How to Get Beach Wavy Hair Without Heat

Co-authored by Steven Waldman

Last Updated: November 9, 2022

You don't have to head out to the beach to get that wavy, beachy look. While the most popular way to get beachy waves at home is with a flat iron, it can be damaging to your hair. Luckily, there are lots of ways to get beachy waves in your hair without using any heat tools. While it is easier to get the look on damp hair, you can do it on dry hair too!

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Twisting Straight or Wavy Hair

1
Start with damp hair. Step into the shower and get your hair wet, or mist it with a spray bottle filled with plain water. However, if your hair is dripping wet, pat it dry with a towel or a t-shirt.
- This style works the best on straight hair. You can use it if you have curly or wavy hair to help shape your strands.
- If you have tightly coiled or textured hair and want to try this style, it would be best to start with hair that has been blown out first.
- Consider doing this after you haven't washed your hair for 2 to 3 days. The oils produced by your scalp will help give you that tousled, beachy look.
2
Mist your hair with sea salt spray. Lean forward and give the underside of your hair a light coating of sea salt spray. Stand back up, and mist the rest of your hair with sea salt spray. Focus on the ends and middle of your hair, not the roots.
- If your hair is stick-straight and doesn't hold curls or waves very well, consider using some curling cream instead. Start with a dime-sized amount of curl cream and smooth it onto your hair. If you have long hair, add a bit more product.
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3
Part your hair down the middle, from forehead to nape. Drape the left section over your left shoulder, and the right section over your right shoulder. If you want tighter waves, create 4 sections by dividing your hair again along your ear-line; use a hair clip to keep them separate.
- If you want even tighter waves, separate the hair into 6-8 sections. The more sections that you do, the tighter that the waves will be. It's up to you how to divide the sections, but do your best to keep them even. 1 way to section your hair is to first separate your hair down the middle and then separate each side into 3 or 4 smaller sections, starting at your forehead and working toward your nape.
- When creating your sections, it does not matter which side you start on.
4
Twist the left section away from your face. Twist the left section tight enough so that it creates a rope. For tighter waves, create a French braid or a rope braid instead. Secure the end of the twisted section with a small hair tie.
- If you have several sections, start on the section closest to your forehead, then work your way down that side.
5
Wrap the twisted section around your head and secure it with bobby pins. Pull the wrapped section over the top of your hair, like a headband, and secure the end with 1 to 2 bobby pins.
- Some people find it more comfortable to wrap the twist or braid against the underside of their head instead.
- Alternatively, twist the section into a bun, like Princess Leia, and secure it with enough bobby pins to hold it in place.
6
Repeat the process for the right side of your head. If you divided your hair into 4 or more sections instead of 2, then you need to repeat the process for each section. Remember to twist the hair away from your face for each section.
- For multiple sections, start on the section nearest your forehead and work your way down to the nape of your neck.
7
Mist your hair with hairspray and let it dry completely. If you don't have any hairspray, you can use a spray-on hair wax instead. How long it takes for your hair to dry depends on how thick your hair is, and how warm it is where you live. Expect this to take at least overnight.
- If you are worried about messing your hair up while you sleep, wrap a silk scarf around your head.
- If you are in a hurry, you can speed the process up with a hair dryer or by sitting under a hooded dryer, which is the quickest option. Your hair should be dry in 10 to 15 minutes, unless your hair is very thick.
8
Remove the bobby pins and shake out the twists. Once your hair is completely dry, remove the bobby pins and hair ties. Comb your fingers through your hair to loosen up the twists or braids. Do not brush your hair, or you will lose that piece-y look.
9
Set your style with hairspray. If you have naturally curly or wavy hair, you may not need the hairspray at all. If you have straight hair, however, a light misting of hairspray will help your waves last longer. If you want more texture in your style, apply some dry shampoo to your roots.
- You can try using sea salt spray instead. Keep in mind that this may not be enough to set your style, especially if your hair is straight.
- If your hair is dark, make sure that your dry shampoo is dark or translucent.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Scrunching Wavy or Curly Hair

1
Start with damp hair. You can get your hair wet in the shower, or just mist it with a spray bottle filled with water. You do not need to wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner.
- You can still do this style if you shampoo and/or condition your hair, but it's not necessary. If you'd prefer not to wash everyday, you can still do this style by just wetting your hair.
- This method only works on hair that is naturally wavy or curly. It will not work on straight hair that has been curled.
- If your hair is dripping wet, pat it dry with a t-shirt or a towel.
2
Detangle your hair with a wide-toothed comb or your fingers. Comb your hair starting from the end, and work your way up to your roots. If your hair is prone to frizz, apply a hair serum before you start to comb it. This way, you can distribute the serum throughout your hair when detangling it.
3
Lean forward and apply sea salt spray to your hair. Lean forward so that your hair drapes over your face and points towards your feet. Lightly mist sea salt spray onto your hair, from nape to ends.
- Keep your arm moving as you mist your hair so that your hair is coated in a light layer of salt spray. If you use too much sea salt spray, you'll weigh your curls down.
- You will know that you've sprayed too much if your curls are limp. If this happens, spray less next time you style your hair.
4
Scrunch your hair from ends to roots as it dries. Cup your palm under the ends of your hair. Lift your hand up by a few inches/centimeters until your hair pools in your palm. Curl your fingers loosely around your hair, then let go. Do this a few times, then straighten up.
- Scrunch your hair a few more times as it dries. You don't have to lean forward each time.
- Depending on how long and thick your hair is, it could take hours to fully dry. You may want to bring your sea salt spray with you if you are on-the-go.
5
Mist your hair with sea salt spray, then tease the roots if desired. Once your hair is dry, give it a light misting of sea salt spray. Focus on the mid-lengths and the ends, rather than the roots. If you desire more volume, use a brush or fine-toothed comb to tease the roots at your crown.
- You do not need any hairspray because your hair is already curly/wavy. The sea salt spray should be enough to help you maintain that beachy, piece-y look.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Styling Dry Hair

1
Start with dry, unwashed hair. You hair does not need to be freshly-washed, but it needs to be dry. This style works best on hair that has not been washed for 1 to 2 days.
- This style can work on any hair type. However, if you have curly or textured hair, your style may look more curly than wavy.
2
Apply dry shampoo to your roots to give it some texture. The shampoo will also absorb any excess oils and make your hair look cleaner. If you have any bangs, be sure to apply dry shampoo to them as well.
- You can use powder or spray dry shampoo.
- If you have dark-colored hair, be sure to use dry shampoo that is formulated for dark-colored hair; otherwise, it may show up.
3
Mist your hair with sea salt spray, focusing on the mid-lengths and ends. Lean forward and mist the underside of your hair with sea salt spray. Straighten up and apply more sea salt spray to the top of your hair. Focus on the mid-lengths and the ends.
- Do not apply any sea salt spray to your roots or use too much. If you do, your hair may turn out lanky. You only need a light layer, so spritz minimally.
- If your hair is limp, then spray less sea salt spray on your hair the next time you try this style.
4
Twist your hair into chunks. Use your fingers to twist your damp hair into rope-like strands. The bigger you make the strands, the larger the waves will be; the smaller you make the strands, the smaller the waves will be.
- The smallest your strands should be is a few millimeters in diameter, while the largest they should be is the thickness of half of your hair.
5
Let the sea salt dry. This should only take a couple of minutes, depending on how warm or cold it is where you live. Because there is nothing holding the twists in place, they should unravel on their own. If they did not unravel on their own, use your fingers to gently comb them apart.
- Do not brush your hair, or you will remove that piece-y, beachy look.

Expert Q&A
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Question

What if I don't have sea spray or curling cream? I just want to have beachy hair without going to the store.

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

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Perhaps you can use leave-in conditioner and a small amount of a light styling gel or mousse.
Question

How do you get it to not be frizzy?

Ashley Adams
Professional Hair Stylist
Ashley Adams is a Licensed Cosmetologist and Hair Stylist in Illinois. She completed her Cosmetology education at John Amico School of Hair Design in 2016.

Ashley Adams

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Begin to use products that fight against frizz (product may state "frizz-control" or something similar), use sulfate free shampoos, and use a t-shirt or a microfiber towel to remove excess water after shampooing. Applying a serum to the hair should help as well.
Question

How long will my beach wavy hair last?

Community Answer

It can last about two days if it takes well. However, for some hair types, the waves can fall out within a few hours. Really, the duration lasts on your hair type, the humidity or lack of it and the wind.