hair you curled. Repeat the process to curl another lock and then secure it with clips, pins, or ties. Keep curling locks in this fashion until all your hair is curled into tight coils.^{[12]
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- As beach waves are a more casual look, it doesn't matter if your sections are perfectly uniform. In fact, sections of slightly different sizes may help with the beach look.
5
Let your hair dry. Leave your coils in place until your hair is completely dry. Times will vary depending on the thickness of your hair. Do not remove the clips until all your strands of hair are dry to the touch.^{[13]
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- You can let your hair air dry, but this will take several hours. You can always sleep with the pinned coils overnight to wake up with beautiful beach waves.
- If you have a hooded hair dryer, sit under it with your hair still pinned until your hair is completely dry.
6
Remove the hair clips. Once your hair is dry, unclip your hair. Use your fingers to comb out the waves slightly to remove any tangles or frizz. You should be left with a fun, casual beach wave look.^{[14]
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Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Shaping Frizzy or Curly Hair

1
Get your hair damp. If you have curly or frizzy hair, you simply need to elongate your existing curls. To do so, get your hair slightly damp. Wash your hair as you normally would and pat it dry with a towel until it's damp.^{[15]
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2
Apply a product. The right styling products for frizzy or curly hair vary by your hair type. Choose a styling product that generally smooths out your curls and allows you to mold your hair. You can try things like mousse, gel, or hairspray. Apply about four pumps of any given product to your damp hair.^{[16]
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- If you don't normally use hair product, you may have to experiment with several different styling products before finding one that works for your hair type.
3
Massage your hair. Gently massage the product into your hair. Pull your hair downward as you go, stretching out your curls into long waves. Keep massaging and stretching out your hair until you have long, casual beach-like curls.^{[17]
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- For some curly hair types, this method might not work. Play around with this step to see if this method will work for the thickness or texture of your hair.
4
Let your hair air dry. Do not dry your hair if it's frizzy or curly unless you have a diffuser attachment for your hair dryer. This can cause your beach waves to come undone. Instead, let your hair air dry to so the beach waves set.^{[18]
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- A diffuser attachment will help dry wavy or curly hair without causing frizz. You can get one at a beauty store or it might come with a new hair dryer.

Community Q&A

Question

I have really long hair, like, and I find it a struggle to use any of these methods. Do you have a solution?

Iloveyou04

Community Answer

I would recommend taking a section of your hair and rolling it up in a sock, and then tying that sock. Do that to the rest of your hair. Sleep in it, and when you take it out in the morning, it should create a beautiful wave.